Ash: Hey guys! I'm sorry I've been gone for a while! Yes school has been out since the 24th but I've been playing video games and hanging with friends!

Dark Link: Oh please, don't give us excuses wench!

Ash: What the hell? I thought you were gone you pompous ass!

Dark: HE-

Valory: OhEmGee guys stop!

Navi: Hey! Hey! You shouldn't fight! It hurts my fairy ears! Hey! Are you Liste-

Dark, Valoy, and Ash: SHUT UP!

Ash: Valory, why don't you do the honors?

Valory: Shweetness! We're now done (glares at Dark) with our incessant chatter. Ash has worked hard on this chapter and hopes you enjoy it. Read on!

~Dark and Shadow~
"Dark what are you doing here?" asked Shadow as she knelt by Valory's side. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she waited for his answer. From what Valory had told her, Dark Link was furious before she had been kidnapped. So why try and come to her rescue? Surely he hadn't gotten over his anger that quickly? Unless...he cared for her? A sly smirk crossed Shadow's face and swiftly turned back into a scowl as she looked back up at Dark Link. "Well? What are you doing here? I will not ask again."

He seemed to sigh as his eyes closed momentarily, "I am here to retrieve Valory. Not only that, but I want to find that sick bastard and kill him. Slowly. And painfully. He is going to learn not to mess with The King of Shadows. He will also learn to never take what is mine." His eyes narrowed at that last statement and he bent down to ground level as well. Shadow was taken aback by the conviction that Dark's voice held. He seemed bent on exacting revenge on Ganondorf. Not just for trying to overtake his lands, but for harming Valory as well. Perhaps his icy heart was melting because of her?

Valory was still unconcious and seemed to be far from waking. Deciding to get back to the castle before any more monsters showed up, Dark scooped her into his arms and turned to go back through the portal. Shadow stood as she shook her head in bewilderment.
Three hours later found the group at the gates to Shadow Castle. The guards bowed their heads in respect for their king as the group entered and Dark carried Valory through multiple hallways. He finally came to a black door with silver designs. Nodding to Shadow to open the door, he stepped inside and over to the large bed. Laying Valory down gently, he brough the plush black blankets up to her chin and left the room.

"Dark, how did you find the portal to the Dark Dimension?"

"Dark Dimension? So that's the name of that horrid place."

"Answer my question!"

"Why does it matter?"

"Well what if something happens and you're out of commision? Everyone else will need to know how you found your way there."

"Speaking of finding the way there, how did YOU get there?"

"I've been there before..."

"WHAT? When? How?"

"...I don't want to talk about it..."

"Well too bad, now tell me!"

"NO! I SAID I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!" Shadow shouted angrily as she ran down the hallway, only coming to a stop when she collided with something hard. She looked up into ocean blue eyes as she fought back tears. Link glared over at Dark and swept Shadow into a hug. "Dark, what have you done to Shadow?" Link asked, his voice deadly calm and soft. Shadow shook her head at him and pulled away, opting instead to grab his hand and drag him away from the furious King.

~Link and Shadow, Shadow's P.O.V~

I pulled Link along behind me until we finally reached my room. Sitting down on the comfy bed, I motioned for Link to come and sit next to me. He declined by giving a slight shake of the head and brough over a chair instead, flipping it so he could sit on it backwards. "Now tell me what happened back there between you and Dark Link. And also where the hell you've been for the past three days!"

My eyes widened in horror. Three days? I'd been gone for three days? And to think I hadn't even told him I wouldn't be around for a while. This really just isn't my day. As I lowered my head and sighed, I felt the bed shift and looked back to see Naoku. Reaching out a hand to pet him, I watched as he looked at Link first and then brushed his head against my hand. He seemed to grin and plopped down. I giggled as the bed creaked under his weight and Link chuckled softly at Naoku's antics.

Naoku is a wolf. He's mainly black but his underside and his paws are silver, as are the marks on his face, back, and legs. (If you want to see how Naoku looks, there's the link on my profile). However, I've yet to answer Link's question. Then again, questions. Taking a deep breath, I explained as best as I could, "Dark had asked me how I knew the way to Ganon's castle. I know for a fact that he's been seriously worried about Valory. But I couldn't tell him."

"Wait...Ganon's Castle? That's where Valory was being held? Damn it why didn't we think to look there first!"

"Because you probably guessed that, that would be the first and most obvious place to look so of course she wouldn't be there. I know Ganondorf's mind games and tricks, which is why I went anyway. So yes that is where she was. When I got there she was locked in...she was locked in Ganondorf's room. Luckily all I needed was a small key to free her, and I got that from an axe-tail Lizalfos. When we finally got out of there and to the portal we'd already had to fight some monsters beforehand, but the ones guarding the portal were MANY. Valory, being stubborn and angry, went after the three Stalfos and the two Iron Knuckles. I got stuck with the pack of Wolfos, which I managed to take out all of them. As Valory was injured during her fight, she was about to try and kill the Iron Knuckle but she was too slow and passed out as Dark came through the portal and defeated it. Then we came back here."

