A/N: Pending revision. I just couldn't wait to get the chapter out to you, guys. Fresh out of the oven. I have included a couple of notes at the end explaining some trivia about the elements used in this chapter.

Told ya I woudn't let this die. Let's get going.

Chapter Thirteen

Eternal Darkness

There was a story Link had heard once when he was little. A travelling merchant fled across the desert from pursuers. Believing them to be bandits, he ran and ran until he could hide behind a rock. Stricken with horror, he readied his bow. Three shots rang true, killing his assailants. Unfortunately, his last arrow missed the last bandit's face just by mere inches. Crying and praying to the Goddesses, the merchant pleaded for justice to be done. Enraged, the bandit took him back to the camp. There, the man was tried and convicted for the murder of three of the bandit's friends. In the end, they had been chasing him to give nourishment and shelter, as they could see the man was delirious from the heat and dehydrated. After the conviction, he was sentenced to death by stoning.

The Goddesses had brought about the divine fist of justice, as they had been asked.

Tales from the dawn of humankind. Myths and legends that swam in the currents of time, seeking out toddlers to lend them their advice. This was the natural cycle of things, and he had known it. The story was nothing more than a warning, a cry for help from the ancient peoples on the outskirts of Hyrule. It taught children to be dutiful, and to never judge others, lest they get the stones. The irony was not lost on Link: it was pretty easy to stay civilized because of the fear of death.

He had been travelling for a while. Now, they were resting. A cave on the southernmost part of the Desert was their location. Filled with heavy currents that came from the deep, it was a safe refuge from the heat. For days he had been on the verge of dehydration, suffocating under the iridescent daylight.

In the darkness, the bandit dwelled. She approached him, and offered a pouch full of water.

"Drink up while you can", she said. "We still have the final trek up ahead."

There were three pendants for him to obtain. Already Farore's pendant, representing courage and the energy of life, was his. Din and Nayru were next. The desert province, a barren wasteland if there ever was one, held the pendant of power, apparently belonging to the first of those two. Link had been doubtful that such a wasteland could hold anything of value, but his master had reprimanded him, telling him not to ever doubt the power carried in the sands.

Now that he was here, he could see it clearly. Miles and miles of golden seas and nesting grounds for vultures were his welcome. Nabooru had guided him there, away from the village, the soldiers running closely behind them. The rain had receded, and eventually they had reached this region, were no water remained. The bandit's people lived here, occasionally setting foot outside, into the swamp and Lake. Poor in garments, their eyes held a certain strength that he could only envy. They were strong in the broken places, and they had become survivors over time. A dutiful people if there ever was one kind such as that, and no one would ever know of their existence beyond tales and legends.

"I tell you boy, you need to get a move on if you plan on reaching your precious palace."

"I'm moving, all right", he said, getting up from the stone floor. "I thought your camp would be nearby."

"We are not going to the camp just yet. I'm sorry, but we're going to focus on getting you to your destination first. Then, you can rest."

Their trip took them across the sandsea, down into the planes of aridness. To their right, brown mountains stood tall, a series of caverns forming a serpentine hollowness on their insides. In front of them, the blue sky shone bright, while the blackbirds circled around and around. His boots were stuck in the hot ground, and his garments barely protected his skin. The hands had been blistered by the Moldorm's poison earlier, and he had not yet taken the necessary medicine. One miscalculation led him to trip over a black rock and fall into the sand, making him swallow the yellowness of the desert. Coughing the hot substance, he despaired for a moment. This place was far beyond the simple cobblestones of his village.

A simple mule had been bought on their way, before this journey started. Nabooru had been quick to explain that this mule wasn't meant for transport, but for carrying supplies. The animal, covered in black, hard hairs, walked slowly, under the strain produced by the fireball, clearly trying to stay alive in vain. This beast was a fighter, and the bandit adored that. Eventually, the sun went down. Another campfire was set. Link did not speak to Nabooru. During the whole day, he had been quiet, trying to appear as strong as her, enduring and bending, but never breaking. There was just something off about it, as he didn't feel natural doing it. Lying on one side, his right ribs being stuck under the combined weight of his own muscles and organs, he started to cry, though in a softly manner. He could feel tough and act as if he was invincible during the day, but it was a different story at night.

