The black hole appeared in the sky again, this time right above the temple and tainted red instead of blue. Link quickly ran behind a tree, controlling his breathing so that it would be even. Something fell out of whatever was in the sky: three beasts – then two more, making five, and finally a human-like figure.

The beasts were black and had strange markings around their entire bodies. They looked like malformed humans who walked on all fours, with short legs and gangly arms. They had the same strange markings on their chests and backs but they were glowing red. They wore what looked to be huge, flat masks on their faces, completely hiding any features. The masks were made from stone with a circular marking in the center, and what looked to be an upside 'omega' letter surrounding it. What could have been hair stuck out from their heads as curved spikes.

The human figure wore a mask – or a helmet, Link wasn't sure – that went upwards in a point, but he couldn't see the front of it. He also wore robes with sleeves that hung below the person's hands and had hanging tassels on the ends of the sleeves. He wore all black, other than the grey-metal helmet and the robes which had blue lines etched across it.

Link shuddered as a horrendous screech that sent chills crawling up his spine met his ears. He looked around in fear before he realized it had come from whoever that person was.

"We have finally found it, my dear Shadow Beasts…" The person spoke. Link tried not to gasp at the sound of its voice: shrill and hiss-like. Could these creatures be from the third world that ran interconnected with earth and Hyrule?

Link watched as the thing and its Shadow Beasts, as he called them, walked towards the door of the temple. It reached for the handles and Link felt a jolt surge within him. These things were evil, whatever they were! Link stepped out from behind the tree with his right hand outstretched and began to move forward.

The creature stopped walking, sensing Link's presence. It didn't make so much as a move as a Shadow Beast slowly turned around and faced Link.

Link's blood went cold.

Zelda fastened her black cloak around her neck and brought the hood up over her head, making sure her long brown hair was hidden as well. With one final check that her sword was sheathed and hanging around her hip and that her satchel was secured, she snuck out of her chambers before her guards returned on her father's orders. She knew they would take the main halls so Zelda stuck to the servant's stairs. She met with no one on her descent through the castle and let out a sigh of relief as she walked out of the servants' entrance.

She stuck to the walls of the sewer and took the darkest passages to stay hidden. When she reached the end, she slowly and carefully climbed out of the sewers and into the streets of the city surrounding Hyrule Castle.

Since night had fallen, no one was around to see the Princess of Hyrule climb out of the sewer grate, which also meant no one was around to question her. She pressed her back into the wall as she heard guards approaching – and fast. Had her father already been alerted of her absence?

Sticking to the shadows, Zelda made her way for the east gate out of the city. She had to reach it before it was closed or she wouldn't be able to leave until she was found again. She said a silent prayer to the Goddess for aid.

Zelda quickened her pace as she saw what lay before her. Thirty or more of the city guards were stationed by the eastern gate, and it was being closed.

"Goddess of Hyrule, please aid me in this quest!" Zelda prayed aloud as she began to run towards the closing gate. She didn't know what she could do against thirty guards, but if she could make it through the gate then perhaps it would be closed on them.

A blinding flash stopped Zelda's movements. She blinked away the light in her eyes to find her handmaiden, and friend, Impa, standing before her.

"Go Zelda! I know what must happen!" Impa said as she turned towards the guards.

"Thank you, Impa," Zelda said to her friend.

"Thank me when you're out," Impa said with a grin. "Now go!" She commanded. Zelda nodded and began to run as Impa created another blinding flash – stunning the guards just long enough for Zelda to slip through the small crack between the gates doors unnoticed.

Zelda smiled. When was the last time she had been outside the city, let alone the walls surrounding the palace?! Zelda quickly walked across the bridge that went over the river. As she reached Hyrule field on the other side she let out a laugh. She was out!

But soon, her smile fell as she realized she had no mode of transportation, other than her own two feet. Perhaps if she could climb high enough she could call to a loftwing… That was highly unlikely, however, since they usually flew above the cloud line. A horse would be her best bet, but there was no way she was going back into the city for one. Walking would take far too long, though.

But, without any other choice, Zelda began walking towards the east. As she walked, she took out the large book she had snuck out with her. She opened "The Rising of the Temple" to the table of contents and looked until she found the chapter she was searching for: 'The Portals'. She opened it to the page where the chapter began and started reading, for she wasn't able to read too much of it before her father had barged in.

"Four Worlds connected like one, the same as the Golden Triforce: the top triangle representing Hyrule, the left triangle representing the Twilight Realm, and the right representing earth. What most forget is that there is a forth triangle in the middle: the upside-down triangle. This triangle represents the Otherworld, which few are familiar with. It is a place of evil and backward things; a place where no Hylian, Twili, or earthling would dare venture into.

Despite the warnings throughout history, people have managed to find their way into the Otherworld, though not as easily back, if at all. They do this through Portals.

Hyrule's linking Portal with earth was constructed in the Temple of Time. Contrary to popular Hylian belief, however, there was a catch. Two temples were built: one in the city surrounding Hyrule Castle where all and any could go to praise Hylia, and one was tucked far away in the province of Faron. Its exact location is known to few, for this is the true resting place of the Portal. It is guarded by a maze of trees and a hidden door. Those who become lost are never found.

The Portal from earth to Hyrule was a replica of the Temple of Time built on earth, linked directly with the Temple of Time placed in Faron.

The Twilight Realm's Portal was a mirror, specifically, the Mirror of Twilight. This mirror directly linked Hyrule to the Twilight Realm, for a copy lies in both. To go directly from the Twilight Realm to earth, one needs to possess magic to create a Portal. These black holes radiate an energy that appears blue and is able to transport anything from people to entire mountainsides through the fabric of space in a matter of seconds. Very few have the ability to create such Portals. When used by a great evil, the energy will become tainted and red, bringing through Shadow Beasts instead of whatever was originally intended.

The Portals into the Otherworld have never been recorded throughout history, and for good reason. If a Portal linked to the Otherworld is left open, anything can go in from Hyrule, the Twilight Realm, or earth, because they are all linked with it, and anything from the Otherworld would be able to venture into any of the three worlds. The Portals have still been found throughout the eons, but were closed off right after.

Portals out of the Otherworld, other than ones left open from Hyrule, the Twilight Realm, or earth, have never been heard of. If a Portal closes on you, consider yourself a goner, for there is no easy way out of the Otherworld."

Zelda stopped herself from reading any more of the book. She began to process everything she had just read. She knew there had been a Portal in the Temple of Time, as well as the real temple's location, but the passage about the Otherworld… A shiver went down her spine.

Suddenly, Zelda dropped her book as the Triforce on her right hand shone like a beacon and sent flares of power throughout her body.