Cathleen wrung her hands, her gaze shifting from the servants gesturing for their escape at the double doors and back to her father, who remained otherwise unmoving during this perilous event. As her dream foretold, the palace was under attack, amidst chaotic disorder, and smoke drifted through the open door from the halls. Should she remain here or escape through the tunnels with her brother, Julian?

An unexpected war sprung into the kingdom, and with it, thousands of their soldiers fought at the borders against outside invaders. Whoever those cloaked assailants were, it was obvious they were not inhabitants of Termina; they crossed the treacherous seas in search of the fabled treasure kept within the Royal Family.

Those images were impossible to erase, and they became a reality. Within a matter of a few days, a group of those barbaric souls had snuck past their defenses, past their army, and into the kingdom, and now the palace was in flames. Was it any more terrifying outside the walls? Would Ikana collapse?

Beside her, she felt Julian's hand tighten upon her arm, and acknowledging her brother's anxiousness, she turned once more to her father. "Father, if you remain here they'll—"

But he interrupted her, his voice echoing within the dim room. "I will not have the royal bloodline end here. I'll distract them long enough, so follow the servants and escape while there is still time," He said, his gaze softening. "Julian, I'm counting on you to uphold the lineage and strength of this family. You are next in line for the throne. Should anything happen to me in the day's end…" He fell short, narrowing his eyes in thought. "rule this kingdom. And Cathleen, as you are already aware of your responsibilities, you must also help your brother. Survive at all costs."

"Father…"

A hand touched her shoulder, and turning her amethyst gaze to her servant, an Amazonian woman whose lineage transversed the lands to the seas of Great Bay, she realized time was against them. There was no use arguing, and withholding her tears, she took Julian's hand in hers and followed the remaining servants. Father would not succumb to those bloodthirsty heathens, right?

Only once she glanced back, brief as it was, but she glimpsed her father unsheathing his mighty blade from his scabbard. Two of Ikana's best swordsmen stood beside him. He flashed her a reassuring smile, and the door closed.

Led through the empty halls and narrow corridors, and descending multitudes of stairs, they arrived at a small chamber cluttered with storage. Inside the torch-lit the darkness, two servants pushed away old clay pots and a dirty sheet and revealed a hidden passage in the old wooden floorboards.

"This route will take us through a series of tunnels and past the old prison," The woman said, ushering her and Julian closer. "You may rest easy. Your highnesses will prevail through all of this; I give you my word."

There was a noise at the end of the hall, the sound of running footsteps drawing closer. Cathleen held her breath and glanced at the closed door guarded by the two servants. There was a sound, and looking back, she saw that the secret door was unlatched and opened; the woman beckoning her and Julian inside. This was the first time she'd ever used the secret tunnels, and cautious, she stepped closer. Under the torch's light, she discovered stairs leading into an endless darkness.

Steadying her breath, Cathleen took her brother's hand once more, and together, they descended the stairs, following the torchbearer through the catacombs of the old prison. Behind her, she heard the door close, and with the two servants remaining behind to stall for time, she turned her gaze forward.

"Sister…"

At the sound of Julian's anxiousness, his soft voice falling short, she smiled, squeezing his hand. "It will be fine. They will not find us here."

"What about father? We shouldn't have abandoned him…"

As much as she wanted to agree, there was no way she could have persuaded him. Father was the type to stand his ground no matter the consequences. Especially if a little drizzle turned into a tremendous storm. Father's fate remained in the hands of the great divinity. "We are this kingdom's last hope, Julian. Father has given his command, and we should abide by it."

"I know…"

"There's no telling how long this war will last and how many lives it will cost, but for the sake of our people, we must survive. If it comes right down to it, we'll rebuild this kingdom together. Hope will not fade… so long as we survive."

"Sister…"

As much as she wanted to remain positive for her brother, to reassure him that all would be well, she could not help but fear the reality behind those dreams, those visions. Her dreams did not foretell of anything sinister transpiring on their escape through the catacombs; the real danger was above them.

