They traveled through the wastes left by Ganondorf's passage quietly, almost somberly. To Sheik it seemed as if they were a funerary procession. It was as if someone had died. He supposed that for Link and especially Saria, the devastated forest around them was essentially a death if not many deaths. He wondered too, how much the Princess and Malon were affected by it. Both had grown unusually quiet since they'd entered the desolation. All around them lay the burned out stumps of once might trees and there was no sign of bird nor beast. Sheik couldn't help but think that he'd find more cheer in a graveyard when compared to this dismal place. That a single man could be responsible for so much destruction seemed unfathomable to Sheik, but he reminded himself that this man had command of a dragon and who knew what else.

"I smell something strange." Link murmured from ahead of the group.

"What is it?" the Princess asked, snapping out of her somber mood instantly.

Link took a long while to answer, scenting the air carefully. It seemed to Sheik as if he was having trouble discerning the scent. Perhaps the amount of ash in the air was affecting him in more ways than mere emotional ones.

"Mist," Link said in some confusion. "There's mist somewhere ahead."

"We're almost there." Saria said quietly. "That's why the Mage King burned the forest, he was trying to find the Maze."

"Maze?" Sheik echoed curiously.

Saria nodded. "The Forest Temple was hidden within a great maze so that none but those the forest wished could find the seal. Most would never be able to come close to it because of the nature of the Lost Woods. However the Mage King has destroyed the woods around the Maze, there is little left for him to do but to navigate it."

"Will he be able to?" the Princess pressed.

Saria nodded. "The Maze won't hinder someone like him. Not with such power at his disposal. There is only one fail safe left before he can reach the seal, thankfully you will confront him long before he's able to pass through it."

"What is that last fail safe?" Sheik inquired.

Saria cast him a smile. "It's a secret, come the Maze is nearby and we will need to reach it before night falls."

Sheik looked up at the bleak skies, the sun was clouded over with the smoke and ash of the dragon's wake. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to be out here at night when it would only get darker and harder to find their way. They continued forwards, Saria leading the way through the wastes. Soon Sheik spied the mist that Link had spoken of. It appeared as if from nowhere. There was simply a wall of mist before them suddenly. Saria passed into it without a word, Link followed immediately with Malon and the Princess behind him. Sheik brought up the rear, a throwing knife slipping into the palm of his hand. He didn't like any of this.

As they moved through the mists, the air got heavier, more closed in. The ashy smell and taste vanished from Sheik's mouth which was a relief but he felt a sense of claustrophobia setting in about him as the mists wrapped around him. It was as if the very air was trying to force him to leave this place.

"Whatever you do," he heard Saria's muffled voice, seemingly coming from all directions. "Just keep walking. The mist is meant to deter intruders. Don't let it frighten or mislead you."

Sheik scowled. The last thing he was going to be was frightened by some mist. Maybe Malon of all their number might panic and flee but he certainly wasn't going to. Not with the Princess' life at risk here. Ahead he could just make out her silhouette in the mist and he urged his steed forwards so that she was more than a shadow. He could feel the claustrophobia of the mists all around him, this was something more ominous and intimidating than the underground halls of the Gorons or the dank waterways and tunnels of the Zora. Neither of those places had felt smothering but here in the mist, it felt as if some invisible hand was trying very much to choke him.

He shook the feeling from his mind, concentrating on the Princess ahead of him. Then something happened. Something inexplicable and altogether alien to his conscious. A great power overtook his mind and for just a moment he thought he heard his mother's voice in his head and the voices of many others, some he recognized as his fellow Sheikah, others were alien but no doubt more of the shadowy legion that kept the kingdom safe. The pressure was overwhelming as his mind was rocked, he pitched forwards in the saddle, unable to control his body as the searing energy blazed through his mind.

He didn't remember falling from his saddle, but when next he was aware of his surroundings he was on his face in the moist grass and very much alone. His head was still spinning but there were no more voices. He got up shakily, wiping his face clean of debris as he looked about him searchingly for the others. They were nowhere in sight. Sheik was very much alone in the mists and had no idea which direction was which.

