The sun raised on a new morning, the light shining hthrough the window, directly on the bed where two people were sleeping… Kuran and Midna. At first the two groaned in union as the sun shines on them and they pulled the blanket to cover their bodies more… until the two realize something: Kuran notices that something was lying on his chest, while Midna felt oddly warm beneath her.
Their eyes slowly opened and it took moments before their blurry eyes were able to see clearly. Then it came: Midna was laying on Kurans chest. Him stark naked.
Their minds needed a couple of moments before it clicked in them and Kuran shouts in surprise while Midna jumped off and floats in mid air. The darkness user fell from bed and groaned by the impact, as he raised up and used the blanket to cover his hips "Midna! Why did you sleep on my chest?"
"Why were you sleeping in bed?" demands MIdna as she thought he was sleeping on the ground like a guy should do.
The two stared at each other before they remembered: They agreed to sleep in the same bed. Blushing they looked away as they realized their mistake as Mimi, the black and yellow bunny looked odd at the two while being inside a small crystal, placed to watch the door.
"That… was awkward" muttered Kuran and reaches for his clothes… and notes he should get them washed once he is done here. And perhaps he should get a reserve set at some point. Once he is clothed, Midna disappears into his shadow, stating "Make sure you get some more food for the trip! I need breakfast."
"It would be much easier if you weren't trying to be incognito" admits Kuran as he moves down.
Thelma saw him coming down and called "Good morning, sweetheart! I assume you want a breakfast before going to find Auru?"
"That would be appreciated… and given a hunch, could you also prepare some supplies? Due the chances of crossing a dessert…"
"Of course honey. We don't want our hero to die a terrible death" chuckles Telma and went to prepare everything. Of course she made first breakfast, so he wouldn't be waiting that long until everything were done.
After a long and hearty breakfast, Kuran finished and receives two bags from Telma. One contains dry fruit and meat, while the water was a water bag. A large one so Kuran could hang on it for a while.
"Thank you Telma" Kuran told her
"not a Problem Honey! Just make sure you are save out there. And give Auru my greetings."
"I will. Just wondering… why do you have a Goron wandering around the place?"
"Simple: The guards are so incompetent that I have to rely on Gorons to keep my place save."
"That explains it" sweatdrops Kuran and pockets the items. Then he said his farewell to Telma and heads out. Followed by leaving the town and on a good spot he got the water and food out.
ON that cue Midna came out and complains "I really hoped you would get some more. Esspecialy of what you had for a meal!"
"Sorry Midna" stated Kuran "But think about it: How should I have explained Telma that I need a complete second breakfast for my trip? Especially as this trip isn't done for fun. That is a price you have to pay for not showing yourself."
"Ugh!" groaned Midna "I guess I shouldn't complain then, given the points. However next time try to get a breakfast for both of us."
"No promises. Can only try."
"Well I think this is good enough." She shrugged and sat down, taking a good sip of the water and ate some meat and fruits. Once she finished with this, the two head for the bridge and Kuran mused "Flying or should I jump for just having it done three times?"
"Here may be the saying all good things are three… but I think we rely on your wings this time." Stated Midna
"Good… first we look where Auru should be, properly on a point where he has some sort of view towards the dessert and then we take the chance to refill the water. You may have taken only a little but I prefer to have this little back in bag."
"Yeah dessert trips are not very fun without water." Agreed Midna.
After turning into a Wyvern, Kuran took off and flies towards the dessert. On his way he saw a tower with a single person on it. The person has green and white clothes with some straps with something around his neck, thought he couldn't clearly see what it was and grey hair. As this must be Auru, Kuran lands in a bit distance and turns back. Then he moves upwards to the tower and climbs the latter build on it.
Once he was up, without indicating he was here, Auru began to talk to Kuran "I thought it was about time for you to arrive…" then he turns around "Master Kuran, is it?"
"Yes… I am Kuran. Auru I assume?"
"Yes. I am part of the group that Talma kindly allows to meet at her bar." Nodded Auru "I have heard all about your deeds from her."
"Now… you being a courageous youth… You have likely heard of the strange events in the desert and come to investigate, no?"
"That is a part of it… I am looking for something and I heard it might be in the dessert" answered Kuran
"So you are on the way to the Gerudo Desert… to the prison build to hold the worst criminals this land has ever known… and the accursed mirror. Criminals sentenced to death were send to the underworld with it."
He sighs loudly "Now that prison is condemned, and even the road leading to the desert is impassable. This dessert at world's end… It still holds the cursed mirror and the malice of the doomed inmates… and the evil plaguing Hyrule is coming from there…"
"Then I am looking for a way to get over there and deal with the source of the evil." Stated Kuran
"Ah, is that so…" mused Auru "Then let good old Auru help you out…" and he gave Kuran a letter "Below us, by Lake Hylia, a man named Fyer run and amusement ride of sorts there. Give him this. See, long I saved his live and he cannot refuse me if I ask a favor. If you leave the rest up to Fyer, all should go well."
Nodding, Kuran went to climb down the tower again, while Auru looks back at the dessert. The darkness user muttered "Great… now I have to be shot from this cannon again, just because it would raise questions if I don't use it…"
"Well! The last time was kind of funny! And it would give you a head start… how about we try to pull the Wyvern trick mid air? I bet it would be a delight experience."
