Well, here's the next part. Had a hard time getting this one up for some reason. I might have to start rating the chpaters, I don't want anyone to see something too gorey or too violent. As to answer a reviewer, that was only the prologue. Wait and see. Enough blabbering and onto the next part!


Chapter 1: Three Years Later


Everything good came in time, Link decided.

In three years, the nation of Hyrule went from broke and near-rioting to prosperous once more. If one had stood high above Hyrule for those years, they could see the progress that the Hylians made. Steel from the Goron Mines was used to resupply the army's arms and armor and sell to a few surrounding countries, allowing the Goron economy to grow. The Zora began swimming downstream and selling their Reekfish, with the help of Yeto and Yeeta, which they proclaimed was a delicacy if you could get past the smell. Enough people ate the Reekfish, which increased the demand, making the Zora economy flow. The Hylians were using these products in the reconstruction of the castle, which had been blown to bits in Midna and Ganondorf's battle. Today, the castle was not only made of stone but silver- a necessary precaution.

And, Link thought as he put his blade; a simple blade of chastened metal that Rusl had originally intended to gift the Royal Family with, in the ground, things were looking up. Somehow, he had become a tutor for Zelda's elite guard, teaching them the way he fought instead of the drills. It was hard to just forget everything they've ever learned in a field and learn a new style, but that was Link's way. The elite guards, men and women with profound knowledge of the shield and spear, had looked upon the sword as a weapon of officers. Link had proven that otherwise, for he, a lowly farmhand, had bested each one of them in single combat against their spears. Now, they looked upon the sword as a mighty weapon.

"You, you, and you." Link selected three of the ten at random. They were sweating buckets in the summertime sun, wearing a shirt of mail and leather padding underneath. Above the mail were a few strips of cloth, each enchanted. "Report to Zelda. Demonstrate what you've learned in the throne room. You should find a dummy in front of the throne, one for each of you. Try not to break it too bad, for everyone else will be using them." The guards saluted and ran up the castle steps, amidst the bustling streets of bakers and cooks and Zoras and Gorons. After two other groups, only one guard was left.

"Sir?" The guard asked. "May I attempt at the dummies?" This was Ros Druthmar, the fastest learner in the entire guard. Link shook his head.

"I have a better dummy for you, Druthmar." Link said, pointing around the back of the castle with a thumb. "Follow me." The castle had also been built seemingly longer, therefore reaching the back took more time than Link had remembered when he and Midna stormed it. Behind the castle, clamped down, was a Lizalfos. Druthmar immediately drew his sword, noting the growling lizard-man's three foot long curved blade. Link untied the clamps, the Lizalfos completely ignoring him.

"S-Sir? How do I fight this thing?"

"Go for the tail." Link called from behind it.

"What if it hurts me?"

"You should be asking if it mortally wounds you. If this guy does, I'll have my blade in his neck before he can count to one." Link replied. The Lizalfos, now free, thumped a tail, which Druthmar could only see when it was up, up and down. The Lizalfos charged.

Druthmar blocked the initial strikes, looking for an opening. He remembered what Link had said, and slashed the lizard across the face. It looked stunned, as if this puny human could hurt it. After landing a quick strike on Ros' arm, it started fighting much more defensively, allowing Druthmar to bash it's sword away with his shield, and Link did not foresee what happened next.

Druthmar bashed the beast again before putting his blade through the Lizalfos' face. The creature fell without a sound, allowing Link to see Druthmar. His upper torso and arms were bloodied, from where he had hit the monster and it he. His faceplate was down, now stained red, and his visor slit had barely escaped being splashed. Druthmar put his sword, steel with a greyed hilt, into the ground near the Lizalfos' body. He put a foot on the beast and opened his faceplate to see Link's slightly startled expression. Ros Druthmar was a fairly tall, chastened man. He was not as built as Link, but almost. His eyes were a deep forest green, which almost appeared black. His oval-shaped head had a hard time fitting in a helmet, which was why he wore a faceplate on a strap instead. His features were not cold, or warm- some areas, like his cheekbones, ended sharply, but his chin was more forward yet small. His nose was slight in width yet a small deal longer than average.

