"Everything must have a beginning."
-Proverb
Chapter 6 Awakening
Everything was so dark... and heavy... and yet it was warm...
Harry Potter, Boy-Who-Lived, jerked awake, nearly throwing his glasses off his face, his arms wrapped around something soft and warm.
It took him a second to realize that the soft and warm object was Ginny Weasley.
He almost dropped her for a moment, till he saw just how peaceful she was. Her pale, slender face, slightly covered by errant locks of blood red hair, was a sight he could not tear his gaze away from.
But there was something wrong... her body seemed too light, her sleep too deep...
The memories flashed in his mind... the creatures who struck at Ginny, taking that bright light from her body...
He shook with fury and shame. Tearing himself from the past, he looked around himself. He lay in a bed, which was a touch fancier than any he had ever had before, even at Hogwarts, with silky sheets and feathery soft, yet firm support. The room was a bedchamber, made of some ivory stone, with a wooden chest, a few pots.
"I see you're awake."
Harry turned towards the door, and a woman met his gaze, not much older than himself. Tall and regal, which was accentuated by her resplendent pink and white dress, with piercing, knowledgeable cobalt eyes, her golden locks allayed in a majestic manner, enhanced by a wiry golden headpiece, obviously a crown. She was strikingly beautiful, with pale, elfin features that seemed delicate, yet her stance and the way she carried herself belied that, portraying a great deal of personal strength.
A symbol on her crown drew his gaze, the image of a three golden triangles arranged to create one larger one...
"Welcome, Keybearer." She smiled slightly, and turned her gaze towards the sleeping redhead in his arms. "And your guest, of course."
Even as he began feeling heat rise to his cheeks, Harry did not let Ginny go.
Her smile seemed to deepen at this. "You would not let her go, even as we brought you inside from the fields."
This furthered the blush, but Harry still did not let go. He wouldn't... he couldn't...
Not after what happened to Ron, Hermione, and her...
"Where are we?" the Boy-Who-Lived blurted out, more to ward off thoughts than to actually find out.
"Hyrule Castle." The woman replied, and gave a slight nod, her cobalt eyes twinkling in a way reminiscent of Dumbledore. "I am its Queen, Zelda."
Harry was flabbergasted. A queen? "I... uh... that is..."
Zelda seemed amused by his confusion, but chose not to comment. "You are the Keybearer."
The Boy-Who-Lived blinked, and replied haltingly, "Uh... I'm sorry, but my name's Harry. Harry Potter." Briefly, he wondered if he should have added a "your Majesty" or something along those lines, but the blonde didn't even bat an eye.
The queen nodded again. "Very well then. I am pleased to meet you Harry Potter, Keybearer." Before Harry could ask what in the name of the nine rings of Hell a Keybearer was, she continued.
"When you came here, you were on the verge of death, having sustained numerous injuries, including a few fractured ribs. Our healers had to work fast to save you. You are lucky Kurama found you when he did... Hyrule Field is not a pleasant place at the best of times." Her cobalt eyes darkened, and a small, tight scowl appeared. "And this is quite possibly one of the worst."
Completely lost, Harry simply nodded. "Um... thank you for helping us out," he said hesitantly.
"It was no trouble. You are, after all, the Keybearer." Zelda replied simply.
Gazing at her curiously, the Boy-Who-Lived queried, "Keybearer?"
Zelda cocked her head to the side and glanced at him quizzically, before she smiled slightly. "I see that we will have to explain that as well then. Come with me."
Harry glanced at Ginny, reluctant to leave her side for anything.
Noticing this, the queen added, "Do not worry yourself. You are both safe here."
Accepting this, Harry followed Zelda out of the chamber, casting one last, lingering glance at the still comatose Weasley.
The Boy-Who-Lived was taken to a massive stone room, where a large, wooden round table dominated the room, with a vast amount of chairs, mostly empty. Situated around the table was a small gathering of people, each of whom was engaged in various conversations.
Harry was shocked... they all looked so young, nothing like the wizened, elderly people he expected to find.
Queen Zelda glanced at him, smiling. "Do not be fooled by any person in this room, Harry Potter. Every one of them, including myself, is far more than they appear."