"If I die, I haunt you" stated Kuran "Until the end of your days."
"Don't worry Kuri. Not planning to lose you that soon… especially not at my direct fault. Accidents however are free game."
"I love you too…" muttered the Darkness user while moving down way and bridges to the cannon and before Fyer could ask anything, he pulled out the letter from Auru and hands it over.
The fat man read it and stated "Hrrrm… From old Aurur, huh… Ah well, I guess I oughta do what he old coot says…"
Then he looks at Kuran "Oasis flight… right?"
"IF this is in the right direction then yes."
"So here you go, one of our secret options not available to the general public… This time's all paid for… so whaddaya say? You wanna go?"
"Of course!"
"Just have to fill some more Happy Life as I need a stronger shoot to get the right distance. And next time you gotta pay. Just get in and be ready."
Kuran nodded weakly and moves into the cannon… how strong is Happy Life if it is used as cannon fuel? He drunk after all a few cubs of this stuff without feeling anything…
The darkness user didn't pay attention of how long he was in this tight place, but then he felt the mechamism of the cannot starting and soon he was shoot out, direction dessert. Kuran shouts during the sailing through the air. Once he was over the sand of the dessert, he wondered how long Midna was waiting for the stunt, especially as he was decending now… WITH NO OASIS IN SIGHT! And landing on hot sand isn't a pleasure.
Then he felt the sensation of him transforming and once he was sure that he was now a wyvern, he spread his wings, catches the wings and went upwards again, flying smoothly over the dessert… and he find it is comfortable warm. Guess turning into a cold blooded animal has its advantages.
"Sorry for the wait" said Midna "But I wanted to be sure that nobody watches you turning into a beast… who knows how people would have reacted."
Kuran turns his head to her, as to thank her for not telling beforehand. She laughs a little "Well… that only came to me before you were shot. So… lack of time?"
And bad timing… but that should wait for later. Kurans eyes scanned the sight of the dessert, determination where this prison should be so he could set a straight course over there. In one direction he saw a building with several high points, properly the prison while in the other direction…
"Well, at least we know now where the bridge were left" mused Midna, remembering on their trip to restore the third light spirit… after all once they passed the bridge, the middle part were taken with no way to return at this point. "You know… once we deal with Zant, I could take a short trip back here and help to get this bridge back to its proper place."
Kuran looks at Midna in surprise… this is something he never expected her to offer. Not with the open hostility she had shown towards light dwellers.
"What? Can't a girl change her mind?"
Not wanted nor able to argue right now, Kuran set course to the prison. As they flew they saw that Bokoblins had taken camp in front of it… properly to hold off anybody who might want to get here.
"Too bad they cannot fly! Else they would have made a wonderful cover here!" giggles Midna
On this moment several flying enemies consisting of heartless, hyrule flying predators and nightmares began to appear around him. Kuran looked at Midna and decides to deal later about her loose mouth… right now they had to clean their air path. Blasting the enemies in front, Kuran dived down, speeding towards the ground and only catch himself at the last moment, leaving confused Bokublins in his path while some of the chasing enemies crash land on the ground, removing themselves from the fray. Kuran keeps flying through the camp and as soon the Bokublins wised up, they shoot arrows… but due them aiming at where Kuran is and not where he would be, they only hit their own allies. After flying over a barricaded passage, Kuran lands on the ground and MIdna quickly turned him back. The heartless, beasts and Nightmares were quite decimated from the stunts and were soon attacked by Kuran with his bow… which had bombs. While these were quickly used up, the air were cleaned up mostly and some who came close were either attacked by Mimi who was jumping around, hitting with either her body or her large ears. Or by Midna who used her hair to grab, squeeze, slap or however you could use a giant hand of hair to deal with enemies. Once no enemies were in the air, Kuran looks carefully around and then heard a tremor moving towards them. The leader of the Bokoblins were storming on a boar through the barricades and Kuran quickly rushes to the entry of the prison. Once there, he stood there watches the incoming enemy.
The leader had this time a giant axe with him and was ready to swing it at Kuran… how only jumped aside and the Bokoblin leader rushes with his boar unstopped into the building.
"Uhm… Kuran… was it wise to cause him rush in?"
"Why not? From the size of the corridor, he has no way to turn around… and since such places tent to have traps, I guess he would soon find himself in one."
"You are such an evil hero" smirked Midna and the two ventured into the prison… thought shortly after the door the good old golden wolf awaited them.
"See you later" mused Midna as the wolf jumped at Kuran. As they were back in the mystical place, Kurans… teacher began to speak "We meet again. The next is the greatest of the hidden skills I have taught you to this point, and may test the limits of your endurance. Do you wish to master it?"
"I do!" answered Kuran, drawing his blade, knowing that he has properly to show his last skill first.
"Very well… but before we begin, I must test you to ensure you have mastered the last skill I taught you, the back slice. Now then, come at me!"
Kuran moves at him and after a few jumps he was in position for the slice. Once the other one raised up again after the hit he spoke "Excellent, it appears you are certainly capable of performing my lost art. Very well. My fourth hidden skill is… The helm splitter! Let is be hewn into your mind!"
