The Missing Link

V1.7

(or: It's Death Mountain, Baby!!)

By: Space Medawriter X

Disclaimer:

The Legend of Zelda™ is property of Nintendo of America/Japan. Yes I know. I gotta deal with it.

Author's Notes:

No, you didn't miss a chapter. I decided to do away with all this part a and part b business, seems it seems to throw a lot of simple minded people off. People like me. So starting now, only whole numbers for my chapter headings. This chapter comes directly after V1.5 ( Or Chapter 6 according to Fanfiction.net®.

I recently found out the word I've been looking for, for the longest time. Toque. A Toque is a small hat that's famous in Canada. A long-tailed toque is basically what Link wears on his head. I've been using the word Tuke…cause that's how it's pronounced in a lot of Canadian parts. Now I'll be switching over. For more information on 'toque', use the Dictionary function. Highlight the word while on Fanfiction.net and press 'D'.

It was a long time between chapters. Sorry.

Last Chapter:

For Invincible, the mystery of the missing princesses of both Hyrule and the Zoran Kingdom deepens, when he gets tips from a member of an ancient, powerful, and sarcastic race known as 'Ursus'. The Knight of Hyrule now hastens to the land of the Gerudo to continue his search for clues.

Meanwhile in the Dark World, Bunny Link receives help from a good looking youngster named Rune, and together with the talented Itali, (and guarding a helpless bottled guppy Link thinks is sentient), they start their trek up to the top of Death Mountain. Near the summit they hope to find the means to return Link and his guppy back to their regular bodies.

************

"You guys, Welcome to the Death Mountain Trials.".

Link and Itali glanced at each other, and then through the doorway Rune was presenting them with. The tall teenager noticed their expression and grinned, crossing his chiseled arms across his chest. On the other side of the carved out doorway was a hollowed out spire, filled with gears and pulleys and rising platforms, all next to a cascading fall of lava. The air shimmered and waved with the intense heat.

Rune stepped through the doorway, followed by Link, who was grasping at the bottle of water containing the guppy. Itali was the last to go through. As soon as she did, the air in her lungs was forced out and her skin flooded with sweat. She immediately went back through the doorway and leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

Link followed and looked up at her with large, watery pink eyes. "Anything wrong?", he asked.

Itali was still panting. "Yeah! It-It's hot in there!".

Link blinked once and stared at her confusedly. "Uh…Yes…. Yes it is. It is hot in there.".

Rune peeked in through the doorway. "Y'all need a minute?", he inquired gingerly.

"Be quiet.", the girl spat in a huff.

Link rubbed his head with a furry paw and started. "I didn't mean to be sarcastic. I know it's hot. I guess my fur makes it bearable for me…even though you'd think it'd make it even hotter.". Link saw that Itali was losing her patience, so he hurried on. "But if we work together, we should get through this quickly.".

The girl only shook her head to this. "It's not just me I'm worried about. What about your fish friend there?". She took hold of one of her large pigtails and yanked at it nervously. "I bet that by the time we make it to the top, it'll be all set to serve with fries and tartar sauce."

He didn't know what tartar sauce was, but Link knew Itali was right. He hadn't thought about what the heat would do to the guppy. Link brought the jar up to his face and peered at the guppy inside. It did seem to be very discontented. He sighed and brought the jar back down. Itali was right, they wouldn't be able to navigate all the platforms to the top before the guppy boiled alive.

Once again, Rune peeked his silver-haired head through the opening, and then stepped through. "I couldn't help overhearing-".

"Oh, I am so sure.". Itali bit in.

Rune halted for a moment, grinned and moved on. "Anyhoo, y'all don't have to worry about anything. I know I said these were 'trials', but that's only for them fellows who don't have access to a guy like me.". The youth flexed his arms, and orange electricity began to crackle along his form. With a low humming sound, two small shiny white wings protruded from his back. Rune relaxed visibly and grinned. The wings on his back fluttered noiselessly.

