Landing in the outskirts of the town, Kuran made an annoyed huff while Midna turned him back. "I cannot believe it! I cannot believe it! How much brainpower does it take to think that sealing away a guy who essentially destroyed Hyrule once in a place where he could find more followers is smart?"

"Wait! Destroyed Hyrule once?" asks Midna

"Right… you cannot know this" sighs Kuran "It is quite simple… was once in a different Hyrule. One where Ganondorf wasn't discovered as traitor and had… I think seven years time to make it his playgrounds before some friends I and I happen to come along."

"I better not try to imagination what it looked like" stated Midna and looks at the shield covered castle "It could be only be the worst."

"You have no plan" admits Kuran "So… what now? We have hints of where to look. The mountain is the most obivious one. The Grove... have a guess but about the city we need definitely an expert."

"Well… we could decently ask about these three places." Suggested Minda

"Or we tell them straight the situation." Countered Kuran "At this point we are facing more than just Zant. We are looking at a confrontation of a guy who did quite a number on everybody who crosses him! And the heartless are helping them. I am not going to risk anything."

Midna turns around, not liking the suggestions… especially since she doesn't want to face hostility towards her or Kuran… but given of how much larger their game became… Sighing loudly and shaking her head "You are right… I hate to admit it but you are right. You thought of this resistance group right?"

"Given they are properly the best bet of knowing what we are looking for AND would keep quiet about it. Well properly. Yeah I am planning to go to them." Admits Kuran "But I will only tell about you if here is no other choice."

"You win this one" admits Midna "So better we go before I change my mind." And she disappeared into his shadow. Waiting for a moment, Kuran looks at his shadow and he had to admit in one thing: It isn't a good idea but given the problem here isn't much he could do.

In the town, Kuran went to the bar of Telma. Entering it, he saw that this time their masked friend was missing… nothing he isn't really unhappy about, as those he needs to see where here.

"Oh Kuran! Nice that you are here!" smiles Telma "I take you found what you were looking for?"

"Yes and No" stated Kuran as he went over to the table "I found the mirror… but only a part of it. Somebody broke it into pieces."

"Good riddance of this cursed item." Stated Auru

"As much I would like to agree… it has to be fixed" admits Kuran "Else I won't reach the guy who is responsible for the little problem surrounding the castle or what is coming from the dessert."

"And you need now answer how to fix it?" asked Shad

"No. I need to find the pieces. My clues are one is in snowy mountain heights, one in an ancient grove and one in the heavens." Explains Kuran "The snowy mountains are quite obivious. But the other two points makes me worry."

"For the heavens, I have a clue." Nodded Shad "The ancient Grove… I think I know who to ask."

"For the snowy mountains, only Snowpeak is fitting" stated Ashei "Give some time and we will be ready to search them."

"Thank you Ashei." Nodded Kuran "That would be the first of the shards.."

"I look for the heavens and grove parts." Nodded Chad "I am looking forward your return."

"Thank you" stated Kuran and turns to Ashei "Shall we?"

"I need to prepare for both of us first" she repeated.

"It would be faster if I help you"

"You have a point. Let's move, yeah?"

The two left the bar and went in the town and they are gathering everything they need to ensure neither of them would freeze to death or hunger to death. At least for quite a while. But Ashei warned Kuran that the amount they have will only last for a week, perhaps two if they rationalize them very well.

Kuran understood and asked "Where do we have to go?"

"The best way to reach Snowpeak is by the domain of the Zora. You have been there before as I heard, yeah?" stated Ashei.

"I had been there. But not very much" he stated "Only doing one or two things and then left."

"Is still enough for you knowing the path" she stated "This makes things easier."

Kuran agreed and together they began the trip towards the Zora Domain which they reach soon. Ashei then leads Kuran to the passage which was the "doorway" to Snowpeak. A guard thought stopped them for a moment, warning them about the weather, which grew colder for some reasons and the beast of the mountains had been in the village recently, taking a Reekfish.

Kuran didn't ask about this fish as he thought that the name was telling more than enough about the fish. They acknowledge the news and heads in while Ashei told "For quite a while the mountains grew colder… could it be work of this mirror?"

"Given the warnings, I wouldn't be surprised about it." Admits Kuran

"Then we have to hurry about find-" she stopped as they heard odd noises. The two looked at each other as it becomes clear what these sounds are: The sounds of fighting!

The two rushes forward to see the reasons of fighting and who is fighting who. As they came out, they was with messing a large white furred creature were fighting others.

"Heartless!" told Kuran as he pulled out the Master Sword. "WE have to help him."