"I couldn't reach the tail, Sir." Ros shrugged.

"Hand me your sword." Link commanded. Druthmar picked it up and handed the hilt to Link. "How did you accomplish this? Even the Master Sword couldn't pierce a Lizalfos' face- trust me, I've tried." Link questioned.

"I started with the flat of my blade to make the cut, if you saw. After it went on the defensive, it left the wound open, so I exploited it, and shoved the blade through. That was really all, Sir." Link cursed himself for not thinking of that before. He handed the blade back to Druthmar and smiled.

"Excellent work. Now, let's go tell the princess what you've accomplished."


It has been three years, and he still hasn't come. Midna thought. Was I too forward with my goodbye? She had been pacing up and down the hallway adjacent to the throne room. What do I honestly expect? Repairing a castle takes time, the rational part of Midna said. The corridor was large and carpeted in the center, intricate designs weaving into the blue fiber. A door lay on the right, another behind her, which is the one she had taken to get here. It's been so… Boring, to say the least. The selfish part of Midna retorted. Honestly, where's an adventure when you want one? This made her rational side flair. You do realize that's pretty much spot on of what Ganon said would happen- you'd become addicted to adventure.

"I am not addicted to adventure!" Midna whispered to herself. She slumped down towards the wall and crossed her legs in thought. Then why are you waiting for something to come? Do you not want to be what you are? Midna hated the rational side of herself. "I am a princess, and I will not abandon my people for such…" Amazing, epic, unbelievable adventures? The selfish side of her finished. Midna put her head in her hands. "Why am I fighting with myself?" She asked nobody in particular.

After the death of Ganondorf, things swiftly got better for the Twili. They hadn't taken much damage at all in the palace, which was repaired within the space of a year. For two years, it had been settling debates and petty arguments once more. The longer she remained Twilight Princess, the more she yearned to be in the world of Light again and go on adventures with Link.

The subject of Link was a mixture of emotions for Midna. She never had wed, and the thoughts of her most trusted friend being on the throne next to her, not that she'd ever admit it, didn't seem too bad. She could-would, never do that to him, for they knew each other best, and she knew he was an adventurous soul. She could never tether him down like that. But…

When she had broken the barrier of Hyrule, when they had gazed into each other's eyes for nearly half a minute, she couldn't deny she felt something there.

This was not the time to being thinking these thoughts, Midna decided. Getting up, she decided that she would play it by ear and see how things turned out.

She was thrown onto the ground again, her left ankle twisted at a horrible degree, when the entire palace started shaking.


The man wearing the heart-shaped mask looked up at the castle and smiled. Soon, it would be all his.

"Mrathil?" A husky voice from behind him asked. Mrathil turned around and saw none other than Azzonoth.

Azzonoth had morphed in the twilight. He was a nine-foot tall humanoid with dark blue skin. He had become incredibly toned, which gave him an interesting look since he refused to wear clothes. Along his skin etched were little runes, small enchantments that ran the length of his body. At his wrists spawned a long knife-like hook, which pointed towards his body. His calloused blue hands were incredibly rough, and had spawned suckers on his palms. His head was the shape of a nut with edges, lines of sharp, needle-thick teeth lined his mouth. Above his mouth lay an upturned nose, making it appear that he had only nostrils. Eight eyes were placed above his nose, each bright orange with no pupils. From the sides of his head spurted two C shaped horns, both ending in a venomous point. Azzonoth had carried a quadruped animal with a black hide over one shoulder. It had antlers pointing backwards, ending in little bushes of fur. Mrathil recognized this as the Twilight equal of a deer. To most others, he was an intimidating visage. To Mrathil, he was like a son.

"Hmm?" He asked, nodding towards the deer.

"Dinner. That's not what I was going to ask you, though," Azzonoth replied, laying the Twilight Deer down and starting to gut it. "What I was going to ask is when your friend is coming." Mrathil had almost forgotten about his friend. It had been three years since he had brought Azzonoth into the Twilight, three years since Azzonoth had changed, three years since he had made his plans with Xul.

