"So, the dark world has achieved some form of order?" The princess asked.
"Yes. The three rulers are now working with each other to set up Helia." Link answered.
"That's grand for them. And you obtained the pieces of triforce...so now the armies should be evenly matched. Two men with two pieces of triforce at their helm. Ganondorf is known to have several powerful warriors in his army, but with the help of your friends, and some of my own, we should be more than a match for him."
She stood up from the chest she was sitting on and stretched her limbs, arching her back. Link's eyes widened, and he turned away, blushing.
"So now we must storm castle-town, and get our soldiers inside the castle. We are three days travel from castle-town, and we will have to ready the soldiers.
"We are going to need a strategy, princess." Jareth said seriously. "No war is going to be won by our side by trying to blindly attack a city. It would be best if we could get our army inside the city through some method. Are there any hidden passages we could use?"
Zelda thought for a second before responding there were three passages she knew of that they could use to get inside castle town.
"One hidden beneath a boulder in the forest that sits behind the town. Another in a small shack about two miles away from the town. The last one leads directly into the castle. It is only enterrable by diving into the moat and finding the right hole." she stated.
"So we can have three main avenues of assault." The ranger muttered. "Princess, how big would you say your army is?"
"No less than 5000 soldiers in this camp." She answered.
"I see...and how many do you believe now protect the castle town?"
"i wouldn't put it over 8000. The town is large, but not large enough to sustain an army much bigger than that."
"Then we will proceed assuming there are 10,000 soldiers within the city. I recommend several days of harsh training before we move out, to beat out any flaws in the combat ability of your average soldier."
"My soldiers are well trained." Zelda said, sounding slightly upset.
"If what I know of Ganon is true, they most likely aren't well trained enough. The men he will have surrounding him and guarding his city will be his best. I don't want an untrained army going against that, having to take out two soldiers for every one of our own that falls."
Zelda opened her mouth to offer a retort, but was cut off by a high pitched elderly voice.
"This man speaks the truth, Zelda."
The voice preceded an old woman entering the tent. She was short, standing maybe just over five feet tall. A pale faded blue dress hung loosely over her frail frame. Snow white hair framed her slim wrinkled face. In the center of that face were two bright green eyes, so intense they almost startled Link.
"I think our soldiers are more than capable, Agatha." She replied.
"Perhaps they may, yet I feel caution would not act as poison in this effort, Princess."
Zelda sighed before introducing the party to the old woman.
"Link, Jareth, Dark, Alnahim. This is Agatha, witch of the winds. I recruited her for her knowledge on sealing Ganon. She was one of the original sages that sealed him. Agatha, this is Link, Jareth, Dark, and Alnahim. From what I understand, they will be vital to our battles."
Agatha looked the group over, giving special attention to Dark and Alnahim.
"So, the hero of Hyrule has returned. And in a band meant to save Hyrule. Whatever happened to returning as a lord over all darkness?"
Zelda's expression became confused.
"I'm sorry, what?" She said.
"18 years ago, a man went on a murderous spree. He killed the then king of Hyrule, your grandfather. He was sealed into the dark world, after killing five of the seven sages. This man had been overrun by darkness, and was sealed into the dark world by the two remaining sages. As he faded from this world, he claimed he would one day return as a lord over darkness. That man was formerly a hero in Hyrule, known for his victory over Ganon. This man stands before you now."
Dark's head remained high, despite the look of shock on Zelda's face.
"My mind was not my own. I have joined this group in order to perhaps partially make up for my past mistakes. My darkness was wiped out by Link and Jareth.
"But it wasn't, was it?" the old witch asked sternly.
Dark's eyes grew wide, and he looked around at the people around him. Link looked at him, totally surprised, and then, even worse than hatred, with disappointment and shame.
"Is it true?" He asked.
Dark was silent for what seemed like an eternity before he opened his mouth.
"It was shortly before we left the Goron capitol...The voice of shadows began to beckon to me once again..." He said slowly.
Link's face became of picture of disgust, and he stormed out of the tent. Dark followed half a step, reaching his hand out. But he was too late. Link was already gone.
"Ganon is capable of manipulating all forms of darkness. If you do not throw off your veil of shadow, he will conquer you when you two meet." Agatha claimed.
"How?" Dark asked.
"Alnahim could create another potion." Jareth offered.