If they continued in this direction, they would not witness the bloodshed and destruction. Julian would live, but father… He would not survive this ordeal.

The dreams had come to her in several instances, one where she witnessed the attack first hand, both she and her brother taken hostage by the ruthless assailants and her father killed on the spot. What followed was the kingdom's collapse, and then both she and her brother sold into slavery.

The second dream wasn't too different. Her father had ordered their escape through the tunnels, but Julian's anxiousness killed him. Had Roshan not been beside her, she might have also fallen prey to those swords. They escaped, and the kingdom collapsed. With no one to take the throne, they had lived among the residents of Termina until sickness and death consumed them.

The second was like the last, and it did not have a happy ending. Father ordered them to evacuate through the tunnels and seek refuge in a large town filled with many merchants and locals. The kingdom of Ikana had collapsed but her his remains vanished; it led Cathleen to believe those heathens had taken him hostage. Sold into slavery, no doubt. Unless another ill-fate awaited him. After that, the lands of Termina had undergone change, and darkness swept the lands. The people pointed their fingers at her, blaming her, and soon after Julian fell into such a depressed state, he took his life.

These dreams were the different outcomes that would play out this evening, but neither were pleasant. Still, if there was a way she could prevent the collapse of the kingdom and somehow keep Julian safe, then nothing else mattered, but the fact remained; her father would die no matter her attempts. Why had the Goddesses given her these visions? And what did Ikana's collapse have to do with an unexpected evil sweeping the lands?

'If we continue like this, Julian will grow more anxious and try to run off. I should ease his mind…'

"Where will we go?" Julian asked, his voice echoing off the walls.

With the torch's flame lighting the darkness, Cathleen's eyes caught sight of iron bars to her left, cobwebs glimmering as they passed. This prison was over a century old, several cobwebs decorating the rafters overhead, and there were remnants of toppled jars lying around the vicinity. A smell also wafted through the air, a stench of mold and death, the likes which caused her to cover her nose with the sleeve of her gown. No surprise rats were living in this mold infested place, their small shadows scurrying past the light as they passed.

"This tunnel will take us through the canyons until we arrive at the ravine near the waterfall. There will be a horse and carriage waiting for us there, and should we arrive safely, we'll make our way towards the capital, Clock Town."

Cathleen mused. "It will take several days for us to reach it, even on horse…" It was the first time she'd ever stepped outside Ikana. Still, from her trusted servant, Roshan, she'd learned the outside world was beautiful and filled with vegetation, the grassy lands continuing for days on end. "And our place of residence? Where will we stay?"

"We'll figure that out once we arrive."

Not long on their brisk walk, they arrived before a wooden door, and as Roshan withdrew a key from her pocket to unlock it. A winding and never-ending staircase soon greeted them, the path narrow and the walls of the canyon so close and suffocating. When she noticed Julian's hesitance, his gaze shifting to glance behind him, Cathleen reached for his hand, smiling and pulled him along with her.

"We'll be fine, Julian. I won't let anything happen to us."

"But father…"

"Don't worry. He has Ikana's best swordsmen beside him. Our father isn't one to fall in battle. Compared to Captain Keeta, no one has bested him. Soon we'll settle down in town and once the war has ended, father will send word for our return."

"Do you think so?"

"Of course! Right, Roshan?"

The woman glanced over her shoulder and stared at Cathleen before nodding. She wore a forced smile. "Yes. There's a reason your father became king of these lands; it was his strength and determination. He's fought in many wars to secure his place as the crowned prince, and he remains just as powerful."

Noticing Julian's shoulders fall with ease, Cathleen spoke up. "Besides, Roshan has yet to best our father, even during their frequent training sessions."

"Must you bring that up, princess?" Roshan asked, sweat dropping ahead of them.

But she only giggled in response, though it fell short as the silence returned. So long as they remained optimistic, maybe some parts of the dreams would not become a reality.