"He should be arriving soon." Mrathil said in a wistful tone. Azzonoth snorted.

"You don't sound too sure." Came his low reply. Mrathil nodded.

"I'm not. I think I felt a burst of his energy, but since we're in another realm, I can't be so sure," Mrathil shrugged. "If it was him, though, he'll likely be coming for us as soon as he can."

"Are you sure he didn't forget about us?" Azzonoth asked no sooner than Mrathil finished. He took the last part, the heart, out of the deer and started a fire. Mrathil nodded.

"He never forgets things. He wouldn't-" He was interrupted by the sound of the Twilight Palace shaking. The duo jumped a collective foot. "Now's our time to get up there." Mrathil said, and reached into his heavy leather cloak. He pulled out a rounded blue gem, and threw it on the ground between him and Azzonoth. It cracked opene, and in a flash of light, the two were gone.


"Link," Zelda said to the Hero, who's head was bowed and was on one knee. "Rise and be knighted." Link's eyes shot open. He was looking at the red carpet on the castle floor. Ros was kneeling as well, for the Princess had called them both here. Link stood up, however he shook his head.

"Princess, my apologies, but I cannot become a knight." Zelda blinked slowly, than she nodded. She turned to Ros.

"Will you become a knight, Ros Druthmar?" Zelda asked.

"Only if her Majesty wills it." Ros replied.

"Then rise, and become the first knight of the new Hyrule." Zelda proclaimed. Ros rose, and bowed to the princess.

"Thank you, your Majesty. I will not let you down." The happiness in Ros' voice was disguised, yet still visible to anyone with slightly more powerful senses. Zelda nodded.

"If you will accept it, I have a task for you both," The Hero and the Knight nodded simultaneously. "Scouts have spotted something in the air above the Gerudo Desert. I contacted them by scrying and saw the object myself. It is an enormous, winged creature, with a wingspan of at least forty feet. I want both of you on reconnaissance," Zelda commanded. The Hero and the Knight saluted. "Before I dismiss you," Zelda said, "Ros Druthmar, your new horse is in the stables outside the castle along with Epona," Ros had known of Epona, for he had heard plenty of ways to take a rider off horseback. Link had the scars to prove it. The Princess looked at both of the strong men, and smiled. "Dismissed."


The Palace wasn't shaking, it was moving, Midna realized. She also knew that her ankle was now broken.

"Where is the Princess?!" Midna recognized this voice as Garan Nath, her bodyguard. He was screaming.

"Garan! I broke my ankle! What's going on?" She called. He heard her, and came rushing in. Garan was a small Twili, but incredibly fast. He rushed in, wearing a full set of Twili plate. The small Twili had reddish black sheets of metal covering his bodice. Only his eyes, yellow and red with green irises, were visible. He looked over the ankle, and nodded.

"It's broken alright," He yelled over the movement of the castle. He fumbled in a pouch on his belt, taking out a stick of polished blue bone. He placed it over her head. "We don't have any time to heal it. I don't know what's going on, but just stay calm," The bone levitated when he let go, and around Midna sparked a shield. It was white, like the mountain of Snowpeak, and when she put her hand to it the barrier felt like solid metal. "I'll find a healer and be back in a second." Garan reached behind his head, and pulled down his faceplate. It was a shield with no eye sockets, Midna saw, as he opened the door.

Garan Nath never made it out of the door.

The windows, which had shown the serene twilight, now were filled with a white light and Midna's stomach became a rock. She recognized the light, and felt the heat from the Gerudo Desert enter the Palace. Garan screamed, and fell limp in his armor.

The Palace of Twilight was pulled into the Light Realm.

However it didn't end there. She felt as if the Palace was flying, and her skin burnt. Prolonged exposure to the twilight slightly weakened her temperance to light. Her skin changed from a light blue to white, like a ghost. Pain shot up from her ankle as the Palace flipped, and then all was dark and quiet save for the humming sound of the barrier her bodyguard had put up moments before he died.


