Chapter 11

She was the Ship of the Line of the Grand Gerudo Navy and, as such, there were certain things that were expected, certain conceits that she simply had to have. A ship that size had to have a name that reflected not only her own glory but the glory of he who owned her, too. The Skullkrusher fit that bill perfectly. Hyperbole tended to be a Gerudo trait, after all.

A ship that size also had to be imposing: the quadruple engines and the immense battery of cannons helped, but amazingly enough it was the Skullkrusher's figurehead - triple dragons plated in gold with silver skulls laying shattered between each serpent's jaws - that made it truly stand out. And finally, a ship that size, much like the Skystalker, had a reputation to uphold. Multiple kills to its name. Reports of encounters that left no known survivors. Which meant only one thing: The Waking Wind hadn't stood a chance.

Ganondorf Dragmire watched the disintegration of the pirate ship with cold, copper eyes. The echo of the explosion was fading away now, replaced by the ever-present roar of the Zora waterfalls. A mushroom cloud marked the ship's last location, and fireballs sped away from there now, blazing through the air toward a high ridge of trees that sat opposite the Zora falls.

The Aveil watched, too, the flaming trails reflected in the polished purple tint of her steel mask. She felt compelled to speak. "Are they...are they all being dead?"

"I should think so, my dear," Ganondorf's rattling voice replied. He turned away. His eyes set upon the fleeing mining ship instead, the gap between the two ships growing by the minute. Her desperate efforts caused the Gerudo to smirk. "What shall we do with you, then? You cannot escape. The Triforce of Courage you hold shall be mine."

The Aveil still hadn't turned away from the sight of the destruction. "What if one of them was holding on to it?" she said. "You were neglecting to bring the Skystalker's tracking tech with us. The Triforce piece may be being destroyed now."

Irritation flitted across the Gerudo chief's face. "Well, if that is the case, then you can go down there and search their remains yourself. Bring back a souvenir while you're at it."

Now she did turn to him. "Why would I be bothering? I have told you before that I would be happy to be ridding you of it. That, and Wisdom piece you are holding onto so tightly. Isn't it better off that both are gone if you fear the Twilight Princess will be finding a way to be using them?"

"I fear nothing!" Ganondorf raised a shaking fist. "You pester me with this point time and again, and I am compelled to give you the same reply each and every time:

"This war is a sad necessity, but it is too costly. Far. Too. Costly. I can use the Triforce, harness it - once I have the other two pieces - to fuel my grand effort."

"And?"

"And also to provide for my people, of course."

"It is being strange that this concerns you only now."

He turned slightly in the Aveil's direction. "It was a lack of foresight to allow the princess to have the Triforce of Power in the first place. I seek to rectify that now." A crease folded his brow as he pondered. "And at what point exactly did you decide to start questioning my decisions? Need I remind you of the fate of your predecessor Nabooru?"

She offered no reply to this. Satisfied, Ganondorf turned back to the chase. The mining ship was a dark shadow now, framed in the glare of the mid-morning sun.

"Whisp," he said as that self-same sun reflected sharply off of his Darkhide armour. "Are you certain she can't go into warp?"

A fairy glowing with purple dark energy hovered into view. She wasn't an ordinary specimen of her race. no; in fact 'ordinary' would be the last word any sane person would use to describe Whisp. An oversized bare skill represented her head and her eyes burned with blue fire within it. "Yesz, Maszter," she buzzed. "The Skullkrusher's interdiction tech hasz szeen to that."

A smile spread lazily over the Gerudo's features. "Excellent." He held out a palm. "Scope."

A snorting moblin minion shuffled up to him and placed a tan coloured telescope into his hand before backing off in haste.

"Now," Ganondorf said, his voice hungry as he placed the scope to his eye. "Let's bide our time before we disable her. I want to see the fairy's face up close. I want to see the whites of her eyes expand in fear. I want to taste that terror, see the realisation of her own fate blossom over -"

He looked up abruptly from the scope, looked back again, looked away aghast, then looked back one last time.

