"Here we are." Midna announced, as the two materialized in the middle of another room.
Link's eyes danced around the interior, intrigued by the differences in this room compared to the rest of the Twili Realm. Green particles still drifted through the air like dust, but the room was well lit by little white orbs that bounced off the walls. Unlike the outside, this room had a warmth to it and it created a more welcoming atmosphere.
"Well… this is far from what I expected. So, where is this elixir?"
"If my memory serves me correctly, it should be hidden in a chest beneath the bed." She explained, gesturing for him to go ahead.
Link nodded and with baited breath he walked over to the bed and lifted the grey sheets, getting on his knees and peering underneath. A fairly small chest sat in the very center, looking as though it hadn't been touched for a very long time. Without a second thought, he reached for the chest and dragged it out from beneath the bed. A thick layer of dust blanketed the surface. Blowing it away, it invaded his nostrils and sent him into a coughing fit. Once he'd recomposed himself, he ran his fingers along the metal that bound the wood together until he reached the clasp that locked it.
"Are you sure about this?" He asked, looking back over his shoulder at her.
"Yes. Almost one hundred percent sure."
"Okay." He exhaled, and unclipped the clasp.
Slowly and carefully, he lifted the lid and his eyes settled a small glass bottle that had been sealed with a rubber cork; containing a purple liquid. With a shaky hand, Link reached in and picked it up. He inspected the contents closer, holding the bottle up and shaking the bottle slightly to watch as the liquid sloshed around.
"What's in this?" He asked curiously.
Taken aback by the question, Midna arched an eyebrow. "I've never actually thought about that… Does it matter?"
"Nah, I just wondered." He dismissed. "We should probably get moving, we're running out of time."
He didn't wait for a response as he headed out of the door. They hadn't a clue where Zant was, but Link wasn't willing to sit around waiting for time to slip through their fingers; if they moved fast enough, they could find him. As they turned the corner, he came to an abrupt stop as two Shadow Beasts materialized.
Link instinctively reached for his sword, his eyes widening as the beasts came into full view. Physically, they were different to those that he'd fought before. They were noticeably bigger, with eyes that glowed crimson and razor talons at the end of their hands; if you could even call them that. He staggered back as they began to close in on him, drawing the Master Sword and pointing it at each of them.
"Uhh… Midna?"
"Don't ask. I've never seen anything like this before."
Taking note of this, Link squared his shoulders and finally took a swing with the sword, slicing through the beast that was closest to him. It screeched in pain as black blood sprayed from the fresh wound, which prompted him to make another attack. Without a second thought, he thrust the sword forward and impaled the beast through the chest. Much to his surprise, and horror, the beast barely flinched. He withdrew his sword, and looked to Midna for help as the two beasts cornered them both against the wall.
"Any chance of warping?" He questioned just before one of the beasts gripped his throat and pinned him to the wall.
Midna didn't get the chance to respond, or even attempt to use her powers as the second beast pinned her to the wall. She squirmed in its grasp, trying to think of a way to get them free.
"You have the Master Sword, Link. Surely that's a good enough weapon?"
Link writhed as the talons dug in his chest, ripping through his green tunic and slicing through his skin. He gritted his teeth to suppress a shriek, and raised the sword to strike back. The beast caught his wrist and gave it a hard jerk, forcing the sword from his grip. As Midna conjured up a large ball of magic, the beast that was pinning her to the wall lifted her into the air and tossed her aside; rendering her unconscious. Link fought against the grip of the beast that held him, but to no avail. With Midna out cold, the beast had already thrown her over its shoulder and was carrying her away. He quickly turned his attention back to the one in front of him though, as it tightened its grip around his neck.
He gave it a hard shove, forcing it backwards and attempting to reach for the Master Sword. The Shadow Beast recovered quickly, and as Link ducked for the sword, it made its attack. He cried out as he felt its talons in his back, and only just managed to grab the sword as it lifted him in the air with little effort and flung him against the wall. Raising the sword, he groaned as his body felt heavier and the slightest movement caused severe discomfort. He gritted his teeth, and thrust the sword forward again, stabbing the beast. Just like the first time, it didn't so much as flinch. Instead it shrieked in anger, grabbed hold of his dark blonde hair and yanked his head forward at an angle. He kicked at the beast with his foot, but missed as it dodged the blow.
An eruption of pain tore through Link, and it wasn't until he glanced down that he realized the cause. One of its talons had been thrust straight through him. He gasped, a raspy wheeze, and his legs buckled causing him to slide down the wall. Though his vision was reduced to a blurry haze, he glanced up at the beast, unable to move as it reached for him, and when it lifted him from the ground, the last of his consciousness slipped away.
