Hey everyone. I realize that this chapter is very short, but it's really just meant as a transition chapter. You'll understand what I mean when you read it. Read, review if you want but it won't hurt my feelings if you don't for this one.

The Legend of Midna: Clockwork Darkness

Chapter Seventeen

"At last," Eoghan said triumphantly, hoisting the Gilded Sword into the air melodramatically, "my arm is complete again!"

"You act as if you live by the sword," Siobhán scoffed, although not with her usual piss-and-vinegar.

"I practically do nowadays," he said. "Well then, now that we've got our things back, let's take a look at that map." He sheathed his sword and slung his shield over his back, and then huddled together with the other two on an empty cot to examine the map.

"Well, it looks like we're in a basement level," Cailin stated as they pored over the map. "If I had to guess, I'd say that Zagros is like his dad and will want to hole up somewhere near the top."

"Could be," Eoghan said, "but then again it's hard to say. I mean, Dad said that when he fought Ganondorf the last time he brought the fight to Dad out in the courtyard of Hyrule Castle."

"That's true," Cailin admitted. "I wasn't there, but I do remember him saying that."

"We should probably search everywhere then, just to be sure," Siobhán suggested.

"I find myself agreeing with you more and more often," Eoghan said.

"Alright," Cailin said, pointing her finger at the map, "there's just a few other rooms on this level, and that looks like a staircase there, so let's check those rooms and then head on up."

They proceeded down the branch of hallway that they hadn't taken before. Ahead of them, the corridor turned to the right, and on either side of them was a door. They decided first to try the door to their right, to the east according to the map. Once inside, they met the unimpressive sight of numerous food storage containers, so they left and tried the door across the hall.

"Now this is more like it," Eoghan said with glee. This room was also a storage room, but instead of provisions, it held arms and armor. "Gods, look at all this stuff! They must have either raided the palace or Dad was carrying this stuff around with him when they were captured. Check it out," he said enthusiastically, "it's one of Dad's clawshots! I'm totally taking this. And here's a metal shield…"

"You might want to take some armor that's around," Siobhán suggested. "That's what I'm doing, if I can find any that fits. There's bound to be some in this mess."

"Too bad armor interferes with magic," Cailin mused. "It would probably be useful. Oh well, I'll make it through. I always have before, anyhow."

"Alright, here we go," Eoghan said gleefully. He had stumbled upon an almost complete suit of steel armor. All that was missing was a helmet, pauldrons and cuisses, although the cuirass did have tassets attached. He proceeded to don the armor with help from Cailin when necessary. "This is great. Too bad all the helmets around here are broken. This stuff isn't in the best shape either, but it should be okay, I hope." Just then, something came rushing past his head, barely grazing his hair before plunging into the wall. He spun around to find Siobhán wearing several pieces of leather armor in addition to the dress she had on, holding a crossbow.

"That's right," Siobhán said with a smirk. "Your sister's a bitch!"

While the twins showed off their new finds, something else caught Cailin's eye. Buried among the refuse, however salvageable it might be, was something much more useful to her. There, in the pile of old weapons and armor pieces, was a headband set with a black orb that matched her Goddess pendant perfectly.

"I'll hang on to you," she said in a low voice, so that only the headband could hear. "You'll be useful, I can tell."

When they had all finished showing off their new arsenal, they returned to the main corridor. Just as the map had said, there was a staircase spiraling upwards to the right. Once at the top, they were met by what appeared to be a door, but it was no ordinary door. There was no handle, and no visible means of opening it. Its surface was unblemished onyx, but it appeared to scintillate color across its surface, just barely noticeable. The trio approached the door, unsure how to go about opening it.

"There's got to be a way to open it," Eoghan said aloud. He reached out to feel the surface, to find anything at all that might help them get past this obstacle, but then something happened. As soon as his hand touched the surface, the entire door flashed red and Eoghan was drawn into it.

"Eoghan!" the other two cried, unable to save him from being consumed by the door. Siobhán reached out to try and grab hold of his ankles, but she, too, was drawn into the door. As she passed through, it changed from red to yellow.

"I've got a bad feeling about this," Cailin said to herself as, seeing no better option, she plunged herself into the door as well, which turned blue upon consumer her person.

When the three opened their eyes, an all too familiar voice rang out in each of their minds.