The ship Hermoso landed on the shores of the great Calatia after nearly two in a half weeks of traveling, to the relief of everybody aboard. Passengers, grumpy from the demanding sea, quickly packed their last items and filed onto land. Link and Princess Zelda were among the last to get off, Link having to lug both his and the Princess's luggage.

     "I'll never get on a ship again," Zelda complained.

     "Then how will we get back to Hyrule?" Link enquired. Zelda glared at him.

      "Don't use logic on me now," she muttered. After giving a sigh and getting out a few maps, they both decided to hit the market and stop at the tavern.

           Zelda wasn't very use to smelling the heaviness of hard drinks, and her eyes were watered with irritation. Link seemed to be enjoying it though, sitting by the fire in the corner of the room, telling any that would listen about his wonderful travels and journeys back in Hyrule. Many of them were amused with him, and left with approving grins on their faces. Zelda was completely comfortable in the homey atmosphere (besides the alcohol), until she saw him watching her.

         ...It was like a cold chill at first, going through her spine. She looked over her shoulder, slowly, and saw him sitting there, in a dark corner of the room, his head completely enveloped in a black robe except for, of course, his fiery-red eyes, the eyes that stung into Zelda's soul. He sent chills waging all throughout her body, and she quickly turned round and pretended that she hadn't even noticed him. But he was still watching her. That tingling remained in her spine until she and Link decided to leave.

          Zelda didn't bother to tell him about the strange man in the tavern. After all, he was probably just some idiot that wanted to scare somebody. She straightened her posture. Well, he certainly hadn't scared her!

     ..They checked into their hotel around midnight, and because Zelda was so lazy, Link carried her up to her room. He sat at her bedside and kissed her on the cheek as he gazed down at her, the wonderful woman he would soon marry. Zelda looked up at him playfully and slapped him across the cheek; he laughed and rubbed it. "You're still as mean as the day I met you," he said.

   "It's not too late to back out and say 'no,' Link." Zelda smirked.

    "All right," he pouted in defeat. "You win. I'll see you again tomorrow morning."

    "All right, Link. I'll see you tomorrow morning." They kissed briefly, and then Link left and went to his own room. Zelda quickly began thinking of that strange man at the tavern again; and she knew that it would not be her last meeting with him.

        Chapter 2

           Link woke up in the middle of the night, a cold sweat running down his back. His childish dreams, the one he'd always had when he was just a little kid-they were back. They were back now, once more, to haunt him again.

          Again? It seemed unlikely that Ganondorf Dragmire would return. After all, it had only been seven years since he'd been imprisoned in the Evil Realm. How could the seal weaken already? How could Ganon escape already, so soon?

        "Maybe I should talk to Zel about this?" Link thought. He knew that it was much too late to worry her now. He sank low in his bed again and covered his head with his pillow in fear; fear. Something that Link hadn't experienced in seven long years.

       When morning came, Link was the first to wake and dress himself. Then, he roused Zelda and they went downstairs for breakfast together. After that, they talked a while and decided to go to the beach in eastern Calatia.

     "Oh, Link," Zelda whimpered. "You know how dreadful I look in a bathing suit."

"You don't see me complaining, do you?" Link teased. Zelda slapped him.

"You think you're so funny," she cried. "But all right, you win. But we'll only stay for a few hours!" And again, Link couldn't disagree.

                     Link lay on the beach for a many an hour, watching Zelda as she floated on her back, as if to show off to him, across the water. He was deep in thought, concentrating on last night's nightmare--could it really happen again? Could Ganon really return? If so, would he return only for revenge? Link swallowed.

          The drawbridge lowered; and it seemed time for a battle. The rain fell hard, and Link was blinded of view; but, though his vision was blurred, he could see a four-hoofed beast racing past. It was a horse, a gracious white color, with a blonde girl and an older woman mounted atop it. The girl looked at him pleadingly, and he felt his heart being consumed with anger at this. He turned back to the drawbridge as the horse vanished in the distance, a midnight-black steed emerged this time, a menacing man mounted. The horse came to a halt, its rider glaring down at the young Hero of Time. Link readied himself for a battle; but a bolt came at him, and a terrible pain ripped through his entire body. Then, the rider was gone; and Link was left by himself.

        The pain still lingering, Link began limping back home. As he prepared to cross the drawbridge, he discovered an entire group of horsed warriors. They all glared at him, their red eyes sinking into his soul; and Link narrowed his eyes defiantly. The strongest of them came forth, and he was quickly seized; and for the first time in his life, Link felt defenseless and weak.

         ...But then he'd awakened from that terrible nightmare, thankfully. Link could still feel the fear overwhelming him; but he was thankful that it was no more, not now, at least. He wondered what it meant; and then he called upon Zelda. She came up from the water and sat beside him.

       "What is it?" She asked.

      "Zelda, I had this dream last night. More of a nightmare, but all the same. I had that dream that I had when I was a little kid. It's come back."

          Zelda's face went pale.

    "...And even more," Link continued, "there's the appearance of a new group of people. I've never seen them in my entire life. What does it mean, Zel? I don't want the land to be in danger again."

      Zelda patted his hand. "We're going to have a good vacation, and then we're going to go back to Hyrule for the wedding. Don't worry about it, Link."

     Link looked out at the setting sun and the blue, crystalline waters. "All right," he whispered. And then the sun went down.

               TO BE CONTINUED...