Before the enigmatic statement could be analyzed, she coughed slightly, and the conversation ceased. "The Keybearer is awake." She declared, motioning to the now quite shy Harry Potter, who looked downwards as he felt every gaze in the room rivet and fixate themselves onto him.
After a moment, he glanced upwards, and waved shyly. "Uh... hi?"
The gazes didn't waver, though some chuckled at his discomfort.
Noticing this, Zelda motioned to the various members of the group. "I'll introduce you, Harry Potter. This is Kurama, who brought you in from the fields." He followed her gaze to a scarlet haired boy situated nearest to the door, who scrutinized him with impassive, but not cold green eyes, much like his own. He wore a pinkish jumpsuit, which seemed Oriental in style; his entire appearance was unassuming, but his eyes were a far different story, full of intelligence, like a fox.
Swallowing, Harry gave the boy a slight nod, which was returned with a warm smile. "Hello, Harry Potter." Kurama greeted politely, his viridian eyes seeming to pierce into the teen's mind.
"H-hi." Harry stammered slightly, still completely confused about the situation.
"Kurama is a fox demon, Harry." The Queen added, bringing herself back into the conversation. "A very ancient and powerful one."
The statement ground most of the Boy-Who-Lived's thoughts to a halt. A demon? But he looked so normal...
"And this is Washu, Harry." Zelda continued without pause, motioning to a pink haired girl of considerable height deficiency. "She is our resident genius, along with Ed. Don't be fooled by her face, she's quite older than she looks."
"I told you to call me Little Washu!" The girl grumbled, but a bright smile belied the tone. She was dressed in a plain shirt and pants, and like Kurama, her own eyes were bright green, but they surpassed the redhead and even Dumbledore in knowledge and wisdom, yet they retained their somewhat child-like exuberance. In all, she came off as a slightly more eccentric Tonks.
Washu smiled at Harry, gazing at him with a strange curiosity. "So you're the Keybearer..." She mused, an appraising tone in her voice. "Pleased to meet ya." She grinned now, and stuck her hand out.
Harry shook it, still quite lost in what was going on. In a way, he felt like he was just entering the magical world again, being introduced to all sorts of people who knew his name but who had never met him before.
Zelda took him by the shoulder and led him away, towards a young woman, possibly Harry's age or even younger. Her hair was bright pink and her eyes green, much like Washu's, leading him to wonder if everyone here had some sort of relation to each other. She wore leathery armor, which fitted well on her slender body, and at her side was the hilt of a rapier.
"This is Ritz, an expert warrior with the rapier... and no, she's not related to Washu." The Queen remarked wryly, smiling.
Ritz gazed at him coolly, and nodded. Her eyes seemed to be gauging him, weighing him up for a fight.
Harry decided instantly that this was not the sort of girl you messed around with, and who probably had a temper to match Ron's.
A spike of pain flared, which Harry ignored.
The last member of the group was decidedly the oddest. Dressed in a too small white shirt and skin tight black shorts, a slightly pink hairdo, and with cognac eyes that danced with a mix of intelligence and insanity, this was certainly the eccentric.
"This is Ed." Zelda introduced, and then whispered in his ear, "She's a bit odd sometimes, but she's every bit as smart as Washu."
"Ed will introduce Ed. Ed is Edward Wong Hau Pepleu Tivursky the Fourth!" Ed shouted loudly, leaping up from her chair and landing an inch from his face. Her cognac eyes bored into his as she continued smiling. " "Hallo Harry-person! Pleased to meetcha!"
"Uh... Hi."Harry said weakly. Every other person in the room either chuckled or rolled their eyes, obviously used to Ed's antics. Behind him, Zelda seemed barely able to control a most undignified giggle.
The girl (or perhaps boy... he couldn't tell) looked at him carefully, before her face broke into a large, ear wide grin. "Do you like my name? Ed made it up herself!"
As Harry opened his mouth to ask how exactly she was the fourth if she made up her own name, Ed beamed at him, then back flipped away, and then... slithered back into her chair, almost bonelessly.
The Boy-Who-Lived blinked and turned his gaze to the shrugging Queen, who mouthed, 'See?'
