Prologue
     I was but the ripe age of seventeen when Ganondorf was sent away, into the darker world, the realm where the nightmares and demons of past times dwell. I hoped for a long time that he would never return. But I was wrong, it was not my doing, or anyone in the court of Hyrule, but a young man. I can't recall his name, but I recall his eyes, gray pools full of corrupsion and a powerhungry stare. Using his body, Ganondorf was returned to our world, the Hyrule was set into a panic that I had never witnessed in all my years of living at the castle. I stepped in once again, I had sworn by my soul I wouldn't let the demon get another taste of power that he had before, he tried to take me with him.

     He tried, and failed. And when the quivering inhuman form that was Ganondorf died, part of myself seemed to die as well. It may seem like a strange concept, in fact, I thought it strange myself.

     But I locked away my sword and hung up my duty. It was a time of rest, a time of peace. But my stirring heart would't rest there, I pained for the open air of the world. it sickened me at what i had become in my two years after that, helping Zelda and th Sages, who barely talked to me anymore, I set out once again, I was only twenty, and my heart still searched for something more in life, my sword had not quenched its guideing hunger, nor the taste of blood it felt so often. I finally left, heartbroken when Epona, my loving companion pasted away from a strange sickness, I couldn't stand being in Hyrule any longer, and when a relative of the great mare I fled.

     I headed west, wondering what would go beyond the dunes, what laid there that I had not seen yet with my own eyes? and so I rode, beyond all recognition of the land, the parched sand blowing in my face, beyond the desert collosus I fleeted away, and my spirits rose again, the excitement drew me in. Until I collapsed, I don't remember much, but what I do would stay with me forever after it.

     The Gerudo have never been kind to me, for the most obvious reason of being a man. I was captured by slave traders of there race, and thrown into a training program. I realized I had to leave, to go somewhere else. But as the night approached when i would make my escape, the most curious thing happened, I remember it very clearly.

      What is your name? The young savior asked as i exited into the courtyard, tip toeing away, it was instantly suspicious, the young calm and deep voice asked again, light feet, his face was covered by a cowl. I didnÕt trust him, until I witnessed what was behind the guise, only to see another familair one. There stood the image of Sheik, no, not Zelda's digsuise to hide from ganondorf while he was still pulsing with life.

      I know not who you speak of.He said when I finished my ranting of why the high queen of Hyrule would be out here and how I must take her back right anyway. I was Sheik, the one Impa had talked about once, the clan leader of the Desert Dragon, one of the last Sheikah clans left in the world, i didn't suprise me in the slightest that she would know and image Zelda after this great man. I stayed with the caln for manyt months, learning about culture and various things like that, and as i stayed with them, sheik and I grew close as friends, but I never got to see his face under one night when he decided to reveal his true identity of why he saved me.

     Red and exotic eyes, scurffy blond hair, and a face that barely smiled, much like myself but not. I am your cousin, and you are a courter Sheikah. He explained bluntly, I withdrew with mistrust. His face resembled mine almost exactly, and that is when I excepted it, I had found my only family in the world, and I was content. He told me that his Sensei had had a vision before I arrived in Cambella, the desert city where I was brought by my captures. He said that I was a part of him, that I was his only family as well, but I never asked what happend to his own mother anf father, or if he was an orphan, I never knew.

     We hurried back to Hyrule, myself and my cousin. And there Sheik had taken up the position of Guardian for Zelda. It was two years later, when i was twenty four, that another wonderful person would come into my life. I remember that adventure away from Hyrule very vaguely, only that she would come back with me.

     Four hundred years in the temple of time I flew back without memories, and found a young Hyrule, the first king who had the name of Luthien. And there, by the tribe of the anceint Moblins, who where magical and more friendly then they where in my time, nurtured me for my stay as I was hunted by something terrible. And I met the leadre, his name was Kono, the shaman.

     And there I met her, Mayoree, a young women who knew her left from right, eyes that glisened with an intelligence I remembered in Zelda and many of the Sages. She decided to come back with me, come from her own world back to mine, in has been two years since, and i am grateful now, Hyrule is finally at peace, for a time.  
    

