Now the chapters get shorter again because I can't write fighting scenes worth a crap. n.n; Well, most of the stuff I have to say qualifies as a spoiler for this chapter, so I'll say it at the end. Until then, enjoy the (coughnotablyshortercough) chapter!

Chapter 18: The Preceding Battle

"Okay… who else feels like we were just told some giant riddle wrapped up discreetly in a much less significant riddle?" Hieke asked, stretching against the vibrant rays of the desert sun. Link and Lor nodded in agreement.

"I just thought of something," Lor said suddenly with dismay fringing his voice. His companions turned to him in anticipation. "Where is Dameus?" the black-haired boy inquired, spreading his arms before him to indicate the honesty of his query. Link's and Hieke's eyes widened. "Don't you have the Fairy Charm of Wisdom?" the asked in unison. Lor chuckled nervously and turned around, only to see a most peculiar sight.

It looked almost as if a winged man was descending from a cloud. Lor instantly pointed to the figure, at a loss for words, but Link and Hieke had already seen. "Drakar!" Hieke exclaimed ecstatically. As the being came closer, Lor could tell that he was indeed Drakar.

"Thank Goddesses I finally found you," Drakar panted, out of breath. "Where have you three been? And what happened to Kaze?"

Hieke turned her head as to not meet Drakar's inquiring gray eyes. Link closed his eyes in remorseful remembrance. Lor, seeing that his two comrades weren't going to explain, decided that the question fell upon him. "Kaze is working for Dameus," he stated flatly. Drakar sighed in regret. "I should have foreseen this…" he muttered.

"Forget about it," Hieke advised. "Why were you looking for us?"

Drakar snapped his fingers. "How could I have forgotten? I've been looking everywhere for you! Dameus' castle… It's in Skybound!" he said urgently. Link raised an eyebrow. "And where is that?" he asked slowly. Drakar smacked his hand against his head, grumbling things to himself, then drew a deep, slow breath to calm himself. Hieke noticed for the first time how very dignified Drakar looked when he was peaceable.

"Skybound is my home," the winged man whispered. "It is a secret utopia, completely separate from Hyrule. No one is to know about it, and I mean no one. Dameus somehow came to know about Skybound, probably by means of my younger sister. Little Aiko just can't stay put within the city. She has to explore all of Hyrule time and time again, and she has to get captured by a villain and forced to do his will. Dameus came into Skybound just a few days ago and immediately drove the Royal Family out of the castle."

"Skybound has a Royal Family as well?" Link concluded. Drakar nodded. "All civilizations in Hyrule at this time have a monarchical system. However, I digress. Dameus has a great power, and he immediately enslaved all of the Sky Clan, my people. We are characterized by our black wings and skills in sorcery. Anyway, we have lost our dear princess to Dameus' clutches."

This evoked a startled gasp from Hieke as though memories were returning to her mind like a flood. "I remember…" she breathed. "When we shared a soul, we shared memories. The princess of the Sky Clan is Aiko…!"

Link turned to Drakar with a curious expression. "Doesn't that make you…?"

Drakar colored ever so slightly. "Yes, that makes me the Prince of Skybound, heir to the Royal Family of the Sky Clan. I will inherit the crown when my father passes," he stated humbly. Lor nodded in understanding. It always astounded him how Drakar could keep his cool in the line of fire. Now it made sense.

"So we have to go to Skybound, defeat Dameus, reclaim the throne, and free the Sky Clan?" Link recapped. "Piece of cake. How do we get to Skybound, Drakar?"

The man grinned. "That is where I come in. Only Sky Clan members have the ability to reach Skybound, so I will get you there. You must promise me, however, that you will not speak of this journey to a single soul. You have already seen the trouble that has arisen as a result of my kind being discovered. I wish not for this experience to repeat itself," he explained. His audience nodded in unspoken promise.

"Very well," Drakar smiled. "To further ensure the security of this encounter, I ask that you all close your eyes." The instructed did as they were told. A strange feeling of flight overcame them, reminding Lor of his first trip from Earth to Hyrule.

"Okay, you can open your eyes," Drakar directed. Lor did so and gasped in awe from the sight before him. "I welcome you to Skybound, the most prosperous kingdom in the world," the Sky Clan prince announced with a wave towards the glistening streets and buildings.