"There are others who are currently out patrolling... but these here insisted on meeting the Keybearer first." Zelda explained, "It is difficult, organizing peoples from different worlds, and-"
"Wait. What?" Harry exclaimed, blinking in surprise, his foot slipping back a step.
"He doesn't know." Kurama said quietly, looking at the Boy-Who-Lived carefully.
"Well that's just great... how's this guy going to help us if he doesn't know what the heck he's doing!" Ritz exclaimed sarcastically, glaring at Harry, who gazed down at the floor.
Zelda placed her hand on Harry's shoulder, and he turned his gaze to her. She smiled reassuringly. "Perhaps you should show them the Keyblade, and then we can start from there."
"Key-" Harry paused, and remembered. That strange weapon he'd been given...
"I don't know where it is." The Boy-Who-Lived said quietly.
Ritz growled irritably, and huffed. Zelda glanced at her warningly, and said gently, "Just call it from your heart, Harry. The Keyblade is bonded to its wielder."
Expectant gazes bore down on him.
Swallowing, Harry nodded. "A-alright..." He closed his eyes, trying to imagine the warm, familiar feeling of the Keyblade in his hands, the light, easy weight and balance...
He opened his eyes. There it was, that strange weapon again, held in his hand as if it had always been there.
"Interesting..." Washu murmured, staring at the Keyblade.
"Oh... shiny, shiny," Ed laughed happily, waving her arms in the air.
Kurama stood up, and walked over to the queen and Harry. "May I see it, Harry?" He asked softly, holding out his hand.
Harry hesitated for a moment, before handing it over. These people helped keep him and Ginny safe... they deserved at least a little trust.
The redhead grasped the guarded hilt warily, his emerald eyes running up and down its shape, from the teeth of the key end to the length of the 'blade', to the yellow guard for the hilt, to the small keychain at the end.
His eyes widened as suddenly, the Keyblade dissipated into a sparks of light, and flew back towards Harry, who raised his hand to defend himself. The luminous sparks struck his hand, and the Keyblade reappeared.
Eyes widened in surprise, and Washu sucked in a breath. Ed laughed and clapped in amusement, "Do it again! Do it again!"
"It would appear that the Keyblade can only be held by its chosen." Kurama said, a tone of amusement in his voice. "A valuable asset, to be sure."
"Do... you know about the Keyblade?" Harry asked quietly, gazing at Kurama, then Zelda curiously. "Can you tell me about the Door?"
The Queen nodded, but her cobalt eyes seemed to dim. "There is precious little on the legend of the Keybearer. You had best sit down, Harry." She added, motioning towards one of the many empty chairs.
Without taking his gaze away from Zelda, the Boy-Who-Lived sat down, waiting. After a moment, she continued.
"In the Arcane Codex, it states that the Keybearer will come at a time of terrible Darkness, wielding a Key. His Key is a weapon of light, a creation of absolute Good. With his Key, he will open the Door to the 'Heart of All Worlds'. There, he will bring Salvation to us all." Zelda recited, before glancing to Kurama. "However, Kurama's world has its own tale of the Keybearer... which clashes directly with ours."
From his position against the wall, the fox demon straightened, and his voice was quiet. "In Demon World, there is a tale about a person who will wield a Key, and who will appear in the middle of a threat against all Creation. His Key is a weapon of Darkness, a terrible abomination that brings chaos and destruction in its wake. He will open the Door to the Heart of All Worlds, just like Zelda has stated... but in our tale, it ends with one very disturbing line."
Kurama paused, and everyone in the room seemed to tense up. Somehow, Harry had the feeling it wouldn't be good.
"And he will bring Destruction to all of Creation." The demon quoted softly, and closed his eyes.
The Keybearer couldn't blink, couldn't speak. Everything felt so intense, so overwhelming.
In the middle of his shock, Queen Zelda turned, and looked at him gravely.
"So what are you, Harry Potter? Savior, Conqueror, Hero, Villain?"
There was a song playing... somewhere. An invisible, untraceable chorus was playing the most haunting... yet somehow familiar tune he had ever heard.
He had never really listened to any music, nor cared to... but this song seemed to be calling him.
