Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda.

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Darkness Falls

"Fall back!" yelled the Commander to his troops. "Fall back! Reform the lines behind the barricades! The gate won't stand much more abuse. Reform the lines! Archers, fire!"

The battle for Hyrule Castle raged on as bulblins pushed and shoved amongst their own ranks in hopes of getting a taste of man flesh.

For a time, the Southern Gate held firm, and the casualties were low. Marksmen stood high on the castle walls and fired arrows down into the infested fields. Guard towers creaked and moaned as old trebuchets from years past heaved stones of all sizes into the sea of creatures. For a time, it looked as if the walls of the castle would hold back the incoming tide, but a sudden force on the door silenced many who wished to defend her.

"They've got a battering ram!" shouted one of the warriors.

More and more strikes graced the door's frame and it held fast for awhile. It wasn't until the hinges on one side sheared off, did the men begin to loose their hope.

"We're done for..." murmured one man after another and soon all agreed as they stood in front of the gate, swords and shields in hand; they awaited the arrival of the reaper.

"Men of Hyrule! Defenders of the Royal Crown! Hear your Commander speak!"

All commotion and fears were silenced as the booming voice of the Commander called out to all within the castle walls. In but a moment's passing, the gate would fail, unleashing the horde of monsters now pushing against it.

The creatures heaved and shoved as the door broke further still, forcing cracks and breaks to appear in the frame. Many of the bulblins wore thick hides and carried weapons foreign to their kind: swords of sharpened steel, instead of jagged iron rods, now ached for blood; shields made of wood and other strange materials adorned many of their gangly arms as well as new hides from animals for extra protection. The army came surprisingly prepared, and they were not going to give up without slaughtering everyone first.

Another quick rush of the ram and the gate nearly gave way. The creatures backed up for another charge.

" Who, worthy of such an end, shall join me!?"

A roar unlike anything ever heard sounded from behind the gate. Scores of bulblins froze on sight as what sounded like a low rumble could now be heard from behind wood and stone. There were legends amongst their clan. Rumors of a terrible creature, kept locked away and hidden in the bowls of Hyrule Castle. Awakening such a beast would deal death to all who partook in its summoning.

"Keep going!" yelled their leader, clad in the darkest and finest of armor; riding the largest of the bores. "Their Courage hangs by but a thread, and without it, Wisdom is broken and useless... They are ready for the taking!"

What seemed like an eternity's worth of hesitation finally died and the ram continued to badger the door. The rumblings died down as they continued their assault. A hole the size of the ram was now present in the barred passageway. They continued plummeting, without relent, until finally the Southern Gate opened.

A swell of creatures flooded through the compromised opening of the castle. Many were now filled with rage as they searched for the first to die by their hands.

Without warning and without hesitation, another more primal roar ripped through the walls of the castle. The raiding creatures stood stupefied as the rumbling became louder and shadows of numerous proportions danced with a murderous glee on the stone walls. Fear entered their hearts as their worst nightmares became a reality.

The beast had awakened.

If the creature was of one body, or separate entities, it did not matter to the bulblins. A ruthless and evil aura surrounded the beings that lunged for their lives. A lust for blood unlike anything seen before by the bulblin warriors now greeted their front lines, mowing them down with little if any effort. A slaughter had begun, the likes of which no man ever thought possible. Courage was dying and all Wisdom lost. In such a world, the only thing left now was Power.

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The wind howled and moaned to a sad and fearful melody as Telma's wagon galloped away from the castle. The night was crystal clear and beautiful as she guided her precious cargo down the slopes that lead to the decrepit Hylia Bridge. The moon cast an eerie shadow on the ancient artifact: like a ghost from a cursed past, the bridge welcomed her with seemingly open arms, or bared teeth depending on how the moonlight hit the archway.

She remembered this place, very much so did she remember.

Flashback

"He's all yours honey, be careful now... Show us what you're made of!"

She said those words as any other caretaker would speak to a young, upstanding warrior. It was what the situation called for, from a political standpoint. But from her heart's perspective, she basically wished him well and to have a nice death.

