They left Zora's Domain through the same way they'd arrived.
Luckily, the explosion hadn't damaged anything other than the main chamber, and hadn't completely caved in any of the other exits. Even more fortunately, the home of the zoras came equipped with a few secret escape routes, too.
"Princess Ruto was most likely able to open the secret passage to Lake Hylia," one of the zora guards told them as they exited the tunnel. "That's where we'll head next. We won't be able to search for anyone left behind here just the two of us," he added, grimacing at his partner, who was cradling his broken ribs.
"Please, allow me to warp you to Lake Hylia," Zelda offered. "It is the very least I can do, with my magic returned, after all you've done today."
After Alatar's escape, their magic had returned to normal with his spell lifted. Even more strangely, the injuries they'd suffered in the explosion were also cured. Dark suspected Fierce's appearance had more to do with that than Alatar's disappearance did, but he kept quiet.
Dagan briefly protested, but Zelda would not be swayed. It was finally decided that she and Link would take the zora guards to Lake Hylia before returning for the others to transport them back to Hyrule Castle.
When the group vanished in shimmers of green energy, Dark wasn't surprised to find Lymira staring him down, her nose an inch from his.
"Did you know?" she asked through clenched teeth.
Dark pressed gently on her shoulders, pushing her from standing on her tiptoes back to flat-footed. "Did I know the asshole we both hate was still alive? No. Obviously, I would have shared that information with you."
"Not if you wanted to beat me to killing him," she argued. Her arms were crossed, but her expression had cleared somewhat.
Dark sighed. "I've already been on an ill-fated quest for revenge."
Lymira frowned, cocking her head to the side. "Well, it's still a problem we need to take care of."
"Agreed," Dark said, sitting on a moss-covered boulder, stretching aching shoulders.
"It goes without saying," Silas said, having eavesdropped, "But I'm in this with you." He clapped a hand to Dark's shoulder. "Whatever you need."
Dark glanced at him. "I don't suppose I could convince you to go back to Ordon and continue living?" he asked wryly.
Silas grinned. "This sounds much more fun than farming. Besides, your chances of staying alive increase greatly if I'm with you."
Dark and Lym chuckled. "When we get back to the castle, we'll have to come up with a plan," she said.
A burst of green light announced Link and Zelda's return. "I have a side quest to do first," Dark said cryptically, standing and striding to Link's side. "We need to talk."
"We'll be able to warp everyone back to Castle Town now," Zelda told them, already spreading her hands.
"Can you do it alone?" Dark asked, ignoring Link's silent question.
"Yes." She frowned. "Why?"
"Link and I need to meet with someone before we return," he replied, holding her eyes and hoping she wouldn't ask too many questions.
After an exchanged look with Link, she nodded. "Everyone else," she called, "Come very close and hold on."
Lymira, Silas and the two Hylian guards huddled close together, allowing the magic to envelop them in light before they vanished.
"Who are we meeting?" Link asked. Dark wasn't sure how to answer that.
"What's the quickest way to the Lost Woods?"
Hyrule Castle
Zelda exhaled as the tingling, nauseating effects of Farore's Wind dissipated. Warping so many people at once was difficult, but then again she'd been blessed with greater magical power.
They'd arrived in one of the smaller, secluded courtyards, where the guards didn't frequently patrol. It was a pre-determined meeting spot between her and Impa, but she was surprised to see the Sheikah fighter was already there waiting for them.
"Ruto," Impa said by way of explanation when she saw Zelda's surprised expression.
Of course. The Sage of Water must have been able to reach her and tell her everything that had happened already.
"I can fill you in later," Zelda said quietly. Impa nodded and turned to their guests. She offered to show Silas and Lymira to the infirmary, though both denied needing it. Impa firmly insisted.
"You have a visitor waiting for you in your office," she called back to Zelda, ushering the other two out of the courtyard.
Zelda took the time to walk back to her rooms, escorted by the now hyper-vigilant guards. She dismissed them, encouraging them to visit the infirmary as well, then quickly washed and changed into more suitable clothes.
Smoothing her hair back from her face, she opened the door of her office to find the Gerudo leader waiting for her.
"Nabooru," she said, surprised. "It's nice to see you."
