Author's rant: Flying fudge! Lady Rose reveiwed! Okay, so few people probobly think that to impressive, but read her story and you'll understand why I think that kicks bum. Also, I am taking into account what she said about spacing between paragraphs. Got the same advice on another story so might as well go with it.
Chapter 3
Dark Link sung a slow little melody he'd heard once, perhaps from a bird or a mother rocking her child to sleep. The sound came out a soft murmer which melted away in the sea of equally low voices. The camp which the shadow hero seemed to be almost lost in was inhabited by figures just as dark and unreadable, making the sound of the few conversations going on the only thing to make them known in the darkened forest. Some of his fellows were shadows which he had given physical form with his new found powers while others were merely demons he'd conjured to increase his numbers. Increased numbers for the immenent assault...
They would be outnumbered by Hyrule's army, true enough. However people fed the darkness within themselves, nurtering jealousy, self loathing and the like, making themselves so much weaker then the shadows...
'And like Rilom said, with the right strategy and our superior strength we couldn't lose...' The shadow strategist's words sent a sudden chill of anticipation and dread through Dark Link. An assault would surely bring his other half to Hyrule and then he would finally have his battle. Another chill went through him. 'You dread it as you long for it...' How true those words were. About most things the shadow had seen.
A soft, slightly forlorne sigh escaped Dark Link as he sat outside his tent, his fingers carelessly toying with the Sheikah's Amethyst and the Gerudo's Topaz.
"Nervous...?" The deep, but somehow comforting voice asked.
Dark Link turned to see Rilom, slightly grateful to his only friend, slightly perturbed. Part of him had rejoiced, knowing the dark strategist could pick up on what was really happening in Dark Link's mind but something about not being able to keep the same facade Rilom did, that cool, emotionless expression, being so utterly readable irked him slightly.
"A bit, perhaps."
Rilom smirked, his red eyes glimmering with amusement. "Well, I can safely say that our scouts have spotted the Sage of Shadow and her brat nephew outside of Hyrule, supposedly going for Tirun-da..."
"So it worked then..." Dark Link murmered in reference to Rilom's original plan for acquiring the Topaz. He'd spoken of how reliant the Queen was on her former nursemaid, and if they could get one sage out of Hyrule, particularily the Sage of Shadow, their chances for success, along with his strategy for the assault, would be far more succesful. "Shadow I understand being concerned for but... Light has me more worried."
"Rauru is old, he may attempt to take part in the battle but he wouldn't last long. Magic he may have but at his age one of ours would get him before to much damage is done." Rilom said firmly, Dark Link all the more thankful he had him there. "We wait only for your word, lord... Any longer and we'll have to wait for tomorrow night and what awaits the Sage in the caves won't occupy her that long."
Dark Link looked up to Rilom, considering his statement. The man Rilom shadowed was probobly in some far off country, advising some royalty in their affairs, celebrating some birthday in his mid thirties perhaps. Children, wife who knows? He certainly didn't, and Rilom probobly didn't either. They only knew the ups and downs of their counter parts, most unfortunate since some weakness from outside influence would be beyond their reach as a result.
"I don't want another city like Tirun-da, we'd better deploy our troops now..."
Rilom nodded in approval. "I'll leave a few scouts behind, we ought to know when those two Sheikah leave or if Link is approaching... Maybe even get lucky and catch Impa's nephew, mothing to bait a trap like a hostage..."
A slow smile crossed Dark Link's face, imagining how swiftly the Heroic band of Sages, Royalty and one Hero of Time would come if one of their beloved were in danger...
"Are you certain it is wise to let her go off alone...?" Pharik asked, watching Link calmly, trying to figure out just what made the older man so powerful. 'Or just how he could be a knight...' The answer to the mystery still eluded him but he felt confident that he wouldn't need to solve it for himself with his aunt and the "knight" himself present.
"Aleka won't go to far, and she isn't completely helpless." The man replied solemnly, obviously just as unfamilier with Pharik as Pharik was with him.