"No." Alnahim said. "My tonic did not last the first time. I can only imagine it's relief time would only become shorter and shorter as his body builds up resistance to it."
"The purple-eyed one is correct." Agatha began. "He would only be capable of offering temporary relief. You must face your shadow head on, or it shall only grow larger."
"How?" Dark repeated.
"We are twenty miles south of a mystic cave. The cave is infused with deep and ancient magic. When you enter, you are brought to conflict with your deepest emotions. The cave gets inside your head, and draws out your weaknesses, giving them physical shape and form. It was there that the original sages and I had to go in order to find the strength to seal away Ganon. You will face multiple trials, and if you survive, you will become much stronger. The darkness should be as eradicated as possible. Shadow magic will always be in your grasp, and your current appearance most likely won't reverse, but no more will darkness have a hold over you." she finished.
Dark considered the witch's words for a few minutes, before nodding.
"I shall set off within the hour." He said.
Jareth stepped in.
"I'd also like to go."
Agatha, Zelda, and Dark looked at him queerly.
"Why?" They asked in unison.
"Ever since the end of the goron war, I've been useless compared to the rest of my crew. I was only able to hardly handle myself against Dark. I used to be stronger than Link. And I can only imagine that Alnahim is far more powerful than I. If this cave of trials can make me stronger, I would like to use it." He said.
"You do realize this is an immensely strenuous series of trials that could tear you apart, body mind and soul, correct?" Agatha asked him.
"Yes. I understand the risk. But if it is what is necessary for my strength to increase, even a little, I want to do it."
"Very well..." The old woman groaned.
)))))))))))(((((((((((
Link was walking around the camp, head down.
"After so long. After so DAMN much! He still isn't completely right again!" He thought, his fists clenching so tight that he left white half moons in his palm from his fingernails. He spat angrily into the dirt, and carried on.
"Link! Is that you!" A voice called out, filling Link with Nostalgia. He turned around and saw Orion, the doctor of his village running towards him.
"Orion!" Link shouted happily. The tall lanky man reached him and let out a laugh.
"It has been so long!" He said happily. His voice was a few pitches too high for the tall body. Graying blonde hair curled out from his head, making his pointy ears stick out like horns. "Where have you been!"
"When...Uncle died, I promised to get revenge. So I sought out the princess, and she told me everything I had to do. I've been traveling around, finding the things we need in order to win this war."
"Who would have thought such a hero would come from our own little village." Orion laughed.
"How about you, what are you doing here?"
"The princess came to our village, and requested that we join with her. Me, being a doctor, felt my skills may be of value on the field of battle. So I joined with her. They've been keeping us busy, but it's good work that I'm doing." The doctor said happily.
"Well, I'm glad you have found all this."
"Indeed I am. But I think I'm needed. So I will see you around." Orion said as he turned and jogged away.
As Link watched him move away, he saw two horses speed out of the camp. He looked after them. One rider was garbed in a melding cloak of greens and browns. The other was dressed in a black tunic.
"The hell?" he said under his breath as he realized it was Jareth and Dark. Link began to sprint back towards the tent he'd left earlier.
)))))))))(((((((((
"Where are they going!" He exclaimed as he burst into the tent.
Zelda jumped, and covered her bare chest.
"uh...um, uh, wow, uh, I mean! Sorry!" Link said, a deep blush running across his face as he leaped out of the tent. He was still flourescent pink by the time the princess came out.
"Perhaps you should announce you are entering a woman's chambers before you do so." She said.
"I, I, uh, yeah..." Link stammered. "But, if I may ask, um, where exactly are Jareth and Dark going?"
"They are going to confront their weaknesses. Agatha told Dark of a cave where he could go to defeat his darkness. If he lives through it, he will be saved from it entirely."
"If he lives through it?" Link asked emotionally.
"Yes."
"And what about Jareth? He doesn't have any problems with darkness!" Link insisted.
"He wanted to go. He said he wasn't as strong as he could be, and wanted to become useful again." Zelda said.
"I have to go after them! What if they don't make it!" Link said with fear edging his voice.
"Link, calm down. If they are half as strong as you make them out to be, I'm sure they will be fine. Besides, I need you here in order to train the forces."
"But-"
"No buts. You will remain here and train the troops. Your friends will return within three days. If they do not, we move on with our attack on the city."
"I..." Link began, but then saw the look in Zelda's eye. "So be it."