Itali and bunny Link gaped for a moment, and then glanced at each other, then back at the grinning teen. Finally Itali gave the youth a scathing look. "You're kidding me?", she protested. "You really think you can carry us or even fly with those tiny things?".

Rune laughed heartily. "Don't be silly Itali.". He thumbed back towards his wings. "Them things are just a physical representation of my strength and power to fly, I don't actually fly with them. I mean, I' reckon I'd need a wingspan of this much!". He stretched his arms out to their fullest to illustrate. Itali and Link merely frowned. Rune laughed again and then swept the two into his arms.

"H-Hey wait!", Itali started as she swung her thin legs wildly.

"Keep your arms and legs in at all times, lest they get singed off.", Rune said with yet another grin. "Let's fly!". Rune then blasted off into the fiery spire and to the summit of the mammoth volcano.

************

The mighty Andala, matron of the Gerudo, strolled towards the Invincible and Epona, who were emerging from the blasted desert.

"Well, well! If it is not the great Hylian Knight, come to pay the Gerudo a visit.", she said resoundingly, before patting Invincible heavily on the back.

Invincible grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. "It's not exactly a social call, ma'am.". He turned and hacked some sand from his parched mouth. "Can Epona and I have some water please?".

"Tsk. As if you even need to ask. Tera! Rased! Come take the mare to the stables.". She looked at Invincible as two young Gerudo walked Epona to the stables, and started to lead the knight to the center of the Fortress.

"How was your journey, Blessed Knight?", Andala asked.

Invincible recalled his earlier conversation in the desert with the ancient being known as Ursus. It was so electrifying that truly he wasn't sure whether or not the desert had just popped the whole event into his mind. "…Interesting.". He finally answered. "… and you know my name, Andala. Please use it.".

She just hummed carefully. "I have heard about what's going on in the rest of the world. Nasty business that. You've come here because those spies of yours have noticed that there are no kidnappings or unexpected illnesses happening within the Gerudo Fortress, am I right?".

The knight of Hyrule merely shrugged. "We both know our spies only know what you Gerudo want them to know. That's why I came here, to get the truth first hand.". He stopped her and faced the woman directly. "So, what is the truth, Andala?".

Andala smiled a wry smile. "There were no kidnapping or unexpected illnesses in the land of the Gerudo. Perhaps we are involved in some way? Everyone knows that Gerudo are always entangled with corrupt works, right?".

Invincible regarded her deliberately, and then stormed towards the entrance to the Fortress. "I didn't come here for your whining on the discrimination of your people.", he whispered fiercely. "I came here for answers, for a way to stop this.".

The smile fell off Andala's face. "You…really don't believe we have anything to do with this? Then why-?".

"There has to be something about this place. Some kind of geographical….I don't know. Something is protecting your people.". Invincible paused, he wouldn't even have formulated this theory if it hadn't had been for the Ursus. "Location. The Demi-Gods of the forest and sea didn't protect them…but they were living. Maybe a dead Demi-God… Goddess I just need some information.".

The smile returned to Andala's severe face. "Link, I believe I know a place where you may find both."

************

"These mountain's filled with some nice rocks, I tell you what.".

Link and Itali stared at Rune without comprehension. They were standing atop a large ledge halfway up the spire. Rune sat on the edge, his legs dangling over. He decided that he wasn't going to make the trip in a single go, so he chose the ledge for him to rest. The others didn't take it well.

"Uh…Rune, how much longer do you think we have to stay here?", bunny Link asked tentatively. He was cradling the bottle carefully, making sure of the condition of the guppy inside. Apparently it was still alive.

Rune glanced over his shoulder and grinned. "Not much longer. Don't you worry about that there guppy. It aint gonna boil over. It aint that hot in here.".

"Not that hot in here? We're standing in a volcano!", Itali blasted. She was hugging the side wall of the spire, as far away from the edge of the ledge as possible. As if on cue, a giant spout of lava burst from the volcano's depths. Itali reached out with her hand, and a scent of cherry blossoms filled Link's nose. When the fountain reached the ledge, the lava and heat bent away from it; away from Itali's outstretched hand. Flower petals materialized out of thin air where the fountain bounced off the invisible shield.

