Imperial Base

A Moblin fearfully entered the housing of Zant, who was looking at a map on a table. The Moblin had sweat pouring from the glands within its forehead, caused by being nervous. He somehow dropped to one knee and bowed his head in shame. "Sir… We were unable to acquire the Pendant of Courage within the Eagle." Zant, his expression hidden by his mask, turned his face so that the left half of his mask was facing the Moblin. "Its signature has not reappeared within the city of Clock Town either."

"The pendant...just disappeared?"

"Not exactly, sir. It was taken." Zant fully turned around, making the big monster quake in place. "Although it is unconfirmed, three people were seen by our scouts leaving the Eagle, two of them a young boy and girl-" Zant whipped out his twin blades, and while the Moblin feared for its life, watched as the masked man unleashed a barrage on the table, hacking the map into shreds and the table to splinters. Once he was done with his little tirade, Zant relinquished his blades, took a very audible breath, and partially turned his head.

"Anything more, beast?"

The Moblin tried to speak, but his fear overwhelmed his will to speak. Once he put aside his fear, the Moblin continued, "They were accompanied by a second male-" The Moblin found himself floating in the air, paralyzed and choking. Zant slowly marched over to the Moblin, adding pressure to the invisible hand around the Moblin's neck.

"What man?"

Within the Lair

His temper flaring, Zant pushed aside the door leading to the chamber Horsehead and Ghirahim were waiting. The former paced on his hooves, clearly impatient with the wait on Zant, while Ghirahim looked down on the skull floor, humming his favorite tune to himself. As Zant entered, both ceased their activities and looked at the man. Horsehead was first to speak. "You're late."

Zant only grunted and turned to Ghirahim. "Let's get this started." Ghirahim nodded and chanted a quick spell before lining up between Zant and Horsehead. All three kneeled as a male apparition appeared before them. Though most of it was white, a singular red eye looked down upon the trio, as the beholder slumped on an elaborate throne.

"Your Majesty."

"...Word of an attack on Ordon has reached my ears. Did you indeed erase another city from my map?"

Zant nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty, it is no more, and agents of Resistance was there to see it. I expect their presence very soon, and I will crush them once and for all. I also found a Sheikah, the Sage of Shadow, living there and removed the her from this world. The Zora Sage living in Lake Hylia has also parted to the afterlife. "

"Impa and Ruto? Very well. What about the Pendants of Virtue? Have you found them?"

Zant and Horsehead looked to Ghirahim, who closed his eyes and sighed. "No, my lord. I was thwarted by children, but we do know that the Pendant of Power is trapped in Clock Town with one of them. Courage and Wisdom should-"

"Courage was just lost to us. A boy, girl, and a man were seen leaving the Eagle recently. But we have no eyes on them no, so their destination is unknown. If only I had known it was there earlier, I would have claimed it!"

"Children are taking the pendants? And you say that one of those kids are in Clock Town? Do I need to send Her Highness down there? I can assume you encountered another, Ghirahim?"

"Yes, sir. I captured the most troubling of them all." Ghirahim looked down from his master's face to the door that laid beyond, sealed shut. "The child of the Demon King."

The king tsked, and sat up in his seat. "Always interfering, the Prince of Darkness is."

"No, my lord. They are two different people. The Demon King is within his seal, that I can feel. But the boy… Somehow, I can sense the same familiar presence, but it is very much weaker on him than from what I can sense now. But they are not the same being."

Horsehead chipped in. "He has not revealed to us the location of the Resistance base, and been taking our torture techniques...passively."

"He...laughed when I was with him. As if it was a game, and he had the upper hand." Zant looked up, eyeing the amused expression on his lord's face. "If you saw him, you wouldn't know the difference between him and his ancestor."

"Hmm...interesting. But can he be broken or kept in line?"

Zant and Ghirahim nodded, and the former spoke. "Yes, a girl. She's in Clock Town with the Pendant of Power. I threatened to bring her in if he didn't comply, but it didn't break him. It made him angry, however."

The king nodded. "Keep tabs on the girl, and it comes to it, bring her in. Threaten her in front of him, and see if he'll tell where the Resistance is. Once that is done, kill them both. As for our wandering trio, they will eventually come to Clock Town. Do not make our motives known. If the girl isn't brought in by then, round them all up, obtain the pendants. Meanwhile, Horsehead, keep entertaining our guest."

