Disclaimer: I own LoZ. That's right. I also own KFC, Linux, Toyota, and Panasonic. Not.

Note: I have decided to use a T to separate each scene. I tried to use something else before (a sort of squiggly line), but it didn't show up. Also, I'm going to introduce three original characters in this chapter. Only one of them is going to be featured as a main character, but all of them are going to be somewhat important in the storyline.

The Darkness Gathers

Three days without news wasn't promising. The knights that had been dispatched to Gerudo Valley hadn't sent any sort of report since they had arrived, and Cardoss, the current commander of the Hyrulian Army (could six thousand half-trained peasants who were only obligated to serve only four weeks out of a year really be called an army?), was beginning to worry. He wasn't a supporter of racist propaganda, but as part of his occupation he had learned not to trust anyone but the crown too readily. He scarcely talked to the crown, either. Impa thought that his paranoid manner might rub off on Zelda. Cardoss supposed that this might be true, but the fact that even the Subrosian ambassador saw more of the Princess than he did was pretty annoying.

He shifted in his chair and brushed his long black hair out of his face. He needed to get it cut. That didn't really matter, though. There were still fourteen good men in Gerudo Valley whose fates were unknown. Chances were that they had just forgotten to report, but if they hadn't... Cardoss shifted in his chair again. If they hadn't, there was nothing he could do but pray for their souls.

The door at the end of the room opened and Impa stepped in with a tray, upon which was a kettle of tea and several cups. Cardoss hated tea, but he didn't want to cause any inconvenience to Impa so he took a cup. She turned to leave, remarking as she went that there was to be a briefing in two hours' time and that she thought his hair was cute. She closed the door, laughing. Cardoss frowned, touching his head. Cute, indeed. Despite the weight of the current situation, he decided to make plans for a haircut as soon as possible.

T

Link was running from something. He didn't know what, but something was forcing him to run down this dark, never-ending road. He knew that if he took the time even to look back he would be consumed by the fires of some great evil. He also knew that if he reached the end of the road, he would find something beautiful beyond belief, glowing like the first star in the sky at night or a fire far from civilization. That didn't matter to Link now, though. He first needed to survive the creature that was constantly groping at him. It caught only air, but each time it tried, that air was closer. He tried to concentrate on what he was doing, but his attention was drawn away by a voice from far off, as if it were heard underwater.

"Wake up, Link. Wake up..."

Link sat up with a start and found himself staring face to face with Princess Zelda. He felt both gratitude and disappointment. He was glad that Zelda had woken him when she did, but... he wanted to see whatever it was that was at the end of the road. He wanted to see the light. He was stirred from these thoughts when Zelda spoke:

"I'm sorry I had to wake you, but I thought that you might like to hear this. You know about the situation, right?"

"Yeah, Impa told me. You really ought to pay her more than she gets, she's really good at her job..." Link had never really been talkative, but since he regained consciousness he tended to ramble on about things of little importance. Zelda let him finish, but didn't really listen.

"Anyway, there's going to be a meeting concerning the missing police in a few minutes. I'll tell you the outcome when it's over-" Zelda was cut off.

"Can't I go myself? I can sort of walk, and I wouldn't cause any inconvenience..."

"Bullshit. You're not going anywhere. If you get hurt on the way there, it'll take even longer for you to recover-"

"Recover? I know as well as you do that I'm as good as dead. I'd like to make as much use of myself as possible before I meet the Divine." Link didn't say this with any bitterness. He was smiling, and he almost laughed.

Zelda was too shocked to do anything but agree. She asked Impa to get him some crutches, then walked to the room where the meeting was to be held and told the door guard to accept Link when he came. The guard looked somewhat more excited. Meeting a celebrity that can swing a sword around must be more exciting than seeing pretty much every Hyrulian politician on a monthly basis, Zelda thought.

T

Seated around a vast marble table were Sir Cardoss, Impa, Fasl (the Zora representative), Scrimp Heckler (the Subrosian representative), Zelda (obviously), and Link. Absent were the representatives from both Death Mountain and Gerudo Valley. It figured that the ones with all the answers wouldn't be there. Scrimp slammed what was probably his fist (you can never tell with Subrosians) down on the table. In his squeak of a voice he yelled:

"What are we waiting for, another temple to fall? (This was a common statement in Subrosia) It is obvious that both the Gerudo and the Gorons have something to hide, so it should be equally obvious that none of their people are going to be coming. Let us begin!"

"Indeed," said Zelda. "We are all here, as you should be aware, to decide upon a plan of action. Should we risk sending another force to try apprehending the murderess?"

"Whatever the decision made, it should be known that the Imperial Army of Hyrule will fully respect the wishes of the crown." said Cardoss in a well-rehearsed monotone.

"I think that perhapss it iss too late," said Fasl. "Thiss Gerudo musst belong to ssome ssort of gang. How elsse could sshe kill fourteen trained knightss? If thiss iss the case, it sseems likely that sshe hass already fled the valley and any further force used would be in vain."

Cardoss spoke again, this time with a slightly angry tone. "It might interest you to know that our knights are not as well trained as the public might think. With the amount of funding we get, it almost seems possible that one Gerudo could-"

"Hyrule has not been at war for nearly seven hundred years. We were prepared to spend more on an army if we needed it." said Impa.

"This isn't what we're here to discuss," Link almost whispered. All eyes turned toward him. "We need a plan of action. It seems likely that we are not just dealing with an individual, but a group. Sending in another little troop of soldiers isn't likely going to help. It also seems likely that the Gorons will try the same thing we did. Maybe we should create a sort of blockade around the valley, separating the Gerudo from any further crimes and the Gorons from making the same mistake we did."

Everybody sat quietly for a moment, letting this sink in. First Zelda nodded in agreement, then Impa did the same. After a second's reflection, Scrimp and Fasl also nodded. Cardoss looked doubtful, but saying that even this would be more exciting than staying here and watching things collect dust, he agreed. "Prepare your men, then," Zelda said to Cardoss. "They will depart in the morning!"

T

He was happy, if a creature so damned could be called happy. His plan was working. The Servant had done everything he had willed her to, and soon the Gorons would realize that retrieving the rock peacefully was not an option. They might fight themselves, but more likely they would get the Humans to do their dirty work for them. Despite arguments from almost everyone, Zelda would want to go herself, probably in disguise. When she did... He could barely contain his excitement. The whole land would be cast into a state of chaos, and He would arise as the most powerful being ever to grace the soil of the mortal world.

He looked through the Servant's eyes again. She was pacing, a habit that He found very distracting. Back and forth, back and forth, back and... ugh. He commanded her to find something to do. She walked outside, stepping off of the paved road and into the sand, where a number of Moblins were sparring with each other. The Gerudo hated monsters, but they would be necessary if His plan was to succeed. And it would succeed. He fed a bit more propaganda to the Servant, enjoying how she lapped it up like a thirsty dog laps up water. The people, in turn, would also listen to His words through the Servant and believe. Fools.