"Maszter?" Whisp said after a moment's pause. "Isz anything the matter...?"

Ganondorf Dragmire seemed momentarily lost for words. "That fairy," he said. "She...she just made an obscene gesture at me with her hands!" Anger flooded into his face. "Stalk her! I want to tear her wings off personally for this! Her filthy hands, too!"

A blue spiral burst open in front of the mining ship's bow. All aboard the Skullkrusher flinched. Shocked, the Aveil stretched her eyes, the enhanced vision her mask gave her funnelling in on the other vessel. She could just make out the shape of a tiny figure waving - and then the mining ship was gone, swallowed by the warp gate.

Silence fell over the Skullkrusher's deck. Her multiple sails flapped gently under the faint spray of the nearby falls. None of the moblins dared look in Ganondorf's direction. Whisp looked as stunned as a floating skull possibly could. It was her, though, that would bear the brunt.

Dragmire's lips twitched. "Explain."

Agitation rippled over Whisp's skeletal face. "I...I cannot...I apologisze, Maszter. I've never szeen anything like it. No fairy should be able to break interdiction tech. No one ever hasz. I ask humbly for your forgivenessz."

Burning copper eyes glared. "Can you at least trace her?"

"I - I'm certain I can. It will take a few minutes but -"

"Do it."

As the fairy went to work, the Aveil slowly turned back to the pirate ship's remains. A grey cloud still hung there, slowly fading in the wind. If a featureless mask had the opportunity to look wistful then the Aveil's would have just right then.

...

Link was on fire.

Or, to be more specific, he was in wrapped in the centre of a fiery ball. Flames encompassed him but strangely - and to his relief - not a single one scorched even a single hair on his skin. He'd be happy about that if he wasn't, at that moment, almost paralysed with terror.

It was these self-same flames that were keeping him up, a realisation that wasn't all that comforting. Fire was his only barrier from plummeting straight to the ground. Fire. This wasn't like when he was dangling from the Maximus by his hookshot. At least, he had had a modicum of control then. Here, he'd never felt more helpless. Or more fragile.

The fireball's current trajectory also concerned him - it cut through the air in a heated arc, making a direct line for a canopy of trees. Faster it sped, faster and faster. Burnt air, acrid and tang, wrinkled his nose. Fire rippled around him and spat in his ears.

Out of the corner of his eye, through the flicker of orange and red, he caught the sight of The Righteous Maximus as she escaped through a warp gate.

"Good for you, Nav." He had to say it out loud. He needed to hear something sane in the bizarreness that now engulfed him. His eyes widened. The tree line was growing larger and larger, juddering at all angles in his sight. Rough flight, this certainly was.

The only thing now separating him and death by branch were all these flames all around, and they should have reduced him to a cinder in the first place.

He yelled as the fireball hit. His heart hammered so hard he thought it might burst right there and then. Branches and leaves whipped across his eyes, then blackened and dropped to ash instantly as the fire swallowed them whole. Link grunted as he was rocked violently from side to side. The fireball careened off a tree trunk, sending his whole vision spinning, then cracked sharply against another, fragments of blackened bark flying away as result. A jolt ran up his spine.

The ground loomed up unsteadily in his widening eyes. Closer and closer it came. Link saw forest animals flee in alarm. Adrenaline fuelled fear soared in his veins.

The fireball struck. A gout of earth sprayed into the air as it ploughed its way further along the ground. The flames instantly went out. So did whatever had been protecting him until then. The forward motion sent Link tumbling awkwardly into the hard ground.

He reached out, trying to slow himself down, but nothing met his fingers except more dirt. The fleshy part of his back hit a boulder, more pain ran up his side, and he flipped inelegantly into the air before hitting the earth again, his scabbard jabbing into his back, and coming finally to a stop. He lay there for a moment, back throbbing, his body quite literally bruised and battered. Clouds drifted lazily overhead in a brilliant blue sky. Then, slowly, he sat up, panting, his hands draped over his knees drawn in toward his chest.

