p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Everything was quiet. Calm. Like waking from a deep sleep./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It took long moments to remember what had happened. When he cracked his eyelids open—and it burned like hell—it came thundering back in a wave of noise and pain./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Zora's Domain had exploded. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark forced his head to turn to the side, but couldn't see anything except dust and stone. His ears throbbed. He lifted himself into a sitting position with a groan that was more felt than heard. In the corner of his vision there was a lump of colour—Dagan./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The young man was awake, staring at Dark in terror and confusion. Feebly, he tried to lift his hands, but they shook violently. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark frowned, then raised his own hands, brow knotted in concentration. emDanger/em, he signed, trying to remember what emexplosion/em was. He settled for making a closed fist and then flinging it open several times. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He couldn't tell if Dagan understood the message. Crawling to Dagan's side, he grabbed the kid's collar and hauled him away from the pile of debris he was under. Dark propped him into a sitting position and peered into his eyes, checking to see he was alert and unhurt. Dagan started smacking at his hands, trying to look past him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Stay here," Dark said, loudly. Then repeated himself in sign language. "I'm going to check on the others."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"A shrill scream pierced his pulsing eardrums, rebounding off the smooth cavern walls. There was no time to analyze it; Dark got unsteadily to his feet and started sifting through the haze, kicking aside rubble./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Someone reached out of the dimness and grabbed his arm. He jerked, then relaxed when he saw Zelda's dirt-smudged face. Blood leaked from her ears in thin streams, and there was a slice on her temple. He couldn't see any other injuries, but he couldn't be sure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He guided her back to where Dagan was sitting, and then went back to find the others. Some of the dust was finally settling in the aftermath, but sound was still murky and muffled. He thought he could still catch the sound of screaming, but it could be a result of the ringing in his hear, which sometimes rose to a painful, screeching pitch./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Silas and Lymira had grouped together with the two Hylian guards, on one side of the balcony that had cracked in two. Link and one of the Zora guards were knelt beside the second guard, who'd been pinned under a chunk of the wall that'd ripped free. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The guard had likely broken his ribs, but he managed to stand and lean on his fellow. Link turned and spotted, a look of relief crossing his face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"His brother took a step towards him, and then a shadow moved behind him, crawling its way over the rail of the destroyed balcony, sinking its claws into Link's shoulder and snatching him backwards off the platform./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""No!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark lunged, but the creature was too fast, jumping off the balcony with its prisoner, cluttering quick as a spider. Leaning over the rail, he spotted it and a struggling Link, clinging to the wall. His heart dropped into his stomach when the gaunt, pure-black monster turned its face up towards him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He'd seen these creatures before: shadow beasts. Huge and grotesque, it stared at him with an eyeless face before throwing back its oversized head and letting out a howl Dark heard loud and clear. Clutching his head, he pulled away from the edge as the pain throbbed inside his skull. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"An arm clamped around his neck like a vise, hauling him backwards. He instinctively resisted until he saw the gnarled claws of a second shadow beast scrape the floor in front of his boots, narrowly missing him. Whoever grabbed him pulled Dark to his feet and shoved him towards the exit./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Move!" Silas bellowed from behind him. An order that was apparently heard by the rest of the group, who raced ahead of Dark./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"They moved as quickly as they were able. The Hylian guards led the way, with Lymira supporting both Dagan and Zelda down the passage. The injured zora guard hobbled along despite his injury, with Dark and Silas bringing up the rear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"On their heels, the shadow beast screeched, its thudding footsteps reaching them as vibrations in their soles. The two Hylian guards forced open the first door they spotted, pushing and shoving their charges inside while seizing their swords with practiced hands./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Their eyes went comically large when they spotted the nightmare beast chasing Dark and Silas. Without a word the first guard thrust a dagger into Dark's hands, who quickly passed it to Silas. Lymira shoved her way back out of the door, slamming it behind her. From under her skirt she plucked a deadly looking knife. He decided not to ask her where she'd kept it. The look on her face was murderous./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Seeing five opponents now at the ready, the shadow beast slowed and hovered in front of them, waiting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The two guards, the only ones with swords, charged. With a grunt, the shadow beast knocked them both aside like pesky flies. Stunned, they hit the wall and struggled to get back to their feet. Taking advantage, the beast pounced, pinning them to the ground with one massive hand each./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lymira moved like a flash of quicksilver, leaping onto the beast's turned back, plunging her knife into its neck. It screamed, flinging her off as it thrashed in pain. Dark, who had taken the first precious moments to summon a spell of Din's Fire, now held a burning missile in his palm, and launched it at the monster. It hit the beast in the chest, but fizzled harmlessly to embers in seconds. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The creature hissed and lunged at Dark, who ducked out of the way. Silas drove his borrow dagger into the thing's side, causing it to stagger. One of the guards slammed his sword into its back, driving it all the way through the creature's body. Howling in agony, it collapsed to all fours, crawling away like a wounded animal. It finally dropped, dead, and eventually dissolved back into the shadows it was born from./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What the hell was that!?" Silas asked, his shock mirrored by the guards'./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""A shadow beast," Lymira answered, catching Dark's gaze. They held the same foreboding suspicions. "Someone sent them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"His hearing was slowly returning, though Lymira's voice was still somewhat muffled. Apparently, the beast's caterwauling had broken through the temporary deafness. He glanced down at his empty hand. Like Lymira, he'd faced the shadow beasts' before—but Din's Fire hadn't worked this time. Why?