Chapter 3



Hope returned to Castle Town, this time in her Hylian form. She gathered Deku nuts, Deku sticks and rupees as she traveled along. The town seemed very somber, the people all dressed in dark clothes. Hope felt like she stuck out among the dark clad people like a gold ring on a bagger, yet no one paid her the least bit of attention.

A sudden roar pierced the silent air. People began to scream, ducking into shops and houses for protection. Hope jumped around the corner, hiding herself in an alley.

"Shadow child," she whispered. She returned to Sheikah form. Sword drawn, Hope rushed outside the castle gates, and she made herself invisible. She wanted to see this threat without it seeing her.

A great beast flew at the castle, sending waves of fire through the air ahead of it. It landed a few feet from Hope. She swallowed the lump in her throat. The beast was huge. It looked like a dragon, except that had flaming horns, and the head of a human male. It's eyes were coal black.

"Hear me, Hero of Time, sages, I bring you tidings from my master. You failed to surrender when offered the chance. Now, your beloved princess is dead. You have three days to surrender yourselves, or else the Queen is next."

It began to flap its great wings. As it lifted off the ground, Hope caught sight of a red, sparkling gem in the beast's foot. Hope smiled. She knew that this would be its weak spot. After all, that was always the way of things in video games. She moved forward as quickly as possible, bringing her sword up into the gem. The great beast began to howl in anguish. She rolled out of the way to avoid being trampled by the great beast. There was a blast of heat and energy. Hope was blown into the moat.

She pulled herself out. She was thoroughly soaked.

"You stupid Shiekah," the thing howled, now only man-sized. "You will pay for this. My master does not take kindly to interference."

"Bring it on. I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be. I am the Daemon of Anger!"

"Ah. I see." She drew her sword. She crocked her finger at it. "Save," she whispered, before calling, "come and get me, if you can!"

The Daemon rushed at her, but Hope easily avoided it. It howled in rage whenever she slashed it with her sword, and it's strikes would become more wild. One of its wickedly sharp claws raked across her right hand as Hope brought the sword down again. She was a little surprised to find that it stung.

As Hope dodged a fire ball the Daemon sent after her, she rolled over a piece of the red gem. The Daemon abruptly froze, before crumpling to the ground.

"Let me go and I will make it worth your while," it begged as it withered on the ground. "Give me back my gem."

"Did you kill the princess?" Hope demanded.

"Yes. I was only doing as my master demanded. Please, have pity on me!" Hope hesitated. She saw the Daemon's long spiked tail slowly raising from the ground. She knew she would lose if she let the Daemon go. Besides, it was probably programed to continue killing.

Hope set the gem on the ground. She drove the sword into it with a scream. The world exploded with red light. The Daemon was enveloped with this light, and with a final scream it disappeared.

Hope found herself in a strange place, darkness everywhere. She was floating. It reminded her of the feeling she got when she first activated a game, while the simulator was busy computing the new information.

"Thank you for saving me," said a soft, friendly voice. Hope turned, and saw a red fairy floating toward her.

"Who are you?" Hope asked.

"I am the Fairy of Calm," the voice replied softly. "The Daemon had captured me, locking me in the gem on his foot in order to draw from my power. The Daemon has been banished now, thanks to you. Please, I beg of you, save my six sisters from the Daemons who have captured them. If you promise to do that, I will grant you additional powers." Hope smiled.

"I will do my best to make sure they are freed," she told the fairy. The fairy's glow brightened.

"Thank you, kind Hero. Hold out your sword." The fairy circled around Hope, touching the sword as she gibbered in the language of the fairy. The sword began to glow, and in the hilt sat a red jewel. There were six additional spaces below the jewel. "If you should want to return to your home realm, Hope of Hyrule, then you must simply command the sword to take you home. If you want to return to Hyrule, simply say, "I am needed elsewhere." Is this acceptable to you?"

"Yes," Hope replied.

"Good. Thank you, kind girl. Best of luck to you." There was a flash of red light, and Hope found herself outside Castletown once more.

It was getting dark, and Hope could feel herself getting tired. She looked at the sword, the red gem glowing brightly.

"Take me home," she whispered. The gem flashed, and suddenly Hope found herself back in the simulator room. She pulled off the helmet and gloves. She peered out the padio doors into the sun room. The sun was beginning its descent, and Hope realized she had been playing for hours.

Hope pulled a glass down for a drink of water. She nearly dropped the cup in surprise. Three angry red scratched were cut into her right hand, the hand the Daemon had scratched. But, simulators weren't supposed to leave marks on the person's body. . . . What was going on?