As his vision slowly came back, he noticed the hard floor with which he was laid, a damp chill hanging in the stale air. The walls and bars came into focus revealing the confines of his cell. His most recent memories flashed before him, reminding him of the attack in the spring. His eyes went wide as he saw Sheik crumple to the water, then everything went dark. He could feel his head throb. But when he reached back to feel it's cause, a white furry paw came at him. He jumped back in shock, realizing that the paw was his. Link stared down at the grey wolf's body he now inhabited. A flicker of the transformation came to mind, the pain. They had just crossed the bridge when his senses slowly came back, he hung limp across the back or the boar. It had stopped in front of a black wall... where it was pulled in, he was pulled in. A searing pain shooting through his body, as he collapsed. He felt a tug on his leg as he was dragged off, then he blacked out again.
From his cell, he couldn't see anyone around, nor hear any noises other than that of slowly flowing water. The door was shut, so he sniffed around, it seemed to be the natural thing to do. He could smell the slight draft coming from the pile of straw next to him. He pushed his nose around and noticed there was hole, so he dug at it. The dirt and old worn stone tore away easily and soon there was enough room to crawl out. Feeling a little more free, he was now standing in the hallway. There was a locked door at one end and a dead end at the other, the only thing in the hall being more cells. But upon exploring a little more, he noticed an alcove with a grate, a lever conveniently hung above it. Not as simple an operation as first thought, he ended up having to pull it down with his teeth since he now lacked opposable thumbs. The grate slid up and he went through into what appeared to be a sewer. He wandered around for some time following all the paths and tunnels, which eventually only led to one place that was open. There were lots of rats and other vermin, but they left him alone when he growled at them, bearing his new fangs. He noticed he could understand their curses that they threw at him as he continued past. He had also seen green balls of light, seemingly resembling spirits, hovering in some of the dark corners, but when he heard the mindless chatter that they spewed, he chose not to investigate further. Finding another hole with a grate, employing the same method as before, he soon found himself at the bottom of a large circular tower.
The stairs spun around several times as they snaked their way up the walls. He started to climb, noticing some gaps every so often. He had only gone a little ways when the crumbling stone gave away beneath him. He fell to bottom, not too far, and landed on all fours. He decided a little more caution would be better the second time around. Link made his way up the stairs, jumping the gaps when needed, utilizing that extra spring in his step. He passed a locked door, and scaled some fallen debris, eventually coming to the top. He had to swat at a few bats, which didn't seem to be effective. So the repulsive thought of having to bite at them became more apparent. But this wasn't so bad and seemed rather instinctive now. He was able to push open the door at the top of the stairs, which led out onto the roof. His senses being pulled towards a faint light in a distant window, he was compelled to head toward it. He made his way across rooftops, dodging the weird creatures of this foreign land, wherever this was. The strange birds dawned a single glowing red eye in the middle of their flat circular heads. They went down easily with a few chomps and slashes. He noted that the paws seemed more effective with the claws extended. After negotiating some obstacles and far jumps over the incredibly high expanses, he eventually made it to the tower on the other side. He went through the open window, and coming to another staircase, decided to go up to where he had seen the light.
As he headed inside, a faint glow was cast off by the lantern next to the window. He was beckoned by the strange figure that sat staring out the window. He came up behind it, wary of its call, but unable to resist. "I knew you would come, Link." She said as she turned around. The great lioness raised her head and a look of relief settled into her eyes. Although he was confused, he recognized the Princess, their bond had always been very strong. He was grateful to see her here, knowing that he was not alone in this place. He felt awkward in his present condition and he was sure she did too, but they nuzzled their heads together, being comforted by the others presence.
"Zelda, it has been so long. What are you doing in this place... and like this?" Link asked, sensing her despair.
"Can you not see where we are?" She swept her gaze across the view outside the window. "This is Hyrule. It was covered in Twilight after we were attacked by the Shadow Creatures. I was forced to surrender to this king, Zant, or people of Hyrule would have be killed. He was very powerful and we had no defense against his Dark Magic. If we gave in, he said he would leave us be." Zelda held her head down, ashamed by what she had to do, the pain of letting her people down etched onto her weary face. "When the darkness fell around us, the people's spirits were frozen, stopped in time, and there they remain, forever in Twilight." She looked up at him, and touched the back of his paw with hers. The triangular glow shone through the fur. "Since you hold the Triforce, as do I, we were able to pass through the barrier of this realm, but the tainted magic that Zant holds over this land has transformed us into these creatures, which it distilled from our spirit guides." Link thought it fitting since he had always associated with the wolf, it's loneliness, protectiveness, and curiosity.
"So what can we do? I am lost and alone again without Sheik," a sadness stealing his voice. "I need him to help me now. What would have happened to him?" He asked Zelda, hoping she had the answers. Her face told him what he had suspected but didn't want to accept. Sheik was frozen somewhere, his spirit alone and vulnerable. He needed him, to find him, to be with him.
"I do not know, for I have not been able to leave this room, nor make contact with anyone..." She looked out the window, a curious look crossing her face. "There is one other here who would know. She has come to me to help her, but I did not know how, since she could not free me from this place. I told her of you, and she promised to look for you." Her eyes looked back at him with hope, those eyes, that he had seen so many times now, unable to deny them. "She is a being from this realm. Her magic is great, but not powerful enough to go against the King. But with her guidance, and Sheik's help, you can defeat Zant." He felt the pressure then, and not knowing what he could do about all this, he sat there, listening, waiting for the inevitable conclusion that he knew was coming. He would be asked to go on another quest. Emblazoned with the Triforce of Courage, he knew it was his duty to accept, which he did with honor. But he needed help, Sheiks help, and only one concern remained...
"But how can Sheik help if he is frozen like all the others?" His mind clouded with grief and doubt. "What can this being do?"
"Midna cannot help Sheik, for that magic is greater than this realm, but I believe I can." She held her head high again, her paw raised in front of her. "Since I cannot assist you in this quest, it is only fair that I give you what help I can. The only thing I have to give that will work on this Dark Magic, is the Triforce itself." I stared back shocked, incredulously. "I can transfer its power to him so that he may pass through the barrier, and move forward into Twilight." She didn't think on it any further, her Wisdom always shining bright and true. Zelda looked straight into Link's eyes, and he saw a glint of gold streak though them. Suddenly, the Triforce on her paw flared with brilliance, then burned up into nothingness. As he felt a burn on his own paw, he looked down to see the Triforce light up in its new place. When he looked back up, Zelda's figure was limned in a green light, her voice only a whisper in the still air, she gave a final good-bye, "I have called Midna to guide you through your journey, for I trust you with my life. Take care, Link. You will find Sheik, and you will not be alone." Her last words echoed in his ears, until all that remained was a green glow of her frozen spirit, burning next to the lantern.