Link and Ros entered the armory with haste in their steps. Link immediately went to grab a sword while Ros went for a change of armor. Link scanned over the selection of racked swords, picking a sword with a grey-green handle and a pommel like smoke. The blade itself was a dark shade of grey, and looked run down. Link had picked it for the green rune inscribed on the blade, however. Ros had selected two short sleeved shirts of mail instead of one, keeping his cloth scarf instead wrapped around his sword wrist. He wore leather armor underneath it, originally brown, now somewhat blackened in some areas and splotches of red covered it. On the leather armor was an incantation, which rested in the left palm of the gloves. Ros had quickly thrown on a brown robe tied with rope, for the hood masked his faceplate. He nodded to Link, who was waiting with his new sword by the door, and the two left the armory.

As they walked to the stables, they were given odd looks. Nobody recognized an elite guard underneath the robe, or even saw the sword he held at his waist. His boots muffled his sound, making him appear like a leathery apparition. They made more haste towards the stables, where Epona, who was slightly grey, waited. She was munching on hay as the two entered the dusty stables, white light gracing the mare's face. The next stall over lay a white horse, bigger and stronger than Epona. The horse also wore steel armor, glittering like gold, on the face and neck. Hanging from a loose bit of steel lay a sheet of parchment with a metal rod connecting the loose plate to the horse. It read 'Herald'. Ros smiled behind his faceplate.

Two hours later, the Hero and the Knight were riding towards Lake Hylia, towards the cannon that had shot Link and Midna out the first time. Link bit his lip at the sight of the cannon, which was still pointed in the direction of the city in the sky. He had forgotten to visit the Twilight Realm last year, the duties that Zelda had required were too large for him to make space.

He wished that Midna would forgive him, now that he remembered.


Mrathil held a hand up to the light of the morning sun in the Gerudo Desert, hissing as it threatened to warm his mask, which kept cool throughout. It was as if his mask was blessing him with cold in the sun. He had landed on all fours in front of a shining silver mirror with gold edges. Azzonoth had landed beside him, grasping the stones and particles of sand with wonder. Mrathil reminded himself that he took Azzonoth from the Lost Woods, not from the Desert.

"Why is it so hot here?" Azzonoth complained, and got up. His face went small when he saw who was standing in front of them. Mrathil lifted himself up slowly, than looked into Xul's hood. The Antithesis had drawn power from the sun by simply being there, making it cooler than it usually was in the desert. His wings were stroking an abomination that sat beside him.

The abomination was a quadruped that neared seven-feet tall by Mrathil's estimate. It's skin was a dark grey with strikes and smears of black, areas of the monster tensing and drooping at random intervals. It had no face, replaced by a maw that looked like a Deku Baba's mouth, but matched the thing's size- which was almost as tall as Mrathil himself. It had no eyes, instead having more teeth than anything Mrathil had ever seen. Two holes lay on the top of the abomination's snout, and two lay on either side of the small blob that was the thing's head. They were too high to be eyes, so Mrathil guessed these were ears and noses- a creature without sight was plausibly more dangerous than a creature with sight. Black, pointed bones pierced it's back with every breath, making the creature appear to have surfacing spikes. A long grey tail waved back and forth slowly, ending in what seemed like thousands of prickly spikes. The worst part was the paws- they were blackened human hands. Mrathil visibly winced.

"Xul, what is that thing?" He whispered, pointing at the monster. It looked up, and growled. Xul patted it's snout, and it lowered the maw again.

"The father of a new species," Xul responded, looking between the two who had spent years in the Twilight. Then he noticed Azzonoth's expression. "Never told him about me, eh?" The Antithesis remarked, spreading his wings-they each touched a sage's base. "Killed by yours truly for this to work." The wings pulled down sage masks, white faces with slits for eyes and a small beard. Azzonoth extended his elbow. Xul raised an invisible eyebrow.

"My wrists have hooks coming out of them, Sir," Azzonoth explained, showing the blades. "I would not wish to hurt you." Xul laughed.