A violent shiver suddenly ran down the entire length of his body. For a moment, he forgot all about Zelda, all about his mistakes, his fears and loathing, he forgot all about himself and let himself drown in a sea of gratitude at being alive. He clung to that feeling and, as he did so, he began to feel some of the darkness in his heart momentarily subside. He clung to it because, after all, who knew how long it would last...? Maybe it was this feeling that Rauru had meant when he'd advised Link to know without thinking.

Link took another moment to orientate himself. He ran a quick mental diagnostic on himself. Bruises and cuts, yes, but no broken bones. He flicked open the leather pouches on his belt. Triforce of Courage? Check. Hookshot bracelet? Check.

The world still swam in his vision. He squinted. Was it just him or was everything around here glowing slightly...?

Twigs snapped overhead. Fire hissed and spat. Link looked up, broken out of his thoughts, just in time to see a whole phalanx of similar fireballs crashing into the forest. Each and every one of them tore into the ground, flames vanishing as the living shapes within became apparent. They slowly rolled to a halt in the clearing, and Link soon found himself surrounded by the groaning forms of the Tech-Pirates and his friends. It was Captain Tetra who first raised her head.

"Ow," she moaned, her palm pressed against her brow. "Ow. Ow. Ow."

Link stood up. slowly at first, then, when his footing was sure, with more confidence. "Captain Tetra...?"

"Can't. Speak. Pain."

"Are you hurt?" Link pressed. The detritus of the forest hissed under his boot. Somewhere in the back of his mind he noted that there was an odd sound to it. "What's wrong? I can help."

Tetra waved him away. "Just scratches. I'll be fine."

He looked around the clearing. "Anyone else?"

"What are you, then, matey," said Senza, brushing scree away from his clothes. "A doctor?"

"As a matter of fact..." Link half-shrugged, a gesture of sheepish acknowledgement. "Left my gear on my ship, though."

Tetra spoke again. "Agh. We should've just stayed with Ruto and those noblewomen back at our safehouse in Castle City. We were too open over those waterfalls, far too open. Idiot mistake." She blinked dirt away from her eyes. "That was Dragmire's ship. I can't believe he snuck up on us like that. He's got stealth tech. He must have." Glumness hung from her face. "The swine."

"The blue blazes is this place?" It was Gortram, looking around the clearing in awe as he sat flat on his rear.

They all joined him in looking. Link realised that the earlier glow he'd spied hadn't been a trick of his pain-riddled mind after all. Pulsing indigo energy lined each branch, rock and leaf in the grove. Tree trunks were mapped with the same circuit-like pattern, all bathed in that throbbing radiance. A squirrel scampered into view. Its bushy tail had been stamped with circles of energy, its eyes twin tunnels of pure purple glow.

"Someone's been busy," said Link, cautiously stepping forward. Another twig snapped with a buzz under his boots. In the distance he could still pick up the dull rumble of the Zora waterfalls. "Captain Tetra. Didn't your Eye in the Sky ever pick this up?"

She shook her head."We don't have time or the inclination to track everything, you know."

"Hey." It was Saria. "Hello. This is all simply swizz and all that, and I know you guys just love a mystery, but I personally just want to know one tiny little thing: What happened?" She let the question echo around the clearing. "How the heck are we still alive?"

"Emergency Protocol X-T-Nine," the pirate captain explained. "A neat, experimental and very secret piece of tech."

"Yet you happen to have it," said Link.

Tetra smiled. "I never expected to use it. Last resort sort of thing."

Link eyed her patiently. "What does it do?"

Tetra gestured all around. "You can't tell?"

"Alright," he replied. "It saved us. Excellent. How is what I'm after, yeah?"

Some animal howled mournfully in the distance. Tetra ignored it. "When the ship is in mortal danger, all energy is diverted to providing temporary shielding for each and every non-fairy living thing aboard."

"Non-fairy?" Link prodded. "So Spryte is -"

"Gone." Tetra's voice was flat. Leaves rustled overhead. "Yes. She had to stay aboard to activate and maintain the tech. To make sure all energy was diverted in that very last moment."