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""There might be more on the way," Silas said. "We need to find a way out of here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Can you warp?" one of the guards asked Dark. "We need to ensure her highness' safety, and I'm not sure she'll be able to use magic now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark feared it wouldn't work even as he summoned a Farore's Wind spell, only to watch it swirl ineffectually in the air, a glowing green tornado, before vanishing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Apparently not," he said, grimacing. The magic was there; he could feel it in his veins, pulsing and ready to be called. "Whoever is behind this has worked a powerful blocking spell," he guessed. "We'll have to work with what we have."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Considering they had only two swords and a couple of daggers, it wasn't much. Unless Lymira was concealing more weapons under her dress, which was likely. A thought occurred to Dark: that Link may have been unarmed. He was seldom without his sword at least, but he might have left it off for Ruto's wedding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm going to go back to our rooms," he announced. "Our weapons should still be there. I'll see if I can scout an exit too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We're coming with you," Lymira said immediately. Silas nodded his agreement./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark looked to the guards. "You two guard her highness. Ask the zoras if they know a way out of here. If they do, don't wait for us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He turned and hurried further down the passage, followed closely by Silas and Lymira. When they came to a fork and he detoured away from the guest rooms, Silas made a noise./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Where are you going?!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""To find Link."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Silas' hand on Dark's shoulder stopped him. "Dark, wait."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I know he's a damn hero, but even he can't fight those things with his fists alone," he growled, jerking off his friend's hand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I meant wait because we're not sure what we're getting into. We should be careful."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark blew out an irritated breath. "Fine. Let's go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He, rather graciously, he thought, allowed Silas to lead the way to the lowest level and the main chamber. Silas flung an arm backwards before they could enter, pushing them against the wall. He made a sharp shushing noise, then very slowly leaned out to get a better look./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""How bad?" Lymira asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Bad."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark pushed aside Silas' arm and took a quick look for himself. The torches in the main cavern had been extinguished by the explosion, shrouding the space. The gaping hole in the wall below their balcony confirmed the attack had happened directly below them, admitting the shadowy intruders. Shadow beasts waited on the floating platforms, pacing, or clung to the rock walls, claws extended. They ignored the water, now empty of zora. Had the guests all escaped? Or been captured?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Most concerning, though, was the scene in the central platform. Link was held in a choking grip by the largest shadow beast, part of a loose circle of the creatures all crouched obediently at the feet of a hooded man. A shiver of trepidation stole down Dark's spine./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You may as well come out," the cloaked man called. "I've grown tired of waiting."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Despite Silas' warning look, Dark stepped out into main chamber, stopping at the water's edge. The hooded man lifted his head, staring at him across the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Don't leave me in suspense," Dark said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He lifted the hood, revealing the face Dark expected and feared. The sorcerer's twisted grin was just as he remembered, his hawkish features even more gaunt./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We meet again," Alatar said, his whispery voice managing to slither into Dark's damaged ears./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"A gasp of outrage behind him alerted him that Lymira hadn't stayed put./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You!" she hissed, knife up and at the ready. "I'll kill you where you stand!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Alatar's gaze raked over her in mild interest. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You look good for a dead man," Dark said, trying to distract him. "You're sturdier than you look."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Alatar's lip curled. "Appearances can be deceiving, boy. And it takes more than that pathetic piece of Power you have to slay me. Your arrogance offends me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark glanced at Link, who appeared unhurt but plenty pissed. "Is this the part where I bargain for my brother's life?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Alatar didn't spare Link a glance. "No. I've no intention of letting either of you live," he said, casually, uncaring. "I've come for what's mine. And how fortunate everything I need is now in the same place." His black eyes gleamed. "Now that you've finally slithered out of whatever hole you were hiding in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"So the sorcerer had been hunting him all this time. Fantastic. Dark was beginning to wonder why he'd returned to Hyrule in the first place. Every time he did, something terrible happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Where is her highness?" Alatar asked now. "Doesn't she care about the life of her love?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""She's busy," Dark retorted. "You'll have to deal with us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Alatar grimaced in distaste. "I think not." With a harshly spoken command, he set the shadow beasts loose. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"A dozen of them scaled the walls, scuttling towards Dark and Lymira. The ones on the platform stayed put, reluctant to touch the water. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lymira ran for the pool's edge, leaping off it at the last step. She launched herself at one of the oversize stalagmites dotting the pool, using it to hop from rock to rock so she could reach the platform./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Damn it!" he cursed, eyeing the approaching beasts. Without magic, there was little he could do to combat them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Dark!