Malon was oddly unfazed by the mists that enshrouded herself and Epona. There was something comforting about them. It was oddly warm and reassuring despite the closed in nature of it all. Nothing like the underground places they'd traveled in the past days. Every now and again she caught a snippet of song from Saria who had started playing on a small ocarina and she followed the tune whenever it reappeared on the moist air. Besides her, the Princess rode in silence, her expression one of determination. Malon too felt a fresh resolve. Not just because of her revelations about this journey but also because she felt that Ganondorf, now more than ever, needed to be made to pay for all the suffering he'd caused to all the peoples of the lands, not just the subjects of Hyrule but the Zora, Gorons, Wolfos, and Kakariko as well. All would see justice done.

"There's something here with us." Link said suddenly.

"We need to go, quickly." Saria said with equal suddenness. "We're almost there, run, just go straight ahead and don't look back."

"What's wrong?" the Princess asked.

"The mists are releasing the spirits, something has stirred their wrath. We don't want to be within the mist when they fully release their anger. Hurry."

Saria led them in a mad dash forwards, Epona snorted under the sudden charge but did not falter. The Princess' own mount had no problem keeping the pace and Link was there as well. At first it seemed the the mists went on forever but then they abruptly stopped and they found themselves in a tranquil meadow with a gated wall, overgrown with vines, standing before them.

Saria was breathing heavily, the first real sign of physical exertion that Malon could really recall her showing. The fact that the apparently unflappable fairy girl had been so frightened made Malon more than a little nervous. Something truly horrible must be happening the mists.

"Where is Sheik?" the Princess asked.

Malon looked around and realized that Sheik was no where to be seen. She wheeled Epona around to head back into the mists, Link and the Princess already doing the same but they found their paths blocked by Saria who stood with her arms stretched to either side of her.

"If you go back into the mists I won't be able to protect you."

"We're not leaving Sheik trapped in there." the Princess said warningly.

Malon nodded agreement. "Don't stop us."

Saria shook her head. "You made a vow to stop the Mage King, will you go back on it now? If you throw your lives away like this I will not help you and you will never obtain the seal."

Zelda froze and gazed at Saria in disbelief. Was she really forcing her to choose between Sheik and the seal? She couldn't believe that the sweet Kakariko would do that. She nudged her mount forwards cautiously. Saria's eyes glowed green, her expression hardening as her hair rose up in a gust of wind.

"Don't test me Princess, I don't want to hurt you, but stopping the Mage King is more important than the life of your friend. We must go forwards into the maze."

Link whined hesitantly and Saria looked to him, her expression pained though she remained resolute.

"I'm sorry Link, your friend is on his own."

Link made as if to entreat Saria as well, but he stopped and canted his head as if listening to something. Then he looked up Zelda.

"Your Highness, we should go into the maze."

Zelda looked at him in disbelief. "You're going to leave Sheik in there?"

Link shook his head, his expression confused. "Ordon is doing something."

"Ordon?" Zelda's heart froze. This was the first time that the god had ever tried to interact with anyone other than Link. That he was acting through Link apparently was a little troubling but not nearly as troubling as the fact that he was ordering her to leave her long time servant and friend behind.

"He'd better have a good reason." Zelda growled.

"He says he'll lead Sheik to us." Link said hesitantly, his wolf's features showing his own confusion.

He understood just as little about Ordon's behavior as Zelda herself did she realized. Did they trust the Wolfos god with Sheik's life? Did she trust him with that life?

"Can we trust him?" Malon asked, echoing Zelda's thoughts exactly.

Link winced, Zelda wondered what the god had said.

"He says he'll lead Sheik to us, but only if we proceed."

Zelda didn't know how to take Ordon's sudden helpfulness. It seemed awfully out of character for a being that up to this point had been been bent on making Link break his vow to her and unleash Ordon onto this plain once more. Still, if he was this insistent then, and with Saria blocking their path...there was little choice it seemed.

"Very well, Saria lead the way."

Saira's eyes returned to normal and she smiled at Zelda apologetically. "I hope you can forgive me your Highness."