"I assume it is to hit swift moving and fully armored opponents" mused Kuran
"You are right." Was the reply "For such foes, you must first shield attack them to make them flinch, then leap into the air, over the enemy's head and gret them with your blade, by immediately strike from behind."
Kuran took a deep breath, as this is quite a difficult move to pull off and watches carefully as his instructor showed it to him. "This is the helm splitter! Show it to me!"
Kuran nods and crosses blades with him, and then quickly bashes him with the own shield before jumping over and jumps over, striking with the master sword on the head. After landing behind he rotates and strikes into the back, sending his trainings partner on the ground. Blinking Kuran looks at the blade and wondered if it somehow helped him as he was able to pull that off in the first try.
"Hmm. Impressive. Do not miss your chance to land helm splitter after your shield attack! The fourth hidden skill, the helm splitter, has been passed on! There are still three hidden skills for you to learn. Do not neglect your daily sword training between now and the time you come to learn the next skill! May we meet again."
Once he was back, Midna mused "What did you learn this time?"
"I can split helmets now" jokes Kuran and moves in. They reach a room which had a few places of stone but mostly it is sand to walk on… with a huge indicator that we are talking about quicksand here. Also they saw the leader of the Bulkublins lying on one of the only save places in this room, breathing hard.
"Guess you were right with your hunch. It doesn't look like this guy will trouble us in the near future." Mused Midna
"Yeah… but in exchange we have to deal with other things… properly sand piranhas. Or whatever is moving in the sand." Shrugs Kuran.
Midna shrugs as well but stated "Before we continue… I would like to tell you something"
"What is it Midna?"
Shifting in the air uncomfortably she asks "Do you remember what the spirit said about the Fused Shadows?"
After a nod, the Twili continues "What do you think happened to the magic wielders who tried to rule the Sacred Realm?"
"IF I had to guess, they either were banished or wiped out."
"Their fate was banishment. They were chased across the sacred lands of Hyrule and driven into another realm by the goddesses. It was another world entirely… The antithesis of Hyrule, where the sun shines bright. Its denizens became shadows that could not mingle with the light. Eventually, most came to call it the Twilight Realm, and from it, none could return to the world of light…"
She paused shortly to take a breath "They were forever doomed to live in the twilight, flitting in the half-light of dusk, mere shaodws of Hyrule… This is the history of the Twili as it has been passed down from our ancestors…"
"So… you are a descendant of those who tried to force their will on the triforce... and given how long it was ago with the added fact that it is an imprisonment for an entire tribe, I cannot hold your resentment towards light dwellers. After all… what right is it, that sentences the children for the crime of the parents?"
"We kind of learned to live with it. After all: We should blame our ancestors for it. We became a peaceful living tribe over the generations." Explains Midna "But everything changed as Zant took control of the Twilight Realm and transformed all of the Twili into shadow beasts. And it's clear to me now that he somehow gained a greater evil power previously unknown to our tribe…"
Kuran looks at her as she balled her fists… and hopes that his suspicion about the great evil is wrong. Else they really get their hands full. Maybe fuller than the two (Three when counting Mimi) could handle.
"The reason we are here… it is a tale told by my people. Thought we are forbidden by the goddesses to return to the world of light, one link remained between the light and the darkness."
"The Twilight Mirror…"
"Passed to the protectors of Hyrule, it is our only path to the Twilight Realm."
"Where we will face Zant and stop his madness."
"Thank you for coming with me…" said Midna to these words, putting a hand on his check. Then gasps as Kuran wrapped his arms around her, holding her close
"I will help you as far as I can… and perhaps we find a way to give your tribe a way to enjoy the beauty of these lands." Told Kuran "Thought I don't know if I can stay around for the last part."
"Thanks Kuran… thought lets deal with Zant first." Chuckles Midna and then groans "But why are we going the long way again? We could have flown directly to the top, where the mirror is most likely."
"Do you know what you might need to access the mirror?" asks Kuran back "I prefer to have the tools that might be hidden here at hand when we need it. Given the experience of past dungeons."
"Sometimes I hate whoever thinks it is fun to risk the live for something that might be only used once."
"Look it at this way: People properly don't want that others get to the mirror easily."
"Yeah… that is true" admits Midna "Now let's go… and for the sand I think it is best we fly over it."
Nodding in agreement, Kuran turns into the wyvern form, flew over the quick sand and over a gate that was supposed to block his path… to bad the opening above it was large enough for a dog sized animal to pass, as long it could fly.
After flying over, he passed a corridor, where he had to land on the following room due the door. Once turned back, Kuran saw a small pool with oil. Looking at it he mused "Wonder how they made sure it didn't dry out or whatever happens to oil if left alone for who knows how long."
"That is a rather good question" admits Midna "Magic perhaps?"
Shrugging to that, Kuran refills his lamp and pulled the keyblade out to open the door. On the other side Midna mused "Now I understand what you mean that even free stuff comes with a prize."
Indeed the room was dark. So dark that Kuran had to use the lamp to see anything. After turning the light on and fasten it on his belt, he draw called upon a dark spear, feeling he might need it. Indeed while wandering the room to reach the door on the other side, skeletons raised from the sand pools and advance towards Kuran. Not wasting time Kuran rushed to the other side, but finds the door blocked. After a quick looks he mused "So I have to light the fire for passage?"
