"Something is up, Ravio." The Lorulean knight zipped his Loftwing past a Keese, and Hilda expertly used her sword to rid it of its existence. The battle above Spectacle Rock was much harder than they expected, but it couldn't be as intense as it was on the ground. Both could see that the Resistance and the Imperials had finally drawn arms against each other after years of buildup, and the surprise had paid off. The monsters were still scrambling to the defense even with the numbers advantage, but the tactics of General Auru to use the narrowness of the pass leading to Spectacle Rock was truly - pun, not intended - a spectacle.

"What is it, Hilda?"

However, Hilda had other problems to worry about, one much more closer. "I...sense dark power."

"No shit. We are at the headquarters of dark and evil power."

"No," Hilda exclaimed, "I mean...the Imperials are planning something."

Knowing that Hilda's intuition was normally pretty good, Ravio sighed and flew temporarily out of the battle, and turned to Hilda. "Where is it coming from?"

Hilda concentrated for a few moments, then gasped. She pointed to the one part of Death Mountain Ravio didn't want to fly to: it's peak. "There. I sense it emanating from there. Strangely enough, it feels similar to when… They're doing it again. The beast."

Ravio frowned, then looked back to the battlefield. "It is for us." Smart move, Imperials. "How is it?"

"I felt power dip tremendously for a moment, then it surged back up. It was as if something happened to stop the output of energy, then it returned, and with even more power." Hilda looked at Ravio with resolute eyes. "We need to stop it."

Ravio shook his head. He wasn't to put himself and Hilda, his dear Hilda, in the face of danger against a mountain whose ready to throw up molten rock again. "No, we don't."

"I command you to."

"No."

"I'm not asking, Ravio."

"And I'm not going, Hilda." She stared angrily at him for a moment before turning away, back to the aerial battle. He knew he had disappointed her, but Ravio didn't want to do something so foolish on a whim.

"Then maybe I could go with Prince Ralph."

Ravio scoffed. "Hell if he would go with you."

"Why are you like this, Ravio? I know you can be a coward, but this… You saw what it could do. You were first to notice it! Now that we have a chance to take it out, you rather run?"

"I'm doing it for your safety, Princess."

"Don't call me Princess. I am not your princess. I am your friend."

"No, you are not." Ralph turned to Hilda with steady eyes, conviction (for once) set in them. "You are special to me, more than a friend could be. Even though we are separate in our rankings, we have always been together, Hilda, and I cherish that more than anything. It is one of many reasons why I strive to keep you safe. If we go there… I can't protect you. I cannot do what I swore an oath to do as your personal knight."

Hilda was still frowning, but more relaxed. "Then what would you do, Ravio? Leave our people to die?"

"No, of course not." Damn you gods for giving me this sudden burst of bravery. Ravio sighed and turned his Loftwing towards the rendezvous point of the Resistance. "Just tell me what I need to do."

Link and Zelda stood in place, swords drawn and voices silent, as they awaited Horsehead to make the first move. However, the horseman just stood there, staring down the Hero and Princess. What made things worse is that was the noncombatant that noticed things were off about the Imperial general. Spryte knew the warrior was doing something totally un-Horsehead-like: smiling. With that fact in mind, Spryte leaned into Link's ear and whispered, "Hey, listen. When does that donkey ever grin?"

Link finally noticed it too. "Never. Something is up." Link stepped forward, lowering his sword but raising his shield in case of an attack. "What's with the cheesy grin? You must have something planned."

Horsehead's voice cracked as he chuckled, slightly lighter than the deep gruff he usually spoke with. He quickly stopped as he clutched his side, a reminder of his near-defeat to Link at Clock Town. "My heart is bursting at this moment that I finally got you two alone...to myself. Even though my old adversary lives… We have now come full circle, Hero and Princess, and this time..." Horsehead switched to his normal, serious composure, whipping out his mace. "You will both die."

Link looked back to Zelda, who shrugged. "I have no clue as to what he's talking about."

"Yea, I definitely planned on his death."