"Hurt me with hooked blades? Not a problem, boy. If you hadn't noticed, this is armor," Xul's voice was amused. He held up an arm, which absorbed a fraction of the light around it. "And don't call me Sir. Xul will suffice."

"Okay, Xul," Azzonoth nodded, then pointed to the creature. "What exactly are we going to do with that thing?" Xul's wings covered it's earholes.

"Don't call it a thing, it has a heart," Xul snapped. "And my brainchild is going to eradicate any survivors." Xul pointed with his thumb behind him, to a standing hole in the sand where the Palace of Twilight had crashed.

"Do you really think any Twili would've survived?" Mrathil asked, crossing his arms. Xul frowned.

"I know one that would've. One that did, for that matter."


Midna shouted with pain when she tried to get up. Her ankle, in addition to her to right arm, was broken. Where was she? She couldn't see her left hand in front of her face. It was a nightmarish setting.

"Hello? Is anyone there?" Midna called, finally getting up. "Did anybody survive?" She was only asking these questions for her own sake. She subconsciously knew that they were all dead, if not from the sun, from the crash. The barrier kept her alive, but broke her arm in the process. She hadn't begun feeling it till now. Popping her arm bone back into place, she grunted with pain.

If she could just find Garan's body, he usually had a scroll of healing upon him. She prayed that Fate had rigged the game in her favor.


Link and Ros had advanced into the Gerudo Desert, leaving their horses in the care of the cannon owner, through the early morning sun. Morning was slowly fleeting, they'd have to make a shelter in the sand soon. However, they'd find this anomaly that they saw crash into the sand. The Hero and the Knight went to three different possible crash sites, all of which were flukes.

However, this site had a hole. Bingo.

The hole was set deep into the sand, and was big enough to fit Hyrule Castle in. It looked like a pit, yet a purplish-blue glow emanated from within, igniting the darkness. The sand was apparently afraid of the hole, only little drops of sand daring to enter it. From the shape of the hole, it looked like it could've entered at an upside down U trajectory, which would've meant that it would've come from… The Mirror of Twilight.


Mrathil was confused.

"Why bother with taking out the majority of the Twilight realm when our goal is this world?" Mrathil asked, looking into Xul's hood. Xul pointed to the Mirror of Twilight.

"Because that thing exists. Without it, this world wouldn't receive help from a certain Twili," Xul growled. "But because she decided not to break it, I decided to break her. And, if I'm reading the mana signatures correctly," Xul turned to a hole in the desert sand, where two figures were standing. "She's still alive."


Link rolled into the hole, looking around. A slight blue-purple glow made the cavern appear like a Q to Link, and as Ros jumped down, landing on both feet, Link discerned that they were in the little off section of the Q. Something big was just ahead.

What was this thing, glowing with an inhumane light and making such an odd tunnel?

Link stepped on something squishy, and looked down. There was a slight indentation in the ground shaped like an S, and it was filled with blue goop. He closed his eyes, and dug deep into his soul. Link hoped that he would not regret what he was about to do. Finding the essence of the beast, he drug it out into the light. Ros could've sworn Link's eyes sparkled with green for a moment.

The Sacred Beast materialized in Link's mind, snoring next to the channel of goop. When he sensed Link looking at him, the tall wolf stretched and yawned.

Well, took you long enough. The Sacred Beast and Link communicated via being in the same body, therefore words weren't needed. Have you got the stone?

Can it, Beast. Link thought, and nodded at the goop. "Any idea what this is?" He asked aloud- The Beast and Ros heard him.

"Not a clue," Ros whispered, putting two fingers in it. He smelled it, then gagged. "Smells like a dead body."

The Sacred Beast had been sniffing the material. Smells like lifesblood. The Beast held his head in the air for a second, closing his eyes. After a moment, his eyes shot open. Twili lifesblood, Link. Link could not believe what he was hearing. Bet that Illia looks like the only option now. Or Zelda. The Beast didn't seem to care, and sat upright. He began scratching behind his left ear. So… Where's the stone? I need to run in a physical form, not some ethereal spirit.