Cold was the word to use in this exact moment. Opening his eyes, Link could see that Nabooru had stood up from her makeshift bed. She was staring at the darkness, as if searching for something in the distance. Curiously, he stood up. He was shaking uncontrollably from the cold, but there was something unnerving about her stance and gaze that made him shiver more. Her aura radiated a power he had no seen ever before. A skin tanned by the agonizing sun and eyes filled with the vibrant colors of the wild, such was the appearance of the bandit girl. The boy clothed in green could never hope to achieve the kind of serenity a girl with her upbringing had, but he could yearn to understand it. Claiming that kind of strength was the true measure of power. He approached her.

"Fire's gone out." He said.

"I noticed. I'm sorry I didn't do anything, but dawn will be here soon."

"It's all right. So what's the plan?" He followed her gaze. A rock formation lay in the distance, almost camouflaging itself among the mountains. "I've followed you for days now."

"And if it wasn't for me leading you, you'd be dead by now. You'd do best to keep your complaints silent, boy."

"We're headed over there", she said pointing at the formation. "That book you carry. It spoke of three statues, correct? Well, that's the only place that sounds remotely similar to what it described. We'll go there in the morning. By now, you should rest."

"All right. I hope that's where the pendant is."

"It must be there. But I think I should accompany you. You'll need the protection. The place where pendant is called the Desert Palace. It's… Not a safe place to be alone."

"Then why do we not gather more people at the village?"

"You do not get it, do you?"

Evidently, Link did not. All she ever did after he explained in detail what his mission was, involved in being cryptic and silent. She said she knew where the statues described in the book of Mudora were, but that was all she did. Afterward, a series of long trek in this forsaken valley of sand followed.

"My people tell many stories. In our belief, the Goddess Din, creator of rock and the physical realm came to our lands to favor us. She made a fraction of her power in the form of something tangible. Some say it was a pearl. Others say it was a pendant. Whatever it was, she hid it deep inside the Desert Palace, awaiting a hero. Tradition tells us that whoever goes there must endure the trials of power. This means that whoever finds the hero must train him and help him get to the pendant, but with no outside intervention, or else he won't understand the value of inner strength. Everything I do, Link, I do it in your benefit. I thought you were a boy when I saw you, but I have a feeling there's more than meets the eye with you."

Link stood tall and silent, letting the wind speak for him. A faint light illuminated the sky, giving it a grey hue which would soon announce the coming of the Morningstar.

"How do you find that inner strength, Nabooru?"

"I don't know. You just do, I suppose."

She kept going. " My sister was kidnapped by bandits months ago. Our patriarch, Aginna, says it wasn't the work of mere bandits. He insisted that there was another faction involved. At first, I couldn't believe it, and chose to despair instead. This did not help, so I started going near the village. I think the priest took her into the castle walls. So you see, that's what's kept me going all this time. The thought of seeing my sister alive again."

"What if she wasn't alive?"

"Then I guess my rage would be a nice substitute for the comfort of hope." Link thought for a moment on Rusl's scarred body and badly cut up, but he pushed the memory away.

"How long have your people lived here? I thought they inhabited the outskirts of Hyrule, mostly."

"Many of us do. We come from a proud race, though, and we like to keep our traditions. It'd be best to stay here, doing our duty and protecting the realm. But things are changing now. Aginna says the time for seclusion is over. I still do not know what he meant by that. Sometimes, I just think the world is moving too fast, and I want to go back in time, just for a bit."

Link looked at her. For once in so many days, in the hellhole known as the Desert Province, he did not feel alone. He'd need this memory for the trials that awaited ahead. Morning would come soon, and their pursuers were not that far behind.

They went down a steep hill of sand, through the blazing and scorching trail and traversed the dead lands. Buzzards flew by, their shadow stalking the two as they went along. The sunstar looked bright in the sky, giving it a pale blue color. After them, the mule followed, being slow in its steps, careful to maintain balance. The weight of the water and food contained in the bags atop its back was sometimes too much. It simply wanted to rest, but its masters did not stop until they had reached the beginning of a new trail, one made of granite and hard stone. The formation that loomed in the far off distance turned out to be a gigantic set of stairs. It led into the mountains ahead, and three heads as big as small fortresses stood tall at the top. This was the fabled entrance to the Desert Palace.

