A/N: Okay, you're going to have to suspend disbelief here for a little bit. You know how Zelda games always change the landscape between titles? Well the first part was primarily based on Ocarina of Time, while this next part takes place in the Dark World of A Link to the Past. However, I'm not going to rearrange the geography to fit OOT perfectly, and since I grew up with LTTP, I tend to default to that game when I think of Zelda. So take the Dark World map at face value, and just assume that those trees you see on the edge of the LTTP map mean that the forest is big and the OOT desert would be past the visible part. Or just don't worry about it. ^^;

If you remember what Venus the queen of faeries looked like, you'll have no problem imagining what The Girl looks like. Even better is if you've seen The Last Unicorn, because that is exactly the look I'm going for (with wings of course). Want to know who The Girl is? Haven't you been reading thus far? ;)

I woke with a horrible gasp, and would have screamed if my throat wasn't so dry. When I tried to move, it was like fire racing through every vessel in my body. I was stiff, and everything around me was pitch black so I couldn't see a thing. There was nothing I could do, so I closed my eyes and drifted back under.

When next I woke, there was a faint glow coming from somewhere nearby. It was enough to tell me I was laying in some kind of box, so I tried to get up. Everything still hurt, but not as badly as before, so I was able to sit up and look around. I was in some kind of cave, and there was a funny little octopus man sitting nearby.

"Oh, you're awake!" When the octopus saw me, it shimmied over, and stared straight up at my face. "You know, when I found this box, I was expecting to find some BIG treasure inside. After all, who would go to the trouble of burying such a huge box, right? Well, it's just my luck that there's nothing but a girl inside. Although, some might consider you a treasure."

I shook my head in confusion. Why would I be buried in a box? Unless... "Am... am I dead?"

"Don't look it to me," it snorted. "What's your name?"

...My name? I... Hmm. What was my name?

The octopus saw me struggling in thought, and put one of its tentacles on my shoulder. "Ah, can't remember, huh? Amnesia is terrible. It's especially terrible to be stuck in this awful place without your memory."

"What is this place?" I looked around, and only saw a cave. "What's so bad about a cave?"

"OH! You don't know about the Dark World, do you?" The octopus shuddered, before wiggling its tentacles. "See these things? I'm not supposed to be an octopus, dearie. You're not in Hyrule anymore, you're in the Dark World. And the Dark World is the land where the Golden Power rests."

"...I've heard of that," I interrupted. "I can't explain how, but I know the Golden Power. It's the relic the Goddesses left behind when they created the land, and can grant any wish to the first person who touches it. They also call it the Triforce."

"Bingo. Well anyway, everyone wants that power for themselves," it explained, "so we all tried to find a way here. Thing is, the Dark World used to be called the Golden Land because of the Golden Power, and was a pure place. This land is, or was, sacred. Only the truly pure hearted could keep their shape here. Everyone else becomes what their heart reflects, what they really are on the inside. That's why I've changed into an octopus instead of a Hylian."

Oh my. "Does that mean I'm pure hearted since I kept my shape? I'm still Hylian. At least I think that's what I am... I have pointed ears and fair skin, I know Hylians have those."

The octopus started laughing. "Not quite, sweetie. Go look in the reflection of that water over there."

Startled, I stood up and walked over to the puddle. When I leaned in to glance at my reflection, I almost stumbled and fell over. I looked primarily Hylian, with long pale blonde hair and bright green eyes. The big difference, however, was the set of glittering wings sticking out of my back. I had a large and small pair, though I didn't know how to use them.

"You know, you must be one incredibly sweet girl to end up with the form of a faerie," the octopus snorted. "Makes me wonder what the heck you're doing in this crapsack world."

"I, I can't remember what happened," I admitted. I looked over my body, nothing felt different apart from the wings. I was exhausted and sore, but I didn't see any open wounds. The indigo dress I wore was a little tattered in spots, suggesting a fight or scuffle. The only clue was a small Triforce on the bustline. "Maybe I was kidnapped and locked in that box?"

"It wasn't locked, just covered up with a little dirt." The octopus looked me over some more, before shrugging. "You're too old to be Princess Zelda, wrong eye color anyway. She's the only one I'd think someone would kidnap. Besides, the people searching for the Golden Power know one man's already seized it, and I don't think he has any interest in trading it for a girl. Face it, kid, you're just gonna have to remember."

Remember? How can I remember what happened when I don't even know who I am? Maybe if I found someone who recognized me in my normal shape... "How do I get home?"

"...What was that?"

"I want to go home," I repeated. "I don't know who I am, I have no idea how I got here, and from what you've said, it sounds like this is an incredibly dangerous place to be. Tell me how to get back to Hyrule."

"There is no way back to Hyrule," it growled. "Only the bearers of the Golden Power or the Seven Sages can travel between the realms. Everyone else is stuck here."

"Nonsense!" I was so angry I yanked the octopus up by its tentacles. "If travel was impossible, then how else would people from Hyrule just end up here? There must be some way to pass through the realms, and I'm going to find it so I can go home."

As I tossed the octopus back onto the ground and started to leave, I could hear it yelling a warning after me. "You go out there, and you'll be risking your life! If those thieves and monsters catch wind of you, they'll never stop chasing you until you're caught. Purity in this realm is always stamped out. You'll see!"