"Link, this is my nephew, Pharik." Impa said, sensing the unease in the air. "There isn't much we know about what has befallen Tirun-da, but after both you and the Queen having visions I have no doubt that something has happened, I don't think we should waste time in scoping out the area."
"What about Aleka?" Link questioned.
Impa thought for a moment, trying to come to a solution he'd agree to. "If she was raised by you she'll figure out where we went and follow us, won't she...?" Link nodded and Impa went on, "If we happen across her on the way to the caves, we'll tell her to stay put, if not, one of us will stay behind." She finished, giving Pharik the 'it's-your-job-so-don't-argue' look.
Pharik sighed, shaking his head in defeat.
"Alright, so long as she isn't loose." Link said, less concern in his voice as he turned, Whitebrow at his heels as they started, the two horses not noticing as Link untied them from the tree, sure that they could escape if need be. The trio then sliped inot the darkened forest, not letting the gnawing anxiety of what unknowns lay hidden in the Mine City consume them.
Aleka let out a gurgled scream of fright as what had once been a man lurched towards her. He let out another loud moan which was answered by the preternatural howls of two dogs. One of the dogs had only one eye, the other half of its face torn away, along with other chunks of it's flesh. The other's ribs we're exposed, the bone glistening in the glow of the city.
Shaking her head, as if to deny the existence of the creatures, Aleka took a shaking step away from the monstrosities. The one eyed monster dog let out a roar at the movement and lunged at her.
'Ohshitoshitoshit!'
Turning on her heel, Aleka took a few stumbling steps before breaking out in an all out run, feeling the snap of the dogs teeth just behind her. And she could smell them, Goddesses, she could smell what had to be the entire population of the Mine City...
She could feel the two dogs gaining, clearly not as physically hampered as the human corpse. Feeling her energy starting to drain after the adrenaline rush that came with her initial fear, Aleka skidded to a stop, her hand whipping to her sword, slashing blindly at the closest of the two demons.
She fought the urge to retch at the smell and sound that came with the swords connection with the one eyed dogs head, successfully incapacitating it. Her success was short lived that the other dog jumped at her, fangs bared.
Given a bit more time Aleka would have grabbed her sheild, or had she listened to Link she would already have it out, but she didn't have time and it was to late to remember Link's lessons now. She threw her left hand up, trying to protect her face instinctivly, only to have the creatures suprisingly strong jaws clamp onto her arm and to be tackled to the ground.
The dog, or what had been a dog, seemed to sense that it wouldn't get anywhere just by sinking it's teeth into the tender flesh of the girl's arm and let go, jaws moving towards her throat before she could stop it.
She felt the fangs graze her throat before a familier, gray figure slammed into the dog, burying it's own fangs in the dog's own throat, causing it to go limp.
Aleka didn't have time to recover from the shock before two strong arms grabbed her shoulders, pulling her to her feet. Aleka felt torn between whooping with joy and crying. The hard look on Link's face wasn't exactly making her feel any less afraid.
"I thought you weren't supposed to come here." He said in a disturbingly parental and patronizing way.
"Well, how was I supposed to know that there was... um..." Suddenly she didn't feel like saying her peice, knowing that with Link's apparently prophetic dreams she should have known better. But she didn't want to think that this really was all her fault, that man, the smell... Suddenly she involuntarily began to retch.
'Those things were *hungry*! They tried to eat you, Goddess... Mothers with infants... did they try to...'
The last thought was to aweful and she puked what small amount she had had in her stomche, dropping to her knees, Link immediatly dropping the stern look. She barely noticed him or Pharik, who was already attempting to bandage her arm while Impa took out a small crystal, which emitted a pale yellow glow and Whitebrow watched the direction to the city.
"Pharik, do you think you can take her to the entrance-"
"I can go on my own." Aleka coughed, a forced grin on her face. "I don't think that anyone from the city is out there..."
"What happened to the people?" Pharik said sternly, noting the look on Link's face was dissapproving of his questioning for the moment.