"This is it, right?" Nabooru asked. "I think this is the place your book mentioned. You'd best pull it out and see what you can find in there."

"Sure. Might as well get this over with," Link said. "At least there'll be shadow inside the palace."

"I wouldn't be too keen on entering it if I were you."

"But you're not, and you're used to standing in the sun, so I might as well follow my own advice."

"The palace is ten times worse than the hottest parts of the Desert. Long ago, when this was a known region of Hyrule, some said this used to be a prison for the worst criminals in the kingdom. A fabled mirror stood tall as a gateway to a demonic dimension, made to entrap murderers and rapists. Eventually, the practice ceased and the prison was rebuilt into a temple for cults. After that, it was made into a Palace to accommodate the richest men around, with the Pendant awarded to us by Din sleeping deep within its walls. Some say, however, that the old days of barbarism remain trapped there as well, especially now that the place has been empty for centuries. Dark visions wait for anyone willing to challenge the goddess of power."

"You keep talking about the time when this was a well known place. What happened? How did this fall into disarray?"

"You're too young, and there's not much time. It's better if Aginna explains it to you."

"Everyone's cryptic these days," Link muttered.

"I thought you said you had been in contact with the princess. I would assume you'd have access to private knowledge."

"Not really. Besides, we haven't talked in a while."

"Do you worry about her?"

"Yes, but I'm not sure if I should compromise her position."

"Maybe you should. After all, it would help clear your mind off things to speak with an equal."

"I don't think she and I are equals. She's-

He was cut off by the sudden intrusion of a loud noise. A tremor was felt underneath his feet. Something was moving under the ground, between the grains of sand. It looked like a monticule that began to move left and right, leaving trails of the hot substance behind. Soon, it revealed its true form. So appalling it was, Link drew his sword immediately.

Large and beastly, its eyes were white and lacking pupils and they glowed like diamonds. Its arms conveyed strength and imposing ferocity, with hands twice the size of Link. It opened up its jaw to let out a roar, as impossible as it may have looked to Link at the moment: the creature did not just move between the sands. It was made of sand.

"Boy, be careful. Head for the stairs while I distract it."

"But-

"Obey me. Head for the stairs."

Link simply grunted and ran towards the man-made structure. The creature moved swiftly behind him, but Nabooru was more careful. Her figure, while lacking muscle, had been trained to compensate and focus on other assets, such as speed and precision. Her scimitars were held with extreme delicacy and efficiency, as if it was a dance of contortion and not a combat to the death. She avoided the creature's lunges, already used to dealing with similar threats on a daily basis. Letting the monster gain some terrain to lure it into a sense of security, she made use of its limited thinking capacity to rapidly agitate it and tire it. This left the monster open for an attack with her blades. They entered with ease into it, hitting a soft core that levitated within the sandman. Not wanting to be left behind, ironically, Link tossed out the last bomb he had in his pocket. Catching the monster off guard, the bomb's extreme heat crystallized it briefly, impairing its movement. Nabooru used the opening to deliver a coup de grace into its head, shattering the being completely off the face of the desert lands.

Falling to her knees, she exhaled loudly, sweat falling down her chin. She looked at Link intensely for a moment.

"That… Was one the many creatures that roam the Desert. It is a normal occurrence, especially in the past months. This is only a kid's game. You'd best prepare yourself for the trials inside the palace, little boy."

"Are you all right Nabooru?"

"Just read the book and tell me what you can find in there."

Letting her rest, lying on all fours while the sun fell on her back, Link reached for the book inside his bag. As he opened it, he noticed Nabooru took off most of the rags she had put on, exposing her slim figure better. She made a knot with them, tying it around her waist. She probably was about ten years older than Link was, but her actions made her look older at times.

"After we're inside the palace, there's no need for the protective garments," she explained. They're more often a nuisance in combat, anyway."

Link nodded silently while he looked at the old, dusty pages of the book of Mudora. His uncle had trained him in old Hylian since little, as it was one of the many things a knight of Hyrule should know by tradition. Link disliked the lessons, but he still followed them, since he loved the idea of being a knight. Now, it made little difference whether he liked it or not. He had to continue with the journey, one way or another.