Heading to the two fire pots on either side of the door he lights them up while slashing the skeletons which came too close. It was helping that Midna and Mimi did their best to keep them off as well. Once the lights were lit, the gate in front of the door disappears and Kuran moved over to open it. Midna and Mimi kept his back while they passed and the door then rushed down again, smashing some of the unfortunate enemies.
"I gather this place has an undead theme." Muttered Kuran while looking around. It was a large room with a set of stair at the middle of the other side. On either side of the stairs were two large fires in blue. In the middle of the room were a large relief surrounded by a set of statues. Thought from the door at the end of the stairs, four floating lanterns appear and each of them swiped one of the fires. The door shut down and the four lanterns flew forward Kuran, circle around him before three of them simply leave the room, only one floating in front of him.
Kuran backed off, and Midna suggests "Should we try the wyvern? Might have the right senses."
"If you are sure" he told to her. Once he was Wyvern, he concentrates and saw that a ghost was holding the lantern. He snarls at it and shoot a ball of darknesss at the head. It connects and the ghost land on the ground, snarling Kuran jumps on the ghost, and notices a black ball raising from its chest. Snapping it with his snout he ripped the black orb from the chest. Steam shoot out of the ghost. The flame flew up from the lantern and returns to its old place.
The wyvern growled, knowing he had to get three more. Then he notices a smell… from the remains of the ghost. Sniffing it, he follows it to a small sand pool. With the feet he digs in the sand and found a lever, pulling on it without thinking.
A set of hidden stairs appear and Kuran heads down the stairs. In the next room he was greeted by flying skulls with wings.
"Are you serious?" asks Kuran
"Yes, we are" mused Midna. The skulls were destroyed quickly. Then he explored the room… the round room with a pillar on the middle. And at one side was a rock that seems to be not connected on the ground.
"Call me crazy but…" stated Kuran and began to push on the rock. Midna shock her head on this, not believing what she sees… until the block moves and the pillar moves with it, making a rotating motion. Until it stopped. Then Kuran moves towards the spot where he could see the hole in the ceiling. There he saw that a spot where he could grab with the claw shot. Using it he moves upwards he went to the door he spotted from there and followed into a new empty room… with several blue lanterns.
Turning into a Wyvern, the ghost were quickly found and attacked… and defeated as well. And like before the blue flame few away to return to its place. And Kuran went back to the room with the turntable pillar and returns it to the proper place. Returning to the large room, he moves through the room above the chairs. He came in the above room like before but this time the corridor leads to a sealed door… and he unlocks it. Behind the door was a room with sand pools. Looking around flew to the side of the room. Chuckling loudly he mused what kind of workout another guy had done when no wings were avaible.
Midna had to admit as well that it might have been time quick moving involved with all the send. Thought one thing couldn't be avoided… that he had to turn the room again. This time it was connected with a statue. And he found another locked door. After one swing with a Keyblade he was in a corridor with skeletons and sand pits. A curving one. And at the end he found another level and upon pulling it, a secret were revealed… and the third ghost were found.
Once dead, Kuran turns to the other door and Midna told "I wonder where the last one of these little bastards are."
"I think if we follow this path we might know." And found in a round room with broken circle. Kuran went to the locked door and was high in the middle room. Looking he saw high above the ground and on the other side, connected by a hanging construct. He looked at Midna and Mimi who shrugged and they passed the construct and they passed that one door as well and found another room where he would have loo run around a lot to reach the other side. But thanks of being able to become a wyvern, he simply flew over to the other door. Looking down he chuckles "They really never had a flying intruder in mind… so much sand. And I am not even touching much of it."
"Yeah… would have been a pain if we had to look out" mused Midna. "I bet the layout would be very different if the makers of the game had foreseen a flying animal as hero transformation."
"Then we would properly have a mix of Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess here… speaking of which: When did you pick up my habit of breaking the fourth wall?"
"Don't know!" she shrugs "Just carry on."
Shrugging, Kuran passed the door, walks a short corridor where he had to cut through some wood to get his way three, he reaches a small round room… and the first thing he notices that a skeleton lying at a spot was standing up, and Kuran pulled his blade out and shield.
He rushed to it, blocks it's sword swing before bashing the body and performed a helm splittler. The enemy collapsed and Kuran mused "That's way easy…" and heads for the door… which was blocked.
"That is odd" told Midna "Shouldn't it open now we defeated that guy?"
"It should… except…" began Kuran and turns around… only for to see that their bones only enemy is raising up again.
"I take we need a bit more…" mused Midna "Perhaps more strikes?"
"Or a bomb?"
"Which you have used up."
"I have alternatives"
"Then use it!"
Nodding to that, Kuran rushed to the opponent again, performs the same tactic (Surprising him that it works… thought given this thing don't have a brain…) and slams his blade into the remains and blew it up.
After the bones were completely scattered, the blockage lifted. Midna looks at Kuran "Looks like we have to keep these explosives ready. Didn't know you are immune to them."
"Only to my own weapons. Everything else is still fair game." Stated Kuran. And they exit the room… only to reach after the next corridor a statue of somebody with a snake and six fire pots. One at he front and five directly before the statue.