Its melody was deep and endless, relentlessly soft and slow, but unending. The tone was ageless, yet quietly cruel, stirring feelings of love, loss, pain, friendship, happiness... everything.
A song of Time.
And somehow... his song.
Soft steps clicked on stone, and he tried to sniff out the scent... but something felt wrong with him... his body ached and screamed, unable to clear his head.
Silently, he passed out.
Without a word, a figure picked him up, wondering how a half demon ended up on the floor of the Temple of Time.
Harry found himself wandering the palace grounds, numb to the absolutely stunning landscape around him. There were many armored guards, all of whom seemed to look at him with a mixture of distrust and curiosity.
But he didn't notice at all. In fact, he barely noted that he had been changed into a deep brown tunic and pants, only barely aware of his surroundings. The Keyblade had returned within him, and now he could truly feel its warmth in his chest... thought it contrasted with the cold he felt everywhere else.
Eventually, the Boy-Who-Lived found a quiet garden area, secluded from the rest of the world. The peace and tranquility of the place seemed to soothe his tattered nerves, bring him some relief.
It reminded him of the days before Hogwarts, before magic, before Destiny and Prophecy...
Before Lord Voldemort.
When he would sit alone, silent, not a care in the world, no responsibilities, no burdens, just living.
Existing.
He missed that. Somehow, despite the fact that he had hated his time before Hogwarts once... now, now it seemed a precious memory, a life that he would never again experience. A normal life that was now beyond his reach.
And a small part of him was deeply saddened by it.
So it was in this solitary place that the Queen found the Keybearer, his eyes closed, sitting in the flowers like the boy he really was.
"I see you found my private gardens, Harry." Zelda said, amused.
Harry's eyes snapped open and he jerked from his position in the grass, standing up and flushing. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't know-"
But she merely smiled. "It's quite alright... I myself find that it is often good to take time for yourself, away from the pressures of life." After a moment, she paused, and sighed. "I'm sorry for placing this information on your shoulders, Harry. But it is imperative you understand that you represent both victory and annihilation for all of us."
"I'd never..." Harry began, but Zelda raised her hand to silence him.
"I know, Harry. I've had the honor of meeting a man just like yourself once, someone who only wanted to do the right thing, to help... to save." Her blue eyes clouded with memory. "And he too, felt close to breaking many times. But you must remain strong, Harry Potter. You must not allow yourself to give in.
"For if you do... we're all dead." Zelda said frankly, gravely.
Before anything else could be said, a tall, tanned woman dressed in a blue body suit appeared in the shadows. Her crimson eyes briefly flickered to the Boy-Who-Lived, before returning to the Queen.
"My Lady, there is an urgent matter that needs your attention." She said calmly, but there was a ruffled tone in her voice.
Zelda nodded. "Thank you Impa." She turned back towards Harry, and smiled apologetically. "I am sorry, Harry. It appears our talk will have to be cut short. Do remember what I have told you."
And with that, she left, leaving the Keybearer alone to his thoughts.
"So what is it, Impa, that is so urgent that you would lose your omnipresent calm?" Zelda asked dryly, but with a hint of worry as she glanced at her protector.
The Sage of Shadow shook her head. "It would be better to show you." Quickly, she led her queen towards a room where Kurama stood guard.
Impa glanced at the redhead, and the two locked gazes for a moment.
The two seemed to have a mutual understanding, and without a word, the fox demon stepped aside.
Zelda shot him a curious glance, but the redhead's eyes betrayed nothing. Sighing, the royal entered the room.
On the bed was a young man, injured but breathing, his red clothing unmistakably foreign. A sword lay off to the side, sheathed in a black case. Curiously, his hair was long and silver, and two dog ears popped just above his head...
"I couldn't touch his sword." Kurama said, showing his burnt palms. "There seems to be a barrier against demons."
"Isn't he a demon?" Impa asked bluntly.
The redhead shook his head. "No... he doesn't have a full demon scent, or that distinctive power. No... he's a half demon. Or half human, whichever you prefer." The tone in his voice suggested that such a thing was extremely rare.
"Would either of you care to tell me what's going on?" Zelda asked impatiently, annoyed at not being told anything.
