Hi, people! I wasn't too sure about this, but it was better then any other story line I could come up with. I just hope that you readers out there can put two and two together. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Ten

Infection

Zelda sat atop Epona in a regal fashion, holding little Trinity in her arms. She was watching Link out of the corner of her eye, and he was muttering under his breath. She sometimes caught bits of his mutterings, but never the whole thing.

"She could have let me ride... can't walk all the way back... should have let Din..." Link was murmering darkly under his breath. Zelda drew her brows together tightly. What did he mean 'should have let Din'? Din was a Goddess, and would not trouble herself in the world of the mortals. Link had lost his mind in Starger's dungeons.

Zelda began to feel the weight of the locket on her chest as Link continued to lead Epona through the fields. With one hand, she fished it out of the neckline of her gown, and clicked it open. She took out the piece of parchment, and began to try to translate it. She hadn't had time back in the market, and then she had forgotten about it.

Unlike many Hylians nowadays, she could read the ancient text. It was part of being a Princess. The only other people that could read Ancient Hylian were the King, the priests, the Sheikah, Zelda and Link, even though he could barely read or write in the modern version.

Thinking about it, Zelda was puzzled as to how Link had learnt Ancient Hylian. Zelda was shocked to learn that he couldn't read or write their own language, considering that he had to read all sorts of signs to know where he was going, but then she found out that Navi had read them all to him. Once Navi left him, he had to rely on the kindness of strangers to tell him where he was, and how to get to where he was going.

As soon as Link had returned to Hyrule, after three fruitless years of searching for Navi, Zelda had made it her mission to teach Link how to read and write. So far, it had gone well, but then their lessons had been interrupted when Link had disappeared last year.

Now that Zelda had found out where he was all that time, she was beginning to doubt her choice in a husband. She was fairly certain that she loved Starger, but she had to decide who was more important to her. Link, her best friend, or Starger, her fiancee. It was indeed a choice that she didn't want to make, but she knew that she couldn't keep both. One would inevitably end up killing the other.

Zelda shook her head, as she realised that she was getting off track. Focusing her thoughts, she began to read the text.

"...and then they would come, in shining lights. Two figures that would save the land, and restore the Gods to their rightful re..." The paper tore off here, and then it started again on the next line, "...the Evil One would be banished bey..." It tore off again, and picked up on the next line "...the destinies of the saviours would be near completed, and they would continue to do the work of t..." Then the paper tore off completely.

Zelda racked her brain for any memory of this story. She knew that she had heard it somewhere before. She was startled when Link spoke. He had obviously heard her quiet mutterings.

"I've heard that one." He didn't even look at her, "Its a prophecy of the Saviours of the Gods." He didn't even sound remotely interested in what he was saying. On the contrary, he sounded quite bored. Zelda prepared to press him for more information, but she didn't have to.

"It is said that a mighty warrior and a wise man will descend from the Sacred Realm and defeat the Great Evil." He drew breath, and Zelda waited for the rest of it. It didn't come.

"And?" She pressed on. Link looked at her blankly.

"And what?" He arched an eyebrow at her, "Thats all the legend says." Zelda furrowed her brow, and began to try to dig up any memory of the story. Unfortunately for her, she didn't remember anything.

LATER

Starger paced the halls of Hyrule palace. He was extremely anxious for Zelda, though he wasn't completly sure why he was anxious for her. He was just using her to get to the King. Once the King was dead, the Shadow would relinquish his hold on his Kingdom.

Starger was alone. He hated being alone. He was a bit frightened, to be completely truthful. Zelda had helped him ease his fears with her mere presence, but she was no longer there. Starger came to realise something at that very moment. Unfortunately, the Shadow chose to appear at exactly the same time.

"You love her, don't you?" The icy sarcastic voice made Starger's blood run cold. He slowly turned to face his nightmare.

"I... I..." Starger tried lamely. It was no use. Just the smell of the beast alone would send the bravest of men running to their mothers. The beast cakcled.

"There is no place in my plan for love! You may have her all you wish, but you cannot let her stand in my way of world domination!" Starger stumbelled over his own feet, and landed on his butt, never tsking his eyes off the Shadow before him.

"I... I..." He tried, just as lamely as before. The Shadow looked at him in... was it pity?

"A fool is a man that has fallen for a woman. She will bring you nothing but ruin, as she had brought me to ruin. She has made me the vile creature that I am now. I will ease your worried heart. Just open your mind to me." Starger, trembelling, took in every word that the monster was saying. He believed it.

The Shadow turned intoa thick, grey smoke, and enveloped the entire room. It twisted inot a black streamer, and flew into Starger's mouth, and infected his system. When the enitre ribbon was inside him, he coughed a little. He looked into the mirror, and saw that his eyes were glowing a deep, blood red.

Prince Starger of Misina was no longer Prince Starger on Misina. At least, not on the inside. He was a monster, infected with the Great Evil.

Just as his eyes returned to normal, the King entered the hall. He seemed to be in terrible spirits.

"Where is my daughter?" He demanded of Starger, bailing him up into the corner, "She was in your lands, and went missing on your watch! I demand to know whose lack of judgement led to my daughter's kidnapping!" Starger pretended, very convincingly, to be intimidated.

"It was my fault, Majesty," Starger bowed low to the King, "She walked off when we were packing up. The man that I assigned to watch over her was not adequite. He let her get kidnapped. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he just handed her over, Majesty."

"Who was her guardian?" The King roared, startling everyone in the hall, "Who will be executed for letting my daughter be kidnapped?"

"It was Link, Your Majesty." Starger tried not to grin in a wolf like manner, and almost failed, "Link of the Forest."

Well, what did you think? Questions and comments are welcome!