Horsehead nodded. "I also bring positive news. The weapon is ready."

The king cooed, then chuckled. "Really now? Then waste no time. The Pendant of Wisdom will be found soon, and we must be ahead. Make sure that when I give the command to unleash it, your mages are ready."

"Why wait, my lord? If we can destroy Labrynna, the only major kingdom still standing between you and the world, shouldn't we do so now?"

"Labrynna will have their time, but I have already chosen a much closer target. I will alert you when I'm ready. Dismissed, Horsehead." Horsehead nodded, bowed, and swiftly exited the chambers. Zant and Ghirahim stood up, and the king leaned back in his seat, taking off his crown. "I have much more pressing news."

"What can be more disturbing than the Resistance?"

"No… I have had a dream, a vision perhaps… The repeat of the Great Cataclysm."

To this, Zant and Ghirahim looked at each other, confused. Ghirahim spoke up. "Already? It has only been 18 years! Most cataclysms take centuries."

Zant folded his arms. "It explains the Gerudo boy."

"Maybe so, but Hyrule has never been plunged into darkness after darkness after darkness in a matter of 10 years, with the third time a charm. But that one is only a part of the Goddesses' bigger plan. That is what's most troubling."

"What can be more troubling than the child of the demon?"

"His friend, the one in your possession. Then there's the blasted duo, them being missing is a sign, or a curse, or a waiting game… I bet seeing is better than believing. Take a look…" The figure waved an arm, and visions of Zant and Ghirahim went totally black for a few seconds. Before too long, and before they could question royalty, the first images appeared. Men and women dressed in armor, that of the old Hyrulean Army, stood in place, lined up facing an unseen enemy before the scene fast forwarded a bit before slowing down to show those soldiers jumping into battle with a monster force. Bokoblins and their bigger brethren menacingly swung their blunted axes and spears at their enemy while the Hylians charged bravely forward. Above, a knight in Hyrulean armor flew across the skies upon a large bird, and the scene changed to that of a fortress surrounded by fire. Here, dark-skinned warriors of the female sex fought beasts amiss the flames, and the scene turned to a battle in some dark place, with a huge, horned, golden lizard, a Dodongo, shooting fire at a small squad of four members of the Hyrulean Army. The next scene showed the first two armies again, but this time, centered on a large pig-like humanoid, whipping a large spear vertically towards a man in a green tunic, his shield raised up on his right arm, his left hand preparing to form a strike with his sword. Behind him, a woman in a grey and blue garb trained a golden arrow upon the monstrous beast, ready to defeat darkness with ancient light.

The setting froze like a painting and began to zoom out, quickly passing a throne and figures sitting in them, and focused on a redhead woman in a thin pink dress dancing, half her face masked by a scarf. She seemed to be singing as well, and her words were, "Youths chosen by the three…" The image zipped through the woman's blue eyes. It changed to a foggy light gray area, with the symbol of the Resistance, the golden bird formerly seen as the symbol of Hyrule (plus the Triforce) was etched on the ground. In the center stood a man in armor, holding his helm and bearing his weary eyes on it. He looked very aged, maybe his late forties, early fifties, and had a beard running the length of his face, balding head topped by a mohawk. The scene then began to swirl to the front of the central figure to the outside circle of figures, first on a girl in a purple tunic, with matching hair. A long staff was strapped to her back and noticeably had on a headpiece with an upside-down Triforce on it. The next figure, to the girl's left, was a boy recognized by Zant, dressed in a huge purple cloak, and was taking off his bunny-like hood, revealing his fair-skinned face, green eyes, and black hair. To the left of him, a redhead boy held a harp and a rod, with a crown topped on his brow. To the right, a green-eyed Gerudo brandished her twin scimitars, and finally, a green Zora female held her hands in prayer.