The girl's arm was shaking violently, and she steadied it with her other. Finally the volcano's outburst ceased, and Itali fell to her knees, panting heavily. Through it all Rune remained seated at the edge of the ledge. He brushed a strand of silver hair from his eyes and calmly turned to the others.

"Okay, so I'm thinking it would have gotten a little hotter back there.".

Itali just glared at the boy. Link thanked her and rose to his feet. "You think we can get going now, Rune? Staying in an active volcano for any amount of time can't possibly be healthy."

Rune got to his feet and flexed his arms. Once again a surge of electricity ran along his body and two little white wings sprouted from his back. He turned to Link and Itali with another grin. "A'ight folks. Hop in!".

"No.".

Link and Rune turned the girl, gaping. "W…What?". Link gasped.

"No. I'm not going. I'll just head back down myself.".

Rune scratched his head. "Uh…Itali…".

"You're crazy Rune!", she told him, pointing angrily. "And you're crazy for following him! As far as I'm concerned, if anyone deserves to die a blazing fiery death, it's you two!".

Link gritted his buckteeth furiously and his fur bristled. "You're the one who keeps complaining about the heat and how much magic you're being forced to use. How much do you think you'll have to use on your way down, if you don't wanna get fried!". When the girl bit her lip dejectedly, Link added: "Besides, you can't leave now. I haven't paid you back yet. We're so close to the top, Itali.".

Itali seemed to be struggling with something inside herself. A vain began to protrude on her forehead and she shut her eyes and crossed her arms. "You guys promise there will be no more of this nonsense? We just find this wizard and be done with it?". Her eyes flew open and she glared at Rune. "Right!?", she insisted.

Rune scratched his temple and shrugged. "You bet, nothin' we all here can't handle. Right Link?".

"Right!".

"Y-you didn't answer my question-", but before she could finish, Rune swept the girl and the bunny into his arms.

"Let's go, final flight!". With that proclamation, he lifted up into the air. All around them, rocks crumbled and lava bubbles burst, but higher and higher they ascended, until eventually the reached a large ledge that led into a dark, cooler cave.

As soon as Rune landed, the others leapt out of his arms and danced around briefly. "Yeah! I knew there was nothing to it." Link said while bounding up and down.

"I'm just glad we're on solid ground again.". Itali said with a little twirl. "Well, as solid as a cave 10 stories up a volcano can be. No where's the old guy?".

Rune was peering around the inside of the cave, peering at the rock wall carefully, almost expertly. "There's another room around here. We just gotta find the door to it.". Sliding his hands along the wall, he shifted further and further into the darkness of the cave, until he finally stopped and looked at the bottom of the wall. "Here…".

Itali and Link had been following him slowly, and they both jumped back when Run hauled back a mighty fist and slammed it into the wall. A circle of granite blasted away from the obstruction and when the dust cleared, it appeared to lead into a large room.

Rune held his hand gingerly and blew on it, small tears forming in his eyes. "Youch. Probably should have powered up first. Owie owie owie…".

"Serves you right.", Itali growled as she stepped through the hole and into the room. Link followed suit. The room was worlds apart from the dank, dark smoky volcano that was only a few feet away. This room was filled with several stone pillars, each etched with some sort of ancient runic language. The floor was also ornately transcribed with this language. Red stone lead up to a small dais, where a statue of a behemoth of a knight in cast iron armor sat. Next to the seat was an ax that made Moblin axes look like toothpicks.

The three of them paced slowly around the chamber. Itali ran her had along one of the pillars while Rune stared at the chamber walls. Link followed the trail of red stone towards the dais, and then peered behind it. "Hey guys… I think there's a door behind that chair.".

Rune and Itali turned towards the small throne, and then glanced at each other. Suddenly Rune let out a hearty laugh. "Hey guys, you know what'd be sick? If that there giant on the seat like…rose to life and started to attack us.".