Link didn't say anything to this. He didn't think anything he had to say would help. Saria, though, didn't share the same philosophy.

"Gosh," she said. "I'm sorry."

Tetra responded only with a thin smile. "So," she said, changing tack. "Nothing like a brush with death right after breakfast, is there?" Her smile widened. "We all here? Roll call, people. Gonzo?"

"At your service, Miss Tetra."

"Senza?"

"Check."

"Nudge?"

"Aye."

"Mako? Zuko? Niko?"

As all three made their acknowledgements, Link strode over to Gortram and helped pull him to his feet. "You good, boss?"

"I'm fine," the Goron replied. "Saria?"

She'd already made her way over to them. She nodded in greeting.

"Alright, people," Tetra called, slapping her palms together. The sound echoed through the forest. "Let's get moving, shall we?"

"No," said Link. All eyes turned his way.

Tetra blinked. "No?"

"I say we stay right here," he explained. "Navi'll come back for us."

Gortram placed a gentle hand on Link's shoulder. "Navi thinks we're dead, son."

Link shook his head. "She's a clever girl. She'll figure it out."

"Not unless we can get in touch with her," the Goron replied. He glanced over at Tetra. "Can we?"

"Not without a com," the pirate woman replied. "And I mislaid mine in the chaos. Sorry."

"I've got mine," said Gortram, his fingers brushing his lapel. "But if she's warped then she'll be out of range now."

Link wouldn't budge. "I still say we wait. Navi will find a way."

"Excuse me," said Tetra. "I am the captain here. I decide."

He threw her a cool look. "Gortram's a captain, too."

Tetra snorted. "Yeah. Of a mining ship. May as well be in charge of a paddle boat." She glanced over at the Goron. "No offence."

Captain Gortram's face twitched slightly, but remained blank and impassive in reply.

"Nonetheless," said Link. "I still say we wait."

Tetra shook her head, eyes rolling. "Look around you, Link of the Kokiri Settlement," she said. "Does this really look like a safe place to be? With all this...dark energy?" She flicked at a nearby tree. It crackled in response.

Link did as she said - looked around. He chewed the inside of his cheek. "I don't see any immediate threat."

Tetra pressed her lips into a thin line. "Army boy."

One of the smaller pirates noisily cleared his throat. Tetra looked over in his direction, one eyebrow arched. "Mako? You got something to say?"

"Ah. Yes." He flicked dirt from his overly large round glasses. "Um. Begging your pardon for being so forward, but maybe we could wait here a day, Miss Tetra...? And then if the young fairy lady doesn't turn up, we could be on our way...?"

"Excellent," said Link, before anyone else could reply. "It's settled, then."

Tetra glared at him. "Fine."

"Um," said Saria. "Out of curiosity, where exactly would we go?"

The pirate woman shrugged. "Away from here. Out of this forest. I don't know. Maybe we could get in touch with Prince Ralis." She shrugged again. "Anyhow, looks like we're making camp here later tonight." Something glittered in her eyes. "Want to help find some food, kid?"

Her voice was pregnant with implication. Saria got the hint. "Sure."

Tetra turned her attention to her crew. "And I don't want to see you swabbies lazing about, either. Get this clearing into ship-shape condition. Like I said, we bed here tonight, and I don't want anything nasty bugging me while I sleep. Might still be morning now, but I'd rather we be prepared. You're in charge, Gonzo."

The big pirate nodded. "Aye aye, Miss Tetra."

"I'm taking the girl to forage for something to eat." She looked over at Gortram. "If that's alright with you?"

"Just don't go too far," he grumbled.

Tetra saluted, her teeth shining as she smiled. "Yes, Daddy." She clicked her tongue at Saria. "Let's jog on."

Link watched the young girl trot over to the pirate. He spoke under his breath. "You sure?"

The captain of the Maximus nodded. "Sheikah don't harm their own."

Link looked up at his friend, held his gaze for a heartbeat, then turned back and called out, "Captain Tetra."

She stopped in her tracks and turned around. "What?"

Link let the moment linger. An insect buzzed in the gap. "Thanks," he said finally. "For saving us."