"That is the creature of the mountains." Stated Ashei

"If it can speak or understand us, we might find the mirror faster." Stated Kuran. Ahsei thought for a moment and nods while drawing her bow and began to shoot an arrow to the heartless. Kuran jumped forward, keyblade at the other hand and before the heartless fully understood the new situation, quite a number of them were slices apart.

The numbers of heartless are slowly down… before Kuran had to jump to be not hit by a large metal ball. He looks dumb at the ball and notices a chain which leads to a completely armored being.

"Great…" muttered Kuran and called upon Mimi, so the rabbit could attack the heartless while he would draw his attention towards the more dangerous enemy.

Pulling the ball in, the creature began to spin he ball around, giving a sort of shield while Kuran sheats the Master Sword, while holding his keyblade tight in his hand, narrowing the eyes. Moving around the enemy, Kuran just kept outside of the reach of the rotation reach of the large metallic ball. The enemy followed his gaze and didn't throw the ball at Kuran. Jumping aside to avoid an hit, the darkness user rushes up and jumps over the enemy, hitting the helmet which made it fall over due the over balance it had right now without a waste of time, spins around and slashes the tail. Which Kuran notices is the only unprotected part of the entire thing.

The armor wearing foe cries in pain and instantly went on the knees, thought Kuran could hit two more times bore the tail were protected by the armor, thanks to the proportions of said armor.

The enemy pulled the metal ball in and began swinging it again. As Kuran moves again, he notices that arrows were hitting the armor and at a glance he saw that the mountain beast and Ashei were done with the heartless and only that one armored foe was left.

While Kuran was glad that he had helped with this one now, the problem stands: How to hit the tail if this thing had such tight defenses? Somebody had to make sure it falls over again and stay in place.

The armored beast threw the ball again. As Kuran rushed in again to hit the helmet, he notices it isn't over bending like before, thus making it impossible to simply tip over again. Also it was pulling on the chain again.

Kuran cursed and was about to pull back to be not in reach of the attack. However what he didn't expect was that the chain of the weapon were jerked away from the armored enemy. And the dead grip of said opponent was then the reason why it fell over again. Kuran had both of his weapons now ready and jumps upwards, slamming both of them into the tail, cutting it off.

The beast cried in pain and got back up, staggering while pulling out a pair of blades out. The beast dropped the ball in favor of better chances to avoid the hits. Ashei put her bow away to get her blade out, thought Kuran could see that she wasn't betting on their chances.

Spotting the ball on the ground and remembering something he had he called over to the two "Distract it! I got a crazy idea!"

"Something to defeat it I take, yeah?" asks Ashei and moves in, hitting the back a couple of times to draw the attention of the armored foe. The beast also helped by throwing balls of snow, not wanting to risk the skin due the blades.

As the two kept the opponent busy, Kuran rushes over to the metal ball and grabs the chain. Once he had a sure enough grip, he moves to the ball and grabs it. He grunts due the weight but thanks to the Silver gauntlets he was able to lift this heavy object. Looking back at the others he saw Ashei was able to keep the attention while Mimi was irritating it with hit and run tactics, thanks to her small body.

Taking a deep breath Kuran took a firm grip and began to run up, calling "Incoming!"

Mimi, Ahsei and the beast notices what Kuran means and rushes off, letting their armored opponent puzzled at first before it realize what is going to happen. Kuran threw it against the enemy, pushing it back. Pulling the ball back, Kuran swings it with the chain, hitting some more before he swings it around himself, before letting the weapon hit the target with a loud yell. The Armored being flew helpless away from the impact and lands with a loud splash in the nearby lack. Dropping the weapon Kuran pants loudly. Then he looks at the ball "I think I keep it."

"You think, yeah?" asks Ashei as she came in.

Kuran nods while looking at it. Thought he due a feeling he turns back to the girl. As he saw what is coming he shouts "Watch out!"

Turning around Ashei saw a armored heartless jumping towards her, blade ready to pierce her body. Kuran tried to help her but he knew he wouldn't make it in time. Mimi was hopping but was not in an angle to effective preventing the hit while the mountain beast was simply too far away.

Asheis eyes were wide, her mind getting ready for the pain… if here weren't suddenly a large hand which grabbed the heartless and squeezes it so hard that it simply bursts into dark dust.

The starting Ashei followed the fists body, down to an imp, realizing this fist was made of the imps hair.

Staring as well, Kuran asks "Midna? What… just happened?"

Retreating her hair, Midna looked down at her hands, trying to understand why she simply… jumped out of Kuran Shadow and dealt with this heartless, despite within eye sight of light dwellers. Light dwellers she never wanted to be aware of her.