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Silas rushed into the cavern, his arms laden with gleaming silver, zora-crafted bows. "I found the armory," he said breathlessly. A shadow beast dropped in front of them, letting loose an ear-splitting howl. "Just in time, I see!" Silas yelled over the noise./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark grabbed a bow and quiver and aimed for the beast. His first shot hit it right in the chest, dropping it to the ground. Each taking a side, he and Silas started picking off the wall-climbers, watching their dark bodies fall into the water below./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"In the middle of the cavern, Alatar watched Lymira's approach with mild disinterest, unconcerned by her rampage until she ducked under a swipe from one of his shadow beasts, sliding beneath the creature's belly to slice it open for good measure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Flipping to her feet, she charged, bloody knife in hand. When she deftly took down two more shadow creatures, Alatar's rage was evident./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Leaping off a fallen shadow beast, she flung her dagger at the sorcerer's head. He stopped it an invisible barrier, summoned just in time. But a second projectile slashed a deep furrow in his neck—a shard of stone Lymira had concealed. But the wound didn't bleed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"She landed in front of him, retrieving the knife from midair and readying another strike./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Before she could, her eyes landed on the still unbleeding wound. Alatar touched it carefully, fingers exploring the torn flesh, now a greyish colour, disbelief painted on his features. Then berserk fury replaced it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You'll pay for that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The sorcerer's eyes blazed with cold silver light. Then he struck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lymira crashed into the pool. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark and Silas both screamed her name, but she did not resurface. Silas dropped his silver bow and dove into the pool, kicking hard to reach the bottom. Dark reloaded and aimed his weapon at Alatar./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What in Din's name?..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The sorcerer was unrecognizable. Patches of grey and black flesh had grown from the wound across half his furious face. Teeth bared, revealing unnatural fangs to match the glowing eyes. Alatar heaved with every breath, as if the wrath was pushing to be released./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Enough of this," the monster growled. "Finish it," he commanded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark thought he was speaking to the shadow beasts, until a second person appeared at Alatar's side, melting into existence from nothing, stepping into the light from a doorway of shadows. Dark blinked several times to be sure he'd seen what he thought he had./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Another Shadow dweller./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The second sorcerer, also wearing a hood to cover his face, lifted his arms. Light erupted beneath Dark's feet. A circle of magical energy surrounded him, the light rising to envelop him. Without warning, he was pulled through the portal./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It was like being pulled underwater, disorienting and breath-stealing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"When he surfaced, Zora's Domain was gone. In its place was nothingness. A room with no walls or ceiling. He stood on a mirror of ebony, stretching forever in every direction. Torchlight reflected off its flawless surface, but no torches could be seen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Where are we?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark turned to the sound of Link's voice. "The Shadow Realm," he answered, thinking there couldn't be any doubt./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I know," Link said, sounding mildly annoyed. "I'll be careful."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Frowning, he looked at Link, then did a double take. Link walked right past him without seeing him, wearing the familiar green tunic and long cap. On his back, a Hylian shield gleamed, the hilt of the mystical Master Sword behind it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Link stopped and scanned their surroundings. He didn't even seem aware of Dark's presence as he talked about a place far different from the one Dark could see. The truth dawned on him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He was talking to someone Dark couldn't see. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hey!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lymira's laughter carried over to him. Nearby, Lymira danced around an invisible opponent, the ghostly torchlight bouncing off her sword. Her reflection in the black mirror matched her movements. And across from her, the reflection of her sparring partner could be seen, plain as day./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark stared in disbelief at the image, reflecting something that didn't exist. A young girl, dressed identically to Lymira in lightweight armour, smiling and laughing as they sparred. Dark jerked back to Link, looking down to see what was reflected there./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"There was Link, the Master Sword steady in his hands. And hovering over his shoulder was a fairy, glowing pale blue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lifting his head, he could see Silas, closer to Lymira, also caught up in a conversation with a memory, unaware of anyone else's presence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"An illusion. Somehow, the Shadow-using sorcerer had trapped them in this mirror realm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Took you long enough to catch on."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark groaned. "Why?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Kai's—his—mocking laughter grated on his ears. "Miss me?" his Shadow asked, strolling into view. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It had been a while since he'd made an unwelcome appearance, but he was just the same. A mirror image of Dark, but an imitation. His pallor was greyish, his eyes like glowing coals in a smirking face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark sighed. "Let me guess: the illusion doesn't work on us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Kai shrugged. "No. At least not this type of it. Doesn't mean you're not stuck here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Who is he? The other guy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Dunno," Kai replied, trying Dark's patience. "Hey, I know what you know. I'm you, remember?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So let's put our heads together and find a way out of here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Kai snickered at the joke. "Well, I figure we use the same brand against him. Should work, right?