There was a section of the book dedicated to the Desert region, and within those chapters, a description detailing what appeared to be the Palace could be found. The words were archaic, speaking of curses and riddles in the dark. Measures and counter-measures that had been set in motion ages ago in order to deter intruders. He skimmed through it quickly, looking for the relevant part. At last, he found it: the entrance to the palace.

"I got it, Nab."

"Nab?"

"You know… Nab, for Nabooru?"

"Don't ever call me that again."

"All right… Anyway, I found the thing relating to the hidden entrance."

"So what does it say?" She approached the set of stairs, dragging the mule along. She sat and rested on one of the steps. Meanwhile, Link stood up and pointed at the top.

"You see those three statues?" At the top, three faces looked downwards at them. Their demonic expressions were not comforting, in the least. The rock was green and putrid in appearance, and they seemed to be molded into the mountain itself, like a beast or dragon crawling out of a cavern, ready to tear the world apart.

"Yes, I see them," she turned backwards without standing up, evidently saving her strengths for the real deal. The combat with the monster had taken a toll on her. Link hadn't quite understood she had done it so that he would have a full disposition to enter the palace and face its horrors.

"Well, the one on the left hides a secret. In the past, the king blocked the passage to the palace walls to deter invaders. This was one of the main entryways inside, so they had to put up a fake wall inside the statue's mouth. Apparently it's just an illusion, and we can pass through."

"That's it? We just go an enter the mouth of the statue?"

"That's what the book says. Wanna give it a try?"

"Well, we came this far. All right. Show me the way, boy."

They went up the steps, hoping to get away from the sun. He remembered back in the day, when Rusl would call him impulsive. All he ever wanted was an adventure. His home was furnished with comfortable beds, plentiful food and soft breezes brought about from the nearby forests. It was his home and he yearned for more. Din's eye gazed down upon him now, as he went up the final steps into her chambers of endurance. Nothing could ever hold him back now. As much as he might try, Link had to admit he had a certain liking for this. Seeing the world had been his dream all his life. He only wished it wasn't under these circumstances. His legs were weak, his skin was burnt, and his hands looked amorphous under the poisonous effect from the worms. He took a sip from the water bottle when he reached the top and offered the rest to Nabooru, which she refused. Something about her made him feel guilty. He was supposed to partake in this test in order to gain the right to touch Din's pendant, a divine and holy relic. Yet his female companion was the one doing most of the heavy lifting. Was this not a test of power? Surely she deserved it more than he did. All he ever accomplished was following the orders of Rusl, then Zelda, then Sahasrahla and now Nabooru's. Thinking about it made him feel small and weak, so he ignored it. He reminded himself why he was doing this. Zelda had lost her parents just as he had lost his uncle. He could not let the priest get away. All he ever needed to do was obtain the Master Sword after getting the three pendants and then… He wasn't sure what would happen next. All the time, he had assumed the role he was meant to accomplish was being the messenger, yet the realization that there was maybe more to this was dawning upon him. But he did not have time to dwell on this. He had to trust Zelda would know what to do once she got back in power. But how sure was he of that?

The three statues looked more than imposing when they stood in front of them. Not having time or patience to gaze in wonder at them, Link and Nabooru headed for the one on the left. A mountainous terrain stood behind the structure. The palace had been built inside the caverns, infested with shadows and roamers of the dark. Approaching the stone creature's mouth, they saw the wall at the end of the tunnel. Nevertheless, they persevered, and kept approaching. Eventually, they realized something: There wasn't a wall. It was in fact an optical illusion. Two sets of walls, placed meters apart from each other, waited for them at the front, forming what appeared to be a mini hallway within the tunnel itself. Marveled at that, Link looked at his partner of the last few days.

"Are you ready, boy?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"The palace doesn't feel close to me. It's the exact opposite. Cold, distant, as though it rebels in our very presence."

