To quote Midna, 'ee hee hee!' This was fun to write!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last few chapters! I am really enjoying writing this fic, so I hope I can get as much written as I can before I leave France.
Oh, I nearly forgot; new readers should be aware of my perspective-switch signs:
(~^~) is Link.
(~*~) is Zelda.
(~+~) is Midna.
They were originally going to be arrows, which would have worked rather well with Heroes, but FFN restricted the symbols I could use. I use these symbols since it's my belief that first-person narrative must have NO third-person narrator at all. I've found that having a third-person narrator tell you when the perspective switches kinda breaks the mood; these symbols, I've found, are much more discrete.
Loving the positive response this story has gotten so far! If I slip at all, flag it up - I really want to make this a good story!
In the meantime, enjoy!
Chapter 3
Of Beasts and Burdens
(~*~)
Sleep would not find me easily, trapped up here. Even if the Foul King's guards were not to check on me every hour, I would not have slumbered well.
How could I sleep?
So much swam through my mind.
My kingdom in peril.
The plans of the Foul King.
And her.
Above all, my thoughts were dominated by her.
How did she fit into all of this?
Midna… now there was an enigma if I ever saw one.
I was always good at reading people. No-one was an open book; even the most outward of fellows hid something, and it was this hidden part of a person I could detect, and usually I could coax it out into the open.
Midna, to me, she was like the icebergs sailors spoke of.
The greatest portion buried beneath the surface.
She wore a mask stronger than the stone atop her head.
This mask hid beneath it everything she was, but I had certainly managed to make it slip a couple of times.
Her name was one. She could easily have made it up, even faked how defeated she sounded when she told me, but when I told her I thought her name beautiful… She had reacted without thinking. It said to me that she thought herself beautiful once, but something had happened to her. Something drastic. Perhaps this event had formed the mask for her.
Then there was her history with the Foul King. The very mention of him made her blood boil. I could not risk dragging details from her. She was more useful to me if I could be seen as trustworthy, that I was not trying to send her into a frenzy by stirring up her hatred of him. And perhaps, to a smaller degree, that hatred was her driving force at the moment. If she knew of a way to bring about his downfall, I would not extinguish that fire.
He had visited me, after Midna had vanished from my room. I did not fear him; he held great power, but seemed hesitant to use it. I knew I was weaker in comparison, but were he to confront me, I knew that one on one, I would put up quite a fight. But that visit wrote a few more lines in the book I held on Midna.
I had sensed him outside my room, long before he touched the door handle. I did not turn when he entered. I held no respect for him.
He kept me as a prisoner, like one would a pet. He gave me lodgings, and food, and allowed me to watch him dominate and subdue my kingdom. Mere thoughts of him made my blood turn to fire.
Midna had made a discrete exit; she had floated into the darkness beside my bed, giggled that irritating sound once, and simply vanished.
All I knew were that these Twili were creatures of Shadow. From my encounters with Midna, I was learning that they held unnatural powers within darkness. I somehow found myself ensuring there were no dark corners between the door and where I sat, and I kept the fire burning as best I could.
Zant's robes swished against the floor, and the door slid open quietly. He stepped into my room, but again, I did not turn to him. He no longer wore his horrific helmet, but beneath, his head was worse. His glowing orange eyes were unnerving, almost hypnotic, and I vowed to myself never to stare into them.
"Was it talk we heard in here, Princess?"
How he spoke my title aroused my anger, but I forced it down, gripping the vanity table before me a little tighter. "Yes, it was."
"And in this room, so high above the ground, alone?"
"Yes… I find the air is a much better converser than present company." I took risks speaking to him like this, but I wanted him to know, without doubt, that I did not fear him.
I heard him stiffen, suppressing his reaction. A grunt escaped his lips.
Rather than reply, I heard him sniff. What, I could not tell, but he did not appear to move. I was almost curious enough to turn around, but he saved me the trouble.