She watched, more with horror then cheer as Link battled the King of the Bulblin Tribe. He may have looked like a stuffed, overgrown pig not worthy of the effort, but stick such a fat creature on a narrow bridge and then attempt to pass without paying the toll, and you'll learn very quickly just how much of an effort he is. She watched as Link learned this the hard way, and it was one of the more difficult things she ever had to do. The creature looked like a pushover, or rather, he did take a liking to pushing things over.

"Link!" Telma screamed as she watched the Hero get thrown off his horse. For a time, it looked as if he had fallen to his death, to the lake below, but a few more moments and his rugged and beaten frame had pulled itself back into the saddle. He escaped death this time, but the King had turned, and was looking to finish what it had started.

End Flashback

She shivered at the thought. It would be several more passes before the King would be dethroned and she and Link allowed passage. Despite his wounds, he kept going, not wishing to delay anymore. After all, a life hung on his shoulders, and Link was not one to ride lightly with such a burden.

She pulled on the reigns and the horse neighed in understanding. The fast gallop turned into a quick trot which melted away to a crawl and then to a complete stop. She dismounted her ride, checking first the horse for any strain or damage.

She brushed the creature's mane, silently thanking the Goddesses that she was blessed with a strong and healthy horse. Had it been anything else, her attempts to leave the castle behind her would have ended differently.

Flashback

"But Zelda, we must leave together!"

"No!" she yelled back, as soldiers shouted Link's name with hers and charged into battle. "I must get Epona! Go! I will meet up with you on the other side of the Hylian Bridge. Wait for me there!"

Zelda didn't give her another chance to argue for she quickly bolted out of the bar and towards the royal stables. Thankfully, they were located to the North, away from the break in.

"You must do as the Princess commands," said the doctor, coming out of the secret passage. "Go... I will stay here and tend to the wounded as best I can. We will fight until there is nothing left to fight for. It is the least we can do for the Hero."

"But what of Link? He needs your medicine!"

The doctor chuckled, "I have already told Zelda what plants and herbs she must look for and what she must do... I have chosen to stay... To repay my debt to whom I showed no respect for..."

Telma blinked several times before sighing. She knew what he was saying.

"You're going to get yourself killed if your not careful..."

To her surprise, she didn't get the kind of answer she expected.

"And you will end the lives of both the Hero and the Princess if you don't get out of here! There are bulblins and all sorts of wild creatures pouring through the Southern Gate, and now rumors of another army approaching from the West are threatening the Western pass through Hyrule... Your only hope is to head East, over the Hylian Bridge and through Faron's Gorge... The borders of Eldin are no longer guaranteed to be safe... If the rumors are true... Then the Gorons already have their hands full."

Loud noises echoed through the passage ways and found their way up into Telma's bar.

"Be damned creatures... They're even entering through the sewers..." spat the doctor. "Quickly Telma, you must leave. Take Link and flee! There is no time!"

End Flashback

He may have been a practitioner of medicine, but his knack for sensing danger was nearly as accurate as his sutures. No sooner had Telma left, the creatures invaded the town and she barely escaped.

The horse neighed silently, shaking its head, waking Telma up from her thoughts. She moved to the back of her wagon and peered inside. Link was just as they had left him: pale, sweating and in a great deal of pain, or at least, his face said so.

Her gaze traveled back towards Hyrule Castle. Distant cries of war echoed through the night and from her distance she could just barely make out the soft glow of torches that now surrounded the castle. If Zelda wasn't already on her way, there was now a chance she never would be.

"Please be safe..."

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In the heat of battle, regardless of what side you may be aligned with, very few have the ability to gaze and see everything on a battlefield. It becomes even more difficult when your enemies, or those you seek, are clad in dark robes, suited for stealth and flight. For these reasons, Zelda was unharmed and moving quickly against the dead of night.

Silently she made her way to the Northern sections of the castle, where the royal stables housed the most noblest of steeds. Such creatures, even amongst times of peace, were always kept at the ready for it had been generations since the royal family could safely reside in the stone walls of Hyrule.

After some quick maneuvering through enemy scouts and with some luck, she arrived undetected at the stables. It didn't take long to locate Epona, for she was jumping and neighing in frustration that she, of all horses, had to be tied up.

Zelda calmed the horse, patting her on the head and pulling the reigns.