Built for imprisonment, converted into a temple, only to end up as an abandoned royal construct on the edge of a haunted wasteland, the structure had become an abomination on earth. Its main hall was decorated beautifully, to be sure. Ornaments decorated the walls, golden in color, reflecting the desert sand from outside. An air of religious fervor floated in the air, passing through the candelabras and red carpets that extended through the room. In the distance, countless of opened rooms and ancient statues lined up the hallways. But this was only a mere shadow of what the palace once was. The entire floor had been drowned in dirt and sand, making it difficult to traverse. Certain animal sounds could be heard coming from outside, or from some other rooms. They had to be careful when crossing this abandoned lair, as it was not the home of the gerudo anymore. Link could feel it too, but he detected something more than coldness. Something was inhabiting the temple, an oppressive force banging against the columns and windows. Was this the power of the Goddesses, ages long dormant? It gave him the worst sensation he could feel in his life. His lungs barely breathed, and the darkness was suffocating, not a mantle that protected from the sun. Carefully timing his advance, he walked forward, sword and shield in hand. This clearly wasn't like the Eastern Palace.

As they moved, something else did too. From the sand, two creatures rose. A low growl was heard. Green skin, long, elongated bodies, rows of teeth on a circular mouth pointed skyward. No eyes or nose. They rose in the air, gasping for oxygen, before going inside the sand terrain again. Holding on to his weapon, he waited with Nabooru for the beasts to come near. Soon, they were inches away from them, and their swords struck. He trembled while pulling the blade from the beast's carcass, as if his mind was still stuck in the moment. They had not moved far from the entrance and already he was questioning how much time had passed. The looming darkness looked uninviting, but he pressed on anyway.

"Leevers. These beasts are rare in the Desert. These must be their nesting grounds. Let's be careful."

"Over there," Link pointed. "Let's keep moving."

A hallway was their next destination. Crossing the stony path, he noticed several inscriptions in old Hylian. He couldn't read well because of the dark though, and maybe today wasn't the moment to be reading old writings. Walking by candlelight, he suddenly felt his right foot pressing a tile on the floor. Before he could do anything, an arrow launched itself from the left, grazing him in the leg. The poison stung him like the most powerful bee of all, extending and flowing through his veins. He fell to the floor, the arrow still stuck inside him. Nabooru would have to help him.

"Link!" She yelled out. "Don't move."

"What in Din's name was that?" He said, barely moving. "It's burning me."

"More poison. Probably made from Lanmolas."

"What are those?"

"Nevermind. It's a powerful insect that only the bravest warriors hunt for their poison. The arrow that shot you looks ancient, when those things were less scarse."

"The arrow… It was shot from the wall."

"I know. It was most likely a trap set here. You'll need to be careful when moving."

"Just help me get this thing out, please."

Nabooru nodded. The poison had already entered his bloodstream, and he felt nauseated. There was little they could do about that. Nabooru knew that, unless they reached the village soon, Link would probably die. But there was the matter of the pendant… She would have to extract the arrow and do her best.

"Please hurry, Nabooru… It's burning."

"This is going to hurt." She said, placing one hand on the tip of the arrow. She pulled it out as fast as she could, and Link let out a scream unlike anything heard before. Getting to work, Nabooru applied some water and bandaged the wound in some of her rags, putting some herbs on top of the wound to help stop the bleeding. Lying back, Link let the weak medicine do its intended effect, while a groan of pain escaped his lips.

"Are you able to continue, boy?"

Link thought about it one moment. He knew he couldn't stop now. The faster they moved, the less time spent enduring the pain. Standing up, he fixated his vision on a nearby wall, trying to calm his sensory experiences and numbing effects brought about by the local drugs and fauna. If he kept his strengths, he might make it. Somehow, he doubted this. Still, he nodded, and pressed on through the hallway, avoiding any traps this time. There were several tiles that were raised slightly above the rest, giving them away in less obvious manner.

Link avoided all traps until he reached a staircase. It led downwards. Focused on the task at hand, he held on to the left wall while he plodded downwards. He rejected Nabooru's help, though she offered it several times, especially when he was about to fall down. Some rats scurried down the ledges too, but he ignored their presence.

Downstairs, something expected them. A large hall, lined up with several torches, and covered in sand. Only something was amiss. The torches were lit. Someone had been here before. Holding on to Rusl's blade as hard as he could, he looked everywhere, until something caught his eye. A strange chest was half-buried in the sand. Curiously, he approached it. Before he could touch it, however, several figures rose from the sands. Re-animated skeletons and more living statues attacked. His reflexes were not as agile under the straining effect of the Lanmola poison, so still relied on Nabooru's help for combat. She moved swiftly, tackling any foe and taking on any danger. Roars and slashes resonated within the palace, the female bandit running between the arms of the foes. Link, his knees barely supporting him, Moved slowly, only attacking the weak spots of his enemies. A skeleton threw him backward, but he blocked an attack with his shield, killing it shortly after.