"Midna…"
Oh, there was venom there. Her name was hissed, an animalistic growl in his throat. She brought up primal rage in him.
What I had learned from the imp seemed to hold true. They despised one another. Mortal enemies, perhaps. And now I knew for sure, I pledged to help Midna however I could.
I sensed his gaze upon me. I would not have looked at him, were it not for him taking two rapid strides over to me and grabbing me by my hair.
He forced my eyes to his, but I snapped my lids closed. Even with my eyes shut, I could still feel his burning gaze, see the imprint of his glowing eyes… It was enough to stop me ever sleeping again.
"You are so young, so we will help you learn. That thing that visited you, she is quite the trickster. She once served our court as a form of jester, until we were forced to expel her for her wicked untruths. For this, she likely holds us in low regard. Listen not to her yarns, for she will entangle you in them."
He released my hair and stepped back, looking around the room. I straightened my hair, watching him carefully.
"You live because we allow you to live, fair Princess. But continue dealing with that imp, and you give us fewer reasons to keep you alive." He snapped his gaze back around to me; I averted my eyes.
"If she ever visits you again, do signal for us. I have a perfect cage for her."
His visits were always short. It made them bearable, but I knew not why he kept me. He told me that he allowed me to live. I could not grasp why. He held Hyrule in his own hands. What use was I to him?
I was nothing to him, I decided, but so long as I could help Midna, I would not give him cause to kill me. I knew from him that her name was true. And his weak lies were all I needed. He tried to turn me against her; not well, but he had tried. It was obvious he saw her as little threat, perhaps more an annoyance. But I knew who I would rather place my trust in, out of him and her. I had once learned to shield the scent of another's magic using my gift. If Midna ever visited again, I would give her that protection. I would never turn her over to the Foul King.
I had not seen her since her departure. I had suggested she begin at the old temple of the forest, within Faron Woods. I knew of its history, and I knew that nature had long since taken over it. Its many traps and puzzles had likely slipped into disrepair. It would surely be a better place for her to begin than the sacred places of the Gorons and the Zoras, who continued to worship in their elemental temples. For those, I surmised, she would need the help of their races.
I finished penning my thoughts to paper. Silently, I sealed them away inside the tiny chamber within my room. If I were to meet my end at the Foul King's hands, I would not leave my successor empty-handed; I had taken from my mind everything I believed of value to anyone who might discover my empty throne. To some length, it had kept me sane that past couple of days; without sleep, and with little to eat and drink, I had to keep my mind focused.
I sat back on my stool and placed my hands on the desk. I allowed my focus to drift, to clear my mind now. Calmly, I brought together my hands and bowed my head.
I prayed.
I prayed to the Great Goddesses.
I prayed diligently for my sins, for my failings as a ruler. I prayed long and hard for my people, that they might find some comfort somewhere in this damned half-light. I prayed that their legendary Chosen Hero would soon arise.
And I surprised myself.
I prayed for Midna. I prayed that the Great Goddesses would watch her, and guide her, help her find what it was that she sought, so that she might bring about the downfall of the Foul King. Perhaps that was my role in all of this, I wondered; perhaps the Great Goddesses intended me to aid her. Their ways could never be understood, and this seemed the clearest path.
"Midna…" I whispered as I ended my prayer. "I'm rooting for you. Don't let me down."
(~^~)
Panting breaths… I heard them, distantly, like I was… asleep… Wait, why would I be… Why was it light…
Slowly, I realised those panting breaths were my own.
Coolness stroked my arms as I felt my body awaken. I groaned; my head hurt, badly. That's all I could think for a while, drawing my hands to the back of my head to feel a huge lump there. Something hit me… Something big…
Big something…
After a while, I realised the coolness was rolling across my face, and down my neck… The coolness was all around me. I wasn't in my bed. Why had I fallen asleep here?
I heard the trickle, and I soon remembered.
Water… The spring…
I tried to crack open my eyes; my head throbbed, badly, as light pierced my lids. I covered my eyes and opened them slowly.