And between them and Kuran is sand… and instead of bothering Midna to transform him, he created a large plate of darkness which acts as bridge for him to walk over. By the fire pits, Midna looks at the six and wondered "So… do we have to lit all of them? Or only a few? Or a specific order?"
"That are questions, which would be nice to be answered…" agreed Kuran and looks for an exit… but doesn't find it. Thus making him realize he has to find a secret door with this puzzle. Thought help would be appreciated. At least hint.
Mimi and Midna looked around the room with Kuran to find any clues as each of them knew: One mistake and they might trigger a trap. And given here is sand… it might that the trap is something coming out of the sand. Not an experience Kuran is willing to go through. Esspecially due the amount of combinations possible. For the mathematicians: Its six times five times four times three times two times one. So 720 alone if all six had to be lit. Not to mention the combinations if only a number have to be lit up.
Then Mimi suddenly snatches Kurans lamp and lights up the single fire pot and one of the furthest ones of the other five. Kuran wanted to call out to the spirit… as suddenly a part of the wall moved and reveals the door.
Midna and Kuran looked at the spirit puzzled and wondered HOW she could have knows which ones to light up… It just hooped and gave Kuran the lamp back.
Kuran shakes his head in disbelieve and moves to the door… in the next room was it again that many lamps were here, so the Wyvern were used once again to find the target… and deal with it accordantly. Despite being able to create four images.
Using the other exit Midna deadpans "If we had paid attention we could have avoided the puzzles…"
So they head back to the room where all fires were back at the reprehensive spots and the gate opens again. Thought… as Kuran reaches the stairs, the flames raised up again and the door shut close again. Turning Kuran watches as the flames flew towards the center. They engulfed four flaming skulls and from the ground a body began to raise. It was a vaguely humanoid Heartless with an emaciated, legless, dark pink-skinned appearance. Its eyes are yellow and glowing and are surrounded by black rings. Its head somewhat resembles a human skull, and sports a wide crest on its head that resembles a headdress. Two black, angular, curled horns are present on either side of its head. It appears to have a very long neck, and it wears a black and steel blue garment that covers its neck and shoulders. The Heartless emblem is on the front of this garment. Its lower body is covered by a short, black and steel blue skirt with white bandages wrapped around it. The heartless also wears black gauntlets decorated by jagged, yellow and grey lines. It carries a large, black staff with a wide, steel blue, anchor-like blade on one end and a small, angular, heart-shaped one on the other end. It holds the weapon with one finger through a hole in the smaller blade, swinging it like a pendulum.
The four flaming skulls encircle the heartless and it turns into a wilder, rotted appearance, with its ribs more clearly exposed and its clothing tattered. Its skin becomes a light shade of pink and its clothing becomes predominantly periwinkle and tan. The crest on its head gains a heart-shaped hole in it and its pendulum blades become larger.
Kuran called upon two dark blades while Mimi and Midna were battle ready as well.
"Ah, so you finally showed up, about time. I was getting so tired of waiting." The Heartless spoke.
"You could have shown up before these ghosts decided to take the flames!" countered Kuran annoyed… he had run after these things and now he had to battle a heartless.
"My chose one when I show up." The Heartless countered back.
"Still! Bad timing! We could have saved a lot of time if you had shown up as soon as we got here first time" taunted Midna "or were you troubled to know where we were?"
"I will admit it IS surprisingly hard to look for a small insignificant Imp inside a large abandoned temple. But I digress." The Heartless spoke before signaling his skull cronies to rush in.
Mimi jumped at one of the skulls but cries in pain as the flames touches her body. Midna didn't even try to attack the flaming skulls and went into Kurans Shadow. The darkness user had the keyblade and the Master Sword in his hands and swung the weapons at the skulls.
Thought the skulls avoided the attacks and Kuran grabbed the Gale Boomerang and threw it at the skulls.
The wind from the boomerang was enough to put out the fire leaving the skulls to sweatdrop in realization. This somehow changed the appearance of the Heartless as it no longer appeared all skeletal instead appearing like it had flesh . "Ugh, idiots!" it cursed at his minios.
Then he felt a big hairy hand grabbing him.
"W-What!?"
Then he felt raised up and slammed into the ground a couple of times by Midna… until the skulls had the flames back, to which the Heartless was quick to retaliate by throwing its blade at the imp.
Midna gasps but was lucky that Mimi tackls her out of the way. Kuran threw the boomerang again, while having the claw shot ready to grab one of these boneheads.
The boomerang managed to hit one of the skulls however the Grim Reaper Heartless was quick to appear behind him and swing his blade.
Kuran holds up his shield but was send back at the wall. Groaning he stood up and looks at his opponent, while Midna and Mimi were attacking the lone skull.
Another skull flew in behind them crashing into Midna. Falling on the ground she grunts and groans as the flames hurt her. Kuran didn't think much and threw his keybalde at the skull.
The weapon made it in-between the eyes of the skull before it fell to the ground and exploded in a small burst of flames.
Midna pants and looks up. "What the?"
"Heartless… they need the Keyblade gymnastics" mused Kuran while going after the other skulls with his blade. Mimi was jumping around, trying to irritate the others to which the dream eater was successful as she was soon being chased by the other skulls.