Falling on the soft ground, he closed his eyes while Nabooru finished off the last few creatures. His head was hot, and he was sweating and drenched in the liquid. He could not continue. Breathing heavily, he approached the chest to see what it was. Inside, a pair of bracelets awaited him. Something about this treasure did not feel correct. Putting the bracelets on, he sat down to rest.

Suddenly, a surge of power awakened him. It was evident something different was happening. He felt stronger and in charge now. The poison was still in effect, but now there was something else inside of him. Nabooru looked at him, and then at the bracelets.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel… Stronger, somehow." Link looked at himself. "I think it's the bracelets. They seem to have an effect on me."

"That's good. We need to get going then. The faster we're done with this, the sooner I'll be able to take you to the village so they can help you heal."

Not wasting a second more, they moved backwards, going up the stairwell covered in rats, and through the treacherous hallway. Beyond the main hall were other rooms. A repository for knowledge, once a library that was now covered in dust and ants. A dining room with broken tables and flies and bats fluttering about. There were more monstrosities waiting in the basement levels, but Nabooru insisted on going to the upper floors instead. The entire area was infested with insects from all kinds. In the third level of the building, elevated stone bridges closed the gap between one extreme of the palace with the other. His companion had not been joking when she spoke of the grandeur of the past. Labyrinthine forks were made in the air, and on more than one occasion they almost lost their way. Eventually, one of those paths led to the outside. Dubitatively, Nabooru and Link exited the area.

The outside wasn't much more inviting. Night had fallen. How long had they been in those dreadful mazes? A sandstorm was raging outside, so they had to cover themselves with Nabooru's rag as they stuck close to the mountain walls, seeking another entrance that might lead them to the top. In the darkness, amidst the currents, a figure moved. They could not recognize it, but they followed the strange person in the storm, running almost as fast. Eventually, they were led back inside the Palace.

The interior was dark, to no one's surprise. This room was near the top of the mountain, hidden behind the main palace. A set of stairs led into a circular area. Sensing something was not right, they drew their swords once again. How many times had they done that since the entire journey had started? The strange person was waiting for them below. On the other side, more stairs led into an upper chamber. Something told Link this was it. This was the place he had spent so many days looking for. The pendant was near.

Stepping inside the arena, the figure turned towards them. The sensation of going in circles and repeating actions one too many times enveloped Link when he saw who it was: Viscen.

He looked unwell. His armor had not been washed in a long time, covered in mud and dead insects. Holding his spear with caution, you could see rage and bags under his eyes. His skin looked pale and uncomfortable to be in. This was not the lone soldier Link had briefly met near the beginning of his journey. How long had it been since then? Months? It was almost unbelievable.

"Oh, you did manage to follow me."

"Viscen, what are you babbling about?"

"I thought for a moment you might get lost on the way to the pendant. But here you are at last. Good. If you hadn't, the sandstorm might have led you into some of the other chambers this Palace has to offer, and we don't need that, do we?"

"Why did you lead us to the Pendant? You're not welcome here," Nabooru said, holding tight her scimitars.

"I'm not welcome here? Dear child, I know quite a lot about this place. Even more than you do. The Gerudo people that lived here in the past… Oh, if only you knew…"

"What is it with you?" She roared.

"It's not him, Nabooru. Someone else's speaking through him. It seem the curse finally got to him. Or am I wrong… Your majesty?"

"Ha! Right you are, young boy. Well, in a way. I normally let Viscen lead his own devices. I just wanted a chance at seeing your efforts briefly. Don't worry, I'll let him play with you in a bit. I have other matters to attend to, after all."

"You're extremely overconfident, Agahnim."

"Perhaps… If you could see what I could see, you'd understand why." He moved to the side, spear in hand. "This place… A repository for all sorts of ancient aberrations once lay here. Now, it is seen as a place to test your strengths. How curious these people are. Memory is a fickle mistress after all. Well, you two. Why don't I give you a bit of a show? Allow me… To jog your memory."