Nabooru's golden eyes glinted with anger, her arms crossed. "I wish I could say the same."
Zelda frowned, closing the door behind her. "What's happened?"
The Gerudo's eyes narrowed. "Since Impa was rather scarce with them, maybe you can fill me in on the details and explain why," she said, taking a step closer to Zelda, her taller frame looming over her. "One of my Gerudo warriors was imprisoned and was killed in your custody. Might I remind you that in this time, my people have done nothing to warrant this retribution! They know nothing of sins committed in another time!"
Zelda swallowed the lump of emotions that clogged her throat. She knew her face was probably pale. "A Gerudo warrior was captured and imprisoned," she explained calmly, wary of Nabooru's cobra-like gaze on her. "She was captured here after an attempt on Link's life. And I assure you, she was not killed by our people."
The door opened and Impa stepped in, a fierce frown on her face. "I heard shouting," she said evenly.
Nabooru grunted. "I would call it impassioned defense of my people. From the outside, it does look questionable. And the Hylians' history is not the cleanest when it comes to their treatment of my people."
Impa's expression remained stony. "And the Gerudos' history is hardly innocent in this time, either," she replied icily. "Or have you forgotten the fate of my people?"
Colour bloomed high in Nabooru's proud cheekbones. Charged silence descended.
Zelda rubbed a hand over the knot forming between her brows. "Nabooru, Impa," she said quietly. "I am painfully aware of the history between all of our peoples. As Sages, it is part of our duty to mend those wounds and reunite our fragmented peoples. And as princess, I take my responsibility for what happened," she added, looking at Nabooru. "I am sorry for the loss."
Nabooru slowly uncoiled. "How did she die?"
"She…evidently, she committed suicide in the cell via magical means. The guards searched her, but it's always possible they misidentified whatever object she used."
Nabooru drew back with a softly muttered curse. She paced away from Zelda. "It's highly unusual for a proud Gerudo warrior to take their own life. And through magic? I've never heard of such a thing."
"She was part of a small group of Gerudo who attempted to kill Link," Zelda said, "I assume there were rogue assassins,"
Nabooru whirled around. "Of course, they were! You think I would send an assassin after Link?!"
"I wasn't accusing you of anything of the sort." At the Gerudo leader's skepticism, Zelda sighed, "I fear that for us, it is as if the war did still happen."
"For us, it may as well have." Nabooru grimaced. "Gerudo are still viewed with suspicion and mistrust, a decade later." She crossed her arms again. "And I admit, we are hasty to think the worst of Hylians in return. I apologize."
Zelda shook her head. "There is much work to be done on both sides. But I appreciate that we at least can see the bigger picture."
With the tension settled, Impa informed Nabooru of everything she'd witnessed in the dungeons, including the assassin's strange behaviour, her eerie transformation, the foreboding warning she'd given, and the apparent suicide.
"'The three will return'?" Nabooru repeated. "That's not ominous at all."
"We're not sure what it means," Zelda agreed. "But judging on recent events, the three relics she spoke of were the Triforce."
"She said to unite the three relics and three destinies together in order to revive this mysterious three," Impa confirmed.
"So the three Triforce pieces…and their guardians?" Nabooru mused, glancing at Zelda. "So that explains why she went for Link. Obviously, someone knows where one of the pieces is."
"They tried to capture him again at Zora's Domain," Zelda added, pushing aside the surge of fear. She'd almost lost him twice now. And now he was gods knew where with Dark…
"What exactly happened?" Impa asked.
Zelda laid out the events of Ruto's wedding as plainly as she could, leaving out her terror and panic. Even recounting it, she could feel the swell of panic rising in her, the ringing in her ears returning.
"Link is definitely a target," Nabooru agreed. "They may also know about your piece, Zelda, if the kidnapping attempt at Zora's River was Alatar's doing."
"Link believes all these recent events are connected," she said. "I have a terrible feeling that he's right."
Impa frowned. "It's too soon to jump to conclusions. I'm still investigating the attack on you and His Majesty, as well as the reports of the shadow beast attacks."
Nabooru's eyes flew wide. "Attacks? What attacks?"