And true enough, Ashei recovered after some moments and asks "Who or what are you?"

"She is with me" stated Kuran "She is helping me with the events of recently. But not the talking type. Rather shy."

Taking the hint, Midna quickly disappeared into Kurans shadow.

Ahsei looked at Kuran and stated "You have your allies. I have mine. We share some of them, some are ours alone. I am not in position to question you. I owe her that much for saving me."

"Thanks for your understanding." Stated Kuran while the beast came in

"Thank you for helping me!" stated the beast. "How can I help humans?"

"We are looking for a mirror." Stated Kuran "Dark, with symbols and looking like it belongs to a larger round object."

"… Uh. You look for mirror in such faraway place…" stated the beast then it laughs "Why you not say so before? You lucky to meet me! I found shiny mirror piece."

"Really? Where is it?" asks Kuran

"If same mirror you look for, you come to house and see yourself!" he explains and then he holds up the Reekfish "I caught fish. I make you hot meal, at least… Follow me! My house far away."

Not questioning the creature, Ashei and Kuran followed him. During the climb on the mountain, the creature claiming it is a short cut, Kuran asked "Not that I complain… but why did you help her?"

Midna appeared beside him as shadow and rubs her arm "I… don't know. I simply jumped as I saw what was about to happen."

"if I were Sora, I would understand that better… but I am not the time to make such effects on people." Mused Kuran

"Don't sell yourself short" chuckles Midna "You are quite a guy who has a certain… feel."

Eying her for a moment he stated "Why do I have the feeling I should think twice about this statement?"

"Who knows?" shrugged the twili "Perhaps it is my charming smile?"

"no comment." Was the simple reply.

As they reaches the top, the creature hits a tree and a frozen leaf lands in front of him "Do like me! Come!" and he jumps on the leaf and surfs down the mountain.

Ashei and Kuran looked at each other with a shrug, hit the three twice and… let's say Kuran doesn't have it really into Snowboarding.

At the end of the route, Kuran hits the stairs of a ruined house as giant rolling snowball. Ashei couldn't help but chuckle at the snow covered Kuran, who makes quite an interesting snowman, and the darkness user could tell Mimi and Midna were laughing their butts off.

Shaking the now off, Kuran shivered and said "First the meal… then the mirror."

"Fair enough." And the two entered the house.

Looking at the half frozen place, Kuran mused "With some work here and a decent heating, it would be a nice place to life in. Not bad for a beast man."

"Agre" stated Ashei "Wonder who build it."

"First time being here?" asks Kuran

"Never been here before. Didn't even know it exist."

"Well… let's find our new friend."

They moved to the door on the other hand of the hall and they find a comfortable living room… with a smaller version of the beast man. Turning the head a female voice asked "Who?"

The two looked at her and she stated "Sorry… I have sickness, uh… Come closer, uh?"

The two come over and she stated "You cute little humans. Husband told me you come. You want to look at mirror, uh?"

Upon nodding she stated "My husband found it, but it pretty thing, uh. But… since I get mirror, I get sick, and then bad monsters appear… So many bad things happen since mirror… So we lock bedroom on third floor, where it hangs, uh? Wait… I tell you where key is…"

"Not necessary." Told Kuran "I have a way to unlock any lock." Said Kuran "Just tell me how to reach the bedroom and I get the mirror."

Turning to Ahsei he stated "Getting to the mirror might get dangerous… could you look after her and her husband?"

"I will." Stated Ashei.

Exciting the room on the one side Kuran had to pass thought some more rooms… and had to take note that heartless and other creatures took really a liking into this cold place.

And finding out the path to the bedroom is in the second floor, in the outside, going around a tower to reach the highest point of the tower wasn't mood raising as he was starting to feel cold even with the clothes from Ashei. Getting through the maze was not easy, not even with the way description but finally he stood in front of the locked door.

"After this I look for a hot spot." Told the darkness user and unlocks the door before entering. The bedroom was nicely equipped but also old looking.

"Whoever made this place has style" mused Midna "If it weren't in this cold place, I would think about moving in."

"Ask the current holders to leave first. I think that might be difficult" chuckles Kuran soon spots the piece "So… one of the others?"

"Yes! Quite an easy one!" laughs the twili and moves over to it… only to jumpas back in surprise as knight like heartless with ice blades as hands jumps in front of her and slams one of the blades into the fragment.

"That should teach you to tempt fate" stated Kuran with a grunt.