Zant stood over Zelda's body that he'd discarded on the floor and chuckled. He was worried, for a while, that his plan was beginning to fall apart, but now that he'd taken her out of the equation, things were sliding back into place. He turned around at the right moment as the Shadow Beasts he'd sent after the Hero and Twilight Princess, slipped through the entrance with the two problems slung over their shoulders. They stopped a few feet short of where he stood, and dropped the bodies by his feet.
"Thank you, my loyal pets." He commended, then snapped his fingers causing them to disappear in wisps of magic.
As the last of the green particles faded, he bent down and closely inspected the bodies that laid before him. After seeing Midna unharmed, he turned his attention to Link, whose tunic was dyed crimson with blood around the chest and stomach area. He smirked at the thought of the hero in pain before begrudgingly putting two fingers to Link's forehead. In the midst of a green glow, the wound healed; not fully, but just enough to keep him from dying.
"Time to get up, Hero." Zant kicked him.
Link groaned in discomfort as he felt himself coming to. His eyes flickered open, and through blurred vision he saw Zant looming over him. His grip tightened around the sword still in his hand, but his attempt to get up was cut short by a sharp sting. He winced as the memory of being impaled came back to him, and fell back into a lying position.
"You were at full health when you beat me before, what makes you think I would make that same mistake again?" Zant taunted.
His head dropped to the side, and he saw Midna laid opposite him. With a struggle, he rolled over onto his stomach and as he looked up he saw Zelda, pale and near lifeless, laid on the floor. His expression darkened, and he felt the strong need to get up. As Zant stepped into his line of vision, blocking his view of the Princess, he inhaled deeply and put his hands to the floor, pushing himself up until he was on all fours, and with further struggle he managed to get back on his feet.
"No, Zant. The mistake you made was bringing me here and letting me live." He stated, grimacing at the fresh sting of his wounds.
"Oh no, you see… I let you live so that you could watch them die." Zant sneered, gesturing to Zelda and Midna.
Link gritted his teeth as a means to control his growing anger towards the Usurper King, and smirked. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you but the only one dying today is you."
Zant grinned. "Ah, that's right. You got the elixir… Then don't let me keep you, go ahead and feed it to the Princess."
A frown replaced Link's smirk and he quirked an eyebrow, untrusting of the being that stood before him. Despite his suspicions, he moved cautiously over to where Zelda was laid, and once again pulled the Princess into his lap. He looked back at Zant, who gave two flicks of his hand to signal him to get on with it, and then reached into his pocket for the elixir. Pulling out the bottle, he removed the cork that was sealing it and set it aside before putting the bottle to his nose and inhaling the scent, or rather lack of one. He glanced over his shoulder once more, weary of Zant, and then lifted Zelda's head carefully with his hand, just enough so that she wouldn't choke. Then he raised the bottle and tilted the bottom up so that the liquid slid down, opening her mouth partially with his thumb and pressing it to her lips.
Just a few feet away, Midna stirred awake as a deep voice echoed in her mind. A voice that she recognised right away as Zant's. Except he wasn't speaking aloud. This was a message that he intended for her ears only, and she received it. She bolted to her feet and closed the distance between herself and Link, swiping the bottle from his hand upon reaching him and throwing it away. It flew across the room and hit the wall, shattering to pieces and spraying the surface with the purple liquid.
"Midna, what the hell?!" Link exclaimed, staring at the spilled elixir in horror.
"He switched the bottles before we even got to the chest, Link… It wasn't the elixir, it was poison."
Link opened his mouth to speak, but Zant glided over to them before he could say a word. "Bravo, bravo, young Midna." He praised her with a few slow claps. "You managed to solve my little riddle just in the nick of time."
Midna scowled. "You're a foul excuse of a king, Zant." She snapped.
Carefully laying the Princess back down, Link got to his feet, clutching the Master Sword with white knuckles, and advanced towards Zant. His eyes were once again dark and his stare was intense enough to bore holes.
"The real elixir… Where is it?" He questioned, pointing the sword at Zant.
Zant laughed maniacally. "You really think that I would tell you when you have the intent of taking my throne away… Foolish Hylian."
"No, I never expected that you would… Either way you're going to lose the throne. See, I don't need you to tell me. I can find it myself after you crumble to a pile of dust."
"How bold of you to assume… Ah, but that's why I brought you here."
Link lowered the sword slightly and tilted his head to the side. "What?"
"I knew you'd not stop until you ruined my plans, so I had my beasts bring you to me before that could happen, and now… I challenge you, Hero of Twilight." Zant smirked. "We will fight, and if you win then I shall step down and give you the elixir, and disappear from your lives forever."
"And if you win?" Link prompted.
"If I win, I destroy the portal and you along with the Princesses will serve me for eternity."
Link contemplated this, thinking over a thousand different outcomes. Though he knew that it came down to only two. A wry smile twitched at his lips and he raised the Master Sword.
"Challenge accepted."