With that said, he raised the spear in the air, and proceeded to hit the ground. For a moment nothing happened. Then, the earth began to shake. Something moved under the sand, larger than the monster they had faced near its entrance. Then, another tremor followed. Soon, another joined in. From the ground, a large, serpentine body jumped into the depths of the room, before borrowing itself in the sand. Three of these beings had arrived. Larger than the mere insects Link had seen near the lake, the pincers on these worms were gigantic, with three eyes looking at him maliciously. They let out loud screeches, and thrashed violently as they moved underneath him, seeking to eat both Nabooru and himself. Viscen stood there, smiling.

"I'll leave the good soldier to play with you two. Do not betray my expectations."

It was time. Viscen launched an attack, just as the three worms launched themselves up in the air. These were the fabled Lanmolas Nabooru had spoken about, sleeping inside the Palace's walls for ages. Nabooru tried to launch herself at the human attacker, but the earth tremors proved too much and almost knocked her down. Turning towards one of the beasts, she let out a cry for help as she ran to deliver a swift strike.

"Link! Take care of him while I deal with these!"

Obedient as ever, Link poised himself for combat, confident in Nabooru's abilities and in Sahasrahla's teachings. His sword strike clashed against the spear. He would soon learn the error of going in blindly, as Viscen's weapon was of a longer range than his measly sword. Keeping Link at bay was easy for Viscen, but he had to compensate for the reach with the small delay in each strike. A skilled combatant could possess extraordinary skill with the spear, but neither Agahnim nor Viscen had much knowledge with this weapon. Agahnim, a priest, had left the body in any case, and the soldier had been chosen more because of his commanding abilities than renowned strength. Nevertheless, he had more experience than Link, and could best any of his fellow soldiers. He made sweeping motions, keeping the boy on his toes. A grin was stuck upon his lips, as their weapons collided in the shadows. Mobility was impaired due to the tremors, and the nausea was still holding on to Link. He still pressed on bravely, using all of his learned techniques. A move to the left, then strike. Blocking with the shield, followed by a bash. A ducking motion, and a stab. Two rapid horizontal slices in quick succession to distract Viscen and never let him get the upper hand. This left his right leg open for attack. He slashed at it, and the soldier screamed in agony, his movement now as limited as Link's. The young man knew the key to victory was to never let Viscen lead the fight. If he did, his superior experience would best him in no time. But there was the unknown factor to take into consideration. Nabooru struggled with the three beasts, while most people would barely be able to take on one.

She jumped to the side, stabbing one in the chest. The creature roared, now intending to go after her. This was the moment she had been waiting for. Its red eyes now exposed, she went after them, hitting the creature square in the face. This had an unfortunate side effect, however. Her scimitars soon got entrenched in the creature's mouth, and it proceeded to bite her as strong as it could. Falling to the ground, dead, Nabooru clutched her right arm, also collapsing due to the poison. She had received a higher dose than the one contained in the arrow that hit Link. He was all alone now.

"Oh, seems things are getting interesting!" Viscen exclaimed. Enraged, Link slashed at him repeatedly. Viscen tried a few maneuvers, but it was evident something had taken hold of Link, and none of them knew exactly what it was. Waiting for the perfect opening, he bashed Viscen with the shield once more, before knocking the spear aside with one final strike. Dropping both his blade and shield in a rage, Link jumped at Viscen. The strength of the bracelets became apparent to him now. He grabbed him by the neck, easily holding the adult man in the air for a brief moment.

"Enough," Link muttered. "No more." He threw Viscen against a nearby wall, leaving the man unconscious.

The Lanmolas leapt at Link, and he redoubled his efforts. Grabbing the bow and arrows from his back, he waited for either of them to leap in the air. No sooner had one done so, he launched one directly at its eyes. So strong was the impact, the creature's skull broke in two and fell to the ground in mid-jump. There was only one left, and this one altered its tactics.