Link J. Calamara


Part 1
Despair and Hope

     One of the basic human emotions, the sense of nothingness and apathy. We have all felt despair one time or another. the human soul cannot function without its experiences of the ups and downs of life.

     But hope, hope is always there to drive the human sprit on, to fuel our passions and dreams, the part of despair is the loss of this hope, but it is only a part of life, a low point in which we must build up our inner strength to find our hopes once more.

     The infatuation of our hopes can lead us down the path of a greater person, we must find our selves in despair and realize it in hope. in experience we find the greater things that we must reach for, because he who knows nothing of experience with other people, can doubt nothing that anyone can says.

     And so if your life takes a turn for the worse, keep your eyes open, and look for the hope that follows.

Link J. Calamara


Chapter 1
Stormy night


     The night sky blackened the city streets with shadow, the rumble of thunder could be heard from the southern mountains. Clouds, already covering the sky with their unforgiving cold seemed to become heavy and set the land of Hyrule into a dark night.  Rain began to trickle into the cobble stone roads of Hyrule castle town. The guards made their routine inspection rounds, covered with heavy cloaks to protect themselves from the fast growing storm.
     The patter of horse feet came over the gate as the young man on his trusty black steed rode into a slow trot over gate. Link looked back and forth from the look out posts. His eyes looked a little worried for the soldiers who had to stay and watch the gate.
     "Sir Link!" Came a rough voice. Link stopped his horse; lifting his cloak from his head and watching as three soldiers came to a stop in front of him.
     "What's the news?" Link asked seriously, his voice low and exhausted from the errand he had to run at Lon Lon ranch.
     "Sir Link, queen Zelda asks that you return to the castle immediately, she told my officer that she had some important business to take care of.The soldier shouted, trying to raise his voice above the rattling of the thick downpour. Link stared at the soldier, then shook his head.
     "No, tell her that I'm taking watch tonight." Link responded, waving his hand for the three men to depart. The man hesitated, then came forward as Link dismounted his horse.
     "Sir Link,your cousin Sheik has also ordered you to come." The man insisted. Link stopped at Sheiks name.
     "Tell him I'll be there later, I have a bad feeling tonight, I don't know why. Believe me, if anyone, Sheik would understand what I'm doing. Link responded, looking the soldier straight in the eye and tying his horseÕs reins. The soldier was about to respond, raising his hand to stop Link as he began to walk away. But Link turned his head around. And the man bowed, defeated, ran the other way towards the castle.
     Link pulled his horse into a nearby alley street, and pushed him into a sheltered patch. "Stay here Lev, and watch out for anything, remember your sister Epona. Link whispered in the tall horses night black fur, rubbing his muzzle. Link sighed as he remembered his horse Epona, she was the most famous and loyal friend he had ever had, but horses only live a maximum of ten years.  Two years ago Epona passed away, but Link was glad to have her brother, who was as strong and smart a horse as Epona, but he was incredibly stubborn, even more then his proud sister.
     Link ran quickly through the back alleys to the look out post. Link took in a deep breath and whistled loudly up to the men.  Heads swerved over the rail and a hand wave indicated that Link was clear to come up.
     "See anything suspicious tonight?" Link asked as he reached the roofed tower, throwing off his cloak.
     "No, not really, just that I haven't seen any stale children wondering around, and there usually out and about in storms more then ever. Said one bearded man. His voice tinted with a little more worry then usual.
     "I knew something was wrong about this storm." Link whispered to himself, he had felt that a strange presence was here ever since Link had seen those black clouds on the horizon. And Link could even smell danger; to him it was like a sixth sense. Link looked up as a far off lightning bolt hit the ground over Hyrule field, lighting up the sky eerily.
     "Sir Link, I thought you were requested back at the castle?" The man asked finally, frowning at Link in confusion.
     "I don't want to go back to the castle yet, and besides Zelda has more to worry about the my safety." Link grunted casually. The man chuckled and shook his head.
     "Disobeying orders again Link, but I believe yah lad, I can feel something in the air too." The man snickered understandingly, finding it amusing that Link had chosen once again to stay on look out duty. Of course, Link was their hero and vowed to protect his people at all costs. "You really do love your kingdom kid, good to know we're all not alone on that!"