Zelda sighed. "I think we should convene a meeting with all the Sages. It'll be best to explain everything to everyone at once."
Nabooru rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm getting a headache just thinking about it."
"I'll contact the other Sages," Impa told her. "Leave the arrangements to me."
"Thank you." Zelda smiled at her.
Impa allowed a rare smile in return. "Of course."
"I'll see to the transport of the remaining Gerudo prisoners," Nabooru said. "I'd like to question them myself about this plot to kill Link." Her stormy expression promised it would not be a pleasant talk.
"You should consider keeping them here," Impa advised. "If they are under similar enchantments, I need time to break them free and I haven't identified the spell yet."
Nabooru sighed. "Fine. But I will talk to them anyways. Oh!" She'd walked towards the door, but stopped before turning the handle. "I nearly forgot. Where's Link?"
"He's…" Zelda trailed off at Impa's inquiring look. "Busy. He and Dark are looking into what happened."
"Damn," Nabooru said. "I suppose it can wait, but I did come all the way from the Spirit Temple for this."
"What is it?"
Her expression became a strange mix of emotion. "I think it's best if Link and Dark hear it first," she replied cryptically. "I'll go talk to my girls. Let me know when they get back."
After Nabooru's departure, Impa turned to her young charge. "I'll check in with my sources and then visit the other Sages."
"You're spreading yourself too thin, Impa," Zelda admonished. "You should let Nabooru help you investigate at least. Maybe she can identify the spell the assassin used."
Impa placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Nabooru has plenty of other responsibilities to attend to, as do you." She smiled. "Don't worry about me. I will do whatever is needed to keep you safe. Which reminds me," her eyes narrowed a bit, "I'd rather you didn't leave the castle again until this is settled, even with Link."
Zelda opened her mouth to argue, but knew it was pointless. Impa had fought the decision to travel to Zora's Domain again, even on a secret route with plenty of guards. But Zelda had asked her to stay behind to take care of things.
"I will," she promised. "After this, I doubt Link will let me go anywhere without an armed escort."
"I'll see to it," Impa promised, before drawing Zelda into a quick hug. "I'll be back soon. I've posted guards at your door. And I've asked Lillian to personally escort you anywhere you need to go."
At the mention of the guard captain, Zelda asked, "She was near when the explosion hit. Are she and the other guards alright?"
Impa nodded. "There were some injuries, but evidently some zora guards dragged her and some others to safety. She was quite furious to find she couldn't return through the portal to aid you."
"It wasn't her fault," Zelda said, looking away. "I asked for only a couple of guards with us, and a few more were posted in the hall. But after the attack, it was chaos…"
"I'll speak to her," Impa offered.
"No, let me," Zelda said. "She shouldn't bear the guilt of my own choice."
Impa nodded. "Try to get some rest. I'll come find you as soon as Link returns."
Zelda agreed and allowed Impa to take her back to her bedchamber. But even as she undressed and slipped beneath the covers, she knew she wouldn't get any sleep.
The weight of her recent choices pressed down on her. During her father's recovery, she was doing her best to be the perfect princess. She'd hosted the midwinter celebration, and Link had nearly been assassinated. A Gerudo had committed suicide in the dungeon. She'd committed to attending Ruto's wedding in a show of support, and placed her personal guards, Ruto and the zoras, and once again, Link, in grave danger.
Add to all this the strange attacks across Hyrule, likely also Alatar's doing.
The knot in her stomach tightened, and she felt nauseous again. What a poor leader she was turning out to be, she thought miserably. Her first chance to really prove herself, and she'd never felt so out of control in her life. She kept making the wrong choice, it seemed.
And now she was hiding in her bedroom, allowing others to take care of things for her. Relying on their experience and wisdom to be her crutch in difficult decisions.
She didn't want to cry and feel even more pitiful, but she stared at the bedroom wall so long her eyes began to tear. Closing them tight and rolling onto her side, she buried her face in her pillow.
She decided at least once piece of wisdom from Impa was the correct thing to do now.
She needed rest.
Zora's River
By the time Link and Dark reached the waterfall guarding the primary entrance to Zora's Domain, the roar was deafening. Dark was surprised Link knew of a shortcut to the Lost Woods so close by, but he wasn't about to question it.