"You what? I was just saving myself," she said. A smile ghosted over her lips. "You lot were just in the way."

Link grinned. "Right."

The pirate captain winked, then turned and headed deeper into the undergrowth. Saria trailed behind her.

"Reminds me of home," Link said softly. "Minus the light show, of course." He watched as a grunting Niko, his face strained red, tried to pull a fallen tree trunk out of the way. A stone had caught under it, and the little pirate hadn't noticed. Link turned his regard back to his captain. "You seem to have a bit of know-how regarding the Sheikah."

"'Bit' is the key word, lad." Gortram's voice was soft and low.

"Not like your passing interest in the Gerudo, then?"

"It's good to stay informed, lad. These Tech-Pirates know all about that."

Link smiled. "You sound less like them and more like Saria. You sure you've not got a copy The Whistleblower's Guide to the Races of Hyrule stashed away somewhere?"

"Ha!" The Goron grinned. "Nah. I prefer things a bit more hands-on, lad."

"Okay," said Link. "The Sheikah, then."

"I encountered some in the Badlands. That's all there is too it, snag?" His voice dropped an octave. "They were all but dead then."

"How'd you end up there?" Link gently prodded. "The Badlands, I mean."

The Goron seemed reluctant to answer. "It wasn't a good time in my life."

"Not the best place for a time out, hey? You get criminals going there on the run."

Link had only meant the words as a joke, but the shadow that flitted over his captain's eyes made him instantly regret them.

"Like I said," Captain Gortram explained slowly. "Bad day. Needed to prove to myself that I could do a bit of good. And when I stumbled across Saria and her momma...well, how could I resist, snag?"

His friend said no more, and Link didn't want to push him. Instead, he watched as Niko continued his losing battle with the rebellious tree trunk. With a smile, Link rubbed his still-aching back, then made his way over and surreptitiously kicked the stone away when Niko was too distracted with his own exertions. The trunk slid easily.

Niko blinked in surprise. Link winked at him. "Good job."

The small pirate flushed with pleasure. "Thanks."

Gortram caught up a moment later. "You know, lad, I was thinking."

"Yeah?" said Link.

"If that pirate woman is right, then, for whatever reason, Ganondorf can't kill your Zelda."

"So Tetra says."

"Or she's guessing," Gortram replied. "I mean, if he really can't kill her, why doesn't he just get someone else to do her in for him?"

Link ran the implications of that in his head. "So you're saying he's using her...because he can?"

The Goron shrugged. "It'd be the kind of thing he'd be into. To amuse himself, like. Just a thought, mind."

It was, and Link held on to it for a very long time.

...

Tetra crouched beside a bush, a berry-laden limb wet with dew nestling in her palm. Saria stood at a distance, watching and waiting. The pirate woman looked over at her.

"Do you know which ones are poisonous? And which aren't?"

"Nope."

"Never got that sort of Sheikah training, I guess."

"Nope." After a pause Saria added, "We were too busy running for our lives, y'know?"

Tetra nodded. She stood. "Well, these berries aren't the type we eat anyway."

Saria, finally taking an interest, peered down at the bush. "I don't really like the way they're glowing."

"No," said Tetra, smiling. "Me neither."

"I think everything we find here is going to be like that. Glowing."

"I think you're right." She began to walk off. "So. How are you feeling? Afraid? You don't show it."

"No, actually," said Saria, trotting after her. "I like it here, I think. Well, not like exactly. It's when there's lots of people. Too many people. That's when I get spooked, y'know?"

"Ah." She kicked a clod of earth out of their path. Dark energy sprinkled out in front of her like an exploding star. "Bad memories?"

"Something like that, yeah."

Tetra didn't press her for more. Saria hadn't finished yet, though.

"Um," she said.

"Yeah?"

"Did you know my family?"

Sadness flickered over the pirate woman's face. "No. Sorry." Her eyes continued to search for something more edible. "But I'm thinking. We should stick together, you and I. What do you say?"

Saria smiled. "Are you going to teach me some spooky Sheikah stuff?"