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm not using emthat/em magic."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You're the only one who can."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Not willingly," Dark grumbled. "And the few times I have used it, it went horribly wrong."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Then I guess we're stuck here forever. It's not so bad. I like the décor. Has a nice warm, homey feel."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark rolled his eyes. "Stop being dramatic."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Tell yourself."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You're sure it will break the illusion?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Kai raised an eyebrow. "You have any better ideas? Since Alatar doesn't know you can wield this kind of magic, they won't see it coming."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""If it goes wrong, I'm blaming you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You always do," Kai sneered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"With a shake of his head, Dark reached for his magic. As before, it was there beneath the surface, ready to be directed. Unlike the Din's Fire spell, the type of magic he summoned now was chaotic. Wild. He shaped and focused it with steady hands, fighting to keep it contained where he wanted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"In his palms it manifested, streaks of fiery lightning, trapped inside a smoky prison of shadow. It grew, becoming stronger and stronger, pushing against his fingers. Trying to escape./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark slammed his hands against the black mirror's surface. It cracked, the effect rippling out from the epicentre, spiderwebbing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Another," Kai said, though Dark was already focusing another attack./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"This time, he let it grow a little more, testing the limits of what he could hold. Just as it threatened to break free, he let it fly. The magic hit the mirror—and it shattered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Light bloomed from under his feet, and Dark smiled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The four of them surfaced in the water of Zora's Domain, spluttering and understandably disoriented. Shaking wet hair out of his eyes, Dark took a moment to appreciate Alatar's slack-jawed shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Impossible," he declared, his eyes, back to black, burning to light up again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The hooded figure next to him actually took a step back in surprise. "How—?" he asked, cutting himself off. "We should leave, master," he said to Alatar, his voice betraying his fear. It sounded…youthful. Was Alatar training some kind of apprentice?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Recovering, Alatar turned to the other magic user. "Come," he said curtly. Using his own magic, he slashed a doorway into the Shadow Realm, practically shoving the hooded apprentice through it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark kicked hard and swam for the floating platform. His fingers gripped the edge and he hauled himself out of the water, scrambling to reach the doorway before it closed. Alatar slipped through without a backward glance, but the portal remained open./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark grabbed for it, determined to get through. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Then reality was ripped away again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He fell on his face with a frustrated groan. "What now!?" he demanded, pushing to his feet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"When he straightened, he was face to face with his brother. Only this time, it wasn't Link./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Cool, pale eyes appraised him, one snow-white eyebrow lifting. "Sorry for interrupting," Fierce told him. "But that was a suicide mission."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark crossed his arms. "You'd think you were some all-knowing asshole, or something," he muttered. "What do you want?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""To talk," Fierce said, ignoring the insult. "It's important."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Scoffing, he replied, "It always is with you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Fierce's mouth twitched. "Well, you've been ignoring my attempts to contact you for a while."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Take a hint."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Fierce didn't frown, but the air around them dropped a few degrees. "This is bigger than our petty squabbles."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Petty," Dark repeated with a disbelieving shake of his head. "Sure, so you resorted to godly abduction?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'll meet the both of you in the Lost Woods. In the Ancient Grove."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"With that parting order, the temporary reality dissolved, blinding Dark with light./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Am I supposed to know where that is!?" Dark called, knowing he wouldn't get an answer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"When he could see again, three concerned faces peered back at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What happened?" Silas asked, helping him to sit up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark stole a look at Link, then said, "I tried to follow Alatar and his friend. Apparently, that was a bad idea."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""They've escaped," Lym said, scowling at the spot they'd disappeared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""They'll be time for all this later," Link said. "We need leave. Now. Where are the others?" This he directed to Dark./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""They're safe," he assured him. "But you're right, we need to leave."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"As the group made their way back to the room where Zelda and the others were stowed away, Dark considered Fierce's latest ominous message. If the deity was getting himself involved in this mess, then the situation was serious. An understatement, considering Alatar, the sorcerer who had captured, tortured and tormented Dark was still alive./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The premonition of danger Dark had carried since leaving Ordon pricked at him again. He was beginning to think all these strange events were connected. They eerily resembled the events leading to Ganondorf's rise to power./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Even worse than the sense of impending danger was a sensation that refused to leave his mind. That he was the cause of all this somehow. That he was to blame./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He really shouldn't have returned to Hyrule./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It took long moments to remember what had happened. When he cracked his eyelids open—and it burned like hell—it came thundering back in a wave of noise and pain./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Zora's Domain had exploded. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark forced his head to turn to the side, but couldn't see anything except dust and stone. His ears throbbed. He lifted himself into a sitting position with a groan that was more felt than heard. In the corner of his vision there was a lump of colour—Dagan./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The young man was awake, staring at Dark in terror and confusion. Feebly, he tried to lift his hands, but they shook violently. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark frowned, then raised his own hands, brow knotted in concentration. emDanger/em, he signed, trying to remember what emexplosion/em was. He settled for making a closed fist and then flinging it open several times. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He couldn't tell if Dagan understood the message. Crawling to Dagan's side, he grabbed the kid's collar and hauled him away from the pile of debris he was under. Dark propped him into a sitting position and peered into his eyes, checking to see he was alert and unhurt. Dagan started smacking at his hands, trying to look past him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Stay here," Dark said, loudly. Then repeated himself in sign language. "I'm going to check on the others."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"A shrill scream pierced his pulsing eardrums, rebounding off the smooth cavern walls. There was no time to analyze it; Dark got unsteadily to his feet and started sifting through the haze, kicking aside rubble./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Someone reached out of the dimness and grabbed his arm. He jerked, then relaxed when he saw Zelda's dirt-smudged face. Blood leaked from her ears in thin streams, and there was a slice on her temple. He couldn't see any other injuries, but he couldn't be sure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He guided her back to where Dagan was sitting, and then went back to find the others. Some of the dust was finally settling in the aftermath, but sound was still murky and muffled. He thought he could still catch the sound of screaming, but it could be a result of the ringing in his hear, which sometimes rose to a painful, screeching pitch./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Silas and Lymira had grouped together with the two Hylian guards, on one side of the balcony that had cracked in two. Link and one of the Zora guards were knelt beside the second guard, who'd been pinned under a chunk of the wall that'd ripped free. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The guard had likely broken his ribs, but he managed to stand and lean on his fellow. Link turned and spotted, a look of relief crossing his face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"His brother took a step towards him, and then a shadow moved behind him, crawling its way over the rail of the destroyed balcony, sinking its claws into Link's shoulder and snatching him backwards off the platform./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""No!" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark lunged, but the creature was too fast, jumping off the balcony with its prisoner, cluttering quick as a spider. Leaning over the rail, he spotted it and a struggling Link, clinging to the wall. His heart dropped into his stomach when the gaunt, pure-black monster turned its face up towards him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He'd seen these creatures before: shadow beasts. Huge and grotesque, it stared at him with an eyeless face before throwing back its oversized head and letting out a howl Dark heard loud and clear. Clutching his head, he pulled away from the edge as the pain throbbed inside his skull. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"An arm clamped around his neck like a vise, hauling him backwards. He instinctively resisted until he saw the gnarled claws of a second shadow beast scrape the floor in front of his boots, narrowly missing him. Whoever grabbed him pulled Dark to his feet and shoved him towards the exit./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Move!" Silas bellowed from behind him. An order that was apparently heard by the rest of the group, who raced ahead of Dark./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"They moved as quickly as they were able. The Hylian guards led the way, with Lymira supporting both Dagan and Zelda down the passage. The injured zora guard hobbled along despite his injury, with Dark and Silas bringing up the rear./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"On their heels, the shadow beast screeched, its thudding footsteps reaching them as vibrations in their soles. The two Hylian guards forced open the first door they spotted, pushing and shoving their charges inside while seizing their swords with practiced hands./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Their eyes went comically large when they spotted the nightmare beast chasing Dark and Silas. Without a word the first guard thrust a dagger into Dark's hands, who quickly passed it to Silas. Lymira shoved her way back out of the door, slamming it behind her. From under her skirt she plucked a deadly looking knife. He decided not to ask her where she'd kept it. The look on her face was murderous./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Seeing five opponents now at the ready, the shadow beast slowed and hovered in front of them, waiting./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The two guards, the only ones with swords, charged. With a grunt, the shadow beast knocked them both aside like pesky flies. Stunned, they hit the wall and struggled to get back to their feet. Taking advantage, the beast pounced, pinning them to the ground with one massive hand each./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lymira moved like a flash of quicksilver, leaping onto the beast's turned back, plunging her knife into its neck. It screamed, flinging her off as it thrashed in pain. Dark, who had taken the first precious moments to summon a spell of Din's Fire, now held a burning missile in his palm, and launched it at the monster. It hit the beast in the chest, but fizzled harmlessly to embers in seconds. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The creature hissed and lunged at Dark, who ducked out of the way. Silas drove his borrow dagger into the thing's side, causing it to stagger. One of the guards slammed his sword into its back, driving it all the way through the creature's body. Howling in agony, it collapsed to all fours, crawling away like a wounded animal. It finally dropped, dead, and eventually dissolved back into the shadows it was born from./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What the hell was that!?" Silas asked, his shock mirrored by the guards'./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""A shadow beast," Lymira answered, catching Dark's gaze. They held the same foreboding suspicions. "Someone sent them."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"His hearing was slowly returning, though Lymira's voice was still somewhat muffled. Apparently, the beast's caterwauling had broken through the temporary deafness. He glanced down at his empty hand. Like Lymira, he'd faced the shadow beasts' before—but Din's Fire hadn't worked this time. Why?