They hiked up the mossy slopes around the waterfall, crossing the natural, bridge-like rock formations. When Link stopped at the edge of a deep well of water and what looked to be one of the zoras' stone shrines, he shouted to be heard over the noise.
"This is it?"
Link nodded. "It's a hidden warp portal. It'll take us to the Lost Woods."
"And you know the way from there?"
Link arched his brow, then turned and jumped into the pool without answering. Shrugging, Dark watched him swim to the bottom of the pool, then a warp tunnel swirled to life at the shrine's base, pulling him in. Dark followed, letting the magic sweep him up in a tide of water and air bubbles.
When he surfaced in a pond next to another Water shrine, he was in the woods. Climbing out of the pool to join Link, he noticed their clothes were already drying. The benefits of magical transportation.
The Lost Woods were not what he'd expected. Like all Hylian children, he'd heard the stories. Tales of lost children turning into ghosts and monsters. The strange, magical beings that hid between the trees. The secrets of the fairies and their charges the Kokiri—the children of the forest.
But it resembled any other of the ancient forests of Hyrule. Link walked confidently onward, never wavering when faced with a choice between two or more paths. Soon enough they had gone so deep Dark knew he would never find his way back to the pond without Link's help.
The forest was different, he decided. It was in the way the trees leaned towards them, as if listening and watching. How the branches would sometimes part for Link as he passed, or the untaken paths would disappear behind them, swallowed in thick, viscous fog that hadn't been there a moment ago.
After a few minutes of listening to the quiet, Dark realized the other element of the Lost Woods that was so unsettling. There was no birdsong. No fluttering in the trees, or insects chirping. Straining his ears, Dark noticed he could hear the expected noises of the forest, only far off. Like he was insulated from the real Lost Woods by an invisible bubble, unaware of the hidden world it protected.
Glancing at Link, he wondered what his brother experienced here. Link wasn't the intruder here.
The Ancient Grove Fierce mentioned was unknown to Dark, but Link seemed to know where he was heading. After nearly an hour of silent hiking, they reached an even more secluded corner of the endless woods. Here the trees were truly massive, their sheer size making everything around them look smaller. The gnarled roots, thick as logs, sprawled over the mossy ground, immovable and strong, holding together the fabric of the forest through unimaginable ages.
In this place, the noise of the Lost Woods vanished completely. True quiet. Dark felt even more out of place. It seemed wrong for humans to trespass in a place like this. A place rooted in all times, connected to every life it housed and protected.
"It's up ahead," Link said. His voice was a thundershock in the steady silence. "I haven't been here before, but Saria told me once there was a place in the Lost Woods where you could find the oldest forest in Hyrule."
"If you've never been there, how do you know where you're going?" Dark asked, confused.
Damn spooky forest magic. If he didn't know any better, the trees were actually starting to become sort of menacing. Leaning towards him, the patterns of their bark subtly changing…
Link didn't answer, so Dark figured he wouldn't get an answer. Soon enough, the army of giant trees receded, and they arrived at a moss-covered stone wall—a relic of an age past. Link walked through the empty archway, still standing as the wall around it crumbled.
Sudden bursts of sunshine broke through the canopy, illuminating the higher platform beyond the archway. On either side of the ruined balcony, two broken staircases dropped off into nothing. In the main room, the walls were eaten away by branches pushing their way in through shattered windows. The marble floor, heavily aged, still clearly bore the burnished golden triangles of the Triforce. Waiting for them there, Fierce stood with his back to them.
After climbing down the rubble to the floor, Dark and Link approached, curiously looking around the remains of this forgotten temple in the deepest part of the forest.
"It looks like the Temple of Time," Dark mused aloud. "If the Temple of Time had been forgotten completely for a few centuries."
"The Temple of Time was built in its image," Fierce responded, turning around. "And centuries understates it a bit." His unnerving stare settled on the two of them. "Thank you for coming."
"Did we have a choice?" Dark muttered.
Link glanced at him from the corner of his eyes, bewildered.
Fierce's expression twitched with the slightest smile. "Dark is still angry with me," he explained.
"Angry is understating it a bit."