With the sound of gravel crumbling, the giants chest jerked forward, then it's arms broke free of the chair. With a mighty wrenching of stone, it freed itself from the dais and rose to it's full 10 feet of height. Link and Itali turned and stared at Rune with horror.

Rune grimaced. "Well…I mean…someone had to say it! Otherwise where's the irony!?".

"STATE YOUR BUSINESS!!", the Iron Giant boomed. Link had a better look at it now. It's tiny head was almost completely encased with a dark helmet that was embedded with horns. As small as his head was, it's chest was massive, ringed with silver metal lining. It's shoulders each bore one gigantic horn, and it's gauntlets were spiked and scraped from many battles. Even it's relatively small legs and feet were horned. Whatever this thing was, or had been, it obviously meant business.

Rune opened his mouth to answer the Iron Giant's question, but Itali immediately raised an angry finger to shut him up. She mouthed the words: you…stay…quiet!, and then turned to the Giant. "We're just passing through.".

"STATE YOUR BUSINESS!!".

"We just want to see the wizard who lives on the summit.", she quickly added. "We need his help.".

The Iron Giant paused for a moment, and then reached out with a long arm and snatched the ax that was standing next to the small throne. "YOU WILL NOT PASS!!", it stated as it leveled the ax in it's two hands.

Itali took a few steps back until she was with Rune and Link once more. "Suggestions?", she inquired weakly.

Rune grinned once more, except it wasn't the same grin he had displayed constantly since they had met him. It was the kind of a grin somebody used before a fight. The kind that said "bring it on". He stretched his right arm, and with the crackling of energy and flashes of black light emerged what Link thought was the biggest sword he ever saw.

The handle of it was red, and was nearly a foot and a half long…the entire length of Link's old blade. Rune's blade however was ridiculously long, just over 6 feet. It was a slate gray and it was cracked along it's length. If it wasn't for the fact that it was a little edged at the tip, Link wouldn't have even called it a sword.

It was more like a really…really big club.

"Now if it's a fight the big guy here wants…", Rune wrenched the giant blade back and took a double-handed swing at the giant. It deflected the attack with it's ax, which sent Rune teetering backwards, and then came down on him with it's own counterattack.

Itali flashed out with both her hands and sent a dozen invisible threads of power and magic toward the giant. Flower petals materialized at the point of the explosion, and giant slid backwards a few feet.

Rune hauled up his enormous blade and flashed another grin. "Thanks, lil' lady. Now let's finish this big guy off.". Link bounded out of the way as Rune swung with a mighty force. The tip of the blade caught the giant square in the face with a resounding crunch. The sword rebounded with the force, and Rune swung again, this time nailing the giant in it's broad chest. He was about to attack for a final time when the giant delivered a quick backhand into Rune's chest that sent him crashing into and through two pillars and into the wall.

Link winced as the youth slumped to the ground in a daze. His fur bristled and he looked at the incoming giant with contempt for himself. "If only I was in my body… if only I can help.", he thought angrily. "Then again, I'm not sure I could even help even with my real body.".

The giant hoisted it's ax and rushed forward, only to be blocked by Itali, who slid in his path, arms clenched and straight down. A small whirlwind of dust and petals swirled around her feet. The giant, nonplused, tried to step forward, but was held fast by an invisible force.

Itali's eyes were blood red, and she wore a small smile on her face as the whirlwind grew larger and louder. "Believe me when I say, this is gonna hurt you a lot more than it'll hurt me.". She crossed her arms across her chest, and prepared to release her power, but not before the giant swung it's arms and broke free of her grip. "Or not!", she yelled, before the backlash of magic flung her aside and had her join Rune in creating another small crater in the wall.

The giant straightened and went for the two fallen youngsters with large booming steps. Body or no body, Link had to do what he could. Without much thought, he bounded towards the giant, preparing to body slam it.

However, as he tried to leap for the monster, he tripped over Rune's massive blade. Clutching the jar of water to his chest, he hit the ground at the shoulder and began to roll towards the giant, catching it underfoot.

