Chapter 1: Restoration

He was surrounded by a black fog. He could see an immobile figure in front of him. He squinted, trying to make out the details, but it was impossible. There was no way to see it.

The figure began to head straight toward him. He moved into a defensive stance. The figure continued to move slowly but menacingly toward him.

He drew his sword. The figure did not stop. He wanted to call out to it, but something stopped him. It drew nearer, ever nearer. He could tell it was a man, and that he was large.

Finally, the figure was close enough to touch. He lashed out with his sword, but the figure was too quick. It danced away. Before he had time to retaliate, the figure drew its own sword and leaped into the air, sword raised above its head. He had no time to react.

Link awoke in a cold sweat. He rolled off his bedroll and got to his knees, a fist to his head. He wanted to pound the dream out; he had been having that same dream every night since he killed Xaar.

It had been two months since he had fled from the crowd below him at Hyrule Castle. Two months since he had even seen King Daphnes or Princess Zelda. He didn't want to see them yet; he knew that the next time he would see them would be when they needed him to accomplish something else for them.

He was sleeping in what used to be the ruins of his old home. Since Kakariko Village had been destroyed, the surviving villagers—all of whom Link had thought to be dead—began to rebuild it. As soon as Link discovered this, he found himself aiding them. It had been a long two months, but his house was almost finished.

When he wasn't working on his own house, he was helping his girlfriend, Malon, and her father, Talon, with theirs. Since theirs was much smaller, it had been finished a while back, but they still needed furniture and all the interior necessities for a house.

When the king heard that Kakariko was being rebuilt, he gladly sent daily supplies to the village. These supplies included food, wood, hammers, nails, saws, and brand-new furniture. Every day, Link would go to the supply wagon and, with Talon's assistance, would bring back a couch or a bed to Malon and Talon's house. He would then go back and get them a basket of food for lunch.

"I love you," said Malon to Link on one particular day. She kissed him and continued eating her lunch.

"I love you, too," Link said back. It was just as Link finished his lunch when a company of Mage Knights on horseback entered the almost-restored village. Link didn't notice until Malon pointed it out to him. Link instantly recognized the one in the lead.

"Link!" he said. Link smiled. It was his good friend, Xak, from the Mage Knights' Guild. Xak dismounted his horse and wrapped his old friend in a great big bear hug.

"Good to see you, Xak," said Link.

"You as well, Link," said Xak with a broad smile. "I see you and your lady have been reunited."

Link looked back at Malon and gestured for her to come over. She came and stood by his side, and he put an arm around her shoulders.

"I don't think you two have had the chance to meet," said Link. "Malon, this is Xak. Xak, this is Malon."

Xak got down on one knee and kissed Malon's hand. "A pleasure to meet you," Xak said politely. Malon looked uncomfortable.

Link kissed her cheek and turned back to Xak. "So what's this all about?"

"King Daphnes wants you back at the Mage Knights' Guild," said Xak.

"I figured that," said Link. "Who is in charge now that General Chaucer is dead?"

Malon patted Link's chest and went back to helping with the house. Link held on to her hand until she was too far out of reach.

"Someone new. Since Master Ronin was second-in-command and he was killed as well, they've appointed a man named Captain William Powerblade," said Xak.

"Captain William Powerblade?" Link asked. "Never heard of him."

"He's the only one to have survived a run-in with Xaar. King Daphnes thought it would be a good choice," said Xak.

"Is he even a Mage Knight?" Link asked.

"He was banished from the order after he became careless," said Xak. "He was in charge of the Mage Knights' Guild at one time, but the king forced him out of his position, and that's when General Chaucer was appointed. Captain Powerblade will regain his title of General."

"Why did the king reappoint him?" Link inquired.

"His attack from Xaar humbled him," said Xak. "His arm was severed and he was badly scarred."

"How did he survive?" Link asked.

"I guess Xaar spared him. Nobody even knows why he was attacked in the first place," said Xak.

"That's very strange," said Link. "It doesn't seem within Xaar's character to spare someone. It's a good thing I killed him when I did."

Xak nodded. "Well, anyway, we need you back at the Guild."

Link nodded. When he left Hyrule City, he had forgotten that he was obligated to complete his training. The fact that General Chaucer was killed had rattled him a bit, and he figured that the Guild would collapse.

"I'll be a while, maybe a few days. I need to finish some things up here first," he said.

"Understood," said Xak. "We'll see you then." The friends embraced again, and Xak mounted his steed again before riding out of the village with his entourage of Mage Knights.

Link went over to Malon and Talon, who were getting a small end table situated.

"Ready to go get that bed?" Link asked.

"Sure am," said Talon. "Be right with ya. You go ahead; I'll be there in a second."

Link nodded and headed off toward the wagon.

"Malon," said Talon to his daughter. He put his arms on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"What is it, Daddy?" she asked wonderingly.

"I want to let you know that I'm proud of you. Link is a good man; much better than that Mark you used to date."

"I don't even know why I liked him," said Malon with a chuckle. "But Link is the best man I've known. He's good to me, and I know he loves me."

Talon smiled and hugged his daughter. "Well, I'd better go help him out now." Malon nodded and sat on their newly placed couch as Talon left the house to assist Link with Malon's bed.

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A/N: It has returned! The story I've talked so much about has finally arrived! I've got great things planned for this story; I hope you're all as excited for this as I am! I want tons of reviews for this!