Link tried to hold the tears back. His Lance, his little Lance, was ready to rule a kingdom now. He watche din silence as the priest uttered the holy prayer in which Lance and Marin would be instated as king and queen of Hyrule. Zelda was already crying.
I've done it, thought Lance. I've gotten this far, I can endure to the end. He looked to his wife. She smiled back at him, tears streaming but no sobs.
The prayer was finished, and the priest motioned for them to stand. They did, and the priest called forth two crown-bearers, carrying the authentic, red and feather crowns that weighed a ton. They came forth and placed them on each of their heads. Lance stood his ground, but Marin looked as if she were going to topple over.
Lance couldn't help but chuckle, despite the moment. She hit him playfully. The priest then placed the same colored capes on them, and the two knew that it was time to walk down the aisle and out of the Temple of Time, where they would be awaited by the royal carriage, in which they would be known as king and queen of Hyrule.
They climbed in and instantly Marin took off the twenty-pound crown on her head, Lance doing the same.
"Man, those things are heavy!" he said as it clunked to the floor. Marin nodded in agreement.
The door opened and Link and Zelda stepped in, sitting opposite them.
"I know you're making the right choice," said Link. "I'm proud of you, son." "I know, Dad," said Lance.
"So are you guys relieved that you don't have to have so much responsibility anymore?" asked Marin. Link couldn't hide his relief, even though he tried.
Zelda giggled and said, "I, for one, am relieved that you two became the rulers. I was starting to get sick of it." They both laughed.
The ball was wonderous. Lance and Marin started it off, allowing the other lovebirds to do the same.
"Are you sure we're ready for this, Lance?" asked Marin. Lance sighed, almost in annoyance. "Yes, dear, I do. You've been switching on and off with feelings now," he said.
Marin tilted her head back and laughed. "You, sir, are supposed to be encouraging," she said. Lance laughed back.
They danced for a while, sharing the moment and knowing that it would start a hard, yet wonderful life as the rulers of their native country, until their children became of age. If they ever got children...
Suddenly the double doors to the ballroom burst open, lightning striking at the perfect moment, illuminating the intruders' faces.
They didn't look familiar. Except the black armor, but they weren't moblins, so it couldn't have been the Black Alliance.
"I am Arkannas," said the apparent leader, "king of the distant land of Kalthein. I have heard your claims to be the greatest nation of them all, and I came here to witness the coronation of the newest rulers of the Great Nation of Hyrule, but apparently I was too late."
"Who do you think you are, barging into a royal occasion such as this!" Link bellowed.
Arkannas smirked. "Why, I am but a humble man here to see what I have the right to," he said. Link's eyes grew cold.
"You will leave at once!" Link spat back. "I will not tolerate arrogance or uninvited guests! Guards! Seize them!"
Instantly guards entered the room from all sides and surrounded the small squad that had entered the building.
It was then that Arkannas's features stood out to Lance. His eyes were the worst part of him. They were charcoal black, not an inch of white. His skin was pale, and his hair platinum white. His armor was made of the strongest, heaviest material he had ever seen. His teeth were long, sharp, and dirty. He wore a belt, from which he strung human and other creatures' skulls.
He seemed to have a right-hand-man, also. If that could be called a man. All that was visible of him was his hands and eyes. Or it...
It's glowing, black and yellow eyes peered out from its cloak, which engulfed its entire body. It wielded a massive, jagged sword shaped like flames. Its hands were gray and looked clammy, the fingers like roots. It wore a necklace around its collar with a crescent moon-shaped jewel strung about it.
Arkannas nodded toward this creature. It stepped forth and swung its heavy sword in an arc. The guards surrounding them flew back, and the creature took a second swing and the remainder of them slammed into the walls and ground.
Lance saw, for the first time, fear in his father's eyes. That was not good. He had never seen that. Ever. This man was more powerful than Ganondorf.
"Just a small taste of what is to come," said Arkannas. "I have come to like this nation, and I think I want it. With or without a fight, I will come back with the largest army of demons, orcs, undead, and Dark Elves you have ever seen. Be warned." With that he turned and left the castle.