With a confused expression on it's face, the giant teetered for a moment before falling. Rune raised to his knees and brought the tip of his sword up at the last moment.

Itali and Link both winced as the giant's small head fell right through the sword with a metallic crunch, straight down to the handle. ( The sword, after all, had no hilt.). With spastic movements, the Iron Giant tried to dislodge the blade from it's cranium. This was Itali's chance.

Catching the Giant within her web of magic, she gestured with both her arms, and with a mighty explosion of dust and petals, sent the Giant through the wall of the room, and into the fall of lava below. It hit the lava pit hard, and sank slowly into it's depth.

"I CHANGED MY MIND. YOU CAN GO THRO-", the Giant's words were cut off on account of it's head melting into a puddle of iron.

Rune pumped his arm in victory and shouted, "YEE-HAW!". He looked to Link and Itali and smiled. "Now that's how it's done. Teamwork, right fellahs?".

Itali had gone a pasty white color, and Link was panting heavily, his eyes bulging. Upon hearing Rune speak, they both turned to him with a look of pure malice.

Rune rolled his eyes, and picked up his sword, which promptly vanish with a flash of black light. "Old guy's probably behind that door behind that there dais.". He started towards the small throne.

Itali huffed angrily and followed, Link following closely. As she walked, she turned to the small pink rabbit. "You know, that was awfully brave of you, what you did back then.", she said. She raised an eyebrow and smiled. "As brave as tripping over another guys' sword can be. Still…".

Link shrugged. "Apparently, my name is lin- uh, connected to many acts of bravery.", he mused as he hopped to the doorway. Rune pulled the door open and stepped through. They were outside, and the cool air was refreshing, albeit a tad ashen. They had finally made it to the summit of Death Mountain. However, there was no wizard or sage to be seen.

Then Link spotted it and pointed it out to the others. A tiny hut stood atop an outcropping of rock. Near the house was a sign that read:

MAGELLAN'S

Open 5 Days A Week

9-3pm

Magic Done While You Wait

The three eyed each other with much skepticism, but they all went ahead and knocked on the door.

************

Andala with Invincible in hand broke through the vortex of swirling sand. She emerged unaffected, but Invincible was nearly on his knees, hacking and spewing out gobs of sand from his mouth and throat. The matron of the Gerudo looked at him with amusement.

"Are you really, that much of a child, 'Invincible'?", she smirked. "Get up, you might want to take a look at this.".

"I can't take a look at anything.", he hacked, taking off one of his gauntlets and wiping his face. "I've got sand in my eyes. Dammit I have sand everywhere!". At last he looked up at the direction Andala as pointing. What he saw amazed him.

Resting atop the endless sand was a immense stone icon surrounded by four monoliths. The building was shaped with the bust of a woman and the legs of a lion. The woman clearly looked like one of Gerudo descent. The sheer size of the construction baffled Link. Obviously this was man-made, but there were few works of nature that even measured up to it's size. Link spotted an entranceway between the buildings forelegs.

"We call this the Desert Colossus. Many of my people come here, young girls in need of guidance, too shy to consult the elders, and meditate.". She looked sidelong at the Hylian. "You could say that this is our Demi-god; our full god being the King of Evil. However, it's clearly not alive. Was this what you were looking for?".

"Maybe. Will it be okay if I enter?". When Andala nodded, Invincible hiked to the entranced and pushed the stone slab door open.

The inside was as enormous as the outside, but it was very empty and dark. There were a few pillars and portraits depicting an ancient struggle between the races of Hyrule. Invincible did see a point of light deep within the darkness, and he went towards it.

As he neared the light, he saw that it shone from an unknown source and onto several large tiles of sand covered stone. He then noticed that the light was focused on one tile in particular, and the tile wasn't really a tile of stone. The surface seemed leathery and rough. He approached it.

"Boo!", a voice called in the blackness.

"Behind you!".

Before Invincible could turn, there were two sharp points of metal against his neck. He grimaced, unable to move a muscle. "What the…".