"There, there..." she soothed. "We must leave this place... Quickly, to where Link waits for us."

The horse seemed to nod in understanding and lowered in order for Zelda to easily mount the saddle.

Zelda directed the horse just to the entrance of the stables where they peeked out to judge their surroundings. She could hear cries of war and of pain coming from the South, and her heart ached to go and rally her troops, but she knew of the task at hand and reluctantly set out for the Eastern entrance.

Strangely, the scouts she had passed just moments before were no longer there and her curiosity got the better of her.

"Where are they?"

Intrigued by the predicament, she passed by the entrance into the town and crept slowly towards the south, always checking behind her to see if someone was trying to trap her. She neared the edge of the wall that separated her from a straight shot towards the Southern Gate. She quietly turned Epona around, and dismounted. Careful not to betray her secrecy, she flattened herself against the wall and risked a view of the Southern Courtyards.

Death

That was the only word to describe it. Bodies of soldiers lay scattered on the ground with many more bulblins filling the courtyard with corpses. A decent number of the Defenders still remained, although now they were completely surrounded. Many of their foes scoffed and tormented them with spears and arrows, while others just killed them outright.

The Commander, along with the remnants of his army stood tall, and there was an odd spark in his eyes, the likes of which Zelda had never seen. They shone with a desire to uphold his duty, to remain calm and be the leader his men looked to him to be, but despite these noble intentions, she could see the raw fear. The Commander knew his time had come, and he was staring death in the face, if not the tools of its trade. He feared for his life, still connected to this world and because of this, the man desired to be free; He wanted to live.

The spark erupted into a blaze that burned with a tainted black flame. Abandoning Wisdom, and without Courage to stop him from doing so, The Commander of the Defenders, along with those who remained with him, gave into Power.

A call for vengeance echoed from his lungs as he charged with blind rage towards his captors. The men behind him were filled with similar ideals and they took up their swords and shields and charged along with him.

Zelda couldn't help but let tears fall as she watched the emotions overwhelm them; the lies of which that had claimed countless more before them during the Great Hylian Wars. For a moment, her mind recalled all the lectures and studies she endured to better understand the motives behind the slaughter. One word was the answer of over a hundred years strife:

The Triforce.

She knew of the importance of the unification of the Triforce, the sole reason as to why the land was not in harmony, but chaos. Legends spoke of how the Triforce itself resembled something far greater in the universe: a Great Balance that upheld everything from the most complex of ancient powers to the everyday conversations between family and friends.

She willed herself to stifle a noticeable sob for the remaining men now fought with all hell at their heels. Many of them, only wielding one sword, acted as if they controlled two, cleaving and destroying with what strength their bodies had left.

One by one, the Defenders fell, and Zelda knew it would be inevitable since they had chosen the path of Power. She turned away, not wanting to witness the end of the once proud, noble men and remounted Epona. As she did, she recalled to mind a lesson that her father had once taught her during her younger years.

"Always remember, my dear daughter... When People abandon Wisdom for fear... When We discard Courage for illusion... The only thing left is Power, and such a thing can not be sustained for long. The human heart is best suited with Courage and Wisdom, and whilst Power reigns supreme, desires of dark and unforgiving consequence often take their place..."

"But father, certainly there is hope, hope to unify such powers...?"

The King of Hyrule chuckled.

"There is always hope my dear, so long as those of noble desires still walk in this world... I shall tell you a saying that has been passed down to me, from my father... 'The Hylian spirt is like that of the mighty Triforce... When the Heart, Mind and Body begin to quarrel and separate... There will be no tomorrow for the World of Men, just as there will be no world if the Triforce forever remains unbound...'"

The young princess looked fearfully at her father.

"Now, now my dear, do not look so disdained... Those words are harsh, yes, but within them lies the greatest of all hopes... That one day, the power of the Goddesses shall once again be reunited and the world will dress its wounds and breath freely once more..."