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""There might be more on the way," Silas said. "We need to find a way out of here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Can you warp?" one of the guards asked Dark. "We need to ensure her highness' safety, and I'm not sure she'll be able to use magic now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark feared it wouldn't work even as he summoned a Farore's Wind spell, only to watch it swirl ineffectually in the air, a glowing green tornado, before vanishing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Apparently not," he said, grimacing. The magic was there; he could feel it in his veins, pulsing and ready to be called. "Whoever is behind this has worked a powerful blocking spell," he guessed. "We'll have to work with what we have."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Considering they had only two swords and a couple of daggers, it wasn't much. Unless Lymira was concealing more weapons under her dress, which was likely. A thought occurred to Dark: that Link may have been unarmed. He was seldom without his sword at least, but he might have left it off for Ruto's wedding./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm going to go back to our rooms," he announced. "Our weapons should still be there. I'll see if I can scout an exit too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We're coming with you," Lymira said immediately. Silas nodded his agreement./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark looked to the guards. "You two guard her highness. Ask the zoras if they know a way out of here. If they do, don't wait for us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He turned and hurried further down the passage, followed closely by Silas and Lymira. When they came to a fork and he detoured away from the guest rooms, Silas made a noise./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Where are you going?!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""To find Link."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Silas' hand on Dark's shoulder stopped him. "Dark, wait."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I know he's a damn hero, but even he can't fight those things with his fists alone," he growled, jerking off his friend's hand./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I meant wait because we're not sure what we're getting into. We should be careful."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark blew out an irritated breath. "Fine. Let's go."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He, rather graciously, he thought, allowed Silas to lead the way to the lowest level and the main chamber. Silas flung an arm backwards before they could enter, pushing them against the wall. He made a sharp shushing noise, then very slowly leaned out to get a better look./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""How bad?" Lymira asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Bad."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark pushed aside Silas' arm and took a quick look for himself. The torches in the main cavern had been extinguished by the explosion, shrouding the space. The gaping hole in the wall below their balcony confirmed the attack had happened directly below them, admitting the shadowy intruders. Shadow beasts waited on the floating platforms, pacing, or clung to the rock walls, claws extended. They ignored the water, now empty of zora. Had the guests all escaped? Or been captured?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Most concerning, though, was the scene in the central platform. Link was held in a choking grip by the largest shadow beast, part of a loose circle of the creatures all crouched obediently at the feet of a hooded man. A shiver of trepidation stole down Dark's spine./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You may as well come out," the cloaked man called. "I've grown tired of waiting."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Despite Silas' warning look, Dark stepped out into main chamber, stopping at the water's edge. The hooded man lifted his head, staring at him across the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Don't leave me in suspense," Dark said./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He lifted the hood, revealing the face Dark expected and feared. The sorcerer's twisted grin was just as he remembered, his hawkish features even more gaunt./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""We meet again," Alatar said, his whispery voice managing to slither into Dark's damaged ears./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"A gasp of outrage behind him alerted him that Lymira hadn't stayed put./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You!" she hissed, knife up and at the ready. "I'll kill you where you stand!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Alatar's gaze raked over her in mild interest. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You look good for a dead man," Dark said, trying to distract him. "You're sturdier than you look."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Alatar's lip curled. "Appearances can be deceiving, boy. And it takes more than that pathetic piece of Power you have to slay me. Your arrogance offends me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark glanced at Link, who appeared unhurt but plenty pissed. "Is this the part where I bargain for my brother's life?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Alatar didn't spare Link a glance. "No. I've no intention of letting either of you live," he said, casually, uncaring. "I've come for what's mine. And how fortunate everything I need is now in the same place." His black eyes gleamed. "Now that you've finally slithered out of whatever hole you were hiding in."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"So the sorcerer had been hunting him all this time. Fantastic. Dark was beginning to wonder why he'd returned to Hyrule in the first place. Every time he did, something terrible happened./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Where is her highness?" Alatar asked now. "Doesn't she care about the life of her love?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""She's busy," Dark retorted. "You'll have to deal with us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Alatar grimaced in distaste. "I think not." With a harshly spoken command, he set the shadow beasts loose. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"A dozen of them scaled the walls, scuttling towards Dark and Lymira. The ones on the platform stayed put, reluctant to touch the water. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lymira ran for the pool's edge, leaping off it at the last step. She launched herself at one of the oversize stalagmites dotting the pool, using it to hop from rock to rock so she could reach the platform./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Damn it!" he cursed, eyeing the approaching beasts. Without magic, there was little he could do to combat them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Dark!