Out of the darkness came two Gerudo girls, one to each side of him, each holding a foot-long blade to his neck. They both wore blue tops that tubed across their chests, and white baggy pants. Their hair was red and was worn in a long banded braid. They were identical, and they both reminded him of Nabooru.

"What is this?", Invincible huffed.

The one on his right laughed. It sounded like tinny music. "A little test. You know, you're not really-"

"-that tough…", the other finished. ", for a guy named 'Invincible.'".

"Well done Palta, Tella.", Andala boomed. She walked in front of the knight to show him her face. She had nothing but amusement crease her slight wrinkles. "I had these girls meet us here, they are very gifted. I just wanted to see how soft you had gotten, Link. After all, you do represent the strongest Gerudo male alive right now. Sad to see that you've gotten lazy.", she said smiling, as she poked Invincible in his hard stomach. There was no trace of softness there.

Nor was there in Invincible's face. "One, I'm only half Gerudo. Two, Ganondorf's still alive… he clearly represents the strongest Gerudo male alive, and Three…".

In a flash, he had both the girls' daggers in his hand.

"I have gotten a bit lazy…but a wife and kids will do that to you. A few years ago I would have spotted you girls as soon as I entered the door.". He smiled warmly at the two gaping young ladies.

"Are you-", Palta started.

"…serious?", Tella finished.

Invincible shrugged. "Well…I'm exaggerating a little.". He turned to Andala and shot her a smile. "Thanks ma'am, I needed that. I've been getting a little edgy lately…just thinking about Zelly all alone…". With that thought, he bent over to the strange tile and examined it further.

He reached into the space between the tiles and pulled it up. It wasn't rock at all, but instead a book. A very thick, old leather bound book. Invincible opened it up and blew some dust off the ancient pages. The writing was one he couldn't read. He was baffled.

Andala noticed the look on Invincible's face, and offered an explanation. "In ancient times, there was an elderly wizard, one who many believe to be of Gerudo lineage, who wanted nothing but to learn about everything. His name was Sahasarala , and he left this tome behind. No one here can read the words inside, but we all know they contain great power.".

"Sahasarala?", he repeated. His eyes suddenly widened, and he looked at the pages of the book with added favor. "Are you saying everything he learned…everything he ever discovered, might be written here?". Andala nodded. Invincible's mind reeled. A book that contained so much knowledge…how would this protect the Gerudo from these attackers? Wouldn't it make them greater targets?

It didn't matter. This might be just what was needed, the reason he was sent here. No one might be able to read it now, but it wouldn't take long before Zelda and Impa cracked the code. He looked to Andala anxiously. "Can I borrow this?".

"Anything for Nabooru's blood sister, Link.". That being said, she lead Invincible, Palta and Tella out of the Desert Colossus.

As soon as Invincible saw the desert sun, something slammed hard into his chest and sent him flying into the side of the Desert Colossus. Palta and Tella drew their blades out quickly, while Andala stood still and ready.

In front of them was the creature who just walloped the Hylian Knight. It looked like a lizardfos, except it was much taller and leaner. It's forearms were huge and club-like, with a scythe on the back of the arm. It wore black kilt-like shorts, and split ended tail peeked out from beneath it. It turned to Andala and the girls with blazing red eyes.

It's face split into a grimace filled with many sharp teeth, and it raised it's bladed forearm and leapt towards the twins. Palta and Tella raised their daggers in defense. Suddenly in a whirl of sand, Invincible was in front of them, blade raised.

The monsters scythe slammed hard against Invincible's sword. The knight didn't move a muscle. Palta and Tella were amazed, his sword arm didn't even seem to tremble. The monster bared down harder and harder, it's feet digging deeper into the sand with the effort.

All of a sudden, Invincible began to give. The back of his sword inched closer and closer to his neck as the monster slowly overpowered him. The beasts face was still stern and serious, despite the advantage. It bore down further and further down on the elf until they were practically nose to nose. Palta and Tella let out a yell and reached to help.

