Sam blinked his eyes up and found himself looking over at the second bed in the small room. Lara was still sleeping, though she looked more like she was in a coma. Sam sat up, stood and checked Lara for a pulse and warmth in her skin.

"What the heck happened before?" he asked himself out loud. "That never happened in the game..."

'Maybe it was back fire from the spell?' Another voice in his head said.

'Sage, what're you doing in my head?' Sam asked.

'Old habit, sorry. But I think it was back fire from the spell. Do you know what she used?'

'No. As soon as we got into the room she lied down and fell asleep right away.'

'If we knew what the spell was she used I could probably keep it from happening again.'

'Just cause you're half elf-'

'-And Lara's creation-'

'-doesn't mean you know everything.'

'Well some of us want to think we know everything. Anyway, get her up, there's some kind of tournament being held.'

Silence filled Sam's mind. He sighed then lightly shook Lara's shoulder. She opened her eyes and looked up at him.

"What?" she asked.

"You've been sleeping for a while. And the fair has opened."

"Oh." She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

"Now then," he bowed slightly and held his hand out as if he were a noble prince. "Would you accompany me, m'lady?"

They walked through the city and to the inner-most building. This was where the fair was being held, as well as a tournament. Sam wanted to enter the tournament, and he knew that Luke would probably enter it as well.

Just ahead of them Sam saw the others were standing next to the sign-up desk for the tournament. He and Lara ran over to join them.

"So who wants to enter the tournament?" Lavitz asked.

"I want to," Luke said.

"So do I," Sam laughed.

"I'd enter too but I don't think any of the men here would like being beaten by a woman," Lara said. Sam notice a slight twitch in her voice. He glanced at her and noticed a look a worry in her eyes. He wasn't sure what it meant, but something wasn't right.

"I'll get us signed up then," Luke laughed.

As he went to the desk and the three girls began to talk, Sam turned to Lavitz.

"Somethings wrong," he said.

"You had the same feeling then?" Lavitz asked.

"Listen, while Luke and I are in the tournament, you gotta watch them." He motioned to the girls. "Especially Lara."

"I take it Seth has some score to settle with her?"

"Not sure if it's a score to settle or if it's just pure hatred of his creator. Just don't let her out of your sight, okay?"

"You got it. I'll watch her as if she were the daughter of the king."

A short time later the tournament began. Sam was picked to go against a ranger in the first battle of the competition. It was a quick battle, the ranger was hit just once and surrendered.

Next Luke fought with a stronger foe, a swordsman. This battle lasted for a time, but Luke's small body build and quick stepping helped him win. Two battles went on before the next round.

Sam now fought against a heavy built man. For a moment he thought this rival was a Giganto. He shook his head and told himself he'd taken the part of the only Giganto that remained in this world.

The battle was once again short, though Sam took a blow to the head before the other man was disqualified for cheating and was arrested. Sam sat in the lobby for the tournament and waited for Luke to come back in.

He knew Luke wouldn't win. His fight had been against Llyod. He was a silver haired man with amber eyes. He played an important role in the game, but for now he was just an annoyance. Luke staggered in and fell to the ground.

"Luke!" Sam exclaimed. He helped the fallen teen up and onto the couch. "You okay? What happened?"

"That guy," Luke coughed. "He's fighting for real. He was going to kill me."

"You sure?"

"Positive."

"And now, for the final match of the tournament, Llyod the silver swordsman versus Sam the giant!" a voice from outside came. "Which will claim the crown of strongest man in the land? We'll find out right now!"

"I'll be right back, don't go anywhere," Sam said.

"Watch out for his sword, it burns like fire," Luke replied.

Sam walked out into the clearing. Llyod stood opposite him, holding his weapon in battle stance. Sam sighed, then brought out his ax and held it tightly in his grasp.

A gong was struck, the two rushed at each other and began to slash at each other. Just within the first few moments, both jumped back from each other and leaned against their weapons. Both were sweating and gasping for air. Llyod might have been faster, but Sam had the advantage of knowledge and wits.

There was a crash. The audience was running around in a mix panic and screams. From where they were, neither Llyod nor Sam could see what was going on. Something jumped down to the fighting ring. Sam recognized it at once. A Twilight Messenger.

That must have been what she'd felt before. The Twilight was coming and she'd known it. But why hadn't she told anyone else?

Llyod killed the Twilight creature with a single hit. He turned to Sam and nodded to the entrance. They both ran out to where the crowd was running for the exit.

"Sam!" Sage called. She ran up with Sun from the rushing crowd. "We can't find Lavitz or Lara anywhere!"

"What?"

"They said they were going to go check on something and just left," Sun explained. "They've only been gone for a short time, but the Twilight creatures might be looking for all of us."

"No, it's not all of us Seth is after. He's only after Lara."

"But why?"

"I don't know. Get down to the lobby, Luke was hurt pretty badly in the last fight."

"What about you?" Sage asked.

"I'm gonna find the other two--"

"Alone?"

"You have a better idea?"

"No, but--"

"Listen, I don't know you very well. I don't know Sun, Luke or Lavitz very well. But I know Lara, and I'm not about to leave her wondering alone."

"You care for her like family."

"She's my best friend, wouldn't you do the same?"

"I did once...Or rather, I would have done if I had the chance."

"Maybe you will."

Sam turned and ran out of the stadium, leaving Sage to gaze after him. He rushed through the crowds as they ran in all directions, seeking shelter in houses or leaving town all together.

A Twilight Messenger suddenly fell from one of the roofs and died at once. Sam stopped dead in his tracks and looked up. Lavitz and Lara were jumping roof to roof fighting off the Twilight creatures.

Lara was wearing her original outfit when she and Sam and first been kidnapped and taken to Hyrule. Either she'd gotten new clothes, or her powers were strong enough to change her clothes colors.

"Sam, look out!"

A sudden wave of heat flew past Sam. He whirled around to see a Twilight Messenger burning to ash. He looked up to see Luke standing—or rather, floating—a few yards away.

"Where are the other two?" Luke asked.

"Up there," Sam said. He pointed to the rooftops.

"Lavitz!"

"Wha-?"

Lavitz suddenly crashed to the ground with a thud and a snap. The two ran to him and help him up.

"What happened?" Luke asked.

"That woman-!" Lavitz exclaimed. "The one from Hellena!"

Sam looked back to the roofs. Lara was dodging magic attacks from the woman in black. He stood and transformed to his Dragoon form.

"I'm going up there," he said. Without waiting for the other two to say anything or start to argue, Sam took off from the ground and reached the two on the roof in just a few seconds.

"Sam, what're you doing?!" Lara gasped.

"Helping you!" Sam replied. He landed on the roof, created a rock from thin air and threw it at the woman. The small boulder shattered before it hit her. "What?"

"I've tried magic, nothing works!"

"Just give up!" the woman sighed. "Emperor Seth is willing to make a deal with you."

"Whatever it is, I'm not interested. Can't trust that scum bag."

"Oh?"

Sam felt his hearing aid explode and heard just for a second Lara cry out. He fell on the roof and lost his grip on the Dragoon Spirit. He was himself again, but a wave of fear swept over him before he passed out. His hearing aid had shattered to pieces.

Big update! Yeah, been working on this forever. Sorry it's a bit late. And no, Luke and Sun haven't been forgotten, but I don't feel I can properly describe how they act since they are married. Anyhow, gonna edit stories for a while. There won't be any updates on this for a bit.