"Move you fool!" A voice called from somewhere behind Link. Just as the Shadow Beast swept down with its huge hand, Link rolled out of the way. He looked back to see Hena and Shad running towards him. Link looked back at the beasts which were now forming a circle that was meant to enclose him. He got to his feet and tried to redirect them so he could be nearer to the temple.

Shad and Hena watched him; he could feel their eyes on him. He knew that they watched out of fascination and not out of fear for his safety, for this was proof that another world existed beyond earth. Keeping an eye on the beasts and how close they were to him, Link tried to find the human-like figure that had brought them here.

"Link, what are you doing, lad?" Shad called from his spot beside Hena. "Come over here, these things look as though they'll kill you!" He concluded. Link tried not to laugh as Shad said this. Of course they'd kill him!

"It is as if these beasts don't even note your presence… Clearly they are here for one reason," Link said, accepting the realization that these things had turned on him for a reason.

"Right you are," the hiss-like voice said. Link looked around, fear building inside of his chest. The creature appeared in the center of the circle the beasts had created. The front of the helmet looked lizard-like, with large circular, bloated eyes, a pointed triangular nose, and a long tongue that made up one third of the face.

"Who are you? What are you?" Link asked.

"I am Zant… King of the Twilight Realm and ruler of the Twili," Zant said.

"Why are you here?" Link asked.

"I need to get into Hyrule," Zant responded. Link's eyes widened and his heart rate quickened. "I see I have sparked your interest…"

"There's a way into Hyrule?"

"Several," Zant said with a hint of a smile in his voice.

"How?" Link asked. Zant turned his head toward the temple, ensuring that only Link could see the gesture, for the Shadow Beasts blocked Hena and Shad's view.

The same red and black hole appeared above Zant and his Shadow Beasts, pulling them into it before Link could get a proper answer.

"Wait!" He called, but they had already gone.

"Link, are you alright?" Hena asked with concern as she ran up to him.

"I'm fine," Link said, still watching the sky.

"A third world…" Shad said. "Who knew? What did he call it…? Twilight… Twilight something…" Shad said, mumbling to himself.

"Realm! Twilight Realm!" Hena finished excitedly, their concern for Link over already as they left his side and spoke animatedly to one another on their way back to the campsite.

Link turned and looked at the temple. Zant had motioned to it when he had asked how to get into Hyrule. Cautiously, Link approached the double doors. With a deep breath, he opened the doors. A burning sensation exploded on the back of his left hand.

Link fell to his knees at the doors of the temple.

Zelda gasped as her hand flared up in pain, the golden light of the Triforce becoming even brighter. Something must be happening with the Hero of Time!

She looked around and saw a cluster of horse reeds. She picked up the fallen book and ran over to them, picking one and blowing into it. It sounded a high-pitched call. She removed it from her lips and looked around, waiting, hoping that a horse would hear. The seconds went by, each one seeming longer than the first.

Zelda huffed out a sigh and began walking to the east. The southern gate from the city would have been so much faster… If only it had gone under the scheduled reparations on time…

A neigh reached her ears, then the sound of galloping hooves and Zelda stopped her movements, turning around. A white horse was galloping towards her, and finally stopped before her. It was a magnificent mare, as pure white as a fresh blanket of snow. Zelda hoisted herself onto the horse and it took off with great speed towards the east.

Since she had to go to the east instead of straight south, it would take her longer than she would like. After crossing the small section of Hyrule field in the east (where she currently rode), she would have to veer south and cross the bridge over Lake Hylia, then ride down a winding path that would take her to South Hyrule Field. From there she would travel further south until she reached the province of Faron. Although she knew the Temple of Time rested in the Sacred Grove, she had no idea how to find it.

Zelda glanced down at her right hand; the glow of the Triforce was fading. She prayed that she would get there in time. The fact that the Triforce had been burning her showed that something was amiss. She could only hope that the Hero of Time was alright. She beckoned for the horse to go faster, pushing it to its limits.

Zelda had overheard many stories from the guards about Hyrule Field during the night. They said it was crawling with different monsters and beasts, more so than during the day. Zelda kept her wit about her as she neared the bridge that crossed over the large lake, far, far below her.

One particular story that frightened Zelda was the story of King Bulblin: the leader of the Bulblin race. She had heard that he ravaged villages and kidnapped small children from their homes. Zelda's expression turned hard. When she became Queen, she would vanquish all evil in the land of Hyrule. She hated the thought that this thing went on under her father's nose and he did nothing to stop it.

Zelda urged the horse faster, now past the winding path, they were coming into South Hyrule Field. If she could cross it fast enough, she would be within the province of Faron in no time.

Zelda could see the far-end of the field that would take her to Faron. A smile appeared on her lips. She was so close!

But as a force slammed into her and knocked her off of her horse, she tumbled onto the ground, the smile fading. She landed on her shoulder with a crunch and screamed out in pain. Tears welled in her eyes as she lifted herself off of the ground, drawing her sword with her uninjured arm. She looked around for whatever had flown into her.

She heard a noise from behind her and whipped around, swinging her sword into the creature with full force. The winged bird-beast fell to the ground. Zelda walked over to it, brought her sword above it, and plunged it into the creature. She now knew that it had been a Kargarok: a monster with wings that were leathery like a bat's and had the facial structures of a turkey.

Zelda sighed, wiping the blade of her sword in the grass before going after the frightened horse. She sang to it to calm it; the same lullaby her mother had once sang to her. She had named it "Zelda's Lullaby," just for her. She smiled sadly as she remembered her mother.

She sheathed her sword and, with great difficulty and pain, hoisted herself onto the horse's back. Her legs were already aching for riding so far without a saddle. But, she clicked her tongue and the horse slowly continued on its way, making its way into a gallop.

Within ten minutes, Zelda reached the edge of the province of Faron. She would have to continue on foot, going through Faron Woods. She dismounted and thanked the horse, sending it on its way. She turned around and looked at the dark tunnel of trees leading into Faron Woods. With a deep breath, she walked into the darkness.