"WHERE IS HE!! This is the fifth time he's been late this week!" Zelda shouted across the council meeting table, several people flinched as the angry queen rose up in her chair. Sheik watched the woman, not the slightest bit intimidated by her angry outburst. Sheik had been the queen's guardian for a full four months now. Sheik remembered the day he came here, with Link leading him away from his homeland of the town of CaÕmbella, far to the west. The Sheikah was a strong man. He grunted and pulled at his white sash that was raped over his face as he protecting mask to get the queens attention.
     Zelda noticed Sheik's red eyes on her from the corner of her eye. Zelda felt safe around Sheik, and knew him more like a friend everyday. But he was so mysterious to her. Always quiet unless he felt he needed to intervene in anything. Zelda heard him give a low rustle and she turned to look up at him. The Sheikah lowered his head towards her slowly.
     "My queen, I'm sure Link will arrive soon, it is not a matter to anger yourself, be patient with him. Sheik insisted calmly, his voice low and soft.  Zelda narrowed her proud blue eyes at the man and grunted.
     "You donÕt have any idea how stubborn Link can get when he's ordered to do something, Sheik. Zelda growled. Sheik sighed and his kind ruby colored eyes smiled.
"I know how stubborn Link is, Zelda, but I also know that he is a very strong and smart man, you need not worry about him now, trust me, Sheik continued, smiling even more at Zelda as she looked at him. Zelda noticed everyone in the room was starring at her now, Zelda broke off from the whispered conversation and stood up.
     "I believe that this meeting may go on without Link with us tonight, I'm sorry. You all must feel guilty about not having him with us, but the meeting has to go on.Zelda said with her strong speaking voice, surveying the crowd as the Zora representative stood up. "Yes?" Zelda said, letting the man go first.
     "My queen, I must inform you that the meeting was about Link in the first place. I think I speak for the rest of my peers when I say that isn't it impossible to have a meeting about Link when he isn't even here!" the Zora said, his voice tired and annoyed from his journey to the castle through the storm. "I didn't want to travel through the rain and wind tonight to have a meeting that isn't going anywhere, my wife and children expected me to be home tonight!" the Zora said, raising his scaled hands to the air and almost shouting at the rest of the group for opinion on the subject.
     Zelda bit her lip, not knowing what to say back to suppress the councils" nods and angry murmuring that began to spread across the long table. The torch lit room smelled heavily of burning tree sap and ash that had begun to fill the air since the council had been waiting so long. One of the two Goron spokesmen stood up after the Zora. Zelda nodded for him the speak.
     "My queen, I agree with the Zoras, I too did not want to have a meeting that could not be started on time because of Link being so late. I too would much rather be in bed and eat my dinner of rocks right now then sit here and do nothing all night!Ó The Goron seconded the opinion of canceling the meeting. Zelda sat back in her chair, her head stung with a heavy headache.
     "All right, council is over, you may all leave." Zelda said as calmly as se could, feeling depressed, angry, and defeated all at the same time. The Three Guerdo, five Hylian, one Zora and two Goron council members walked exhausted from the room, talking with each other. The room quieted, leaving only Zelda and Sheik to talk about the details.
     "Do not feel guilty my queen." Sheik said softly, as usual. Zelda stood up in her chair, leaning her hands on the table and looking over at Sheik, her eyes full of worry.
     "I feel like none of them trust me as their queen Sheik, even after five years.  When my mother died she left me with nothing to lead my people with.  I don't feel like I can take this on. And now I'm going to be stripped of my duties, Sheik, because of that damn MARRIAGE LAW!" Zelda said through  gritted teeth, pounding her fist on the table.
     "Zelda, you must focus not on your weakness, but your strong points now. Believe me when I say that you are well Sheik paused, not sure how to say this.  You are a very bright and able woman."
     "Who else thinks that about me?" Zelda scowled, her attitude becoming bitter.
     "I am very sure Link would, Impa, and..." Sheik was interrupted suddenly.
     "LINK!" Zelda remembered suddenly. "I need Link here right now to talk with him for disobeying my orders once again.  Sheik, you know him well enough to find him easily in the storm. I'm certain he's somewhere in Hyrule castle town." Zelda stood up proudly, her jeweled crescent crown atop her head. Sheik sighed deeply and bowed to her in respect.
     "Yes my queen." And quickly ran out of the door towards the gate entrance to the town, where Sheik knew Link would be waiting.