Aleka's face went rigid and she shook her head. Pharik shot both her and Link and apologetic look and Link couldn't help but think how uh-Sheikan he acted. He'd known Pharik a very short while and already he'd actually seen emotion register on his face. With Impa you had to watch carefully, but this guy seemed to be prone to readable facial expression. Pharik quickly finished cleaning and dressing his arm, feeling slightly anxious to see just what had happened.
"Pharik, please take her back to the entrance." Link repeated again, this time Aleka didn't argue, starting to get the feeling that if she hadn't thrown up she would have been in for an ear full.
'You're probobly still in for one once he gets done playing hero...' A nagging voice whispered as Pharik helped her to her feet and started to walk her back. She said nothing, wishing Link would go back to his original standing of not doing anything until morning, then he would stay with her for awhile. Even if he was yelling she wanted her dad now.
"I am sorry I asked about what happened." Pharik clear voice cut into her thoughts.
"S'okay... Link told me a little about Sheikah, you guys aren't that sensitive he says..." She mumbled, feeling all the more lousy now that the two Sheikah's probobly thought her incompetent.
"No, I guess not." Pharik said, feeling a hint of amusement as they approached the entrance. He looked her in the eyes sternly, "This shouldn't take to long, but don't wander off again. Link may ask me to babysit and to be honest, I don't think either of us would find that arrangement to entertaining."
In spite of herself, Aleka grinned. "Nah, Dad- I mean Link would kill me first..."
Pharik allowed a breif glimmer of a smile to cross his face before leaving her. Suddenly he wished he was giving a babysitting job, the feeling that something wasn't right only stronger after the encounter Aleka had apparently had.
Aleka cursed softly to herself, realizing that in her rushed exit she'd forgotten her sword.
"Did you hear that?" The first, spidery shadow whispered from it's perch just above the cave entrance.
"Yes, I heard it." The second broad, winged shadow replied, chuckling.
"'Dad.'" They both hissed in unison.
"Dark Link will want to meet her." The spidery one hissed as it leapt through the air, tackling Aleka from behind.
Author's rant: Reveiw, reveiw, reveiw. I update more and such that way. Tell me what you think about it and if there is anything you wanna see happen (please note the rant about Link/anyone romance). Hope this was long enough, MoonChild!
Chapter 3
Dark Link sung a slow little melody he'd heard once, perhaps from a bird or a mother rocking her child to sleep. The sound came out a soft murmer which melted away in the sea of equally low voices. The camp which the shadow hero seemed to be almost lost in was inhabited by figures just as dark and unreadable, making the sound of the few conversations going on the only thing to make them known in the darkened forest. Some of his fellows were shadows which he had given physical form with his new found powers while others were merely demons he'd conjured to increase his numbers. Increased numbers for the immenent assault...
They would be outnumbered by Hyrule's army, true enough. However people fed the darkness within themselves, nurtering jealousy, self loathing and the like, making themselves so much weaker then the shadows...
'And like Rilom said, with the right strategy and our superior strength we couldn't lose...' The shadow strategist's words sent a sudden chill of anticipation and dread through Dark Link. An assault would surely bring his other half to Hyrule and then he would finally have his battle. Another chill went through him. 'You dread it as you long for it...' How true those words were. About most things the shadow had seen.
A soft, slightly forlorne sigh escaped Dark Link as he sat outside his tent, his fingers carelessly toying with the Sheikah's Amethyst and the Gerudo's Topaz.
"Nervous...?" The deep, but somehow comforting voice asked.
Dark Link turned to see Rilom, slightly grateful to his only friend, slightly perturbed. Part of him had rejoiced, knowing the dark strategist could pick up on what was really happening in Dark Link's mind but something about not being able to keep the same facade Rilom did, that cool, emotionless expression, being so utterly readable irked him slightly.
"A bit, perhaps."
Rilom smirked, his red eyes glimmering with amusement. "Well, I can safely say that our scouts have spotted the Sage of Shadow and her brat nephew outside of Hyrule, supposedly going for Tirun-da..."