"I found this half demon within the Temple of Time," Impa explained to the Queen's surprise, knowing that no other offworlder had ever appeared in there, "The entire temple was resonating with his presence... in a way that I've only heard happened to just one other person. It's as though he's connected to it... which is impossible."
The news was definitely urgent, and Zelda pursed her lips, trying to figure out a plan of action. "Watch over him. Tell me when he wakes up... until then, tend to his wounds."
Both Kurama and Impa nodded, and the Queen left the room, pondering over the new developments.
There was so much darkness everywhere... nothing but emptiness... and yet, there was another.
Something was calling her... a familiar feeling... something raw, relentless, powerful, passionate... and warm.
A kindred power.
Sleep, avatar. Sleep. A voice whispered softly, gently. The voice of the Power.
"What the... a Hyrulian, this deep in the Temple!" a voice shouted, obviously shocked.
"How did she-" A second voice murmured, but was cut off by the first.
"She's injured! Get Big Brother! Hurry!"
Footsteps stampeded around her, but Robin Sena didn't notice a thing, cradled in the warmth of the Fire Temple, a soft smile on her face.
When Harry returned to the meeting chamber, he found only Ritz, Zelda, and Washu waiting for him. The three women seemed to be in deep discussion, which immediately halted when he came in the room.
The Queen was the first to turn, and seemed to look at him piercingly for a moment, before smiling, seeing that he was fine. "Well, Harry, I see that a walk around the gardens has done you well. Now that you're refreshed, there are a few points we need to discuss." She gestured towards a chair, which the Boy-Who-Lived took, never taking his eyes off the females.
Ritz refused a chair, preferring to lean against the wall, watching him. Washu, on the other hand, took a seat easily, smiling but studying him.
"I trust you're familiar with the enemy that's been attacking us as of late." Zelda began, and Harry remembered the shadowy creatures, "But we're wondering... have you ever heard of a pale, skeletal man with crimson eyes?"
Swallowing, Harry nodded, his face tightening and his fist clenching. "Yeah." He said tightly, "I know him." A bitter chuckle escaped his lips.
The three women shared a glance, and the Queen continued, "Can you tell us anything about him, Harry?"
Oh, yes he could, the Boy-Who-Lived thought bitterly, he could tell them all about the Dark Lord. About his murders, his crimes, his evil...
"His name is Lord Voldemort... he's my enemy, and the man who murdered my parents." Harry whispered softly, closing his eyes. Washu nodded sympathetically, and Ritz and Zelda's eyes softened, "He's evil... and powerful... and I'm the only one who can kill him."
The Queen clicked her teeth thoughtfully. "The way you say this... its as if it was destined." She said, her gaze seeming to cut deeper than Legilimency.
Swallowing, the Keybearer nodded. "It is. Either he kills me, or I kill him." After a moment of terse silence, he tried to change the subject. "Do you know anything about the creatures he's ordering? Or that strange symbol on his chest?"
Zelda nodded, and glanced over to Washu.
"We're calling them the Heartless, since it seems they are creatures who exist without a heart, to steal hearts." That was good, the Boy-Who-Lived thought. His enemy had a name, which made it less alien. "Apparently, there have been newer types forming out of their victims, and they wear the crest of the Heartless, that symbol you saw. " the pink haired woman explained, and a horrible thought occurred to Harry.
"Ginny! The girl I was with... she got attacked!" he blurted out, panicked.
Washu shook her head, her long, vibrant hair whipping about. "Your friend is a unique case, Harry. She's not transforming, but her heart is no longer there." At Harry's worried look, she smiled reassuringly. "Ginny's not going to die, Harry. There's even a good chance she'll wake up... but without the heart, she might not be the person you remember."
But Harry barely heard her, sagging into his seat, relieved. After a moment, he looked up again. "So... what's been happening?" he asked softly, dreading the answer.
Zelda exchanged a glance with Washu, and leaned forward. "A short while ago, the Heartless began appearing on different worlds, attacking the people and stealing their hearts, before completely plunging that world into Darkness. I was able to use my power to keep my realm from suffering the same fate.
"Refugees from the fallen worlds have been pouring into this world, and we've even tried sending a ship into the Void, in an attempt to rescue more survivors. You and Ginny are lucky... from your looks, you seemed to have been in the chaos between worlds for a long while."
