Blood ran down his cold hands as he stood in the darkness. Agahnim stood before him surrounded by a dark cloud of his evil power. His sword lay on the ground, broken in two, princess Zelda was beyond him, laying on an altar, a dagger through her chest. His uncle looked at him from a platform beyond. The pain was immense and the downpour continued on top of him relentlessly beating him. He held his hand to the gash over his stomach and felt the blood seethe out of the wound. Would he die?

Agahnim looked at Link, seemly laughing at him. A lightning strike flashed and Agahnim's form changed. In his stead stood a large blue creature, rippling muscles covering its whole body and sadistic red eyes shining like rubies. The flash ended and just as quickly as the beast had come it left, leaving only the dark wizard.

Link charged, anger oozing from his pours like the blood draining from his stomach. In a flash of heat his carnal emotions took over and everything went blank.

"Link?" a voice called to him. "Link, wake up!"

"Uh.." he groaned as he awoke.

"Beautiful," Sashralla said looking over the weak boy. "You beat the demons trapped in the temple. Good, good. You have taken your first step to retrieving the Master Sword."

"Oh lay off. I feel like crap and all you can think about is retrieving the Master Sword," Link mumbled back sitting himself up in the bed that he had been placed in.

Sashralla looked at him a bit taken a back. "You no longer wish to find the Sword of Evil's Bane?"

"You no longer wish?" Link asked back. "Great, your sober aren't you."

"Yes," the elder said back to him. "I haven't partaken a drop of alcohol since you left for the East Palace. It has been. four no five days. since you've returned."

"I was out for five days!" Link exclaimed. He tried unsucessfully to roll out of bed, only suceeding in sending waves of pain through his body.

"Don't move yet," the old man chided. "The potion that I got from the Witch hasn't kicked in yet. When it does, though, you'll be right on your way, to the palace in the west."

"What is the beast that is the master of the the West Dungeon?"

"Dungeon?" Sashralla said, "I've never heard them called dungeons. But I suppose that since you've actually gone and surived one you can call it whatever you choose. Now let me think. The West Palace is guarded by three large worms. From their mouth it is said that they shoot fire balls, and their mandibles are supposed to be able to crush stone."

"Great."

"Yes. But you've grown much since your last adventure. This next will be somewhat of a walk through the park."

"Hey, Sashralla, we're friends now. Stop being so formal."

"I can not help the way I speak."

"I can," Link said starting to move again, but then stopping. "Or I can't right now. It's the lack of booze I think."

"Probably," the elder said back to him seriously.

**

"Hey, Sashralla!" Link called from the main room of the barracks that had once been the building that had housed one of the greatest fighting forces in the world. Sashralla walked in carrying a jug of ale along with him.

"What is it?" he asked, now standing over the young warrior.

"This book," he turned it over so that the elder could see the spine of the book where the title had been written: A History of the Western Palace. "It says something about a test to get in. Something about. look its hear."

Sashralla picked up the book and held it open in one hand. "One must preform an act of faith to enter the spiritual Western Palace. A act that will only be told to those who are worthy of entering."

"Yeah that's it. Whats it mean?"

"You must do something that requires faith."

"No kidding," Link replied sarcastically. "What is it?"

"I don't know. And I don't think anybody knows. Before you can reach the Palace you must-"

"You must pass through the desert of death. Or something to that affect. Doom maybe."

"Yes. It says only those who are worthy to enter will know how."

"Yeah but how do I become 'worthy'?"

Sashralla took another few steps and then snapped his fingers. "That's it!"

"What?" Link said, a bit irriatated now.

"The Holy book of Mudora."

Link yawned. "The book of Mudora?"

"The 'Holy' book of Mudora," Sashralla corrected. "A book that only the most sacred of people hold. A rarity to the end. Undoubtly you'll have to have a copy of the book to enter the palace."

"Great. And do you have the book," Link questioned.

"Yeah its around here somewhere." The elder put the book next to Link and walked over to his bookshelf searching for the Book of Mudora.

After a few moments he cursed loudly. "Ahhh! Now I remember where I saw it."

"Where?"

"The Kakriko Library."

"This is the book that is held in only the most holy of places; and it's in the library."

"Yes. I don't remember why I saw it there but its there. Without a doubt it's there."

Link stood up. "Okay then I'll leave in the morning."

**

The next morning Link grabbed up his torn tunic and put the battered garment over his shoulders. Most of his major wounds had healed. He walked over to where his sword lay and he hung it on his back. His shield came next and finally he tied his bag of stuff onto his belt. He was ready.

He stood in the doorway, and looked around the barracks again. It had been his safehouse for a while and he had grown to enjoy the presence there and also the company of Sashralla.

"Link," Sashralla ran up to the door. "Good you haven't left yet."

"No, uh, I was just about to."

"Before you do, I'd like you to take this," Sashralla handed Link a pair of boots. "These are the Pegasus boots. They'll boost your speed, making your trip a much quicker."

Link took the boots, and sat down sliding his own off and slipping the new ones on. He stood again. "I don't know how to thank you."

"Just go and get the Sword and save the Kingdom. By that time I might have thought of something."

Link laughed to himself and set off.