Midna grabbed one of the skulls which were lying around here and threw it at the skulls while Kuran used the Gale Boomerang to get the flames.
He managed to get the skulls as the Heartless turned again.
"Agh! Your getting on my nerves!"
Mimi jumped at the Heartless, with the help of Midna who was slapping the enemy.
Kuran on the other hand went to attack the Skulls with his Keyblade, as he had noticed that the missing one wasn't replaced. While he managed to slice one, he were hit by the Heartless weapon, send away.
The Heartless soon grabbed it's weapon and spun it around creating a small vortex the sucked in close by debris, pelting the Twili and Dream eater before sending the two crashing into Kruan.
The three groaned madly while they struggle to get up again. Mimi got into a defensive position as the skulls began to shoot fireballs at them.
"Damn rat!" The Heartless said before smacking the Mimi hard into a wall. "MIMI!" shouts Kuran as he got up and glares at the heartless, looking for the Skulls since he had to deal with them.
He noticed them above as the re-ignited and grew larger as the crashed into the ground sending flaming shockwaves with each impact. Kuran grunts by the impacts while Mimi hid behind him as she couldn't take much more of these attacks. Kuran grunts and without thinking he grabs the Master Sword and rushes to one of them, spinning around for the strike.
Kuran was able to blow away the Skulls and stun them leaving the Heartless opened before getting slammed into a wall by Midna's hair. Using the opening, Kuran rushes to one of the skulls and slashes it with his two blades, cutting it into four. Thought the Grim Reaper like Heartless was slamming Kuran at the side, causing him to fly against one of the doors.
The Heartless was about to strike the Keyblade Bearer with its pendulum like scythe only to get distracted by Midna who got its attention by breaking a large rock on its head.
"Weren't you more interested in me?" smirked Midna "Then how about you try and get me?"
The Heartless growled in frustration before its weapon caught on fire and throwing it at her. She barely dodged the attack and felt that the flame scorches her air, causing her to curse at him.
The pendulum flew back into the Heartless hand as it rush in at her. She rushes around to avoid being hit, swooshing around the room as her little body and the fragment of the Fused Shadow would allow.
The Grim Reaper Heartless soon spun its weapon around creating another small Vortex this time pulling the Twili in before getting grabbed by her hair.
"Let go of me!" she demands, struggling to get free. Mimi hopped in and hits the heartless a few times… but it didn't seem to affect the opponent in any way.
The Heartless merely smacked the bunny Dream Eater away with its freehand.
"I've had enough of you!"
Mimi lands with a pained grunt and shakes the head, looking at the heartless. Midna was glaring as well, while still struggling to get free from the heartless grip.
The Heartless tossed her aside and went over to Mimi about to strike. Mimi was looking fearful and closes her eyes.
The heartless smirked and was about to strike down… as he felt a sudden pain. Kurna had jumped on the heartless back, sticking the Master Sword and his keyblade into the body.
The heartless managed to shake off Kuran but still stumbled in pain, looking around the heartless soon noticed a lack in reinforcements.
"Thanks for keeping him occupied!" told Kuran to his companions. Then he looks at his opponent "Ready for being sliced up?"
The Heartless only roared in frustration as it rushed in swinging it's blade. Jumping over the blade, Kuran rushed in and began to slice the heartless several times with his blades. Then Midna got her hair out and grabbed on the weapon, fighting to keep it locked in position. Mimi jumped, using her ears to shoot herself like a slingshot projectile against the heartless body.
This was enough to send the Heartless crashing into the wall before collapsing to the ground. Not missing a beat, Kuran rushes in, jumps and slams his weapons into the back, twisting them before jumping off, the blades still stuck in the heartless. Out of an feeling or instinct, Kuran raised his arm, pulling it back before stretching it out again. Out of nowhere a large dark blade collides into the heartless and explode.
This resulted in the Grim Reaper Heartless howling in pain before collapsing and disappearing in defeat.
"Bye bye!" chuckles Kuran but then noticed that something was left behind. Moving over he picked it up and mused "is this the dungeon item? Why did he have it?"
"Not a clue" grunts Midna, sore from the fight "But one thing for sure… he did us a favor by bringing it to us. Perhaps we should ask the others to do the favor as well?"
Kuran chuckles loudly at this perspective and went to have a good look at the item… it looks like a big spinning top without the head part… like a branch of toys he had seen on one world. Thought if looked at it from the top, one would think it is a cogwheel with a symbol in the middle.
"It would be nice if one had given us a manual for this thing." Mused Midna "Perhaps we run into somebody who could explain us how to use it."
"Yeah" sighs Kuran "Well, since we have nothing left to do, let's go"
Taking the Master Sword, which was picked up by Mimi and brought to Kuran, the three proceed to finally go through the door that was locked on them by so many enemies. Following the corridor they reaches a round room. The floor tiles had holes which reveals guards and in the center were a hole which looks like the item they had picked up would fit in… if only they would know how to use it. The wall at the one side of the room had holes, such Kuran could theoretical flew through, while the other two sides had corridors. One corridor had a long gap with a broken chest at the end. While the other corridor leads to a door.