Somehow, Harry knew that if he had been in there longer, he would have been lost... he almost had been lost anyway.
But now there was something else on his mind... helping rescue survivors, stopping anyone else from suffering Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore's fates...
"I want to go help look for survivors." The Boy-Who-Lived stated, looking up, his eyes shining with determination.
Zelda smiled. "Somehow, I thought you'd say that. We've been attempting to repair a ship to take into the Void, but so far, its repairs have been going slow. Hyrule is not exactly designed to cater to such technology." Harry's face fell, but she continued, "But as soon as we do, I promise that I will send you and a team of other warriors to help protect other worlds."
The Keybearer blinked, uncomprehending. "What do you mean? How can I protect the worlds?"
"In a few sources, it states that the Keyblade also has the ability to lock the heart of individual worlds, protecting them from destruction by the Heartless." The Queen responded.
Harry's heart lifted. He could save people... "How long until the ship is repaired?" he asked hurriedly.
Zelda sighed, leaning into her chair. "As I stated before, Hyrule has never had a ship like this before, and therefore, it will take time to repair, as it was badly damaged in the void. From Washu's estimates, at least two months before its operational."
Two months! He couldn't wait that long...
As if she knew (and she probably did) what he was thinking, the Queen said gently, "Harry, we also need the time to prepare you for this journey. Ritz," she said, motioning towards the taciturn girl, "Will be one of your instructors. You will need to be exceptionally skilled with the Keyblade to survive the coming days."
Harry's mouth went dry, and he wondered exactly how brutal training under the pink haired girl would be.
"But this is all a lot to take in... we will talk more tomorrow. Eat, and then we shall retire to our rooms." And with that, Zelda motioned towards the door, where four cooks brought in steaming hot meals.
His stomach rumbled, and the Boy-Who-Lived flushed slightly as the women laughed.
Cobalt eyes tracked the progress of the Keybearer from a balcony, watching with intense interest, far beyond average curiosity.
So engrossed in the progress of this would-be-savior was Queen Zelda that she almost failed to sense the demon aura behind her.
"Hello Kurama." She said, her eyes still riveted to the make-shift training of the Keybearer.
The redhead didn't react to the fact that Zelda hadn't even looked at him. His emerald eyes too, were watching the Keybearer with rapt fascination.
"He's quick... not too strong, but strength isn't everything. There's real talent for a blade in him, even if he didn't have the Keyblade." The Queen mused, watching as the Keyblade sent sparks up into the air as it struck the wall, "And he seems to shine with some inner light... something we can only begin to understand."
"True. Though he seems plagued by guilt and doubt... that may be a problem." Kurama critqued, watching the swing of the Keyblade as it was blocked by Ritz's rapier. "If he begins to lose hope for himself, he may fall. His heart is both a strength and weakness... his conscience may wear on his skill."
"It can also sharpen a warrior's skill and make his resolve stronger." Zelda countered, watching as Ritz nearly took Harry's head off.
"We will have to see then." The fox demon murmured, and the two fell silent for a moment.
"Do you think he can save the worlds?" the demon asked curiously. From what he had seen, the Queen was exceptionally perceptive.
For the first time since Kurama had stepped onto the balcony, Queen Zelda turned back to him, her eyes shining with sadness. "I've seen his kind before... stupidly courageous, the lot of them. They always pull through."
"You still hold hope." The demon said, unsurprised.
Nodding, the blonde whispered, "Hope is what keeps us alive... hope might be the only thing that will see us through this war."
Kurama's eyes flickered towards a shadowy blur rapidly moving towards Harry. With an amused smile, he said, "It appears my colleague wishes to have a chat with the Keybearer."
Harry Potter slumped against the wall, breathing heavily, letting sweat soak his shirt. Ritz had been a merciless instructor who preferred 'demonstrations' to simple lectures. Abruptly, a nagging, intruding feeling began to emerge at the back of his mind.
He sucked in a breath as he realized that it was the tell-tale feel of Legilimency. Forcing up his Occulemens defenses, which he had practiced at the Dursley's, he felt the intruder stop in surprise, and withdraw.