Her mind could barely swim in the ocean of thoughts as her subconscious carefully guided her away from the battle. She had never seen first hand what would happen when such things, that her father had spoken of, actually came to pass. She remembered as she would spend hours in her study, carefully recalling, re-analyzing, researching and reapplying theory after theory in hopes of deciphering her father's cryptic message. She knew there was more behind his words then what he let on, and she would often scour the castle library, hoping to find a passage, a text, even something as so old as a stone tablet. That alone would make her heart jump for joy, but alas, no such thing was ever found.

That was, until she uncovered a very old scroll, one that had not been touched for generations. Most of it contained information of the day, nothing useful or enlightening until she came to one particular passage.

"The Judgement of Mankind shall come when Wisdom, Courage and Power unite. Two will combine by the will of the Goddesses, the remaining will force its way into their ranks. When the keys unlock the final door, the future of this world will finally be decided once and for all."

The scroll was marked to be from the a Library, location unknown.

This was why she held so much interest in the quest that Shad and Ashei partook, and of course in Link. The Lost Library of Hylia was rumored to contain knowledge beyond all Wisdom, and in her heart, Zelda prayed that in this place, she could find answers as to how to end the strife and conflict that beset her world as well as the answers to her father's words.

Her interests in Link were...

The princess fought to contain a blush, despite the situation she was currently in. Zelda was human after all, and human emotions can be difficult to control especially that of Love and Longing. But despite these factors, there was another emotion, another feeling that pulled her mind and body towards the young warrior. She couldn't quite place it, but something was pushing her thoughts, her hopes and dreams towards the Hero of Time.

Zelda was nearly lost in thought but thanks to a subtle jerk from Epona, she was brought back from her mental realm and refocused on the task at hand.

Several more cries of pain echoed from the courtyard, and although her heart wished to return, Zelda galloped through the enemy laced town and with full haste rushed to meet up with Telma.

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The Commander, slumped over with the tip of his sword caressing the ground, continued to fight to say upright. He was all that remained of the Defenders of Hyrule and his strength was finally beginning to wane.

As if sensing the man's exhaustion, the bulblins backed away, but kept their prisoner in a closely guarded circle.

The warrior's breath was ragged and shallow. His honor and valor had won over his tainted self and by neglecting Power's aid, Courage and Wisdom were allowed to return.

He went from slumping, to sitting, doing his best to try and catch his breath while still keep an aura of ferocity and danger. Despite the efforts, his captors stood tall and still as the remaining army, between him and the Southern Gate, parted, allowing a long isle to form.

The Commander struggled to his feet, to obtain a view as to what was coming. In the not to far distance, coming up the stone steps was a massive bore and an equally massive rider. The Bulblin King took his time in coming into the courtyard, his body swaying in tune with the strides of the bore. The movements were mesmerizing in an eerie sort of way, like looking at a deranged leader who walked with pride amongst his troops and yet didn't even bothering to hide the sadistic flare that ran through his veins. His troops were nothing to him, or so it seemed.

The leader of the army pulled on the blackened reigns and the bore came to stop.

"So... The Last of the Noble Bloodline stands before me..."

The Hylian looked at his enemy with a mixture of fear and curiosity. The voice of the King was not his own. A deeper, more rash individual seemed to overcome the creature. His eyes were different as well, from what the Commander could remember. What were once yellow orbs now had a tainted flare running through them and he could almost sense the presence of a dark aura.

"Shall we kill him?" asked one of the guards.

The King smirked, "No, I need this man... He is to be... my new puppet..."

The Commander looked on now in fear, trying to comprehend what in the seven hells was going on.

"Who are you?" he yelled, trying to piece together the crumbling puzzle.

"Who am I?" chucked the King. "I am you... I am the shadow of all Hylians... The darkness that resides in all hearts... I am the center of all that is desired and all that is damned..."

"Stop talking in riddles and speak clearly for once, you impertinent pig!"

This earned a laughing roar from the King as he dismounted his steed and moved towards the captor.

"I see... So you're not as stupid as the rest of them... I'll cut the formalities then. You know this body as King Bulblin... Leader of the Bulblin tribe..."

The Commander eyed the creature with a face and mind of uncertainty. Something was off. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something was defiantly not right.

"As Leader, I've come to capture the Princess of Destiny and with luck, kill the Hero of Time. They have something that I want... Or rather, need in order to... set things right... Our last meeting didn't go as planned you see, and they took something from me that I need."