Compared to the rest of Hyrule, or even to Earth, Skybound was a technological marvel. Elegant machines stood every here and there like a shining sentinel or a metallic tree. The buildings were huge skyscrapers with diamond-paned windows, or so it looked. Powder-blue flowers littered the pale green grass. Everything had a silverish tint to it, which increased the technologic merit of the city.

At the center of the gleaming walls and streets stood a large castle constructed from white marble, crystal, diamond, and the likes. Link presumed this to be home to the Royal Family, as well as Dameus' hideout. He looked to Hieke and Lor with eyes that said "we can sight-see later" and started off towards the fortress. The others followed shortly after, leaving Drakar to deliver a message of hope to his people. As large a city Skybound was, there was not a single other living being on those streets. Hopefully, they were all just hiding as opposed to dead.

Link's footfalls resonated crisply throughout the city, accompanied by those of his companions. There was no time to waste; Dameus had probably already acquired the Spiritual Stone of the Forest and of Fire. He possessed all the power he needed, and then some, to take control of Hyrule. And we've got to stop him. Failure is not an option, Link told himself. This brought memories of his first adventure with Hieke into his mind. How many times had he yelled to himself that they could not fail, only to watch as everything they had worked against broke free?

Link shook his head vigorously. He wouldn't allow failure this time. Under no circumstances.

They were soon upon the glistening castle. It was absolutely gorgeous; the windows were framed with silver and had stained-glass images. The walls were constructed from polished marble, and it looked as though melted silver held the bricks in place. Trees heavy with glowing fruits lined the quartz road that led to the white stone doors. The castle of Skybound outshone that of Hyrule by tenfold.

However long they would have liked to admire the structure, they knew that it could wait. Link pushed open the large doors with surprising ease and entered. The halls were vast and decorated with all manner of family portraits, historical paintings, tapestries, and glowing orbs to illuminate the chambers.

Link turned his head abruptly. He could have sworn he detected movement to the side, but there was no one there. Nonetheless, he drew his sword and readied himself to do battle if necessary. Hieke held her whip in hand, and Lor prepared himself to summon Kuro's power should even the slightest disturbance occur.

And that disturbance did indeed occur. A flash of light burst before them, leaving a figure blocking the corridor. "Yo," the figure greeted. Link recognized him instantly to be Kaze and growled in contempt.

"You looking for a fight, pal?" the green-clad boy inquired, the final word heavy with sarcasm. Kaze winced. "As a matter of fact, I am," he stated grimly.

Lor could sense that Kaze was not thinking of his own free will. It seemed only he could see the aura the binding potion expelled from the former thief's body. "Kaze, you've got to fight against it," he murmured encouragingly.

"My master's lair is through this door," Kaze declared, gesturing to the door behind him. "You've gotta fight me if you want in."

Hieke tightened her grip on her weapon. "If you insist…!" she cried as she hurled the ax blade at Kaze.

Thus the battle began.

Dun dun DUN.

Anyway, those of you who have read the first chapter of my newest story, "Age of Queens", are probably thinking about the similarity between the names of the cities Snowbound and Skybound. I did that on purpose! Just so ya know... And yes, Drakar is a prince! GASP GASP!

New pictures will come to my website as soon as I feel like it. Actually, it will come a bit later because my mother has to feel like entering her password to upload the files. I also have to work on a map for "Age of Queens", since I already stated how the landscape of Hyrule did a 180.

Yeah, there's a big battle on the way. Fighting, fighting, and fighting scenes. W00t, my favorite. Yeah, that was sarcasm right there. Wanna summary? No? Too bad; I feel like writing one.

In this, the battle before the Final Battle, Lor realizes just how just demonic his power is... Kaze finds himself in an awkward position, facing Link while the young hero is a burning fit of rage. Just why is Link so pissed? You'll have to wait for the next chapter!

Okay, in case you didn't know (which I somehow doubt is possible), there's a new contest goin' on. This time it's Christmas, and the ante has officially been upped. Two categories, two entries per person, and a whopping eight award graphics! "Age of Queens" can also be used as a basis for this contest! The deadline is January 3 and I'm hoping to get at least enough entries to have one for every graphic. So please give it some thought and time! I look forward to seeing your art and reading your fanfiction!

Hey, everyone who's reading this right now! For the love of all that is good, evil, sweet, bitter, pure, and corrupt, PLEASE REVIEW! This goes especially to all the no-review Favers I may or may not have! What's a no-review Faver? I just made it up! It's a person who puts your story on their favorites list but never reviews once! Any of you, please review. You don't know just how important you reviewers and your reviews are to me!