"It's good to see both of you again," Fierce continued as if Dark hadn't spoken. "But unfortunately, I don't bring good news. Alatar's reappearance is more of a calamity than either of you realize."
"There are plenty of dark sorcerers in the world," Link said. "We've faced him before."
"Alatar is serving his old masters this time."
Link stiffened. "Ganondorf? He's returned?"
"His true masters," Fierce said. "Alatar is not merely a dark sorcerer. He is an ancient being—from before Hyrule was born. And Alatar's race has faithfully served three powerful demons since the beginning of time."
"Demons?" Link asked, at the same time Dark said, "I know he looks ancient, but—"
"Allow me to explain," Fierce cut them off. "To understand, I'll need to take you back to my history. When I was human."
The walls of the forest and stone floor of the temple melted away. The three of them hovered somewhere in between, while the edges of reality blurred and reformed themselves. All around them was blackness, save for a window into the distant past, becoming clearer and clearer as Fierce began to speak:
My people inhabited the place Hylians call the Old World. Like Hyrule, my land was plagued with constant war and violence. We were our own undoing, as we were responsible for bringing the Demons into our world.
Images of the events he spoke about flashed past, shadowy and indistinct like smoke on water, solidifying for a few seconds before dissolving.
Our war with the Demons brought about the end of our world…To defeat the Demon Kings, I was forced to destroy the source of life that sustained us. In doing so, I doomed the world, but I allowed it to be reborn. And I was reborn with it.
I mistakenly thought the Demon Kings to all have perished, but three of them were resurrected in the creation of this new world. When they set their eyes on the Triforce, intending to use it to take control of this new world, the goddess Hylia tried to stop them. She was successful in sealing them away with the help of the first Spirit of the Hero Reborn. But the Demon Kings were not destroyed, and they have thirsted for the power of the Triforce ever since. Their demon servants have appeared throughout the eras of Hyrule, seeking ways to revive their masters and take the power for themselves.
The Ancient Grove returned as the god's memories of the past trickled away.
"Alatar is one such servant," Fierce explained. "Like many demons, he is able to disguise himself as a mortal, but he has been attempting to carry out his mission for some time. He nearly succeeded, in his partnership with Ganondorf, in resurrecting one of the remaining Demon Kings."
Dizzy, Dark rubbed the spot between his eyebrows. "So, he's trying to reunite the pieces of the Triforce and bring Ganon back. But can he actually do that?"
"He knows you and I have pieces of it," Link said. "He must know about Zelda's piece as well."
Fierce nodded. "He has divined their locations, but he has not been successful in determining how to take them from the three of you. Which is why, I suspect, he wants to capture you all alive."
Dark groaned. "Just what we need."
"What happens if he manages to take them and revive the Demon Kings?" Link asked, frowning. "If there's no way to defeat them…"
"There may yet be a way," Fierce mused. "But you have already faced and defeated one of the three, Link." At Link's bewildered look, he said, "Majora was the second demon king to resurface in recent years. Ganon was the first."
"So Link's already beaten two of the three," Dark remarked, clapping his brother proudly on the back. "That bodes well for us. Who's the third?"
"Malladus. But he has been sealed far from Hyrule. Still, my concern is if Alatar lays hands on the Triforce pieces. He has been experimenting with ancient, evil magic in the Twilight Realm. Which is precisely why I stopped you from following him, Dark."
Dark crossed his arms, ignoring Link's disbelieving and accusatory stare. "I was trying to stop him from escaping."
"If Alatar had pulled you into Twilight, you would have been back under his control and he could have forced you to surrender the piece of the Triforce of Power." Fierce frowned. "I couldn't risk it."
"He could already have the rest of Power," Link pointed out. "Ganondorf was sealed in the Twilight Realm. Alatar could take it from him, couldn't he?"
"We have to assume so," Dark agreed. "Which leaves us with—"
"We need to protect Zelda," Link said urgently. "She's been attacked twice already. We need to make sure she stays safe while we find a way to defeat Alatar."
"You were nearly assassinated the other day!" Dark argued. "You should both be locked indoors until this all over."
"And what about you? Are you planning to run off to the Twilight Realm alone again?" Link demanded, glaring at Dark.