Invincible braced his foot and pushed the monster back several meters with powerful horizontal swing. The monster skidded on his feet against the sand, attempting to regain it's balance, and looked towards Invincible's direction.

The Hylian Knight suddenly appeared at the monster's feet at a flash, bent at the knees and with his sword sheathed. In one swift movement, he unsheathed his sword, pivoted on one foot and brought the blade up in an arc. It crunched through the monsters groin, up and through it's shoulders, before returning to it's former position in a complete circle.

Invincible stood up calmly and walked away from the beast, cleaning the blood and gore off the blade and re-sheathing it. The monster's two pieces fell to the sand in a gory mess. There was hardly a trace of Invincible's battle movements left on the sand. The twins gaped could only gape at him.

"I take back what I said about you being soft.", Andala said with a smile. "What was that thing?".

Shrugging, Invincible picked up Sahasarala's book and started towards to sand storm. "Who cares. It wasn't that strong anyway. I bet those girls could have beaten it if they tried.". He looked behind and saw no one but Andala there.

The girls popped up in front of them, both wearing a shy smile. "Uh…", he started.

"Invincible, please do us the honor-", Palta began.

"Let us have your babies!", finished Tella.

Invincible raised an eyebrow.

"Wouldn't it be so cool-"

"We could have real strong daughters!"

"Come on, think about it! You wouldn't have to raise it or anything!"

"Yeah, it's win-win. What do you think?".

"Well girls, let me think abou- No!". Rolling his eyes, he gestured for Andala and started towards the whirlwind and the beginning of his journey back to Hyrule.

Palta smiled to her sister. "Well ask again in a few years. When we're all-".

"-Fine and sexy, he won't be able to resist.", finished Tella, with just a hint of blossoming crush.

************

When the three youths entered the door, the were greeted with the homely inviting decor of your average gift store. Jewelry, wallets, dolls and mirrors lined the walls, and a fireplace crackled warmly in the back of the hut. From behind a curtain emerged an old man with waves of scraggly black hair who wore a woolly blue robe.

"Welcome! Welcome!", he greeted, shaking Rune and Itali's hands. "Ah, don't get many customers at this time, no sir. What'd'ya like? I usually give young couples like you a special discount.".

Rune blinked. "Uh…we're not - OW!", he belted as Itali nailed him with an elbow to the ribs.

"Don't mind my sweetie here.", she said sweetly, hugging Rune's arm. Then she suddenly became serious. "Hey, old timer, why do we have to pay for a wizards spell? Aren't you guys supposed to do things for the good of mankind or something?".

Now it was Magellan's turn to blink. "Little missy, I might be a great wizard, but I still have to eat like everyone else. Now what is it you need?". He glanced at the pink bunny holding the water jar. "Ah…the Traveler's Problem I see. I've got just the thing.". He hustled over behind the curtain once more.

Itali grabbed Rune by the ear and fumed. "What's the big deal. You said this guy was a great Wizard, not a shopkeeper!".

"Hey, that's what I heard! Seriously!", Rune said wincing painfully. Magellan then came out from behind the curtain, with two flat objects wrapped in brown paper. "These mirrors will fix your friends up in a jiffy. That'll be 100 rupees.".

"100… what the hell!?", Itali gasped. "Why the hell did we go through the trials if we had to pay at the end!?".

"Trials? What trials?". Magellan said curiously. "Oh dang it. That stupid Kramer again! He's telling people they've got to go through some stupid tests to get to my store again isn't he?". He looked at Rune knowingly. "Small man, pasty skin, three eyes?".

Rune groaned.

Itali put a hand to her head and grinned ruefully. "So we did all that for nothing. I bet there's a staircase or a lift up here or something.".

"Out back.", Magellan added.

Link tugged at Itali's arm. "So that's 700 rupees I owe you now. I have the money, but it's in my-".

"Yeah yeah, your real body's wallet.". With a sigh, Itali sunk to the ground and opened up the heel of her boot. Inside were several green and red rupees. She handed 100 worth over to the old Wizard.