"Well. You have some skill, it seems, boy." A dry, arrogant voice noted. It reminded him of Severus Snape, his Potions Professor.
The Keyblade flashed into his hand, and he spun around, trying to find the voice. "Who's there!" he shouted angrily.
"Not too perceptive, though." Said the voice, right in front of him.
A strangled yelp escaped Harry's lips as he leapt backwards, Keyblade raised.
The figure in front of him was short, probably barely at or topping five feet. His shock of blue-silver hair made him a bit taller, the spikes increasing his height by a few inches. Crimson eyes gauged him coldly, burning with an inner fire. The man (he was far too dangerous looking to be a boy) was dressed in a black cloak that completely covered his body, reaching down to his black pants. His diminutive height, however, was countered by the sword at his back.
"Now, now, Hiei, don't scare him like that." Kurama's voice chided, as the redhead leapt down from a balcony. Turning towards the Boy-Who-Lived, he smiled apologetically. "My apologies... Hiei can be... unfriendly."
That was an understatement, Harry thought. The man practically radiated danger.
"Now, a more formal introduction. This is my friend," (somehow, Harry thought friend was probably a stretch), "Hiei, a demon like myself. Hiei, this is Harry Potter, the Keybearer."
Hiei didn't even blink or speak, instead scoffing at Kurama, and turning his back on Harry. "The boy is already exhausted by that girl... and his mental defenses are mediocre at best. We're going to need a lot of work." The demon said to Kurama, before disappearing.
As Harry gasped, Kurama looked back at him apologetically. "As I said before, he's a tad... blunt."
Instead of answering, the Boy-Who-Lived wondered just how many odd people made it to this castle, and realized that it was going to be an interesting two months, to say the least.
In the deep silence of the midnight hour, a figure appeared outside of Harry's bedroom. Swathed in black clothing that seemed like shadow, Lord Voldemort's blood red eyes twinkled darkly as he reached for the doorknob.
"Leave this place."
The Dark Lord turned, a challenging smirk on his bone white face. "Ah yes, the valiant queen. You know you cannot stop me, girl." He hissed, unmoving save for the slight advance of his face.
Queen Zelda merely glared back, defiance in her cobalt eyes. "This is my realm, and I say you shall not harm them. They are under my protection." She replied calmly, but her tone was like tempered steel.
Lord Voldemort smirked wider, and the shadows arose around them. "Your power pales against the full might of the Dark. You are nothing, girl. Just a frightened girl trying to act brave until her knight arrives."
Zelda didn't flinch or shrink from the dark, raising her arm in a motion to shield herself, with her clenched fist blocking her view. Her bare hand glowed with that same symbol which was inlaid on her crown; a triangle, formed out of three smaller ones. One of the small triangles, the topmost, glowed intensely.
"I am not afraid of you, or the Dark. Go back to the abyss where you were spawned, demon." The Queen hissed, and the luminous triangle shone on.
"You think to banish me!" the Lord of the Dark whispered incredulously, but he shrunk back from the light nonetheless.
"I am the keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom, Guardian of this land and this throne, Queen of Destiny. My power is divine, the power of Naryu, Goddess of Wisdom. Now, begone!" Zelda snarled, and the glow became blinding.
"This isn't over, girl." Lord Voldemort whispered dangerously. "The Darkness can never be banished, never be beaten back forever."
And with that, he was gone, a midnight shadow banished in the dawn.
Zelda sagged against the wall, leaning heavily against it. Sweat poured down her brow, and her hand went limp to her side.
"That was too close." The Queen breathed softly, wiping her forehead off with the back of her hand. "Too close indeed..."
Author's Notes
This was by far the longest chapter I've written so far... and it seems that the following chapters will only increase in length. The story is finally picking up, and the cast coming together. As you can see, Zelda will have a significant role in this story, and I'm enjoying writing her character.
Don't be discouraged if most of the characters are unfamiliar... most are minor roles, and the larger ones you'll come to know soon enough. Harry's begun his training, and you'll see more of it next chapter, plus a meeting between Robin, Inuyasha, and Harry.
Lastly, please join my Yahoo group. Updates come in faster there, and eventually we might even get around to discussing this story! So please, please join. Link in profile.