Dark opened his mouth to deny it, but stopped. "If that's what it takes."
Link shook his head. "We can't do any of this alone, Dark. We need to go back to the castle and figure out what to do next. All of us," he emphasized.
"Fine," he sighed, appeasing them. "Let's go back to the castle."
"Allow me," Fierce spoke up. He raised one hand towards them, and the wave of magical energy nearly knocked them over, twining around them. "We'll meet again."
Dark met his pale eyes for a brief second. Their estrangement was broken now, after so many years. But the bitter anger inside Dark was still there. He wasn't sure what to do about it just now. Ribbons of greenish light wrapped around them, glowing brighter and brighter.
"Thanks for the warning," he said at last. Fierce only inclined his head, and then they were gone.
The warp spell whisked them all the way back to the castle, the richly polished floor of Zelda's study. Normal magic users couldn't warp to a place where there was no warp point, and there were ancient magical wards on the castle to prevent any new ones being created.
So the alarmed reaction of the three women in the study was justified.
"It's us!" Link yelled, seeing Nabooru's dagger coming to within an inch of his nose.
The Gerudo leader paused, wide-eyed, and then her face split into a wide smile. "Link! Good to see you!" She enveloped him in a bear hug.
Impa withdrew the knife poised to sink into Dark's ribs with a small smile. "Sorry."
"Mm-hm," Dark grunted. "Thanks for the welcome. Are you satisfied that she's safe now?" he asked Link.
"Mostly," he agreed, freeing himself from Nabooru and walking over to hug Zelda next.
They exchanged a couple of quiet words Dark pretended not to hear, turning to the two warrior women who had nearly killed them with brutal efficiency. Nabooru stepped forward to give him a hug of welcome too.
"We have bad news," he announced without preamble. "Very bad."
"Zelda has told us everything that's been happening in Hyrule, and at Zora's Domain," Nabooru said, stepping back. Her face fell. "Don't tell me there's more."
"Just another asshole bent on destroying the world. Nothing you haven't dealt with before."
Nabooru chuckled. "What a relief."
"We have some information about Alatar and his motives," Link explained. "We should gather the Sages—"
"Already done," Impa said. "We will meet with them tonight."
"But first," Nabooru cut in. "There's something I need to tell you both, and the timing is rotten, but it can't wait."
Dark frowned. "What is it?"
"A few weeks ago, I received a message from the spirit of a Hylian soldier named Naron of Tellura."
"You can receive messages from spirits?" Link asked, fascinated. "The name sounds familiar…"
"It's our father's name," Dark supplied, his throat tight. "What did he say?"
Link glanced from Dark back to Nabooru, as anxious as he to hear the answer.
She took a deep breath. "He asked me to tell you to help your mother. He thinks she is in danger from Alatar and his influence."
"How can we help her?" Dark asked. "She died years ago."
"I've checked the world of spirits. She's not there. Somehow, she's survived."
Link and Dark stared at her in shocked silence.
"Our mother…is alive? How is this possible?"
Nabooru shrugged. "I'm not certain, but she isn't dead. That's all I know."
"Maybe we can talk to our father again," Dark suggested. "Ask him how he knows she's alive. If he knows where she is."
"He said nothing else," Nabooru replied. "And I'm not hiking back to the Spirit Temple for a short conversation."
"But we don't even know where to start looking. How are we supposed to find her?" Dark growled in frustration.
"Maybe I can ask the Kokiri or the Great Deku Tree if they have any clues."
"They were the ones who told you she died. And it's been nearly 25 years! It's possible she's not even alive!"
"It's worth a try! Don't you remember anything? You must have some clues.
"I was a child! How am I supposed to remember?"
"Maybe we can ask our uncle for help."
"I'm not asking that old bastard for help—"
"Silence, please." Zelda's calm voice broke through their bickering. She'd closed her eyes, frowning in concentration. She opened her eyes at looked at Dark. "I have a message from Darunia for you."
Dark blinked. "For me? How—?"
"Zelda can communicate telepathically with all the Sages," Link explained to Dark.
Nabooru and Impa exchanged an indecipherable look.
"What's the message?" Dark asked.
"He wants you to come to Goron City right away. Evidently, your dragon egg is hatching."