"It's just us now. Link, Her Majesty, or Daddy cannot save you two now. I'll end Hyrule's greatest fairytale that is the chosen two!" Horsehead sneered in a very horse-like way. "Maybe you'll beg for mercy, Princess, unlike your Sheikah dog!" Enraged, Zelda raised her hand to cast a spell at Horsehead, but the general had calculated this. Swinging his mace, the ball split from the handle and soared past Link, hitting Zelda square in the chest again, without the output of Nayru's Love this time. She collided with the back wall, unconsciously collapsing on the floor.

"Zelda!" Link dropped his sword and rushed to Zelda side, dropping on his knees. He checked her vitals and listened to her slow breath, comforted that she had not left him on the world alone just yet. "Spryte, make sure she stays okay...Spryte?" A bottle rolled to Zelda's foot, containing the angry fairy. Spryte must have gone after Horsehead while Link rushed to Zelda's aid.

"Hero! Face me!"

Something in Link snapped. It wasn't at first unexplainable to him, because he had never felt it before. It wasn't a burst of courage, or something worthy of a legendary hero, at least to his knowledge. But it wasn't anger either, despite how he truly felt. It was something raw, primal...inherent. That feeling didn't awaken when he nearly lost his life (the first time), or when he touched the Pendant of Courage, or when he accepted being Farore's chosen warrior. No, this was something else...like a spirit that dwells within Link had finally woken up. Its spark? Evil. Its reason to wake up? To eradicate all evil that threatens Hyrule. It is a spirit of a hero, and Link desired to succumb to it.

Reaching into his pouch, Link drew a new blade, the one destined to eradicate all evil. He stood up to Horsehead's challenge, facing the horseman with renewed fortitude.

Horsehead frowned at the sight of the Master Sword and retracted the chained ball. "So he has passed it to you...Let's see if you are worthy of the blade."

"Shall we? HYAAAAH!" Link and Horsehead collided their weapons, each striking the others more ferociously than before. In Horsehead's eyes, this battle had been a long time coming, but for Link, it was the end of a chapter.

"Oren! Ralph!" The two figures raced towards the landing Loftwing, and Hilda slid off immediately. She ushered them over and began to sputter out her plan. "The beast is going to attack again, but I think we can beat it."

Ralph looked at the distant peak, raising an eyebrow. "How so?"

"We need to weaken it." Hilda looked to Oren, who caught onto what Hilda meant. "Yes, Oren, you. Only the Sage of Water can do such a thing. If we can take out the energy put in, we could potentially stop the attack. Or at least delay it until we stop whoever is channeling power into the mountain."

Oren lowered her head. "I...I don't think that's possible. I might not have enough power someone else strong in magic went with me, or if there was another Sage around…"

Ravio sighed. "Impa was the Sage of Shadow, but she's dead. The others, if not dead, are leaders in their cities in North Hyrule."

Oren hummed to herself and smiled. "Not true… There is another Sage around here."

"Where?"

"You… It is you, Hilda. I can sense the power of the Sage of Shadow within you." Hilda and Ravio were going to retort, but Ralph didn't want to waste time.

"So let's get to it. Oren, you're with me. Hilda, Bunny Boy, meet you guys at the peak. Ralph jumped aboard Moosh and swung Oren behind him. As he made sure she was sitting comfortably, he noticed that, despite the lack of water around here, her skin was still moist. "Is that you using your powers to not dry out?"

"Oh, no, Zoras can retain their moisture for days. Even a drink of water can sustain that. Don't you have Zoras back in Labrynna?

"Both types, Sea and River Zoras, never seen them out the water. Never noticed that they can be wet outside the waves."

At this, Oren smiled wickedly and locked her hands around Ralph's waist. "I hear that human girls have this tendency too. Would you know about that, Prince Raphael?"

Ralph, red as a cherry, pointed to Hilda and Ravio, and then to the peak. "Come on!' We're wasting time!"

Midna felt her form convert from the dark rectangles that transferred her from the Hero of Hyrule's side back to her body and quickly made way for the room in which she sensed her friend within. She pushed the door with some difficulty, but able to open it fully to allow her inside.