Zelda did not answer as she dismounted and turned towards the gate. No, she wasn't going to forgive Saria, nor Ordon, for forcing her to choose the kingdom over Sheik. She did however need the former's cooperation and the cooperation of the latter could be beneficial. Sheik had better survive or she'd hunt down Ordon herself.

Link's mind was awash with confusion. Ordon was speaking clearly to him and apparently doing so with little effort. Had the god made that much progress in their bonding? The thought made him shudder. How much of himself had he lost to Ordon's manipulations? He really wasn't sure what Ordon was doing, but whatever it was he wasn't going to explain further than what he'd already done apparently.

"Stop thinking so much." Ordon barked inside his head.

Link winced and snarled quietly. "Get out of my head."

"I intend to, just make sure you and your Princess continue forwards. I will find your wayward Sheikah and bring him safely to your destination."

"How are you doing all of this?"

Ordon chuckled. "Not now Link, go play with your friends. I'll explain when next we meet."

And just like that Ordon's presence vanished from Link's mind. Leaving him just as confused as he had been before. He shook his head and followed after Saria, watching as she opened the gated pathway with a gesture. The gate swung away and revealed the maze within. Saria waited for the three of them, Malon, the Princess, and Link, to pass before coming into the maze herself.

"Follow me, and stay close." she cautioned.

"Link," the Princess asked quietly. "Will Sheik be alright?"

Link looked up at her and gave a shrug. "I don't know, Ordon says that he'll bring Sheik to us."

Zelda nodded somberly. "Something is very wrong with all of this."

"Your Highness?"

"Ordon has been trying to free you from my service has he not? He's repeatedly made it clear to you that he seeks to sever the vow you made to me and turn you to his own means."

Link nodded in agreement as she continued.

"So why help us now?"

"He probably has something foul in mind for Sheik." Malon muttered distastefully. "Considering how he treats Link I can't imagine he'd treat non-Wolfos very kindly at all."

"If Sheik returns to us harmed in any way by Ordon, I will defeat the Mage King, and then hunt him down even if I have to go to the realm of the gods themselves to do it." the Princess swore solemnly.

Link shifted uncomfortably, he hoped that Ordon knew what he was toying with and wasn't merely playing one of his games.

"You have no idea." whispered Ordon darkly.

"Hunt him, kill him, eat him, Sheikah."

The voices were all around, and everywhere Sheik looked he could see the glowing red eyes of this harassers. They'd not revealed themselves to him yet, staying hidden within the mists as they darted around him and called to him their deathly words.

"What do you want with me?" he shouted.

"Death," whispered a voice which was then joined by another. "Vengeance."

"I've done nothing to you." Sheik replied grimly. "You have nothing to avenge."

"Hunted us, killed us, drove us, trapped us. Sheikah."

"What are you?"

"Woflos."

Sheik's heart froze as he realized what they meant. The Sheikah had helped to drive the Wolfos into the woods of the Kakariko Forests and from what he'd learned recently those woods did not take kindly to outsiders. These must be...he was facing ghosts of beings that had been dead for millenia, and they were out for Sheikah blood. Where was he? That was when it happened, silence, complete and utter silence. Sheik raised his sword in a cross guard. Stilling his heart and searching his surroundings. He was not going to die here. Not by the fangs of long dead dogs trapped within the forest. A single, solitary howl echoed in the mists and then the red eyes reappeared. The Wolfos charged from all sides, Sheik swung his blade and struck the first one to leap at him, only to see his blade pass through its translucent body.

Its fangs were real enough as they dug into his arm though. He kicked at it, his foot passing through it just as his sword did. Another ghostly wolf gripped his leg, sinking its teeth into his tender flesh. He let out a howl of pain which solicited delighted cries from the Wolfos as they tore at him. Then just as suddenly as the attack began, it ended.

"Leave him alone." a voice commanded.

"They hunted us, killed us, vengeance."

"I know they did, I know you suffered, but this serves no purpose. He comes with me."

The Wolfos snarled and Sheik dared to get up to see what was happening. The silvery Wolfos were facing a giant of a man wearing lacquered plated armor with silvery hair and pale silvered eyes with no pupils. Those eerie eyes locked with Sheik's for a moment and Sheik felt a fury wash over him unlike anything he'd ever felt before. This was no friend and ally of that he was sure, but what was he?