I was at the spring… No, I was in the spring, lying, floating on my back… Why would I sleep here? I could have drowned…
With another groan, I put my feet down on the sandy bottom of the spring, pushing myself to a sitting position. Why was my head spinning so much? And… why was I here, anyway? Especially if I just took a nap?
The spring…, yes, I was here with Ilia, and Colin… I looked around the spring as my eyes brought things into focus.
I was about to call for them when I saw it.
The gates.
Smashed to pieces.
Oh goddesses.
I remembered. I saw the boars storm the spring, their ghastly green riders sitting two astride on each beast. I remembered the fear on Colin and Ilia's faces, I remembered trying to reach them and then… nothing…
I rubbed the back of my head again. The riders… one of them had hit me. I must have been out cold for a while… There was no telling how long… But… wait, where were Colin and Ilia?
I knew I shouldn't stand up like this. I'd seen Hanch hit his head falling off the roof of his wife's shop last year. He couldn't walk for hours. Sara had feared for him. And the lump I had on the back of my head seemed to be bigger than his.
But that be damned. Ilia and Colin weren't here. They had to be back at the village. At least I hoped they were… wait… if they were back at the village, why did they send no-one to help me? Surely they knew I was still here? Unless… unless they didn't go back to the…
I was running.
Oh goddesses, my head hurt, but I was running. My feet slammed unsteadily into the sand, then the dirt. It was hard to keep my balance, but I ran.
If they hadn't made it to the village, then those beasts had chased them into the forest.
Or worse. Those beasts took them into the forest!
I shuddered to think. I was their big brother. They were supposed to be safe with me around. Oh, what I would do to those creatures when I got my hands on them!
But as I ran over the bridge, struggling to walk straight, I realised…
That sense of something… something being off… it came back full force. It was like a feeling of sickness; it built within my body, made me shudder, and I stumbled even worse for a moment. I grimaced, shaking my head, trying to rid myself of the feeling, but it stayed there. Gnawing at me.
As I reached the other side of the bridge, the sunlight seemed to fall away. The chatter of the birds became less and less.
And then I saw it.
I stopped.
My mouth fell open.
What in the world was it…
My mind yielded no answers.
The path into Faron Woods, a path I would walk every other day… in the midst of the cliffs stood a wall of black. Pure black! It was like tar, but… it was perfectly smooth. Was I… was I imagining things? I had taken a crack to the head back there.
I touched the lump, and felt pain. So, I was awake, at least, as best I knew. But… surely if I dreamt, things would be different around here.
I approached the wall of… whatever it was, slowly. I was nervous now. This was real, and this wasn't right. I felt… some kind of energy… I couldn't describe it, but it was like how I felt the warmth of the Sun on my bare skin… I felt something similar from this wall, but it wasn't the comforting warmth the Sun gave. If anything, it was almost the opposite. It wasn't cold, it was… a dark feeling. As though light itself were being sucked out of me. The light in my skin, being pulled into this wall. It was more than a little sinister, and the feeling within me lurched again. Something was very, very wrong here, and this wall was the key.
It was perfectly smooth, and yet it did not shine. The only thing I had ever seen so smooth was still water, but water reflected what it saw. This… light seemed to fall into it, like a dark pit. I looked up, and saw it stretch to the skies far above. As the valley widened out, so did the wall. It rose as far as I could see, and likely further.
The next step I took made it change. I had noticed that around the edges, a kind of golden light glowed. I had never seen light like it, but in the next moment, the entire surface of the black flared into life. Shapes I couldn't describe adorned it, in a strange colour. Like dull orange, like sunlight in the evening.
I had but an instant to ponder these markings. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.
Something burst from the wall. I couldn't make it out, but before I could jump back, it fell around me and grabbed me! And before I knew what had happened, I was lifted into the air and heading straight into the wall!
(~+~)
"Head into the forest… gah… Can you navigate your way around your bedroom, Princess? I don't think you could be any more vague!" I growled to myself. I flitted between trees, jumping between their shadows. It was faster and less taxing than floating.