Her body quickly heated up, but she wasn't sure if it was because of the heat in the room or the carnage within. The robed bodies of the Wizzrobes were decomposing slower than usual, allowing Midna to see just exactly where the killing blow was. She counted six bodies but could see the remnants of a seventh based on a wand by the door. As for the murderer of the Wizzrobes, he hadn't left the room at all. He stood in front of Midna, facing the pool of lava, and if he knew Midna was there, he hadn't acknowledged the presence.

So she took initiative. "Gan."

The boy stiffened, and as if he was in control of the Wizzrobes' lingering presence, the monsters vanished immediately. His "concentration" broken, Gan turned around, his face morphed in shock and embarrassment. He stood in place, too frozen to show how surprised he is to see Midna, as both knew that he killed these monsters, and if Midna had to guess, it was in cold blood. By looking at Gan for the first time in a week, she didn't feel conflict about his actions. If anything, she was elated and...there was a tinge of sadness.

But she had no remorse for the Imperials anyway, and so she walked up to her motionless friend and hugged him, cried on his shoulders, sent her pain to him in the forms of wet tears. Although hesitant, he responded by wrapping her up. "Midna."

The sadness within grew bigger and bigger, and Midna couldn't control it. "You're okay...you're okay."

Gan held Midna in front of him, and caressed her cheek. "I'm fine. Are you okay?"

"Yes… I...Gan, I was so worried about you! I... felt and heard terrible things."

Gan frowned. "What things?"

"The Hero of Hyrule said... you turned to the Dark Lord, and taken his power. That you... betrayed the Resistance."

Gan shook his head. "What? I haven't done such a thing, Midna? I would never betray the Resistance. Whoever this 'Hero' you speak of is a liar, a manipulator, and just as he morphed Hyrule into thinking everything was safe years ago, he's doing the same now."

"He is real. He is alive, Gan, and would never do that. He wants to help you." At that, Midna realized that Gan was never a big fan of the Hero of Hyrule. If anything, he was the legend's biggest critic, for reasons other than being the Dark Lord's descendant. His face showed that resentment. "Help me? I don't need anyone's help. Especially not the one who failed us."

"He's here to atone for that. With his help, Hyrule can be saved."

At this, Gan released Midna, and turned to the lava. He stared at it for a moment, and turn his head partially to her. "No, it won't. Only my power can save Hyrule."

"I don't need your power, Gan, whatever that is. I… I just want you to come and get out of her with me. The Resistance is here, fighting the Imperials. We can help them. I've come too far to lose you to a pig man."

"And I won't lose you the same way I lost my family and friends. I will not be weak anymore. I have my power, my birthright, my legacy, and I will use it for you. To protect you."

Midna folded her arms, putting all her weight on one leg as she slumped her hips, trying her best to keep her composure. "I don't doubt that. But you don't need Ganon's power for such things. You have protected me before, and can do so in the future without it."

Gan clicked his tongue, and raised his head. "Hear me, Midna, I will not fail again. I am much more powerful than I have ever been. I am more powerful than Zant, Ghirahim, and the King of Hyrule. I will overthrow him, and I...no, we...you and I can rule Hyrule, and lead it back to its golden era."

Midna cracked and her mind spoke before she processed it. "No. Hyrule won't be saved by the child of the one who brought it into this mess. Your ambitious dreams of being a hero are reserved for the risen Hero and Princess."

That got Gan's attention, and turned him around. He stared daggers at Midna, and she did her best to return them too. Lowering his head, he stood still for a moment, then raised his head. "Then I guess I'll have to kill them too."

"I… I can't believe this."

"Because?"

"Because you are a fool whose only claim to fame is another fool! You are not the man I fell in love with. You're just a shell of him." In response, Gan's eyes flashed, and he half-clenched his fist. MIdna felt her throat tightened, and collapsed as she struggled to find air. Her earlier assumption was right: Something dark had taken ahold of Gan, for all he had said before was not him, even when he is of his right mind.

"Let her go, and while we're at it, let him go, Ganon." Midna turned back, and spotted Shade standing there. His face was exposed, and whatever emotion he could display at facing his old nemesis was nonexistent.

"So you're the Hero of Hyrule, huh? Couldn't stay dead after all these years For the record, Ganon does not control me." Gan's voice stayed the same, but both Midna and Shade could tell he was not the controlling mind in the body, whether or not his actions were of his own was hard to tell. Or...is Gan, the one Midna knew, actually gone, replaced by this new one?

