A/N: Wow... has it really been two years? That's pretty hilarious. Well, anyway, I got bored one day and decided to edit another chapter of this crazy adventure. Still a collaboration! I just do most of the polishing up )

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Four years had passed since Blaze left, and Echo was now a skilled warrior. She was out training one day when she heard a familiar voice...

"Echo."

"...Blaze?" She said incredulously, "Where the hell have you been??"

Blaze then showed himself, scared and battered.

"I had to control my powers... I had no strength then." He said softly.

"Well, much as I'm glad to see you, I hope you don't think you can come waltzing back, and everything'll be just fine again!" Echo snapped.

"It will never be fine again." He didn't look sad, just resigned. "I've watched over you for years... I know that the king has a new son, I just came to grab my weapons; Ganonn's back."

Echo snorted. "Huh. Again?" She muttered. "Well, it was nice to see you, I suppose. Guess you'll be off soon, then? You haven't seen Shorty or Link in your travels, have you?"

"Yeah, I have, they're married and have two kids..." He paused. "I need your help. Gannon has taken the triforce from Link and Shorty; we need to combine our powers and stop him."

She stared at him. Finally, she said, "You know I can't just leave."

"I know, but if you change your mind you know were to find me." He said. Then he disappeared out of sight. Echo sighed and shook her head, and went off to pack.

The bloody idiot knows me too well, She thought. She arrived where Blaze was three days later, having taken time to: a) be sure that her garden would be well cared for, b) clean and pack each and every one of her many weapons, c) practice every attack move she's ever learned and recharge her energy-stone, and d) say goodbye to her lover and all her friends - well, they were more like 'acquaintances' but she liked to imagine they were friends.

"So," Blaze began, somewhat awkwardly. "How's it been?"

"Pretty good - life's quiet except for the odd fight." She replied.

"Well, at least your a good fighter now." He said, smirking.

"Damn rights I am!" Echo exclaimed proudly, "I think it's safe to say that I'm a sight better than Link - taking into account the fact that he probably doesn't have any time to practice, what with the kids and all."

Blaze nodded. "Probably."

The conversation wound on slowly as Echo muttered, "So."

"Haven't seen you in a long time," Blaze pointed out.

She frowned. "Well, no fault of mine."

"True..." He sighed. Abruptly, he said, "We have to go and stop Gannon from trying to destroy Hyrule."

Echo looked startled at the sudden change of subject. "What?"

But his attention was suddenly elsewhere. He whipped out a dagger and aimed it behind Echo, and a scream resounded throughout the clearing.

"Shit!" Echo yelled, jumping out of the way.

Blaze stalked into the darkness and dragged out a sheikah. Echo looked stunned.

"He looks familiar..." Blaze said slowly.

"...He does?"

"Yes he does - wait, Sheik?? Zelda... what are you doing here? ZELDA WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE???!!!"

Suddenly a bright red light erupted from Blaze's hood, and his sword and shield turned red and began to drip as if coated with blood.

Echo backed away from her friend slowly. "...Blaze?" She said softly.

He was breathing heavily. "I... I thought I got rid of this..." He gasped, "Zelda, I'm sorry..."

He rushed toward Sheik with his sword upraised to attack.

"ECHO RUN!! I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF!!" He cried.

To hell with this, Echo thought, and ran like the devil was at her back.

"Damn, I really shouldn't have left him there," She muttered to herself, "But i'm sure he can take care of himself..."

Suddenly a blood curdling scream emitted from the Shadow Temple... and all Echo heard was a body hit the floor. Blaze walked out, blood soaked, and she turned, her eyes wide.

"You'd better have an explanation."

Blaze removed his hood to reveal fangs and a huge scar.

"The scar is from Gannon," He said, "I tried to take him on - didn't work out well. The fangs - that I cannot explain."

Echo, ever sarcastic at all the wrong moments, snapped, "But what's with the drama and the blood and shit?"

Blaze sighed. "You weren't supposed to see that. I can't control my urges and I'm kind of possessed. I almost wasn't until I got into that fight. Then it happened --"

"...What happened."

Blaze hesitated. "Do you remember in the Temple of Time when your skirt had two slits in it?"

"Um, sure."

"Link did that." He said. "I stopped him, but he tried to kill me... So I said something and when I woke up he was out cold."

"Link made you... possessed?" She asked skeptically.

"Sort of..." He said reluctantly. "He tried to... He tried to...r...rape...you..."

Echo stopped cold. Shock crossed her face but it was gone in a moment. "And I don't remember this, why?" She said in a quiet, dangerous voice.

"You hadn't woken up yet. When I saw that it happened I couldn't control myself and I was almost bloodthirsty - I wanted to kill him... rip his heart out..."

Echo looked rather green, and scowled.

"Are you sure Shorty's safe with him?"

"I warned him," Blaze said, "I warned him that if I ever heard anything or if I ever saw it in her eyes I would kill him. My powers are a lot stronger now, I could fry his ass in a second. Are you ok?" He said suddenly, because Echo was still faintly off-color.

"I'm fine," She snapped, "Just fine."

"No you're not, I can feel it." Blaze said, reaching out a hand to her. She pushed it away.

"You can, huh?" She said, raising an eyebrow. "Well that's funny, cause I can't."

"You can't deal with emotions well." Blaze pointed out. Truthfully, but she would never admit it. She stood up and rolled her eyes.

"Good for me - now, what are we going to do about Ganondorf?"

Blaze sighed and let it be. "We have to get our powers to the peak of our strength and then combine them. But - well, it won't do any good."

"Well why are we doing it then??" Echo scowled out of frustration.

"We need one more person."

"Good." She said, smiling satisfactorily. "Let's go get them, then! Knowing you, you probably have someone in mind... Right?"

Blaze paused. "...No... Well, let's sleep on it. Maybe we will think of someone."

"Ok, fine. Let's stay here - I've slept on worse surfaces than this, and it's not likely to rain tonight." She said, looking up at the clear sky.

"No, you'll get my bed." Blaze insisted, "I'll stay out here; just go straight down, it's easy to see."

Night fall came suddenly and the wolves howled at the crescent moon. Echo, stubborn as she was, could be found fast asleep on the moss-covered ground, a knife clutched in her hand. Blaze was not far off, seemingly unable to sleep. Red eyes were open wide, gazing up at the familiar stars. Blaze started to mumble late into the morning, waking Echo up.

Echo yawned. "Wha --?"

"Sorry Echo." He said. "Did I wake you?"

"Yeah, s'ok though. Have you had any ideas?" She asked.

"No, but I've been remembering something... An incantation, but not all of it." He said, looking puzzled. "Have you ever heard this --"

He spoke the incantation. Echo frowned.

"It sounds familiar..."

"Wierd." He muttered. "Well, I talked to Link and Shorty last night; they've never heard of it before. It feels like I was taught only part of it."

Impatiently, she said, "Well, how is it supposed to help us?"

"Dunno." He shrugged. "Maybe... nah. Nevermind."

"Ok, well I have an idea. I knew someone back when I was younger that might help us."

"Alright, were do we find them?"

Echo grinned. "In the city, of course!"

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TBC...

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