Tetra grinned in reply. "I'll try."

The younger girl shrugged. "Then I'm game." She waited a moment before adding, "But I think you're sad, too, y'know? You're hiding it as well. It's in your eyes."

"Hardly," said Tetra. "Got over my folks a long time ago, girl."

"Not that." Saria's voice was soft. "You're sad because you've lost your ship and your fairy. And your Eye in the Sky thingy. I think they were important to you." A miniscule shrug touched one shoulder. "Just sayin."

Tetra blinked in surprise. She opened her mouth to reply, not entirely sure what she was going to say.

A twig snapped. Tetra came to a halt. Her mouth slapped shut. She held up a hand. Her other hand fell to the crossbow hanging from her belt. Saria froze.

They could hear the distant thunder of the waterfalls. A bird hooted.

Something rustled in a bush.

"If there's anyone out there," Tetra called, her eyes narrowing. "Show yourself now."

Another rustle followed. They held themselves still. Tetra felt tension coil in her every muscle.

Something moved.

Tetra's hand flew up, crossbow in hand, finger on the trigger.

And then stopped as a snake slowly slithered into view, its stripes aglow with dark energy.

Saria let out a breath. Tetra relaxed, her crossbow arm dropping. She looked over at the younger girl, hoping to smile some reassurance to her. And that's when they heard the second twig snap.

This time Tetra wasn't quick enough. A group of Zora dropped from the trees above in a grey blur. They landed in a crouch, then slowly drew themselves upright. The blue-skinned creatures bore primitive spears of wood, twine and steel. Their fins expanded and contracted with their every breath. These were like no Zora Tetra had ever seen before. That point was punctuated further by the dead, empty sheen to their eyes.

Tetra threw out a protecting arm in front of Saria. "Slowly now," she whispered through clenched teeth. "Let's get back to the others."

"What's wrong with them?" Saria hissed.

"I don't know," Tetra replied. She watched as the Zora made their ponderous approach. One jabbed a spear in their direction. Tetra kept pushing backward, taking Saria with her. "I don't think they're right in their collective heads."

"Zombies?"

"Something like that."

They cautiously backed off. Tetra kept her eyes fixed on their slowly pursuing foes. Her head snapped to the right at the sound of more shivering foliage. Another Zora slowly rose from the green and purple undergrowth. Then another. And yet more. Tetra felt a tight lump in her throat.

A slow tide of grey and blue tracked them all the way back to the clearing. They didn't find much relief there, either. Their friends were in the same sticky bind - surrounded.

Tetra's crew had formed a circle, back to back in most places, and those with a sword or a knife brandished them with menace. Link and Gortram stood at their side, the younger man's sword humming softly in his hand.

"Miss Tetra!" Gonzo gasped as he saw them approach.

"Glad you could make it, Captain," Senza added, his voice tight.

"Miss Tetra," Gonzo went on. "Bit of a problem, yeah?"

"Honestly," Tetra spat, trying to keep the tremble of fear from her voice. "I leave you in charge for one minute and what happens? You go and screw it all up."

"Saria!" said Link, darting a glance their way.

"You're safe!" barked Gortram. "Over here, sprog!"

Saria didn't need telling twice. She slid in behind her two friends as Tetra took up a position beside Link.

"You've got a plan, right?" the pirate woman said.

Link's eyes tracked the slow movements of the Zora now hemming them in on all sides. "Yes."

"Good," Tetra replied. She swallowed the sour taste from her tongue. "Care to share?"

"No."

"It's that bad?"

"Probably."

A heartbeat passed. "Are you, in fact, making it up as we go along?"

"No." Link's affront quickly wilted. "Well, yeah."

"SILENCE!"

Branches shivered in chorus as birds set flight in sheer panic. The new voice halted everyone in their tracks, hunter and prey alike. The horde directly in front of them peeled apart, revealing a huge throne borne on the shoulders of four straining Zora. Atop the black chair, swaying from side to side, there sat a cloaked figure with eyes lined with the glow of dark energy.