"This isn't you, Gan. Let her go."

Midna felt the pressure on her throat waver, and looked back to Gan. Whatever it was, it had an effect on her friend, as he seemed conflicted over what he is doing to her. "You...you tried to turn her against me!"

Shade denied it. "You have done that well yourself. I'm not the one choking her, Prince of Thieves. I would never hurt someone who I loved."

That was the trigger that hit Gan the most, as he flinched his head and released Midna. She gasped for air, and crawled to Shade as Gan crossed his arms. "You...you will not toy with me."

Shade tsked as he walked into the room proper, calmly and in a non-threatening manner. "It seems Ganon has embedded his roots into you. Your drive for vengeance and power has replaced the true you with...this. Behold, Midna, the one you once knew as Gan, and who you will know as Ganondorf."

Gan, or "Ganondorf" as Shade called him, smiled. "You're dead, Hero. You're dead to your country, and you'll die by my hand and power."

Shade looked amused looked amused. "Huh. Warped by the dark lord who, in retrospect, is the reason you suffer. You have become what you sought to destroy."

"Don't lecture me, Hero. I have seen through the weaknesses of the Imperials and the Resistance. I do not possess whatever fears the king has. When he dies, I will bring order and justice to my Kingdom of Hyrule."

"Never!" Shade began to run, but Gan was ready. He fired a blast from his hand, and it struck the Hero so hard he collapsed on the spot. Only Midna's quick hands save the older man from slipping into the molten pool. She picked up the man and set him on a side wall, then turned her attention to Gan.

"Your kingdom? Midna put a hand on her blade, ready to give Gan the beatdown of his life. She didn't know what Gan truly meant, but she was going to go against him. "I'll surrender if I was you, Ganon. As of today, you and the Imperials have lost to the light!"

Gan chuckled as he turned around. "To the light? Midna my friend, I have only just begun. The dark… It shall prevail."

Midna frowned. It was the hard truth, but now she wasn't blind. Gan had totally converted to whatever state the Prince of Darkness had him.. "I am not your friend. You are as dead to me as Zant is. But the man I love is in there, and that man I will save, whether it is by killing you first or by other means, I will save you Gan.."

Gan glowered, and growled. "Only a fool would stand against me, one chosen by the gods and wields the power of Din."

Midna drew her blade and got into battle position "Such conceit. But if you are one of the chosen, as you claim...Then I'll risk everything, even the life of my best friend, to deny you!"

Gan smirked as he took out his sword. "Shadow has been moved by light, it seems… How amusing." Gan flipped in the air, and brought his sword down, collided it with Midna's. She went on the defensive as Gan aggressively swung his blade, almost driving her into a wall before she ducked and amazing leaped over Gan. He quickly turned around, swinging at her before her defenses were truly up, stunning the girl and kicking her through the doorway.

She landed on her free hand, a knee and a foot, her sword twisted behind her back, and she looked up to Gan, walking emotionlessly through the doorway. "Is that all you got, Mr. All Mighty and Powerful?" She stood up, and taunted her opponent with her blade. "I must have gone easy on you all these years."

"Hmph, I doubt that. You've always been the lesser between the two of us."

Midna shrugged. "We'll see."

The two groups of fliers made it close enough to the mountain peak that they were beginning to feel its heat. Luckily, Oren had spell both humans and mounts so that they wouldn't suffer from heat exhaustion or worse.

Ravio and Hilda were first to the peak, and began scanning it for what could possibly be its source of power. Hilda and Oren, as they came closer and closer to the volcano, pinpointed that the channeling was going into the mountain from a nearby outside source, and that power was of great level. Matter of fact, it only had two equals, the Pendants of Courage and Wisdom.

When they told General Auru that news, he confirmed what they were thinking: The Pendant of Power was in use. Only Hilda knew one person who could possibly possess it now.

Ravio spotted the figure first, standing dangerously close to the opening of the peak. He hadn't noticed the incoming rebels, and the Loruleans, anxious for vengeance, took advantage of that.

"You're dead, Zant."