I don't have the stone, Midna took it when she left. The Beast stopped short.

What. It was more of a statement than a question.

It was with Midna. The Beast growled, walking up to Link, mal intent in his eyes.

I will be free, soon. The Sacred Beast jerked his head to the side, making Link jerk his, where Ros had started to walk. He was shouting. Help the kid. You and I will talk later. The Beast disappeared, and the world stopped being a shade of green. Ros was pointing to something.

"Sir! You've got to see this! Sir!" Ros shouted. His tone was slightly in awe, Link realized. The Beast's enhanced senses helped his- reawakening that jerk had it's benefits. Link jogged next to the Knight and gaped.

In the middle of the cavern, impaled through the bottom by a large stalactite, was the Palace of Twilight. Link froze, unable to take in the site.

"No…" Link whispered. Midna was the Twilight Princess; it was incredibly likely she was in there. Above the Palace lay an ever bigger hole. Link did a double take.

Wait, what had made the hole they entered through?


"So… What's the… dog, for?" Azzonoth chose his words carefully.

"I have a name, meatsack." The abomination growled. Azzonoth looked at the animal in shock.

"W-What?"

"It's Bane."

"… Is this thing talking to me, or am I going insane?"

"I hear it too." Mrathil confirmed. Xul nodded.

"Gents, meet Bane. He's the genetic abnormality. along with upgrades from myself, that created a species."

"I'm the best at what I do." Bane bragged, picking his head up and wagging his tail faster.

"And that is…." Mrathil left the answer hanging. Bane opened his mouth, revealing rows upon rows of teeth.

"Killing. I have quite the taste for humans, though." Bane was eager. Xul nodded towards the hole that the two people had entered through.

"Lunch is served. Go get them." Bane's spine shot up with joy before the massive creature bounded away.


Link rushed towards where the stalactite had impaled the Palace. Most Twili were undoubtedly dead, the river of blue blood confirmed that notion. He hoped Midna had survived as he tried to estimate where the rock pierced through.

If he remembered correctly, the tip of the spire would've crushed the throne, and therefore Midna. However, if he knew her as well as he thought, she would not have been in the throne room. They were likely evacuated, but it couldn't hurt to check the bodies and count the total dead for a report. His warmer side bit at his colder side, telling him that this being done to check on a friend. His colder side retorted he had no friends, only acquaintances. If there were visual representations of his warm and cold side, the warm side would cross his arms. What does that make Midna, then? An acquaintance? The colder side would nod. Then, a wolf would enter between them and tell bark, telling them to cross that bridge when they got there.

"This is the Palace of Twilight, home to the Twilight Princess." Link whispered to Ros. Ros' brow furrowed.

"You mean the bastards that invaded Hyrule three years back or so?" No sooner did Ros finish than Link drew his blade and put the flat to the guard's neck.

"Do not call them bastards. They were misguided, but now have a caring ruler who takes care of them!" Link's voice was a whisper. "Part of me rests with those people, Druthmar. Have you ever spent months getting to know one? Have you ever had one wrap their arms around you and tell you that they'd miss you, and you'd make a promise to visit, but not keep it?" Link's eyes shone with rage. "As a people, they have been broken, beaten, cast away, led by a false king who would throw their lives away, and tortured for the greed of their ancestors," Link took the blade away and pointed to the wreckage. "They didn't need that, Druthmar! Nobody ever deserves that! Especially not the Twili, who burn in the sun! Ros Druthmar, you are the first Knight of the new Hyrule. You're going to tell me that a species who's skin opens in light deserves this? Now do you see why I've accepted these people as a part of me? They need someone to save them from a mistake that doomed an entire species!" Link's voice had gotten smaller as he sheathed the blade. "Now, let's go see if there are any survivors."