The tower's torch flame lit the dim lookout posts moderately. Link still sat alert by the window, the rain pouring outside. It was quite late into the night now.  Link was sure it was past midnight ever since he had gotten in to town again. Link watched as the lightning flashed silently inside of the clouds.
     "Lad, there's nothing out there tonight, come and have something to eat, you must be starving from your trip." One of the men said with a low sigh, the rest of them sitting in a circle eating small portions of bread. Link shot a short glance over his shoulder at the men, then just looked back to the sky; his instincts told him that danger was in the air.
     "Something's coming tonight." Link whispered, leaning on the stone rail and starring hard out of the window.
     A thump on the rooftop sent many of the men in the post jumping, Link grabbed the hilt of his sword, his heart racing in fear. The sound of feet thudded over the rain drenched building as someone swung into the lookout post so fast the torches burnt out. Link stared at the humanoid like thing, who ever it was who would just jump through the window of a lookout post at 2:00am. Link watched it turn its head towards him and a sigh echoed in the room.
     "Be still my cousin, put down your sword," came a familiar voice. Link quickly put his weapon away and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
     "Jesus Sheik, don't do that!" Link settled, watching as Sheik lit the torches again with a flint rock that was kept in the towerÕs supplies. 
     "I am sorry, Link, it is just my way," Sheik remarked calmly, his voice not even tired from how wet and run down the man looked. Link knew Sheik wouldn't admit weakness, he thought it might be his greatest fear, but in a way Link liked his calm, logical and wise attitude about the world. Link smirked oddly at him as Sheik's determined eyes looked over at him.
     "Is Zelda angry at me?" Link asked sarcastically. Sheik narrowed his eyes, not liking Link"s joking right now.
     "The council meeting was tonight Link, and I'm ashamed you didn't attend." Sheik said, his voice showing the fierce but in control side of Sheik Link didn't see all that often. Link sighed deeply, lowering his eyes a little.
     "I'm sorry Sheik, but I felt something about this storm tonight, almost like"
     "There's something unnatural about it." Sheik finished for him, keeping his red eyes on Link the whole time. Link cocked his head, not surprised that his blood relative felt the same way about it, but relieved by the whole thing.
     "Why didn't you do anything about it?" Link asked curiously. Sort of angry that Sheik hadn't come sooner if he knew where Link was, and why he was here. Sheik's eyes smiled behind his mask that glowed in the dim light.
     "Because I did not want to alert the others."
"What do you mean the others," Link stopped, confused.  He hadn't heard that with his ears, but it had slowly muttered into his head. Link looked behind him to the confused men that stared dumbfounded and a little fearfully at Sheik. Link looked back to Sheik again, whom chuckled lowly and turned to sit down.
     Link knew Sheik had the power to use a little telepathy, and he always found it funny to make Link seem crazy in front of other people, seeming to talk to himself when no one asked any questions. Link sighed and leaned against the wall, defeated and embarrassed.
     The night wore on, one of the lookouts sharpened a dagger with a smooth rock in the corner, and the noise was the only one besides the crackling fire of the two dimming torches.
     Link was fast asleep against the wall, snoring quietly with his arms folded loosely over his slumped chest. Sheik had his head bowed near the other side of the post, the men looking at him more like a threat then a man.
     Sheik lowered his eyes and closed them, his legs crisscrossed on the floor and his back up straight. Sheik knew Hylian men hated Sheikah, and had almost massacred his people hundreds of years ago, afraid of them only because of their fierce red eyes.
     Sheik heard someone whispering, and the word demon was all the man could make out, not wanting to look back up. He looked over at Link in the corner for a moment. Many people called Sheikah black magic demons, saying they tame the wildest of beasts to put harm onto women and children. But Sheik knew it was all a lie, even though he excepted being despised in this society.  He didn't like it.
"Hey, Sheikah" One of the rough voices asked.
     Sheik looked up at the men, ready for them to probably insult him while Link was fast asleep. "Yes." Sheik replied, tired and calm.
     "Why did you even want to be my queen's Guardian, we don't need any of you demons poking around in this land, that women Impa is enough just being away in the sacred realm for me. One of them uttered, his voice seeming to ask for a fight. Sheik stared at the man for a long while; he wasn't going to do anything about it as the men stared back at him menacingly. Then stopped as Link began to stir awake, stretching and taking in a big gulp of air.