They looked at the heartless and the mirror splitter, which began to break apart and moves into the heartless the body. It rose up from the ground and the windows above broke as wind storms in and surrounds the heartless, covering the entire creature. A white ball was shown which grew larger and larger until it broke apart and Kuran faced now a heartless of the size of a large statue, glaring down at him.

"I asked for it?" asks Midna "Well… I am sorry?"

"be it when we survive!" told Kuran and jumps aside as it slashed down one of the blade arms. The heartless was noticeable now wearing less armor but these parts were now replaced with thick ice. Midna noticed that as well while they run around but for Kuran it wasn't that easy as he was not skittering on the ground as it was now covered by ice.

The dark being was trying to hit them more with its giant swords but as it keeps missing, it changed the tactics and jumped high into the air before diving down with the blades. While the impact were avoided the two were caught in a shockwave that erupts form the impact, bury them for a moment in snow.

Sticking the head out Midna shivered before snapping her head by a pained shout. She saw that Kuran was now kicked by the heartless. Midna didn't think long and grabs the first thing she found with her hair and slams it at the leg, shattering it. The heartless were forced on the knee while the ice starts reforming around the leg.

Upon seeing it, Kuran forces himself up, gets the iron ball out and flings it after getting some momentum at the head of the heartless. It flew back on the back at the impact, the head shattered.

It's heart raised from the chest but was hold by something dark and the shattered parts of the heartless began to reform again.

Kuran blinked at this and didn't think long as he rushes up on the body and slashes with his Keyblade on the dark thing that holds the heart. However the heart sank back into the body as the heartless was fully reformed and Kuran had to jump off the body as it rose up.

"That could have been better" told Midna

"But at least we have a battle strategy" stated Kuran "And Mimi won't be helping now."

Midna nodded "Then let's kick his butt."

The two split away to make a harder target and while they managed to avoid the sword strikes, they were surprised as suddenly ice versions of the soldier heartless appear. Without thinking, Kuran pulled his sword out and slashes, but it stuck in the enemy.

Blinking, Kuran ripped the blade off while kicking he body but was kicked in return by another soldier. Midna had grabbed one with her hair and crushed it. While the biggest parts were cracked, the parts which were crushed are enough to disable the enemy.

Kuran was forced to get the iron ball out and rotate it around him to keep the soldiers in bay while the big bad went to slash the sword down. Kura dropped the ball and jumps aside, barely avoided to be cleaved in half.

Using the chance of jumping at Kuran, the soldiers moves in, but they were swept aside from the long magic hair of the twili. Getting back on the feet, Kuran saw that the bladed heartless had the arms raised to slam both of the blades down.

Not wanting to know what will happen if the blades get down, Kuran grabbed the chain of the iron ball and pulled hard, managing to get both feet smashed somehow. The giant crashed down, head landing next to Kuran who pulled the ball again and slams it into the head, smashing it as well.

The heart raised again hold by the darkness. Kuran got up quickly by simply dropping the iron ball and get on it, this time drawing the Master Sword and slashed it. The reaction was violate. The body tenses up and Kuran had to slam the blade into the body to not fall off. Looking at this, Kuran slams his Keyblade into the body to have an hold and slashes the heart multiple times again.

The darkness disperses but then ice captured the unceasing the heart. The soldier jumped on the feet and the stomach area were replaces with eyes, the heart clear visible.

Also the enemy shrunk considerable so it was just as big as Darbus.

So still a big guy.

Thought now it got speed and mobility and Kuran had to block the slashes and counter them, making it more like a duel. Midna couldn't get close as the movements of the enemy risks to cut her or her hair. Also Kuran had to notice that the hits he lands did little. He had to finish with the iron ball… which was out of his reach.

Blocking in a reverse handed manner, Kuran uses both blades to block the opponents two blades. Kuran then pushes it off and told "Watch your back!" before moving quickly away.

Confused by that the heartless turns around, only to have suddenly the ball smashed through the body, leaving a sizeable hole in the chest. The heartless looks down and then up at the one who threw that ball… Midna. She was now on the knees; panting as throwing this heavy thing with the necessary force was still taking quite a bit of her powers.

Falling on the knees the heartless turned dark before it explodes and the darkness moves to reform into the shard of the Mirror.

Midna moves over and asks "If this is just one a mook…"

"Then I don't want to know what happened if a big one gets a mirror shard" finished Kuran while Midna pockets the shard "Let's quickly find the other shards."

Agreeing with her, Kuran went towards the door while Midna returns to his shadow. Once he was out of the tower, the golden wolf stood there and Kuran mused "You are late that time." Before it jumps him and he was faced with his teacher again. "We meet again"

"Indeed!" agreed Kuran

"At last, the skills I have to teach you have entered the realm of true secrecy. They are forgotten ways. I teach them for your role and for your bloodline."