He held up a hand to call his procession to a halt. The Zora set the throne down onto the ground. Link and his companions waited as the newcomer eyed them with cold dispassion.

"I am perturbed," the man said at last. "What is this I spy? Trespassers on my land. Trespassers stumbling onto my little secret. An accident? I say to thee nay!"

"My name is Captain Tetra," the pirate woman called as she stepped confidently forward. "And these are my friends." She indicated with her head. "Our ship was destroyed. We didn't mean to land here."

The mysterious newcomer ignored her. "Trespassing. Say it. Mince not your weasely words. Have you no gumption? Are none of you man enough to admit it?"

"It wasn't our intention to trespass," Link said. "Accept our apologies and we'll be on our way."

"Penalty, penalty, not without paying a penalty," the cloaked figure replied. "What tribute shall I extract? Ah ha." He pointed at Tetra. "I will seize the exquisite young lady. For the rest of you miscreants: A ten minute head start. And then I let loose my Zora. Tarry not, I say."

"You what?" cried Tetra. "You want my fist to meet your face, you say? I'll be happy to oblige."

Laughter flew from the cloaked man. "Oh, I do like it when they get all feisty. All that energy from such a delicate flower."

"Delicate?" Tetra's eyes narrowed. "Now you're just taking the -"

"Perhaps I should just reconsider my terms, hmm?"

Link held his ground so hard he could feel his boots sink into the earth. Hard determination sang in his every vein. He wasn't going to let history repeat itself here. He'd failed Zelda. He wouldn't her sister.

"Why do you want her?" he asked, his voice carefully level. "For what point and purpose?"

"Nothing sordid, I assure you," the mystery man replied. "I wonder - shall I reveal myself to these barbarians? My grand discovery, should it be given an audience? This little part of the forest is the result, of course. These Zora, too. Strange the effect dark energy has on their minds."

"The point," said Tetra. "Get to it."

"Ha! I like, I like." He chortled. "Here. A bone for you. The tech in our world, it draws on the substance known as Zayronite, yes? Well, what would you say if I unveiled to you now a new truth. That I myself had discovered another way to procure the energy that we so greedily crave. Another source. True, it is but merely dark energy alone at the moment, but you must forgive a work whilst it is very much in progress.

"With this source, the world will soon know my name. Ganondorf? Midna? Nay, soon they will call me king."

Link didn't look impressed. "We're still none the wiser."

"And my ears hurt," Saria whispered.

"The hearts of young women," the cloaked figure said. "I have discovered a way to draw energy from the very hearts of young woman."

"Right," said Link.

"Do my ears deceive me? Was that doubt I just heard? Perhaps, merely a smidgen? I am besmirched!" He spread his arms wide to indicate the whole forest. "How, then, did I achieve all this? Hmm? Impressed now, are we? Shame that one's too young." He indicated Saria with his hand. "But I'll take what's offered."

Link's sword hummed louder as he brought it to bear. "No one is being offered."

"Be a man," the stranger snarled, "And use your brain."

"Be a man," Link retorted. "And fight me for her."

Tetra rolled her eyes. "Oh, please."

"No," Gonzo chipped in. "Let me. I'll fight for Miss Tetra, yeah?"

"Excuse me," said Tetra. "No one's going to fight for me except me."

The cloaked stranger chuckled. "Now this is sport. Fine, then. A contest, shall we say. No need for fists. Two on one. Let's see what the lady has to offer. Her and, ah, you -" he pointed a long finger at Link - "can assist."

Gonzo's face darkened in displeasure. Tetra's barely looked any better. Link, on the other hand, clenched his free hand into a fist and smiled. "Excellent!"

"Indeed," the dark figure replied. "Your approval pleases me greatly. " Faint humour laced his words. "The two of you up against a real man like me. Ha! Oh, what is that? You have something else you wish to petition me for? I have not introduced myself, you say? How remiss. Positively uncivil."

His words held the hint of a sly smile. "Ghirahim." He stood, and his cloak billowed out from behind him. "Yes. Ghirahim; revered be my name."