Bane picked his head up as the two climbed started to ascend to the Palace, feet reverberating in the room. It was pierced through the middle, the steps were apparently still fine. One part of the palace was broken off in an odd angle, Bane could smell the fear from there, and guessed it was around ninety degrees different from some other parts based on the taste of the fear. Bane absentmindedly wondered what was in it as he stalked his prey through the shadows, overly excited at the chance to feast on human flesh; perhaps even Twili flesh if he got lucky.

The Twili were a rare meal, and when they were, they were always delicious. Bane drooled thinking about his next meal.


Link and Ros checked the many different rooms of the Palace. Wherever they looked, there was a body in blue blood, which dripped towards the stalactite like tribute. It seemed the Palace was on a slight angle, as if the monstrous spear of rock was the central focal point of the ruins. Wherever they checked, only bodies and blood and darkness, no Midna and no relief and no reunion. Not a room went by without a dead Twili. Cursing himself, Link opened a door-

To find it continued upwards. Bewildered, he called up.

"Hello? Anyone?" He waited for a response.

He received two answers.


That unmistakable voice had carried to Midna. Her eyes shot open, wondering how long she'd been asleep, when Link's voice called to her again. She realized she had fallen asleep healing her broken bones, the parchment disintegrated yet the wood remained, a surefire sign she had casted the spell, when she answered down in a tone that came out litter more than a whisper.

"Link?"


Link's senses went ballistic when he heard the Twili's voice.

"Midna! Where ar-" He saw the Twili stand up from somewhere before the abomination charged him. It landed on his side, and physically rolled him over with hands that felt like Chu Jelly, yet were stronger than steel. Where was Ros when Link needed him? His sword had been disarmed and was a ways away, and his shield was on his back- neither of which he could reach. He had to look the beast in the face- but was horrified to see it didn't have any, only a maw of glistening teeth. It opened the enormous jaws it possessed, before closing them down on Link's chest, biting his sides. It felt like a million knives entered the wounds, dancing in his flesh and commanding his blood to come enjoy the light outside of his body. Amidst it, he felt a slight undertone of a burn. It was shaking it's incredible mouth, trying to tear off chunks of him, when a blade pierced it through the top of the mouth.

Ros stood there, trying to get the blade out, when the thing stopped it's attack and performed an act straight out of the Knight's more recent nightmares.

It slowly stood up, forcing Ros to take his hand off the blade, until it reached bipedal status- the thing's head was brushing the ceiling. The bones in the monster's lower legs adjusted accordingly, as did the bones in the arms and chest. The thing pulled Ros' sword out of his maw, and turned to the Knight, who soiled his drawers.

"You shouldn't have done that," It growled. Link's bites flared with pain as he tried to reach his sword. His left hand barely gripped it when the monster turned around. "In fact, you can watch." Link's head snapped straight as the beast when behind Ros, who was paralyzed in fear.

"You there." A chorus of voices responded. It was time for Link to soil his drawers. The beast dropped the blade and looked around.

"Who's there?" The beast responded, turning around. It sniffed the area, detecting obviously nothing.

It didn't see the horror behind it, for it was undead.

The horror was ethereal, bending over at a degree that a living creature's spine would've snapped, to look at the monster. It was a ghostly blue, and flakes of frost silently fell off of it. Link could see plainly through it, but saw more of it than the average human would've. It was a mass of opened flesh, allowing blood, which happened to be the frost, flow from it without warning. On the creature's torso was burned a number and a sigil, where the beast's own ribcage was used in the sigil, Link felt. The creature's real atrocity was it's head- Link could count only two pairs of eyes, but millions of essences behind them. Link could see the thing's mouth, a smoking hole with tentacles flailing like an enraged baby. Link could see the thing's head, which was the result of millions of different, unique head shapes combining into one. It had no hair, only a mass of foot-long claws.

"You will repay what you and your master did, Bane." The spirit roared. The creature which was identifiable now as Bane, turned around.

"We did what was best!"

"You did what was violent and unnecessary, instead of shattering it."

"What's a random spirit to tell to me!" Bane roared, turning back to Ros. "I'll show you who's boss here!" Bane picked up the blade, and Ros fidgeted. Link cried out in pain again, cringing to try to reach his pack. Bane was forcefully turned around. The spirit's eyes were as black as the void.