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Silas rushed into the cavern, his arms laden with gleaming silver, zora-crafted bows. "I found the armory," he said breathlessly. A shadow beast dropped in front of them, letting loose an ear-splitting howl. "Just in time, I see!" Silas yelled over the noise./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark grabbed a bow and quiver and aimed for the beast. His first shot hit it right in the chest, dropping it to the ground. Each taking a side, he and Silas started picking off the wall-climbers, watching their dark bodies fall into the water below./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"In the middle of the cavern, Alatar watched Lymira's approach with mild disinterest, unconcerned by her rampage until she ducked under a swipe from one of his shadow beasts, sliding beneath the creature's belly to slice it open for good measure./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Flipping to her feet, she charged, bloody knife in hand. When she deftly took down two more shadow creatures, Alatar's rage was evident./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Leaping off a fallen shadow beast, she flung her dagger at the sorcerer's head. He stopped it an invisible barrier, summoned just in time. But a second projectile slashed a deep furrow in his neck—a shard of stone Lymira had concealed. But the wound didn't bleed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"She landed in front of him, retrieving the knife from midair and readying another strike./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Before she could, her eyes landed on the still unbleeding wound. Alatar touched it carefully, fingers exploring the torn flesh, now a greyish colour, disbelief painted on his features. Then berserk fury replaced it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You'll pay for that."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The sorcerer's eyes blazed with cold silver light. Then he struck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lymira crashed into the pool. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark and Silas both screamed her name, but she did not resurface. Silas dropped his silver bow and dove into the pool, kicking hard to reach the bottom. Dark reloaded and aimed his weapon at Alatar./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What in Din's name?..."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The sorcerer was unrecognizable. Patches of grey and black flesh had grown from the wound across half his furious face. Teeth bared, revealing unnatural fangs to match the glowing eyes. Alatar heaved with every breath, as if the wrath was pushing to be released./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Enough of this," the monster growled. "Finish it," he commanded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark thought he was speaking to the shadow beasts, until a second person appeared at Alatar's side, melting into existence from nothing, stepping into the light from a doorway of shadows. Dark blinked several times to be sure he'd seen what he thought he had./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Another Shadow dweller./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The second sorcerer, also wearing a hood to cover his face, lifted his arms. Light erupted beneath Dark's feet. A circle of magical energy surrounded him, the light rising to envelop him. Without warning, he was pulled through the portal./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It was like being pulled underwater, disorienting and breath-stealing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"When he surfaced, Zora's Domain was gone. In its place was nothingness. A room with no walls or ceiling. He stood on a mirror of ebony, stretching forever in every direction. Torchlight reflected off its flawless surface, but no torches could be seen./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Where are we?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark turned to the sound of Link's voice. "The Shadow Realm," he answered, thinking there couldn't be any doubt./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I know," Link said, sounding mildly annoyed. "I'll be careful."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Frowning, he looked at Link, then did a double take. Link walked right past him without seeing him, wearing the familiar green tunic and long cap. On his back, a Hylian shield gleamed, the hilt of the mystical Master Sword behind it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Link stopped and scanned their surroundings. He didn't even seem aware of Dark's presence as he talked about a place far different from the one Dark could see. The truth dawned on him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He was talking to someone Dark couldn't see. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Hey!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lymira's laughter carried over to him. Nearby, Lymira danced around an invisible opponent, the ghostly torchlight bouncing off her sword. Her reflection in the black mirror matched her movements. And across from her, the reflection of her sparring partner could be seen, plain as day./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark stared in disbelief at the image, reflecting something that didn't exist. A young girl, dressed identically to Lymira in lightweight armour, smiling and laughing as they sparred. Dark jerked back to Link, looking down to see what was reflected there./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"There was Link, the Master Sword steady in his hands. And hovering over his shoulder was a fairy, glowing pale blue./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Lifting his head, he could see Silas, closer to Lymira, also caught up in a conversation with a memory, unaware of anyone else's presence./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"An illusion. Somehow, the Shadow-using sorcerer had trapped them in this mirror realm./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Took you long enough to catch on."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark groaned. "Why?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Kai's—his—mocking laughter grated on his ears. "Miss me?" his Shadow asked, strolling into view. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"It had been a while since he'd made an unwelcome appearance, but he was just the same. A mirror image of Dark, but an imitation. His pallor was greyish, his eyes like glowing coals in a smirking face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark sighed. "Let me guess: the illusion doesn't work on us."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Kai shrugged. "No. At least not this type of it. Doesn't mean you're not stuck here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Who is he? The other guy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Dunno," Kai replied, trying Dark's patience. "Hey, I know what you know. I'm you, remember?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""So let's put our heads together and find a way out of here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Kai snickered at the joke. "Well, I figure we use the same brand against him. Should work, right?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'm not using emthat/em magic."