"I understand Master" stated Kuran, adapting to use this word to call him anything

"Among the techniques I shall be teaching you are some that may even endanger you… do you feel ready for these skills?"

"Let's get to the teaching." Stated Kuran

"Then let us see first if you had mastered the helm Splitter" stated the being and the two draw their swords and Kuran was able to land the necessary hit quickly.

"Excellent, it appears you are certainly capable of performing my lost art." Was the masters explanation. My fifth hidden skill is… the Mortal Draw. Let it be hewn into your mind!"

Then he continues to explain "The ways of the sword are known to many creatures, and some have strengthened their guards, against shield attacks and back slices. Should you encounter such a foe, the mortal draw that I am about to teach you, is most effective. You must sheathe your sword and cast aside the most basic of sword skills. You must wait until your foe is upon you… Then, before the enemy can see through your ruse, you must quickly draw your blade." And he swings suddenly his blade, only stopping inches from Kurans neck. Kuran was staring at the bones being as he didn't expect that move during the explanation. If he had been intending to kill Kuran… "There is no defense for this. The mortal draw deals death. Now try it."

Kuran nods and stood there while his teacher was bending time. Then he moves in and Kuran strikes. Not with the blade of his back but with the blades of his darkness, catching the opponent off guard with the dual strike.

"Hmm. That was a pointed strike. But do not forget that this technique leaves your life at risk."

"I will remember that"

"The fifth hidden skill, the mortal draw, has been passed on!" told the being "You make me proud Kuran."

Again the darkness user wanted to ask how it knows his name but before he could ask… he was back on the front door of the yetis bedroom.

"I wonder if I get that mystery solved before leaving…" muttered Kuran and heads back to the fire place.

As he reaches the place, it was a bigger mess than before and Kuran asks "What happened here?"

"The dark creatures happened" told Ashei "We heard fighting from the tower and wanted to investigate but then were attacked by them. Just finished to fend them off."

"Creatures will know better than threatening wife!" stated the large Yeti while holding his wife. "What happened in bedroom?"

"A larger one attacked me." Told Kuran "it is dealt with but your mirror is gone."

"Mirror not important. Wife is important" he assures while the two began to gaze into each other.

Kuran and Ashei looked at each other "Well… if you don't mind we leave now."

"Visit when you have time."

"We will." Stated Kuran and as the two left the beast people he asks "how bad was it?"

"She is quite something. He even more. The soup wasn't bad thought."

"Should have asked for it before dealing with a giant ice sculpture" groans Kuran

"Could be worse" she stated and they head back to the Zoras. As they passed the tunnel, they were greeted by a couple of guards and one young Zora that Kuran recognized. The Zora walks up to Kuran and asks "You are Kuran right?"

"Yes it is me."

"I am Prince Ralis… my mother appeared to me in my dream." Explains the young Zora "I… I know what happened to her. And I know you saved my life." He gave Kuran an earring… if the keybearer had to guess it is made of coral.

"Please take this as a gift of appreciation." Told Ralis.

Taking it Kuran said "Thank you."

"You are now a friend of the Zoras. If you ever need something, just name it" told Ralis

"I remember it" nodded Kuran and adds in his mind 'Thought I am not sure if I ever need it…'

"I remain here a little longer to ensure the Peaks are save" stated Ashei "I suggest you meet up with the others to see how to continue"

"Yeah" agreed Kuran "At least you have enough to eat. IN the end we only had to use a day's worth of food."

"Indeed. Good luck with the other shards" stated Ashei and she heads back to the mountains. After watching her go, Kuran then left the Zoras and heads back to Telma. Back in he only saw Telma and Shad. "I am back. And where are the others?"

"Welcome back dear! And about the others: Auru is looking up something while our secret maker is to Faror Forest. If he has something he sends you a letter."

"Why me?" asks Kuran

"Because it is about a shard location." Told Shad. "That's why."

"Given my luck I have to go there anyway." Stated Kuran "And movement will be welcoming to get warm again…"

"Then how about while you wait for that letter, you go to the Gorons and wait in the hot springs?" offered Telma

"Hot springs?" asks Kuran

Death Mountain, the hot springs.

Kuran, Midna and Mimi were sitting in the hot water of the mountain and sighs.

"Of all things in this world… I love this place" stated Midna "I wish we could remain here forever…"

"Same here" told Kuran while Mimi nodded and the three sighed again, remaining in the water, sinking in so far that only their heads sticks out of the water.

"So lovely warm" the three chanted loudly.