"Thank you, and here you go.". Magellan ripped the paper wrapping off the objects, revealing two large ornate mirrors.

Itali looked at them curiously. "I don't get it. They're just-". A warm light began to coalesce behind her. She turned and was blinded for a moment, and everyone in the room shielded their eyes until the light faded.

Standing in front of them was a boy of 13, a hair taller than Itali herself. He wore a green tunic and brown shorts, and thick brown boots. A short sword was strapped to his back. A mop of short blonde hair was covered up with a green long tailed toque. His striking blue eyes met Itali's for an instant, and he gave her a great smile.

"This is Link?", Itali thought with amazement. She looked next to him and saw that the guppy was gone. In it's place was a little girl who looked like she was maybe 8, barely coming up to Itali's shoulder. She was some kind of aquatic creature, pale blue in color, and was wearing a small weed-like bikini. She had three large flaps of skin on her bald head, one to each side and one to the back of her head. Blue dots dotted around her forehead and down her neck, arms and legs. Two sharp fins lay on the back of her forearms. Her eyes were large, slanted and purple. Despite having been restored, she did not look happy.

Magellan snapped his fingers, and with a little wave, the mirrors shrunk to finger-ring size. He handed them over to Link and the Zoran girl. "Don't you worry, it'd take a might force to break those things. You can make a necklace or something, whatever you'd like. Just remember, if you want to keep your forms, keep them on or near your person at all times.".

The Zoran girl grasped hers, and then looked up to Link. Her eyes began to water. "Um…", she started quietly.

"Hey,", Link interrupted. "Don't get mushy on me now. If you wanna thank me for protecting you all that time, please don't. Besides, your bravery throughout the whole thing really inspired me.".

"…Thank you…", the girl whispered. "Thank you so much…".

Itali looked in the girls eyes and smiled. "Hey…so you are sentient. Sorry about that. What's your name?".

The girl glanced away from her. "Liu—Luto.", she corrected quickly. "My name's Luto.".

Rune arched an eyebrow.

Magellan slapped Luto and Link on the back and barked a laugh. "So kids, you got your bodies back, truly welcome to the Dark World! What will you be doing now?".

Link glanced over at his companions; Luto, Itali and Rune. He didn't know what they were thinking, but from that question Link could only think of one answer…

************

The young princess of Hyrule slowly awoke, and found herself neatly tucked into a large roofed queen sized bed. The room was dark, and it was still dark outside, so she had no idea how long she had been asleep. She rose slowly and brushed strands of dirty blonde hair from her blue eyes. The girl suddenly realized that she was not in her own clothes. She was dressed in an ornate slip, and her hair was loosed from her regular bonnet, and spilled down and over her shoulders.

The last thing Zelda remembered, she was returning from a trip visiting Liute and her parents. She was with her father, and other knights. Then there was a light…and then, nothing. Where was her father? The other knights? She gasped with fear. Where was her little pet Keaton? What had happened to Moto?!

Zelda made a move to get up and out when she froze . There was a shadow at the end of her bed. There was a man sitting there, with something on his lap. The man waved his hand, and the lights of the room shone just a tad brighter, bright enough to see that the tiny satellite-eared Keaton was sleeping at his lap.

Zelda looked at the man directly, and the man returned her look with a small smile. "Oh, it hasn't woken up yet. Give it another hour. The trip was as rough on it as it was on you.", he said.

"What do you want from me?", the young Princess demanded.

"Plenty of time for that. For now, I want you to relax, and enjoy your stay in the Er Region.". The man nodded slightly and wore a wide grin. "The name is Er Chike, and me and all my people are at your service."

NEXT:

I think Link and Invincible's had enough time in the limelight. Let's see what's happening with little Zelly. Plus her mother attempts to break the Sahasarala's code. Can she find some answers!? And did Invincible really see the last of the Erfos? Hope you enjoyed this long one. If you read it, please leave a review. Peace Medafighters. I'm out.