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You're the only one who can."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Not willingly," Dark grumbled. "And the few times I have used it, it went horribly wrong."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Then I guess we're stuck here forever. It's not so bad. I like the décor. Has a nice warm, homey feel."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark rolled his eyes. "Stop being dramatic."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Tell yourself."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You're sure it will break the illusion?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Kai raised an eyebrow. "You have any better ideas? Since Alatar doesn't know you can wield this kind of magic, they won't see it coming."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""If it goes wrong, I'm blaming you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""You always do," Kai sneered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"With a shake of his head, Dark reached for his magic. As before, it was there beneath the surface, ready to be directed. Unlike the Din's Fire spell, the type of magic he summoned now was chaotic. Wild. He shaped and focused it with steady hands, fighting to keep it contained where he wanted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"In his palms it manifested, streaks of fiery lightning, trapped inside a smoky prison of shadow. It grew, becoming stronger and stronger, pushing against his fingers. Trying to escape./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark slammed his hands against the black mirror's surface. It cracked, the effect rippling out from the epicentre, spiderwebbing./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Another," Kai said, though Dark was already focusing another attack./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"This time, he let it grow a little more, testing the limits of what he could hold. Just as it threatened to break free, he let it fly. The magic hit the mirror—and it shattered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Light bloomed from under his feet, and Dark smiled./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The four of them surfaced in the water of Zora's Domain, spluttering and understandably disoriented. Shaking wet hair out of his eyes, Dark took a moment to appreciate Alatar's slack-jawed shock./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Impossible," he declared, his eyes, back to black, burning to light up again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The hooded figure next to him actually took a step back in surprise. "How—?" he asked, cutting himself off. "We should leave, master," he said to Alatar, his voice betraying his fear. It sounded…youthful. Was Alatar training some kind of apprentice?/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Recovering, Alatar turned to the other magic user. "Come," he said curtly. Using his own magic, he slashed a doorway into the Shadow Realm, practically shoving the hooded apprentice through it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark kicked hard and swam for the floating platform. His fingers gripped the edge and he hauled himself out of the water, scrambling to reach the doorway before it closed. Alatar slipped through without a backward glance, but the portal remained open./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark grabbed for it, determined to get through. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Then reality was ripped away again./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He fell on his face with a frustrated groan. "What now!?" he demanded, pushing to his feet./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"When he straightened, he was face to face with his brother. Only this time, it wasn't Link./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Cool, pale eyes appraised him, one snow-white eyebrow lifting. "Sorry for interrupting," Fierce told him. "But that was a suicide mission."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark crossed his arms. "You'd think you were some all-knowing asshole, or something," he muttered. "What do you want?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""To talk," Fierce said, ignoring the insult. "It's important."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Scoffing, he replied, "It always is with you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Fierce's mouth twitched. "Well, you've been ignoring my attempts to contact you for a while."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Take a hint."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Fierce didn't frown, but the air around them dropped a few degrees. "This is bigger than our petty squabbles."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Petty," Dark repeated with a disbelieving shake of his head. "Sure, so you resorted to godly abduction?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""I'll meet the both of you in the Lost Woods. In the Ancient Grove."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"With that parting order, the temporary reality dissolved, blinding Dark with light./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""Am I supposed to know where that is!?" Dark called, knowing he wouldn't get an answer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"When he could see again, three concerned faces peered back at him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""What happened?" Silas asked, helping him to sit up./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Dark stole a look at Link, then said, "I tried to follow Alatar and his friend. Apparently, that was a bad idea."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""They've escaped," Lym said, scowling at the spot they'd disappeared./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""They'll be time for all this later," Link said. "We need leave. Now. Where are the others?" This he directed to Dark./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;""They're safe," he assured him. "But you're right, we need to leave."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"As the group made their way back to the room where Zelda and the others were stowed away, Dark considered Fierce's latest ominous message. If the deity was getting himself involved in this mess, then the situation was serious. An understatement, considering Alatar, the sorcerer who had captured, tortured and tormented Dark was still alive./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"The premonition of danger Dark had carried since leaving Ordon pricked at him again. He was beginning to think all these strange events were connected. They eerily resembled the events leading to Ganondorf's rise to power./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"Even worse than the sense of impending danger was a sensation that refused to leave his mind. That he was the cause of all this somehow. That he was to blame./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 106%;"span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 106%; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype',serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"He really shouldn't have returned to Hyrule./span/p
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