"Leave the boy, he is of use to me." the man commanded.

The Wolfos snarled, gnashing their teeth and growling their displeasure. For a moment Sheik thought they'd assault the stranger but he stepped forwards, baring his teeth and they shrank from him as if they'd been struck. He walked through their ranks to Sheik, offering his guantleted hand to Sheik who took it uncertainly and allowed the man to help him to his feet. The Wolfos faded away into the mists and the stranger turned and began to walk away slowly.

"Walk with me son of the Sheikah."

Sheik did so, coming barely up the man's shoulder as he walked besides him.

"Thank you stranger, I thought they were going to kill me."

"Believe me," growled the stranger. "I would have been delighted to let them satiate their thirst for your blood, however such would not have served my purposes."

Sheik tried to remain calm as he continued. "Still, I owe you my life."

The man stopped and regarded Sheik coldly. "Oh you owe me far more than that."

Sheik frowned, what was this man talking about?

"Who are you?"

The stranger snorted disdainfully. "You aren't the brightest one are you. You've seen the Wolfos, you know how they interact with one another. Think you fool, before I decide you're too stupid to save."

Sheik bristled but he also understood that this man was probably the only hope he had in whatever ethereal hell he'd found himself in.

"You're a Wolfos." he stated flatly. "That much is obvious from how they reacted to you."

"Oh good, you can think after all." the man replied disdainfully. "Now lets see if you can figure the rest out."

Sheik considered the stranger for a moment more before taking a deep breath and speaking. He hoped he was wrong, oh Goddesses he hoped was wrong.

"Ordon."

Ordon chuckled and smiled at him, the expression looked sickeningly feral.

"Very good Sheikah. Now we can move on to more important matters."

"Why did you save me," Sheik asked instantly.

"Weren't you listening? Your death was not required. You're useful to me, and also I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me, for what?"

Ordon chuckled again as he began walking through the mists. "You've made my task much easier."

Sheik's eyes narrowed. "Link is not going to betray the Princess."

"Even if you really believed that." Ordon said dismissively. "You'd be wrong."

Sheik winced, to have Ordon call his bluff so readily stung his pride. It was true that he wasn't certain that Link could resist the deity but still he hadn't wanted the god to know that.

"How have I helped you?"

Ordon shook his head, casting Sheik that same feral smile. "Your mother has brought the Wolfos back into your war. Imagine what Link is going to think, when he discovers that his people are fighting once more under the Princess' banner."

"They're doing so of their own volition." Sheik protested. "Link wouldn't betray the Princess over that."

Ordon laughed darkly. "Oh I didn't say that alone would break him. He'd be useless if that was the case. He is stronger than you can imagine Sheikah. It will take much more for him to take upon himself the mantle of my avatar. No, you've merely created a chink in his armor that I can exploit. Once the first appears, others will follow, and then I will have him."

"I'll stop you, the Princess will stop you."

"Link seems to have the same faith in the Princess that you do. I admit that for a child she's quite gifted. Possibly as great—potentially—as the Mage King. Still, as she is now there is little she could do to stop me if Link were to come to me willingly." Ordon's smile was wicked now. "And once I'm manifested in your realm, nothing, not even the Mage King, could stand before me."

"The Goddesses defeated you before. We'll do it again."

Ordon's laugh was a harsh bark that turned into a terrifying cackle.

"The Goddesses never defeated me, they sealed me away with the last of their power and faded from this world. It would take one with comparable power to stop me. Who do you know with such power?"

Sheik remained silent as he continued to follow Ordon through the mists.

"I thought as much." Ordon rumbled. "Now come, I don't want to waste anymore time with you than I have to."

Author's Note: Yeah, so I made Saria a little scarier than she's supposed to be, remember this story is an AU. Not all is as it seems or should be! ...besides its essentially an original story at this point anyways aside from the fact that I'm using the LoZ world. Sue me. By the way, Ordon's a nice guy ain't he?