Midna flew towards the hole and looks "Well… it seems there is a tower we might have to get up on. But given experience perhaps we should follow that one corridor to find that damn manual."
"I agree with you here Midna" nodded Kuran and they head for the corridor but the two stopped, as they noticed a shaking pot.
The two looked at each other while Mimi looks in wonder. Kuran reaches for the pot, break it and surprise, surprise, Ooccoo is here.
Kuran and Midna were looking in disbelieve: How does this bird with human face keep getting stuck in pods. Especially in those places where Kuran and Midna had to travel to… and be there beforehand despite numerous troubles along the way.
"Free at last" sighs Ooccoo "Gracious… You're that nice fellow who helped me out the other times! How nice to see you again! Well, now that we've found each other again, let's stick together for a bit, hmm?"
"Good idea" told Kuran, not trying to be annoyed by having her always around "Before we do it thought… do you happen to know where the manual is for this thing?" and showed her the item that was found before.
Taking a look Ooccaa laughs "The Spinner! Only seen drawing of it. A nice tool, thought a bit difficult to handle."
"Ok! Then can you perhaps explain how it works?" asks Midna, slightly irritated by the fact that this thing knows what it is.
"Of course dears. The spinner is made to traverse rails, going over sand and activate mechanism. And I think at one time here was a sport that involves jumped from great heights with the Spinner, to make the most spectacular landing, as it helps to survive falls from great highs as well.
And from the next minutes, or hours? Ooccoo explained what she knows and how to use it. While the rail traveling, sand passing works, Kuran wasn't eager to test the fall catching feature and instead plugged the Spinner into the hole after learning that using the spinner relies on shifting the weight while standing on the spinner.
Kuran activated the spinner and the gears under the floor began to shift and the wall began to move, revealing a complete passage instead of a half broken wall.
"Thanks Ooccoo. That helped us a lot."
"You're welcome! Can you perhaps a favor?"
"What is it?"
"If you ever find the Dominion Rod, let me know please. I kind of need it getting home. Or at least it's powers."
"If we ever find it, we let you know" promised Kuran, shaking his head as he knows he will properly find it… or he would never have learned about it.
They moved forwards to a large sandy room with rails at the wall and a pillar in the middle that sports a platform on the top.
While Kuran could guess he had to use the Spinner in creative ways, he and Midna simply went for the "Transforming into a Wyvern and fly up" procedure. They noticed something further up and went there, finding a locked door.
Unlocking said door, Kuran proceeds to open it and with Midna and Mimi they head in. Inside the room they found a large sand pool with a skeleton lying on it… from a giant beast. Moving forward to it, Zant suddenly appeared on top of it. Drawing quickly his weapons, with Midna and Mimi preparing to fight he wanted to rush forward but couldn't due and barrier raised up around them.
"Zant!" growled Midna
"You still alive… How astonishing. No wonder some call you "hero." And you are very persistent Midna." Stated Zant "But this is truly a bittersweet reunion… Truly!"
"What do you mean? Because we come to kick your butt?" smirked Midna
"No… For I fear this is the last time I will see you alive!" stated Zant and in his hands a big black triangle like sword appears. Which he slams into the horned skull of the dead beast and red lines appear over it.
Zant teleported away while a light appears in the empty eye sockets and the beast raised up, roaring at them.
Rushing off from the beast, Kuran saw that the spine of it looks very fragile. Taking this into account, Kuran also saw a rail and pulled the Spinner out while telling his two companions "Get back! I doubt that all free of us could stand on it."
Catching on his idea, Mimi disappears into her crystal while Midna said "I keep your back open!"
Kuran nods and jumps on the spinner, raiding on the rail, just in time as the bone beast was attacking them with a dark breath. After gaining speed and having a good angle, he jumps off the rail and speeds against the bone. Dead soldiers raised from the sand, one being in the way of Kuran, but Midna quickly swatted it away and Kuran hits the bones. The hit part of the spine, cracked heavily, and due the rest of the bones weight, it broke, lowing the beast down. Grinning Kuran rides the rail a bit before jumping again and hits the spine again.
Thanks to Midna he got a solid hit again, while the beast tries to swat him and breath at him. But it was unavoidable for Kuran to deal the second and thanks to Midnas help the third hit.
The reanimated beast wailed a bit before collapsing in the sand, sinking into it, while the level of the sand was sinking as well, showing that the pit was actually a shaft with rails at the wall. On the bottom was a platform with the hole for the spinner… while the skull of the beast lays next to it, the rest of its bones gone.
Not willing to risk anything, Kuran went on the skull, and climbs on it.
"What are you doing?" asks Midna
"Not risking this thing being still alive" countered Kuran and grabs the blade that Zant had put on it. Upon reaching it, he got a hold and starts pulling on it. Midna was surprised as the skull suddenly began to float and trash around with loud roars, trying to get Kuran off. But the keyblade bearer kept an iron grip, thanks to the silver bracelets on his arms and eventually, due the increased strength he manages to pull it out. The skull crash lands while Kuran had a painful landing on the ground. But this didn't stop him from drawing the Master Sword and slams into the dark blade, shattering it into tiny pieces.
Huffing Kuran told "Now I want see Zant trying to use this thing again."
"How did you know?"