A fight scene between the Imperials and the Resistance appeared, and then five more figures appeared. The first was young redhead girl slowly took some steps, whipping her hair from her bluish face and red eyes. Her tunic was black, and its top was unbuttoned a bit to reveal the upper part of her cleavage. In her hand was a dark relic, shaped similarly like a mask. Ghirahim recognized the girl as the one with the Pendant of Power, so was unsurprising to see the figure beside her. It was the dark-skinned, redhead boy, his golden eyes flaring to the distance. His dark tunic was accompanied by a small cape, and he held a sword pointed downward. The last two figures, the bigger of the four, neither Zant or Ghirahim knew or recognize, but once they got a good look at them, it was a shock to their mind. A girl, blond with blue eyes, wore a purple shirt, blue vest, pink pants and long brown boots. She had a katana swing through the air. Beside her, a boy with brown hair and eyes wore a blue shirt and brown pants and held a broadsword towards the sky. In the center of them all was a hooded man, a greying beard and the lower half of his face visible underneath a green hood. The scene shifted again and climbed up a mountain before switching to a ruined temple with giant doors inside. The next scene showed the redhead woman in the pink dress again, falling, while the man in a green cloak tried to reach out for her hand.

The scene changed again, to a hooded person in black, with a golden trident, and the brown-haired boy, now in a green tunic and wielding a purple-hilted blade, standing face to face. The trident person swung their weapon above their head before a symbol appeared from behind him. It was a red circle, with three stacked, white, wavy lines (the outer two swirled up at one end) inside. The boy in the green tunic cocked his sword behind him, placing his shield before him, and a green circle with a smaller circle enclosed by two crescents appeared behind him. The final scene showed both the redhead and the blond girls shortly dancing before a blue stone clipped off the necklace of the blonde, while markings of three circles enclosed by three crescents facing back to back. After that, the vision faded away, and the Imperial leaders' sight was once again graced by the blue figure. The figure's face was blank, leaving no trace of what they thought of the dream. "I have only but some clue as to what it means. It shows me my enemies, some the rebels you have spoken of, and the boy and girl of legend. But does it mean they, the ones of legend, are here now?"

Ghirahim lowered his head, growling under his breath. "I can, unfortunately, confirm that the boy and the girl are...are around. If Power was accessed by the boy, then Courage and Wisdom is and will be with their respective Hylians. I thought it was just a happening, but now seeing your vision… How will we find them? I cannot commit my forces to seek the legendary ones, and fight the Resistance."

"You are right… You take care of the latter. The two brats, despite their unknowing usefulness to me and the impact of letting them live, are already overpowered. I have made every precaution to stop the Hero's rise."

"And Her Grace? How has she returned, yet the royalty of Hyrule has its line severed?"

"Hylia brought herself back once, and I am sure she could do it again. Besides, I know you have who has a very longstanding grudge against the girl and her boy, and you will have your moment Ghirahim. Worry about the rebels, and eliminate them once and for all." He turned to Zant, who had his head turned to the side, bowed. "What is your problem, Twilight?"

"My sister...is the one with the pendant."

"Hmm… Can you do what must be done?"

"I won't kill her...but her suffering matters not to me. As I said, I'll use her against the child of Ganon, and she will watch him die."

The king nodded. "Very well… I expect news of you retrieving the pendants."

Clock Town

Stock Pot Inn. This is where the two missing Resistance agents were supposedly staying while in Clock Town. If they were anywhere in the city as of now, at least their name would be here, in ink, with a room number. Knowing one of them, they would be disgusted to go to the nearby Milk Bar.

Believe Midna, she's spent the better part of yesterday within, drinking what surely wasn't containing Vitamin C, and hadn't seen either of the two.

Looking to her sides, the carrier of the Pendant of Power looked to see if any Imperial troops stationed within the city had noticed her. She had been on edge since arriving here via the glowy thing within the Demon, and even more after contacting Hilda and Ravio. She kept to herself, keeping the pendant dangerously close to her. She had a bad feeling the Imperials noticed their barrier was breached and was staying their distance to mess with her head, to give her the false sense of security.

Or they didn't notice, and Midna was paranoid. If only Gan was here…

She knew the Imperials were keeping him alive, either because he wanted the Pendant himself, knows things about the Resistance, and/or because of his lineage. Ghirahim said that Gan was Ganon reborn, which makes no sense at all. Gan and Ganon are two different people, just with similar names and ethical backgrounds. And a strange lust for power, but Gan is/was royalty. He was raised to have such things.

That's enough, Midna. Gan is alive, probably not well, but worrying about him is detrimental. We gotta find Anju and Kafei, and wait for Hilda and Ravio. Most importantly, protect the pendant. With that in mind, Midna pushed open the door to the Stock Pot Inn. She was greeted by a crowded lobby, the smells of baked pastries, and...no Imperials in sight. Midna certainly welcomed that. Amidst the crowd, she spotted the front desk and pushed her way through the crowd to the desk. As she got there, she saw a red-headed woman, slightly older than Midna, sitting at the desk. She was looking down at the desk with a solemn expression, tapping her finger in boredom. Midna politely approached her and cleared her throat.