"Roshan…" Julian said.

"Hm?"

"When we arrive in town… would you be willing…"

Cathleen blinked. Willing for what? "Huh?"

"W-would you… be willing to… train me?"

"It would be my honor. It is still not too late, but we should build your stamina first. After that, we'll focus on your stance with weapons before anything more."

"Julian," Cathleen said, drawing her brother's flushed expression back to her. "Are you sure about wanting to train? You've always been against it before."

"Of course! I'm tired of being afraid. I want to be useful…"

"If that's the case, you can't break your promise. Right, Roshan?"

The Amazonian woman nodded. "It is the Gerudo way. To break a promise is the same as severing one's ties to your family. Once you've sworn an oath, there's no turning back."

"I won't break it. Thank you, Roshan…"

Pleased by the conversation, which had not yet played out in her dreams, Cathleen breathed a sigh of relief. This was a good sign. Julian, in all his sixteen years, had never broken a promise to anyone, not even to his servants. And with this reassurance, she felt her anxiousness drift away. Julian's fate would remain safe, so long as he continued on a hope-inspired motivation.

And yet, as a ray of hope shined before Cathleen, something caused her to pause on her trek; something burned against her chest, and bewildered, her gaze fell to the crystal pendant hanging from a silver chain around her neck. The light blue rock shimmered a golden light and captivated by its glow, she realized what it was; something like this should not exist in the hands of mortals; it was a fearsome power that only those of the Royal Family should keep sealed away. Why was it in her possession?

It was a mystery, one which kept her rooted to her spot in absolute dumbfounded confusion, and yet, it offered a ray of hope through those nightmarish dreams. If she possessed something so tremendous, then this could be the answer to this kingdom's prayers. Perhaps the Goddesses were stepping in to prevent this madness from spreading throughout all of Termina? What other reason could it be?

"Sister?"

"Princess, there is no time to waste. We must hurry along."

She tucked the gem beneath the collar of her violet gown and glanced between her brother and servant. There were two options. Continue with them to Clock Town until the collapse of their kingdom brings darkness to the lands. Or try to prevent all disasters from happening. Why else would the Goddesses show these visions? Was it a test? If so, doing nothing wasn't an option.

"Forgive me, but… I must go back."

"What are you saying?" Julian said. "They'll kill you!"

Roshan's eyes narrowed in the darkness; her crimson eyes illuminated in the torch's light. "What are you hiding?" She asked, her voice rising. Her gaze landed on the silver chain beneath her collar. "Show it to me."

Cathleen reached for her chain and held it up to their line of sight. The moment she did, however, their eyes widened, though Julian seemed somewhat baffled by the sight of the golden light and compared his pendant to hers.

"What's that light?" He asked.

"Though I know not how it has come into my possession, it is clear by its radiant glow that it's the fabled treasure of the Royal Family, the very treasure gifted to Termina by the Goddesses thousands of years ago," Cathleen said, caressing the gem.

"You mean… the one spoken of in legends?" He asked, surprised, before leaning close to inspect it, but he fell short when Roshan pulled him aside, her hardened gaze piercing back at her.

"No matter how you came into its possession, such an object is too terrible for either of you to hold on to. Myself included. I assume this is the work of his majesty…"

Cathleen's eyes widened at this. "What do you mean? How would father…"

"He and I spoke sometime beforehand, a conversation surrounding what may or may not transpire during or after the war, depending on which side should triumph. He brought up the Sacred Relic of the Goddesses, the tablet imbued with the very essence of the great divinity. While he is one to not show fear in the face of adversity, it was not his concern surrounding yours and prince Julian's safety, but also that of the Sacred Relic; should it fall into the hands of the enemy, then he feared not only your lives but that of the entire world."

So that was the reason? That meant father must have stored its power within her necklace because it would be the last place anyone would think to search for it. Had it been in Julian's care, considering he would be next in throne, they might have assumed he concealed it. Cathleen frowned at this.