"So it worked then..." Dark Link murmered in reference to Rilom's original plan for acquiring the Topaz. He'd spoken of how reliant the Queen was on her former nursemaid, and if they could get one sage out of Hyrule, particularily the Sage of Shadow, their chances for success, along with his strategy for the assault, would be far more succesful. "Shadow I understand being concerned for but... Light has me more worried."
"Rauru is old, he may attempt to take part in the battle but he wouldn't last long. Magic he may have but at his age one of ours would get him before to much damage is done." Rilom said firmly, Dark Link all the more thankful he had him there. "We wait only for your word, lord... Any longer and we'll have to wait for tomorrow night and what awaits the Sage in the caves won't occupy her that long."
Dark Link looked up to Rilom, considering his statement. The man Rilom shadowed was probobly in some far off country, advising some royalty in their affairs, celebrating some birthday in his mid thirties perhaps. Children, wife who knows? He certainly didn't, and Rilom probobly didn't either. They only knew the ups and downs of their counter parts, most unfortunate since some weakness from outside influence would be beyond their reach as a result.
"I don't want another city like Tirun-da, we'd better deploy our troops now..."
Rilom nodded in approval. "I'll leave a few scouts behind, we ought to know when those two Sheikah leave or if Link is approaching... Maybe even get lucky and catch Impa's nephew, mothing to bait a trap like a hostage..."
A slow smile crossed Dark Link's face, imagining how swiftly the Heroic band of Sages, Royalty and one Hero of Time would come if one of their beloved were in danger...
"Are you certain it is wise to let her go off alone...?" Pharik asked, watching Link calmly, trying to figure out just what made the older man so powerful. 'Or just how he could be a knight...' The answer to the mystery still eluded him but he felt confident that he wouldn't need to solve it for himself with his aunt and the "knight" himself present.
"Aleka won't go to far, and she isn't completely helpless." The man replied solemnly, obviously just as unfamilier with Pharik as Pharik was with him.
"Link, this is my nephew, Pharik." Impa said, sensing the unease in the air. "There isn't much we know about what has befallen Tirun-da, but after both you and the Queen having visions I have no doubt that something has happened, I don't think we should waste time in scoping out the area."
"What about Aleka?" Link questioned.
Impa thought for a moment, trying to come to a solution he'd agree to. "If she was raised by you she'll figure out where we went and follow us, won't she...?" Link nodded and Impa went on, "If we happen across her on the way to the caves, we'll tell her to stay put, if not, one of us will stay behind." She finished, giving Pharik the 'it's-your-job-so-don't-argue' look.
Pharik sighed, shaking his head in defeat.
"Alright, so long as she isn't loose." Link said, less concern in his voice as he turned, Whitebrow at his heels as they started, the two horses not noticing as Link untied them from the tree, sure that they could escape if need be. The trio then sliped inot the darkened forest, not letting the gnawing anxiety of what unknowns lay hidden in the Mine City consume them.
Aleka let out a gurgled scream of fright as what had once been a man lurched towards her. He let out another loud moan which was answered by the preternatural howls of two dogs. One of the dogs had only one eye, the other half of its face torn away, along with other chunks of it's flesh. The other's ribs we're exposed, the bone glistening in the glow of the city.
Shaking her head, as if to deny the existence of the creatures, Aleka took a shaking step away from the monstrosities. The one eyed monster dog let out a roar at the movement and lunged at her.
'Ohshitoshitoshit!'
Turning on her heel, Aleka took a few stumbling steps before breaking out in an all out run, feeling the snap of the dogs teeth just behind her. And she could smell them, Goddesses, she could smell what had to be the entire population of the Mine City...
She could feel the two dogs gaining, clearly not as physically hampered as the human corpse. Feeling her energy starting to drain after the adrenaline rush that came with her initial fear, Aleka skidded to a stop, her hand whipping to her sword, slashing blindly at the closest of the two demons.
She fought the urge to retch at the smell and sound that came with the swords connection with the one eyed dogs head, successfully incapacitating it. Her success was short lived that the other dog jumped at her, fangs bared.