"Welcome to the Stock Pot Inn. How may I-" The woman had looked up to Midna, and both shared a look of surprise. Composing herself, the woman reached below the desk, and picked up a key. "Your room is the Knife Chamber. Have a nice day, and welcome to the Stock Pot Inn."

Midna nodded and walked through the crowd again and up a staircase. Once on the second floor, she sought out her 'room' and made her way inside.

"Oh Anju, you're-ACK!" Midna jumped in surprise, though not as much as the man who spoke to her, now frozen with embarrassment. He was a young man, early twenties, and had the strangest case of purple hair. Currently, he was hiding behind a wall, although Midna could still see him and the towel he dropped. The man reached over and now had a fox-like mask over his nether regions. He poked his head out, sighing. "Well, Midna, so happy to see you."

Midna leaned against the shut door, smiling and winking. "I'm sure you are."

"Oh god."

Midna walked over, swinging her hips. "Gotta say, Kafei Dotour, I don't know what you do when Ange is not around, but if it is the reason you're naked, that's quite disappointing. I imagined you as a man of...action, not a lost kid who hides behind a mask." Midna looked up from the mask to Kafei's burning face, biting her lips and putting a hand on her waist. "I can help you out." Kafei looked like he was about to pass out, and quickly picked up his towel and scurried into the restroom. Midna snorted in laughter as she fell upon the bed in the room.

"That's not funny Midna!"

"Oh yes, it is. You should've seen your face!"

"How does Gan stick around you, I don't know. Do you do this to him?"

"He was knocked out for two years… I got interested in the male anatomy."

"I don't want to know that." Kafei came out the bathroom, now fully dressed in a purple and white shirt and brown pants. He looked around the room as if someone was missing. "Where is Dragmire anyway? And how did you get within Clock Town?"

Midna shrugged. "Long story."

Kafei scoffed. "As if we got better things to do anyway." Kafei took a seat in a chair, raising his legs to the table. "I take it you aren't here with your boyfriend?"

"He's not my boyfriend."

"And I'm a man turned into a kid by some prankster."

"Whatever." Midna turned to a window that faced the west of the city. In her mind, Gan was somewhere in that direction. "Two days ago, we had a mission at the Demon and wound up getting separated by some Imperial asshole. He was captured, hopefully, and I escaped, magically landing here of all places. Oh, and then there's this." Midna took out the Pendant of Power, tossing it to Kafei. "That was our objective."

Kafei analyzed it, etching his thumb over the symbol of Din. "A necklace? Gan surely knows what the ladies like."

"No, it's called the Pendant of Power, supposedly one of those Hero trinkets."

"Uh huh." Kafei handed it back and sighed. "Well, welcome to Clock Town, the home of the Clock Tower and the Imperials' blockade. We're stuck here."

Midna shrugged. "I don't know about that. I talked to Hilda and Ravio yesterday when I tried making contact, and-"

"You made contact with the outside world? How?"

"I believe the pendant allowed me to. It might have amplified my abilities to the point I was able to breach the barrier."

Kafei threw his hands up. "That means the Resistance will know… and that kinda sucks but is great at the same time. Oh, they don't know Anju and I are well. We shouldn't try to communicate again, in case the Imperials noticed."

Midna nodded and put the pendant away. "All we can do now is wait."

Eastern Woods

"Well, here we are, just in time for the sun to set." Link, Zelda, and their mysterious friend came into a clearing in the woods, underneath a towering covered by trees. Blue stairs climbed from the ground to the unseen top, causing the two younger Hylians to stare in wonder.

"What is this place?" asked Link.

"This is Level 2, the Moon." The man turned to Zelda. "If the Eagle was Link's test of courage, this will be your test of wisdom. Maybe it will, maybe it won't."

"What do you mean?"

The man ignored the question and turned away. "Get some rest. You can tackle the dungeon in the morning. I am going to meditate." He quickly left the teenagers behind, reentering the woods. He walked around until he found a good spot and sat down. He looked up to the sky, sadness written on his face.

"I have found her, at long last. I have found both of them… Your Majesty."