The bulblins that had surrounded their prisoner began to disperse as their King drew near. He wore a strange maniac like smile, something that was very rare for his persona.

"Sad to say, I didn't die, like they had planned on... My spirit remained alive and I traveled, looking for a host to help in my quest for Power and to get my body back..."

A strange fear began to well up inside the Defender. Nothing was making sense, nothing at all was how it normally should have been, and yet he was beginning to understand in a way that he did not understand... He was beginning to understand who this thing was.

"Have you figured out why I've come to you, of all creatures?"

The Commander shook his head in response.

"It's because I can use my host's memories to my full advantage... and I'll know exactly where to find the Princess..."

In an instant the huge bulblin had the man by his throat and was holding him up high like a trophy for all to see. A dark mist swirled around them both as lightning touched the sky and thunder sounded in the distance. The same voice that came from the King of the Bulblins now echoed from the Commander as dark and ancient markings adorned his face and flesh.

The Bulblin King seemed to take several steps back, jerking as he did. After shaking his head, almost as if waking up from a dream, he looked around in curiosity and studied his location which was in a dark courtyard, illuminated only by several torches near by.

"Where... am I?"

The same twisted voice laughed out as the Commander came into the light.

"You, my most loyal subject are in the presence of the King of Hyrule... Now, shall we wreak havoc as we once did?"

The bulblin's face went from curiosity to absolute horror.

"You..."

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Morning came with an un-natural mist and slowly, but surely, light crept into the old tree house that Link called his home.

Zelda was lying on a couch in a simple night gown for despite the time of day: she was exhausted Link lay on his bed, still sweating and pale, but looking ever so slightly better then before.

The young princess yawned and stretched as she tried to get up from her unsuccessful attempt at sleep. After several tries, she found herself staring up at the ceiling, her eyes nothing more the slits as fatigue finally set in.

Flashback

"Where is it!?" the princess grunted in frustration.

"Are you sure this is where he said we'd find it?" called Telma from her wagon.

"Yes I'm sure!" she bellowed back.

The two companions had made it safely to Faron forest and now Zelda keenly searched for the herbs and flowers that the doctor had said would heal Link.

"Zelda..." called Telma.

Zelda got up from her crouched position and turned to look at her friend. Her voice conveyed sadness, with both fear and urgency.

" I..."

Telma paused as she searched for the right words. "I wish to depart from you my lady, for my own personal reasons, so long as I am no longer needed..."

Zelda frowned for but a moment before realizing where it was Telma wished to go. A small smirk found its way onto her face.

"You wish to go to Kakariko Village, correct?"

"Yes... I want to see if what the scouts said is true."

Zelda's smirk grew, "Is that the only reason?"

Telma looked quizzically before blushing ever so slightly, "Oh watch it Princess, I've got more on you then you've got on me."

Zelda laughed quietly and so did Telma as they returned to the hunt. It would be another full hour before she located all the herbs. Not bad for someone who only had a lantern in the dead of night.

As the two came near Link's home, Telma reached for something in her coat.

"After you've gotten some rest, I want you to read this... After which, it will be up to you as to what course you think you should take."

Zelda looked at the scroll in wonder as to what it contained, "As you wish... Telma, as soon as we get Link in bed, I want you to depart for Kakariko immediately."

Telma lowered her head as she brought the horse to halt.

"Thank you," she whispered.

End Flashback

She craned her neck to just glimpse at the still unread scroll that the bar tender had given her. Despite the curiosity that gnawed at her mind, she dismissed the desire and returned to looking at the ceiling.

Her eyes slowly shut, darkness forming on the edges of her sight as her body completely relaxed. Just as she crossed over to the world of dreams, a dark, familiar aura formed on the distant horizon in her mind. Unable to comprehend what it meant or even what is was, the princess slipped into slumber.

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A/N: Sorry it took so long. Finals and what not. sigh how troublesome. Anyway, reviews are welcome and appreciated. A big thanks goes to those who have reviewed. Also, I would like to add that I know this chapter kinda, sorta well sucks. It was hard to right and I just needed to get it out. The next one, I promise will be better. Well, I'm tired, so I'll see you in another time and another space.