It had taken a day or so to get this far. That woman, whoever she was, the Queen? I doubted it, but she really didn't seem to know her land well. The best she could guide me was that this 'forest temple' would be deep within the forest south of the castle. And here I was, deep within the very forest.
I was not lost, certainly, but I had no idea where I should be going. I was also relying on this helmet, telling me where its other pieces were. Thus far, it had kept silent, as I had begun to wonder if that meant we were right on top of this 'temple,' or right in its heart, and the piece, or pieces, were not here.
At the next jump, I was forced to slip into the shadow beneath the canopy of the tree; I sensed something coming.
Another of Zant's appalling creations. It made me sick to look upon these creatures; Zant had poured his dark magic into innocent Twili, and this was the result. The magic took over them, embedding deep within their bodies, twisting and corrupting them. How he could do such a thing to people of his own race… It made me sick. He had turned them into his slaves, mindless drones, existing only to serve him.
The annoying part was that they were strong. The dark magic had pumped up their bodies, turned them into solid muscle. Compared to their softer, rounder forms in the Twilight, they looked horrific like this. Sharp, defined muscles, claws… They looked like Light creatures. How vile he was, turning his own people into things that looked at home in the Light.
Was Zant answering a challenge, or something? How many crimes could he commit before I tore him limb from limb?
I watched as the beast lumbered past the tree I hid within. The more crimes I see from you, Zant, the slower your death will be.
I followed the creature as it passed the primitive hut by the side of the trail. It was moving swiftly; it seemed to be patrolling. I watched it enter one of the caves, the one without a locked gate, and sound entered my ears.
It was… almost like music… but it was weak, and out of any kind of tune. If this was music of the Light world, I already despised it.
Wait a moment.
Why would there be music of the Light here?
When the beast was out of sight, I dived into the darkness in the roof of the cave. I followed the sound; it got louder as I slid through the shadows. I was going the right way.
When I reached the other end of the cave, the beast was gone, but the music was loud in my ears. I slipped silently out of the shadows and faced the source.
It was a small spring; water would cascade merrily over the rocks towards the back and collect in the pool beneath it. But this was interesting. The water had ceased flowing, and above the small pool hovered a golden shape.
I studied it with interest. The music… that awful sound, it seemed to come from this shape. I checked around for any more of Zant's creatures and approached it.
I could feel magic. It was dulled, but there was certainly magic in the air. And it centred around this golden mass. I reached out, focusing my power, trying to feel more of what this golden thing was.
"Creature of shadow… you… are not we- welcome here…"
I snatched away my hand. The voice spoke almost within my mind. It obviously came from the gold. I looked deeper into it, and saw that the shape was not solid; it looked almost like… light…
"What are you?" I demanded of it.
"Be… be gone!"
The voice was very weak. It had the quality of a wounded animal; it wished to be left alone, to die in peace.
I crossed my arms, staring straight into the centre of the mass. "Make me," I challenged.
"You… you have robbed me of my light… what more do you want?" It demanded of me.
"Answers," I fired back. "Like, what are you?" I repeated.
"You are… not… one of the… black beasts…?"
"I'll consider that a compliment."
"But you are… a creature of shadow… what are you?"
"You're hardly in a position to be demanding anything of me."
I sensed whatever it was sigh. It was then that I noticed the song had stopped.
"I… am one of the Spirits of Light. At the behest of the Golden Goddesses, I was charged with protecting the Light of the Land of Hyrule… but creatures of shadow… bested me… they stole the Light from me… And when the Twilight arose… Nothing could withstand it…"
'Intriguing.'
I studied the golden shape more. It moved slowly, weakly, on the spot, as if turning away from me. I followed it.
"So… you're a Light Spirit…" I cupped my chin in thought. Better try. "Would you know anything about a temple in this forest?"
If this 'Light Spirit' could splutter without a throat, it did so. "What purpose could you have with the temple, Shadow demon?"