"Random spirit?" The horror whispered. "RANDOM SPIRIT?!" The Palace began to shake. "I am Cain, Eternal Avatar of The Left Behind, and you will leave this place." At the mention of the name 'Cain', Bane twitched, making Link's bites enflame once more. He finally had grasped the pack, salvation was closing in.

Bane growled, dropping the sword, before slowly lowering himself back onto all fours. He sprinted out of the Palace. Cain turned to Ros, and nodded. Ros unfroze, landing on his hands and knees. He laid his eyes upon Link and blinked, flinging the sword and pack into reaching distance.

"The deed is done, Twilight Princess," Link registered that Cain was calling Midna out. None other than the Twilight Princess herself had jumped down the three feet from wherever she was hiding to the ground. Ros was still trying to get a hold of himself when Link's eyes screamed at him that for some reason, Midna was a pale white. "The Hero also has his equipment, no extra charge." Link fumbled in his pack and took out a rectangular glass bottle. Inside, held a small orb of light with wings that was resting on the bottom. At the slow turning of the cap, the fairy woke up. Link heard it's gasp as the small creature viewed the wounds Bane had inflicted. Midna curtsied.

"Thank you, Eternal Guardian. I release you," Midna proclaimed. Cain nodded before fading away. Midna turned to Link and a look of shock and worry crossed her face. "Are you alright?" The fairy was crisscrossing his wounds, making a sharp bit of pain appear and disappear with each spark of magic treated to his wounds. The magic, when touching the bleeding wounds, added flesh over them.

"Well, just got bitten by some freaky cavern dwelling thing," Link grunted through closed teeth. "But besides that, can you make sure my friend over the-GAH!" The pain had sharply increased as the fairy began to finish. It was clearly identifiable as a she from the tone, which kept saying 'sorry'. Midna nodded and glanced at the Knight, who's right arm was leaning on the enormous stalactite.

"What foul trickery did that thing use on me?" Ros whispered, looking at Link. It was as if Midna was invisible, and she was taken aback. Link was searching his pack for something else at the request of the fairy, who waited patiently. She would recognize that red gloop anywhere, from the amount of times she had to make Link drink it or apply it to his wounds when he couldn't. After he pulled the Red Potion's cap off, the sadness hit her hard.

Everyone in her entire castle was dead, save for her and the two humans. All her advisors (she thought it strange she was mourning them, for she hated most of her advisors.), Garan, her maids, which were like little sisters to her, even the bickering townsfolk- she missed them all. She bit her top lip and decided she wouldn't let Link see sadness, not after three years of keeping calm. She swiveled her head to see that the fairy was just about done with his wounds, and that Link had rolled out his bandages. Ros was murmuring to himself.

"You got yourself hurt again, stupid wolf," Midna said, and Ros' head went up in a flash, as if he was first noticing her. "What'll I ever do with you?" She whispered, and Ros backed away.

"Monster!" He called, picking up his sword. Link and Midna's eyes cracked open to their limits as Ros charged Midna. "Die, foul beast!" Midna had ducked around the first few strikes before she reached an arm out and tapped the center of the Knight's forehead, three white waves shooting down him one after the other. Ros passed out on the floor. Midna looked disgusted.

"Glad people are showing appreciation…" Midna murmured.

"Mid?" Link asked. It had been a long time since she heard him call her that. "I thought you were blue last time I saw you?" Link asked through clenched teeth. He was bandaged, his sides appearing to have softened with the amount of bandages needed to support the wobbly new flesh. Midna smiled and offered her hand, which he took. It took the Hero nearly a minute, but he got up.

"Do you mind if I warp us three out of here, first? It leaves a sour taste in my mouth." Midna whispered. Link grunted, holding one of his sides.

"Yeah, go right ahead. Just let me-" As he adjusted his bandages, he, Midna, and the collapsed body of Ros warped out of the Palace of Twilight, escaping in black squares via a nearby window.


Next update will probably be slowed because of my schedule.