Chapter 3: A Power Beyond Mortal Man

Dark paced the empty boss chamber of the Water Temple. Link's words kept returning to the shade's mind.

~He saved my life~

~I'm sorry~

~Thank you~

Dark fell to his knees, slamming his fists against the floor.

"Dammit! Why the Hell did I save Him?!" Dark pushed himself back up to standing, breathing heavily. He punched the wall, and furiously began pacing again. The soft 'clink' of something hitting the tile floor interrupted his brooding. Dark's red eyes searched the room for any threats, but there were none. A small black snake figurine with a bronze chain that was attached to the snake just behind its head was lying on the floor a few paces away. The mouth of the snake held a red gemstone. Dark hesitantly picked it up and bounced it on his palm before slipping the chain over his head.

"Well, now that I have a fancy necklace and a bruised hand, what am I going to do?" Dark paused, his eyes widening.

"What am I going to do? What is my purpose now that Ganon is dead? What else do I have to live for besides my revenge…" He trailed off, trying to hold back seven years worth of unshed tears.

"You will be a great hero," a man's voice said. Dark drew his sword and spun around to see…


Link fidgeted uncomfortably. Zelda smoothed his collar.

"Relax, Link. It's a banquet, not a dungeon. Nothing is going to try to kill you." Link ran his hand through his hair.

"I know, Zelda. It's just… After so long wearing all the armor and weapons, I feel kinda... naked without them." The princess smiled at Link.

"Don't worry. The only dangerous thing here is Lord Thidrek's dancing." Zelda continued to chatter about dancing and the various nobles. Link glanced longingly towards the window as the princess dragged him towards the ballroom. Link tugged his arm free of Zelda's hand as they approached the doors.

"-Link. Are you even listening?"

"Wha..huh?" was his eloquent answer. She sighed.

"Try to have fun. This is your party, Fairy boy." Zelda teased.

"Don't call me that." Link said shortly.

"Sorry. Anyhow it's time for a party. Let's go!" the princess of Hyrule opened the door and walked into the ballroom full of dancing nobility. Link followed uncomfortably in her wake.


Link leaned against the balcony railing. The cool night air whistled through the branches of the trees in the courtyard. Link sighed.

"I've saved Hyrule. Now, what?" He asked the night sky.

"Bring balance to all of reality." a woman's honey-sweet voice answered. Link spun around, hand reaching above his shoulder for the blade that wasn't there.

"You startled me. Um… Who are you exactly?" Link stammered. The woman smiled warmly.

"I am Hylia." Link's eyes widened. He threw himself into a bow. Hylia laughed softly.

"There is no need for that right now. I do not have much time. You will need this to complete your mission." She handed him a snake charm on a silver chain. The snake seemed to be made of some kind of milky white gemstone and it held a blue gem in its fanged jaws. Link slipped the chain around his neck.

"Um… What is this?" Link asked, pulling his attention away from the necklace. Hylia was gone.


Hylia appeared beside the man.

"Hello, My Darling" He said quietly, taking her hand.

"They have the Talisman. Now they have to figure out how to use it. If not for the Laws…" She trailed off.

"Now, My Dear, you know we cannot spend much time in the mortal world. Remnants of our power still exist in that plane." He chided.

"Then we must trust them to use the Talisman for its purpose." Hylia stated.

"Indeed, we must. Come My Darling."