I frowned at the shape. I raised my left hand between us and snapped my fingers.
Purple fire shot out of my palm.
I puffed the flame off my hand and glared at the Spirit. "Answer the question," I commanded simply.
"The temple…" The voice was hesitant. "It lies within the grove… to the north… beyond the cavern… across the field…"
All at once, there was a crashing sound from the cave I had come in from. Impressive noise drifted through the mouth, but nothing emerged. After a few moments, the noise quietened to nothing. Zant's beasts… I thought. What were they doing? It sound like they were handling something big…
I descended from the tree I had hidden myself in. "Final question, then I'll let you get back to moping around, pining for the Light you couldn't protect…" I smirked. "You know something about the temple… Does it hold a piece of the Fused Shadow?"
This time, the Spirit's light pulsed; with it, I felt an invisible force slam against me, trying to drive me back. I reacted in an instant. The magic of the helmet at my fingertips, I deflected the force against me. It was over in an instant, and I rested in the same spot. I glared at the light.
"You… you carry that forbidden… that evil power?" For a weak voice, it certainly sounded like it was shrieking now. "Be gone, demon! That magic was sealed away, never to be released! You know not of the powers you meddle in!"
"Was that the last of your power you used on me?" I taunted. "Because I don't think you can stop me." It stayed silent as I approached it slowly. I floated right before it, my eyes level with the golden energy. "You told me all I need to know. I'm going to recover that piece of the Shadow. No force in this world is going to stop me! And the moment I have that power at my command, I'm going to tear Zant into a thousand pieces." I hummed sarcastically, as if an idea had struck me. "Just think about it. Zant did all this. Really, I'm doing you a favour by reclaiming the Shadows."
The voice fell away, weakened once more. "There will come a time when you pay for your insolence… demon…"
I growled at it and turned away.
"But you will not get very far."
I looked over my shoulder and snorted. "And why not?"
A shiver went down my spine. The tone of the voice was almost smug.
"The temple can be entered by naught but a being of the Light. Your quest shall end long before it begins, demon. Leave the forbidden magic be. It will be forever beyond the grasp of a being of Shadow."
I was moments away from spinning about and unleashing a heavy charge of Shadow magic at whatever this thing was. My teeth were gritted firmly. Did it speak the truth? Would I be unable to enter it without getting one of these pitiful Light dwellers to go on ahead?
Perhaps it did lie; it knew something about why the Shadows had been sealed away, after all. And it sounded like it wanted them to stay that way.
But what actually stopped me doing anything drastic was the sound that came from across the hill.
A loud yell split the air.
It wasn't from any kind of creature I knew. Not one of the beasts, not a kargoroc… Never one to be at a disadvantage, I dashed over, jumping into the shadows of trees to get close.
(~^~)
OH.
GODESSES!
I couldn't breathe.
But I could see.
And I could see…
It was hideous!
Whatever it was, it held me by the throat.
It was a creature wrenched straight from my darkest nightmares.
A black, faceless monster…
It held my throat… it was squeezing the life from me…
Is this how it ends? Nightmares, coming true?
I gagged; my fingers scrabbled frantically at the hand around my throat. I couldn't breathe.
I just couldn't breathe…
I don't want to die! I… I have to save them…!
My vision was starting to fade…
The impact shook my body.
And golden light blinded my eyes.
I couldn't tell what happened, but in an instant the hand around my throat was gone.
I fell to the ground, choking upon air itself as I tried desperately to breathe.
But as quickly as it was gone, I found a new reason to choke.
I felt it. It was so hard to understand.
It was a feeling of energy, rich and powerful, like heat, racing through my veins. My body was already air-starved, and as I tried my hardest to breathe, so too, it seemed, did the energy grow.
It flooded my body. It broke off all holds I had on myself. As I tried to rise it forced me down. I could not grip anything. My muscles turned to water.
I had no control of myself. Still trying so hard to breathe, I couldn't cope with this!