Did the dream relate to this? Somehow, she did not recall ever witnessing any golden light or even the Sacred Relic. If so, what was behind the darkening sweeping over the lands of Termina? The invaders? Unless there was another force at work.

"Whatever thoughts are manifesting, princess, you would be wise to ignore them."

She looked up at this, frowning, her hand tightening around the crystal. "I understand, but I've also realized that there are only two options here, Roshan," She said, a hidden message between both women. "We have the three Goddesses's powers with us, and if we act now, we could turn all of this around and—" Before she could further explain, Roshan pulled her away from Julian.

"And should you succumb to the enemy and they harness this power, then what will befall this kingdom?" She said in a whisper. "You would jeopardize your father's will, forsaking the safety of not just your citizens but all the world's existence."

But she countered back, swiping her hand out of her reach, her voice falling into a whisper. "My dreams are warning me of an impending evil which will soon spread across the lands, Roshan. You know this. Why else would they show me these visions? Father has hidden the power in my pendant. This must be a sign. If we continue doing nothing—"

"I understand. I do, princess," She said, pinching the bridge of her nose. "As you mentioned before, we'd be nothing more than nomads, surviving without a name and faced with an even greater calamity than that of this war."

She nodded, hoping her friend would understand and support her decision; there wasn't much time left, and she feared if they dawdled even longer, it might even change their fate in the tunnels. "Roshan, please—"

"However, there is one instance you've failed to take into consideration. The power which sleeps within your pendant is not something we should tamper with. No matter the circumstance. As long as its light shines in this world, then order and unity will remain. So, even if impending darkness shrouds the lands, there will be a ray of hope to tarnish it one day. Ignore it, princess. That's my advice. While Ikana will soon fall to ruin, we should do our best to not lose hope and gather the strength of the people left so we can one day rebuild."

Cathleen felt her hands squeeze her shoulders, her gaze strong and her words adamant. Roshan was right, but ignoring those dreams, ignoring the power resting against her collar bone proved difficult at this moment. Her people were suffering, and many would suffer, and father… Father's fate was uncertain in her mind.

I should trust Roshan's words, but I fear what will happen. The blame will point at me, because I possess this power. I should conceal it for as long as I can. Oh, Goddesses, what do I do? Please, give me a sign… anything would suffice…

"We could turn all of this around… with the pendant, right?" The prince asked, approaching them. His gaze flashed determinedly.

"Julian…"

"No," Roshan said. "Forget what you've just heard. It is not a power we can harness. You'd lose your mind before any trace of humanity remains."

"Legend says, no one has ever wielded such a power. Since the dawn of time, it's remained locked in shadow. That means father—"

Roshan interrupted, "It means he contacted only the most knowledgeable of sorcerers to contain its power within the pendant she wears. No human hands have ever touched it, and as long as I remain living, it will remain so."

Without a word, she took the siblings by the arm and guided them forward. It seemed there was no more room for argument, not if she had a say in it. It was for the best. Maybe there was another way to circumvent fate?

From behind her, Cathleen thought she heard what sounded like a scraping noise, and assuming it was that of the rats dwelling in this foul-smelling place, she grew concerned when it did not let up; it was constant, and it was growing closer. "What's… that noise?"

Roshan glanced over her shoulder and pushed them ahead. "Follow the path!"

"What's going on?" Julian asked.

Just as the torch's light bounced off the walls of the tunnels, while Roshan readied her stance, it also illuminated the cause of the eerie sounds growing closer and closer. Cathleen fell back, her brother's hand held in her own when she noticed the robed assailants stalking towards them; there were at least four of them, garbed in strange cloaks, their faces hidden by horrifying masks.

It was then her heart fell to her stomach; this had not happened in any of the dreams, and fearful of the outcome, she pulled Julian behind her and through the tunnels. Whatever fate had in store, she would take the brunt of it; they were not after Julian's life, but her own.