     "Anything?" Link asked. His voice rid of sleep almost instantly.
     "No." Sheik answered plainly, trying to keep awake himself, but hardly showing it.
    Link stood up and quietly walked to the window, watching and waiting patiently. Link looked behind him as he heard Sheik make a noise. Link looked at his eyes. He was staring straightforward and his body become rigid. Sheik quickly got to the window, crouching on the sill like a cat and peering outside.
"Sheik...Sheik?" Link started. Sheik quickly lifted a finger to silence Link as he walked over to the window. Sheik looked outside, his eyes wide and alert.
     "Do you hear that." Sheik whispered harshly. Link felt his stomach turn over in fear as he listened, first he just heard the rhythmic sound of rain, but then something else. A noise like almost like a moaning sound oozed through the air, it was quiet at first but then became louder. Then it stopped, Link narrowing his eyes through the storm towards the source of the noise. His heart filled with fear at the horrid cry. A bolt of lightning lit up the sky and Link watched as a black figure raced over the rooftops of a far away building. It was even blacker then the night, disappearing again with the fading light. Then the figure turned its shadowing head towards the tower. Link jumped back at it's glowing red eyes. It seemed to stare him to his soul. Link came short of breath, looking away to stop from passing out. 
     Sheik seemed to be affected by the creature too, but not as seriously, the moaning noise rose slowly again into the air, becoming louder then before as the shadow disappeared into the blackness again. Sheik regained his balance and leaped from the six-story tower to the nearest roof. Link gasped, thinking the man crazy, even though he had a reputation for appearing out of the air at no scheduled time and jumping through windows instead of using doors.
     Sheik landed unhurt on the roof far below, Link peered over the rail, looking down, amazed that he wasn't even hurt by the jump.  SHEIK!! Link yelled, but the Sheikah didn't even hear him. Sheik was running towards the creature in no time, fast. Link was caught with amazement at how quick Sheik could be on his feet, of course Sheik caught an arrow with his bare hand once, so Link wasn't totally surprised by what he was capable of. "SHEIK WAIT!!" Link yelled after him.
     Link watched as he glided from the roof of the house, almost twenty feet into the air, flipping once and landing in a run over the next house. Link let go of the breath he was holding and stood on the windowsill, ready to go after him. Link leapt from the ledge and rolled to a painful stop on the shingled roof, the cement roof tearing his tunics back and giving him a few cuts from the long fall. Link stood up and ran after him, yelling for Sheik to stop. Link slowed down at the roof, slipping on the shingles and almost going over the edge. Link peered down the forty feet to the ground, watching helplessly as Sheik bolted like a fox from roof to roof.
     "KRAKOW!!" Another lightning bolt struck the sky with white light. Link could see the creature gliding like a ghost over the roof, leaping into the air just like Sheik and landing unhurt on the wet roof. Link knew he wasn't going to be involved in this fight.


CONTINUED