Tunneling quickly through the sand, it avoided showing its face or leaping high into the air. For years it had accustomed itself to eating lone prey, such as insects and stray dogs that wandered into its domain. It did not think, it did not care about any quest. Vomiting putrid smells and being darkness in essence, it only cared to gorge on the young flesh it had detected. A lust for power and blood had reawakened within it, one it had not felt since its brethren used to hunt in packs for the Gerudo people, aeons ago. And so, the Lanmola circled around Link, intending on devouring him whole, starting from the back. How it longed to crush the boy's bones and drink his blood. It had become an expert in detecting small steps in the earth, and now that its brothers were dead, it would be a simpler task. Rising silently from the ground, it opened up its mouth, before moving with the speed of a lightning bolt. It would have been a definitive victory, had Link not turned around in time to deliver a final blow by throwing the nearest object at his disposal: his shield.

Vomiting blood and spending its last moments without vision, the worm thrashed about the room blindly before crashing into a nearby wall. If it had known its lesser family, the Moldorms, had already tried that tactic with Link, it would have probably changed strategy. Rocks falling on its body as a makeshift grave, the Lanmola breathed its last.

He headed off to check on Nabooru. She was barely moving. Somehow, she managed to speak a few words.

"Head for the pendant, don't worry about me. I'll stay here and wait," she said this laughing at her own joke, but it was clear she was in pain. Link looked at Viscen. He was unconscious from the battle. He could make the effort and hurry to the pendant. Nodding, he let her be and headed towards the stairs.

The final chamber, ruined and filled with Sand, contained the Golden Statue of an ancient elder, a former thief mistress that had become a hero when her homeland was attacked. Though she died in battle, her actions were remembered for centuries. In her hands, she was holding a red stone: Din's Pendant.

"Link… Is that you?"

The voice was unmistakable. It belonged to one but Zelda.

"Yes, here I am."

"It's been weeks… Where are you?"

"I'm near another Pendant of Virtue, princess. I think that's why I'm able to talk to you. But I haven't much time, I have an injured friend to take care of."

"I understand. I've been inside the chapel during all this time. There are strange movements on the rise, Link."

For a moment, he thought about it. Finally, he decided on asking.

"Princess, I think we should meet. There are many things that have been spiraling out of control during the past few weeks, and I think you should know what we're up against."

"I think you are right. I also have found a way to communicate better with you, but you would need to come to me, first."

"That sounds like a plan. All right. I'll grab the pendant and set a trail to the church as soon as I take care of my friend."

"Be careful, Link."

"No need to worry." He approached the pendant. It was luminous, its crimson surface illuminating the room. Another surge of strength was felt. Evidently this was the real deal. He could not waste much time, though. He had to return to Nabooru.

By the time he got to her though, things had changed for the worst. Viscen was gone, having run away as soon as he could. Desperately, Link approached his companion. She was livid and shaking from the venom. The poisonous effects of the worms were affecting Link too, just a bit more slowly.

"You passed the test… Didn't you boy? You've demonstrated power beyond the impossible."

"That's not true, Nabooru, you did most of the heavy lifting."

"Nonsense… You still, don't seem to understand where real power comes from. It's all right… One day you'll understand." She sounded weak, almost like a phantom about to vanish forever. "Link, I'm sorry, but I think you'll have to guide us to the village… Head east, until you see a tall red flag. After that follow them… They lead towards our ancient village…"

With that, she fell unconscious. Like gasped in surprise. He was alone in the palace, now, with a half dead thief by his side.

There was a story Link had heard once when he was little. It told the tale of irreconcilable differences, prejudice, and divine retribution. He had always hated the sad ending, as it felt tacked on. He proceeded to carry Nabooru on his shoulders before making a run for it, leaving the decaying palace behind.

A/N: This chapter's title comes from Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem. I admit it's the least symbolic or relevant name out of the rest of the chapters, but I liked it. Also, it helped me picture the boss battle at the end. I must have listened to the Final Boss theme from that game for quite a long time.

On Nabooru: This particular Nabooru may be a descendant of the original. Or maybe not. In any case, she's not a reincarnation, she was just named after the original sage.

The Desert Temple is a mixture of the Spirit Temple and the Arbiter's Grounds, and just as creepy.

On Viscen: I chose Viscen's name out of a random character from Majora's Mask. I thought the second dungeon could use a tougher opponent, so I went with Viscen, as he is just the right ammount of efficiency and out of his depth.