I just couldn't!
The energy rose higher, hotter. It was burning me, from the inside out. It was blistering me!
So hot!
I can't breathe!
For just an instant my eyes were able to open, and I saw the back of my left hand.
I couldn't trust what I saw. I had to be dying.
For the birthmark I had there was glowing.
And yet, it felt like it was the key, like it fuelled the burning heat inside my body.
Maybe my dying mind came up with it, like the idea that tearing my hand from my arm would stop it.
But I was still alive.
I couldn't see as the blisters swelled within me. My muscles wouldn't listen. I writhed about the ground like a fish thrown from a stream. I felt… as though my soul were being torn from my body.
Finally, as I felt my skin catch fire, like I was trapped in the centre of a furnace, my eyes flew open, and I threw back my head, unleashing a scream.
Something happened.
I couldn't understand what.
Something… exploded through my body… From my feet to my head… It seemed to cool the unbearable heat.
I couldn't stay awake.
The cooling feeling rushed through me, and my eyes fell shut.
This was death.
It had to be.
And I could not fight it.
If I could not fight it… I deserved to die.
As I fell… I fell from the world… I fell into a bottomless, black pit… I fell into death… I felt the blackness embrace me.
Come, take me. I don't deserve to live.
Suddenly a voice, something… pure, like a shining light… it cut through the darkness around me.
Do not fight it… just yet… But when you return… never cease fighting…
And suddenly, the darkness all around me did not seem so frightening.
(~+~)
"Oh… my… gods…"
I put a hand before my mouth.
This was unreal.
Impossible.
No, I had not just seen it.
Yes.
Yes, I had!
Oh, but this… this was unexpected… and it HAD to be!
The boy was young. It showed in his eyes. Those deep, blue hues. In amongst the mortal fear when he was dragged through the Curtain by the beast.
I wasn't going to think much of it, to begin with. His body would quickly fade into the realm of spirits. He'd be out of 'trouble' in a moment. I wasn't even fussed that the beast held him in a grasp that would surely choke him to death. Not that it would matter; legends told us that the Light had no shortage of courageous, or stupid, young men who were willing to charge headlong into strange situations. If by some fluke he lasted long enough in the Twilight that the beast did kill him, he was easily replaceable.
But… well, this was taking longer than I thought. The boy was choking for air. It had been several moments now, and the boy held his form.
I flitted closer to watch what was going on.
At the back of my mind, I had wondered why the beast would do such a thing, why it would drag someone into the Twilight. True, none could enter who did not come from here, but why speed up the inevitable? This Twilight would soon expand; if he stood beyond the Curtain, it wouldn't be long before the Twilight swallowed him.
As I watched, the answer revealed itself.
A burst of light exploded from the boy's hand. The beast holding him was thrown back, stunned. I had to shield myself from the blast. I held down the gasp of pain; looking at the back of my arm, I saw the small burn mark. I'd come out of the tree's shadow for a better look, and now I had a tender spot on my arm where it had been exposed to the blast.
Light magic… real Light magic…
Well, this was starting to sound less like coincidence.
The creature had pulled in a Light boy who was somehow able to resist the Twilight.
And resist, he did.
As I watched, almost gleefully at his painful writhing, I saw his hand glow brightly.
There was some kind of mark there; I could not look at it directly, or it would blind me. But the Shadow aided me; the vision it granted me in my blocked eye could withstand the Light, though it was still unpleasant to look at.
The mark glowed with a golden energy. It was too perfect a shape to be natural; some kind of triangle. What was it, a shield? A powerful charm?
Whatever it was, it had to be potent to resist the Twilight for this long. I turned my attention back to the boy.
I almost felt sorry for him. He appeared to be in agony. Dear, dear… Wasn't he expecting this? Crossing between realms was one of the most dangerous, most unpleasant things a living being could do. It took meticulous preparation. Having something to shield you from the effects was almost worthless unless you knew how to use it. I guessed the boy didn't know how to properly use this mark, and he was fighting to gain control of it.