Given a bit more time Aleka would have grabbed her sheild, or had she listened to Link she would already have it out, but she didn't have time and it was to late to remember Link's lessons now. She threw her left hand up, trying to protect her face instinctivly, only to have the creatures suprisingly strong jaws clamp onto her arm and to be tackled to the ground.
The dog, or what had been a dog, seemed to sense that it wouldn't get anywhere just by sinking it's teeth into the tender flesh of the girl's arm and let go, jaws moving towards her throat before she could stop it.
She felt the fangs graze her throat before a familier, gray figure slammed into the dog, burying it's own fangs in the dog's own throat, causing it to go limp.
Aleka didn't have time to recover from the shock before two strong arms grabbed her shoulders, pulling her to her feet. Aleka felt torn between whooping with joy and crying. The hard look on Link's face wasn't exactly making her feel any less afraid.
"I thought you weren't supposed to come here." He said in a disturbingly parental and patronizing way.
"Well, how was I supposed to know that there was... um..." Suddenly she didn't feel like saying her peice, knowing that with Link's apparently prophetic dreams she should have known better. But she didn't want to think that this really was all her fault, that man, the smell... Suddenly she involuntarily began to retch.
'Those things were *hungry*! They tried to eat you, Goddess... Mothers with infants... did they try to...'
The last thought was to aweful and she puked what small amount she had had in her stomche, dropping to her knees, Link immediatly dropping the stern look. She barely noticed him or Pharik, who was already attempting to bandage her arm while Impa took out a small crystal, which emitted a pale yellow glow and Whitebrow watched the direction to the city.
"Pharik, do you think you can take her to the entrance-"
"I can go on my own." Aleka coughed, a forced grin on her face. "I don't think that anyone from the city is out there..."
"What happened to the people?" Pharik said sternly, noting the look on Link's face was dissapproving of his questioning for the moment.
Aleka's face went rigid and she shook her head. Pharik shot both her and Link and apologetic look and Link couldn't help but think how uh-Sheikan he acted. He'd known Pharik a very short while and already he'd actually seen emotion register on his face. With Impa you had to watch carefully, but this guy seemed to be prone to readable facial expression. Pharik quickly finished cleaning and dressing his arm, feeling slightly anxious to see just what had happened.
"Pharik, please take her back to the entrance." Link repeated again, this time Aleka didn't argue, starting to get the feeling that if she hadn't thrown up she would have been in for an ear full.
'You're probobly still in for one once he gets done playing hero...' A nagging voice whispered as Pharik helped her to her feet and started to walk her back. She said nothing, wishing Link would go back to his original standing of not doing anything until morning, then he would stay with her for awhile. Even if he was yelling she wanted her dad now.
"I am sorry I asked about what happened." Pharik clear voice cut into her thoughts.
"S'okay... Link told me a little about Sheikah, you guys aren't that sensitive he says..." She mumbled, feeling all the more lousy now that the two Sheikah's probobly thought her incompetent.
"No, I guess not." Pharik said, feeling a hint of amusement as they approached the entrance. He looked her in the eyes sternly, "This shouldn't take to long, but don't wander off again. Link may ask me to babysit and to be honest, I don't think either of us would find that arrangement to entertaining."
In spite of herself, Aleka grinned. "Nah, Dad- I mean Link would kill me first..."
Pharik allowed a breif glimmer of a smile to cross his face before leaving her. Suddenly he wished he was giving a babysitting job, the feeling that something wasn't right only stronger after the encounter Aleka had apparently had.
Aleka cursed softly to herself, realizing that in her rushed exit she'd forgotten her sword.
"Did you hear that?" The first, spidery shadow whispered from it's perch just above the cave entrance.
"Yes, I heard it." The second broad, winged shadow replied, chuckling.
"'Dad.'" They both hissed in unison.
"Dark Link will want to meet her." The spidery one hissed as it leapt through the air, tackling Aleka from behind.
Author's rant: Reveiw, reveiw, reveiw. I update more and such that way. Tell me what you think about it and if there is anything you wanna see happen (please note the rant about Link/anyone romance). Hope this was long enough, MoonChild!