Chapter Three

After about three days of following the mountain trail, Link and his group came to open ground.

"This world is larger than any of us had expected." Kage murmured, as they all gazed at the land around them.

"There appears to be some sort of settlement about five miles off. We should be able to reach it before nightfall." Yasha said, as he spurred his horse into action and galloped off.

"And I thought you were impatient, Link!" Navi teased, before Link started following the Oni. The remark only got a rolling of eyes from Link. When they had gotten to the town, Link could tell that they were being stared at by the residents.

"A world dominated by Gerudo………..not what I wanted to see." Yasha grumbled, moodily.

"Now, now, Yasha, don't be insulting. This is their world, after all. We have no right to judge." Sheik said, with a slight smile. He knew that the stoic Oni had a grudge against humans that spanned his race's history. The thoughts of the group were interrupted when loud shouting emanated from the tavern.

"Someone isn't happy." Mizuu said, as some men scrambled out of the building, and, some moments afterwards, an infuriated redhead stalked out.

"That's Lina Inverse for you." A voice said from above. They were startled to see what appeared to be a man hovering over them.

"Who are you?" Link asked, calmly, despite the strangeness of the situation.

"Sore wa himitsu desu." The man replied, with a cheeky grin.

"Why is it a secret?" Kage asked, confused.

"Don't bother, Kage. He won't tell you anything. Let's get on now and find a place to stay for the night." Sheik said, moodily, as he started to ride away.

"Well, that was cold!" the stranger said, as he descended and watched them leave. Silently, Link agreed with Sheik. Already he felt uneasy in this strange new land and also felt that the sense of growing darkness was stronger here than it had been in Hyrule.

"What have we gotten ourselves into?" a voice at the back of Link's mind asked.

"Hey! Elf! You're blockin' the road! Move it!" a woman's voice shouted, rudely. Startled out of his reverie, Link turned and looked down. He raised an eyebrow when he saw the speaker; she was about Zelda's height and had Malon's fiery hair and personality.

"What're you lookin' at?" the woman asked, testily.

"I apologize for staring, but you just remind me of someone I know back home, that's all." Link said, politely. Appeased, the woman grinned.

"I'll let it slide this time. Where are ya from?" the woman asked, as Link dismounted.

"My friends and I came from far away. We came to find the source of an evil presence. Would you happen to know of anything unusual happening hereabouts?" Link asked.

"As a matter of fact, my friends and I were just heading to Valis and then to Marmo. Something strange is going on near the Heroes' Bridge. King Ashram is really concerned about that." The woman said, seriously.

"Then may we join you? I have the feeling that our missions are the same and we were ordered by our king to join up with any who shared our quest." Link said, quietly.

"If you want to, I don't care. But you pay your own way. By the way, I'm Lina Inverse. What's your name?" the woman asked, curiously.

"My full name is Link Greenleaf, and my title is the Hero of Time. My companions are Kage the Shadow Elf, Sheik the Sheikah, and Yasha the Oni." Link said, as he led Epona to the stable.

"Okay. The rest of my group is at the inn. We'll meet there and eat." Lina said, before casually dismissing herself. With a sigh, Link nodded to himself; things were about to get interesting.

As promised, Link arrived at dinner with his crew. He flinched when Yasha growled in disgust at the sight of Lina, a blond man, and a dark-haired girl noisily stuffing their faces. The 'floating man' (as Kage called him) from before and a golden-haired woman sat off to one side, ducking every now and again to avoid pieces of airborne food. The last man sat in a corner, unnoticed bay all (and probably would have preferred to have remained that way), drinking his coffee and watching as the four elves approached.

"May we be seated, Miss Inverse?" Link asked, too polite to say anything about Lina's table manners. Lina looked up in surprise, but then remembered what she'd told Link.

"Sure. There's some clear seats next to Amelia." Lina said, as she pointed at the empty bench beside the dark-haired girl. With a nod, Link did as he was bidden and sat, smiling slightly when Navi emerged from under his hat.

"So, where are you from?" Amelia asked, curiously.

"We're from the land of Hyrule. We came here because Sheik sensed something. By the way, I'm Kage, last of the Shadow Elves and Hero of Memories." Kage said, then turned and ordered his dinner.

"I'm Amelia Wil Tesla Seiruun, princess and defender of Justice!" Amelia said, enthusiastically, getting a collective sigh and sweat-drop from her companions.

"Yes……………..well……………I am Sheik, one of the few remaining Sheikah." Sheik said, quietly.

"I'm Yasha." Yasha said, with his usual moodiness.

"And, as Miss Inverse already knows, I am Link." Link, in turn, said.

"Pleased to meet you, minna-san!" Amelia said, cheerfully. Then, in turn, each of Lina's group introduced themselves; dense Gourry, quiet Zelgadis, over-enthusiastic Amelia, mysterious Xellos, and regal Filia. Soon after the introductions, comfortable conversation ensued. Even Yasha exchanged remarks with Xellos.

"Lina, are we still heading to Marmo?" Gourry asked.

"Of course! It's not as though our plans have changed that much! Jellyfish brains!" Lina shouted, in frustration.

"Then we will meet here again tomorrow morning and leave together. I'm assuming you know the way?" Link asked. Amazingly, Lina calmed down.

"Yeah, I know the way. But we'll have to leave early." Lina warned.

"Consider it done. See you at dawn then." Link said, as he dismissed himself from the table.

"See ya!" Lina said, in response. Later that night, when all of the others were asleep, Sheik struggled against the unknown darkness. As he dreamed, he saw the land as it had been, thousands of years before. In the distance, and drawing ever nearer, were nine dark shapes. He watched in horrified fascination as the leader rode up, drew rein in front of him and looked down. The unseen gaze of the dark rider sent tendrils of icy fear shooting through every fiber of Sheik's soul. It was then that Sheik realized that they were now standing in a field. To his shock, he could see the sun, shining on all but him and the nine. Then he looked up and saw it, the dread of a hundred generations; the lidless, blood-red eye of the great Dark Lord of Old. Sheik's lips parted in a silent scream as the darkness that was the Shadow of the Dark Lord swallowed him.

"………….eik! Sheik! Wake up! Wake up, dammit!" Kage shouted, as he shook the screaming Sheikah by the shoulders. Immediately, Sheik opened his eyes and saw his friends gathered near, all with worried expressions on their faces.

"Damn! What's all the noise about?!" Lina asked, as she and Amelia rushed in.

"What is it, Sheik? What did you see?" Link asked, anxiously.

"I saw terrible things, Link……………..but most of all………..I saw the Nine………..and they know……………..by the gods…………..they know." Sheik sobbed, for the first time in his adult life showing how terrified he truly was.

"Xellos-san had said the same thing a few days ago…………" Amelia said, as she and Lina looked on.

"Sheik…………these 'Nine'……………what do they know? You must tell us!" Yasha said, forcefully.

"Yasha, they know we are here…………………….and they know that we know……….and they are coming to silence us all." Sheik whispered, now terribly afraid.

"I think we've just gotten ourselves in deep this time." Zelgadis muttered, as he watched the four elves talk.

"For once, Zel, I think I agree with you on that." Lina said, grimly, as a red morning sun peeked over the horizon, filling the room with blood-red light.