WHOA!
The scream that erupted from his lips was chilling. Even I felt freezing cold sweep through my spine. It was a sound of pure pain, absolute agony, and with the strange ring the Twilight added to sound… It was a ghastly sound. What was he doing, playing with this power?
But even as I thought this, my awe peaked.
With a single incredible motion, the boy threw himself up from the ground and his body changed.
Fur erupted from his skin like a flower in bloom.
His head changed, becoming longer, growing a snout.
His clothes melted away to leave behind a hulk of muscle and bone.
A giant beast.
A giant, blue-eyed beast.
Oh.
Dear.
Gods.
How could this be possible?
They were stories! None of them were ever real!
How could this pitiful, pathetic, scrawny BOY, from the damned LIGHT World, be the Holy Saviour of the Twili?
And yet, it all fitted!
All of it!
The Blue-Eyed Beast!
Chills swept up and down my spine. I gripped the branch before me so hard my hands began to protest.
This was a sign.
No matter how much I doubted the Gods, I would be a fool… a complete IDIOT… to ignore this.
The Gods were testing me.
They had delivered the Blue-Eyed Beast to me.
The Saviour of the Twili.
I watched as the black beasts approached the fallen. They were unusually cautious, but the Sacred Beast was out cold. Lying prone, I recognised it now; it was a great wolf. It drew breath slowly. The creatures around it glanced at each other; the stunned one was on its feet, studying the creature on the ground. I noticed there were no marks upon its flesh, despite it having received a full dose of that Light magic blast the boy had summoned.
Or did he actually summon it? Face it: he looked like he wasn't in control. Like he'd never touched magic before.
The point still stood; Zant had created these beasts with resistance to the Light.
I added another entry to the list of his crimes.
Your death is going to take a week so far, Zant. I hope you enjoy it.
My attention came back to the creatures.
I felt sure they would strike down the fallen beast. Should I intervene? Surely, the Sacred Beast would tear out their throats in a heartbeat, as the legends spoke of?
What if… he does not know he is the Sacred Beast?
I shivered. The boy had been terrified when he entered the Twilight. It fitted now. When he was drawn in, he didn't know what was happening. Whatever that magical artefact was, it had acted without his knowledge. He had no control over any of this.
You saw how young he was. It's not impossible he doesn't understand what happened.
I grudgingly made up my mind to step in if needed, but the decision was made for me; the creatures had banded together, trussed up the great wolf and were in the process of working out how to carry it. Eventually, they seemed to settle on simply dragging it. I watched, a smile slowly gracing my face.
This was good.
There would be only one place they would take the Beast.
I chuckled silently.
Oh, this was perfect!
Too perfect!
As the beasts dragged the unconscious wolf over the crest of the hill, heading back towards the once-proud seat of power of the Light realm, I began to follow, keeping a safe distance.
I cast a glance back at the spirit of the spring as I passed it.
So… I need a Light dweller to get into the temple for me, do I? Strange how one was just dropped into my lap… Stop me now… Just try…
Oh, I was going to get that Shadow piece. All the pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place. I rolled my eyes skyward for a moment. I still don't trust you, I thought to the Gods of Twilight. But we'll see how this plays out.
Whilst I hopped between the shadows of the trees, keeping just out of sight of the black beasts, I let my mind wander. How would I greet this Sacred Beast when he awoke?
I snickered silently. Another clueless Light dweller? I could have some fun here!
The legends never said I had to like him, after all…
The confrontation with the Light Spirit came out a little more vicious than I intended - did it work?
Also, yes, Zant *is* using the Royal Plural 'we' when he speaks. When Zelda first introduces him in the game, he's referred to as the King who Rules the Twilight, and after that point, the only time we see Zant is with Midna, and we *know* about their shared hatred, so the informal 'I' makes sense around them. However, Zant's ego must be the size of the Moon at this stage... and just like in Termina, it's destined to come crashing down! :)
See y'all soon!