"It was quite obvious if you ask me" countered Kuran as he moves over to use the spinner. The platform began to raise up, until it stopped and a bridge began to appear, connecting the platform with a wall, which also moves to reveal a door.
"I take this is the exit" mused Kuran
"Yeah… quite obvious" she grinned to Kuran "We're close to the Mirror of Twilight after all."
Laughing Kuran rushes towards the exit with Midna in hot pursuit. They found themselves at a set of stairs that runs around the building and once they reached the top, they found a statue which a platform on the head and rails around it. Four large chains reach behind the statue into the ground, indicating something is down there.
To save time, Kuran flew up to it as Wyvern and saw that on the platform he had to use the Spinner once again.
"You were right" mused Midna "We needed the Spinner to get to the twilight. Good thing you went through the hard way…. Thought it would be nice if it were less painful for us."
"Well… complain to those who designed that thing" mused Kuran and starts to spin the spinner. The statue began to lower down while the four chains began to pull, starting to heave out a giant block of a black material. Once the block were hanging in the air, a platform raised behind them. Kuran and Midna turned and saw it was more of pedestal… with metal construct which were supposed to hold something round. But only a piece of said something were still in place. The eyes widened from the two and Midna rushed over, examination what she saw. She starts shouting in frustration and collapsed in front of it.
Kuran moved closer to her and shakes his head. All the trouble only for the mirror being destroyed? Did they really lose that easily? Were the fights just to buy the time needed to remove the only connection, blocking them as threat until they could be dealt with?
He was looking for words to comfort Midna, searching his mind for ways to still reach Zant. Until he felt multiple presences above them. He looked up and saw several white glowing persons with different masks and symbols in front of the clothes.
"A dark entity lurks in the twilight… it houses an evil power…" stated one of them "You who are guided by fate… You who possess the crest of the goddesses… you who bear a keyblade… wielder of the darkness… hear us."
Then another began "At the command of the goddesses we sage have guarded the Mirror of Twilight since ancient times."
"You seek it…" stated the third "But the Mirror of Twilight has been fragmented by mighty magic."
"Oh really?" asks Midna "WE would have never guessed!"
"That magic is a dark power that only he possesses." Stated the fourth, ignoring Midna
"Don't tell me Ganondorf" muttered Kuran
"That is his name." stated the last of them.
"Who is Ganondorf?" asks Midna
"The only male member of the Gorudo thief. As males only are born every few generations, he was their ruler by law." Explained Kuran
"Yes. He and the Gerudos invaded Hyrule in the hopes of establishing dominion over the Sacred Realm." Continue the figures "He was known as a demon thief, a wielder of evil magi renowned for is ruthlessness… "
"But he was blind…" continued one of the others "In all of his fury and might, he was blind to any danger, and thus was he exposed, subdued, and brought to justice. We executed him."
"Yet… By some devine prank, he, too, had been blessed with the chosen power of the gods. Despite having a blade going through his body, he broke free and killed one of us. In order to protect ourselves and the rest of Hyrule… we used the Mirror of Twilight to banish Ganondorf."
"His abiding hatred and lust for power turned to purest malice…"
"Perhaps that evil power has been passed on to Zant…"
"You're just now figured out where Zant got his power?" asks Midna "It's far too late…"
Kuran glared at them "You are such idiots! Couldn't you have figured that out EARLIER? Like before you tried to execute him? Or before banishing him to a place where an entire tribe were already banished to? Didn't you think for one second that Ganondorf could find somebody willing to help him getting out of there for his diabolic plans? DID YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU WERE FACING?"
Midna looks in shock at Kuran by his words. Also the beings were surprised. Trying to calm the keybearere they continued "Only the true leader of the Twili can utterly destroy the Mirror of Twilight… so Zant could merely break it into pieces."
"IN how many pieces?" asks Kuran
"They were broken into four fragments, which even now lie hidden across the land of Hyrule."
"One is in the snowy mountain heights…"
"One is in an ancient grove…"
"And one is in the heavens…"
"The mountains and the grove are more or less clear" told Kuran "But the heavens? That… might prove difficult."
"You who have been sent by the goddesses… You should be able to gather the three pieces… But you must be prepared, for a dangerous power resides in those fragments…"
"I got it!" told Kuran and looks at Midna "Let's leave… before I might kill one of them!"
Midna nods and once Kuran is transformed, he flew off… back to Hyrule, while letting steam off.
As the two flew off they were being watched by a Stalwart Blade.
"So Grim Reapers arrogance cost him in the end."
"That's the second time you Heartless failed to impress." Spoke the voice of the small nightmare cat before appearing by its side.
"If you want to talk down on the subject at least don't be hypocritical about it. I'm not exactly seeing you Nightmares do any better." The armored Heartless countered.
"We have our own plan on this approach."
"If you say so...However the fact that only your cronies have done any work begs to differ."
"Say what you want it won't change a thing." The cat snarked.
"I suppose not. Still it's easy to see why he is a threat."
"What about the other one? Is him being immortal the only thing he has?" The nightmare wondered.
"I was on my way to find out myself." The Stalwart Blade responded.
"You?"
"I'm not as arrogant as the others to fight a losing battle."
"If you say so." The cat Nightmare said before disappearing.