"All of that? AND you took out a Wolfos pack BY YOURSELF? ARE YOU INSANE? YOU COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!" Link yelled. As if I didn't have enough of a headache already? I understand his concern though. Sigh.

"I'm sorry okay? I didn't think anyone would worry. Anyway, like I said earlier, Dark had asked me how I knew where Ganon's Castle was. You already know that story, you were there for it, and so I told him that I didn't want to talk about it and he persisted so I ran until I collided with you so here we are."

Link stared at me incredulously. He also gaped at me too and I had to actually close his jaw for him. His staring was starting to get uncomfortable and so I fidgeted slightly. Running my fingers through Naoku's fur, I decided to just focus on that. It took several moments for Link to digest what all had just been told to him. With another shake of his head, he leaned on his left hand as he closed his eyes, thinking of something to say next.

~Zelda and Navi~

The lower half of the castle was unusually quiet. Normally the servants would be talking amiably this time of day but none said a word. Even Navi kept silent as she fluttered beside Zelda, who had taken to roaming the hallways. Everyone could feel the tension within the castle. They all knew the king was angry. Zelda sighed as she thought about recent events. It seemed that Ganondorf really was coming back to try and take over. And for some reason, he wanted Valory out of the way

She contemplated various ways to prevent him from making a full comeback. Unfortunately most of her ideas came up with slim to no chance of working. Then it hit her. What if the retried what they did in the past? Round up the sages and seal him away? But this time would be with the shadow sages instead of the light sages. What a blow it would be to Ganondorf's ego if he were locked away for all eternity by his own "element".

Turning to Navi, she explained her idea. As she finished Navi seemed to be oddly quiet. Her brow was furrowed in confusion, "But Zelda, shadow and darkness are alike. Shouldn't the shadow element HELP him instead of bind him?". Zelda had though of this too. But surely it would work? If not light, then his own element. "Well Navi, we're just going to have to try."

~Dark and Valory, Valory's P.O.V~

Comfortable. That's how I felt at the moment. My eyes were closed but I could feel the soft bed beneath me. The pillows were so warm and cuddly too. I felt like staying in this spot all day, rarely moving whatsoever. Of course, I rarely get what I want. And I wasn't getting what I wanted this time either. My eyelids forced themselves open as sunlight threatened to burn my face if I didn't wake up soon.

I slowly sat up and turned so I was sitting cross-legged on the comfy bed. That didn't last long as I fell backwards in shock. A pair of ruby eyes were staring at me and had been way too close for comfort. I sllightly sighed in relief as I noticed that it was Dark Link. Too bad for him, I was angry with him. Why did he become a jerk like that? Why did he have to hurt me? I've got to leave her, I don't trust being around him anymore. I'm not about to subject myself to more pain than necessary when it comes to that arrogant asshole.

Coming to the conclusion to leave, I stood up on wobbly legs and attempted to move toward the dorr. Never got that far. A cool hand snaked around my wrist and stopped me from going any further.

"Release me."

"No."

"Now! I'm not kidding with you Dark!"

"Hn. No."

"Either you let go of me right now or one of us is going to get hurt and it won't be me," I hissed at him angrily through clenched teeth.

Instead of letting go of my wrist, the jerk clamped his hand around tighter and turned me around, pulling me toward him. His eyes held a look of confusion, anger, and concern. Concern? Pfft, he didn't care about me. He had already proved that before that bastard had kidnapped me. Besides it's not like Dark had saved me. Instead, Shadow had come to my aid.

Again Dark tugged on my wrist but I turned my head away. I did't want to look at him. He's caused anough pain already. Can't he take a hint? I balled both of hands into fists as I silently fumed. He seemed to be getting madder as well but I didn't care. All I cared about was getting AWAY from him.

"Let. Me. Go. Right. Now." came the warning tone in my voice. And again he didn't listen. He stepped back while pulling. I stood my ground and grinned in satisfaction when I heard a crunch as my free fist came up and punched him square in the face. He let go quickly and covered his nose as blood poured out between his fingers. It seems he'll have to learn the hard way that I'm no longer going to deal with his bull crap. I swept from the room and made off down the hall, wandering the corridors until I came to the gardens.

Yet it seems that even in the gardens I wasn't safe. Maybe I was vulnerable everywhere I went? Wait, why am i even thinking this? I'm not the weak little girl I was when I first came here! Ever since my fight with Dark I've changed! I'm stronger now and I can take care of myself! Or so I hope...

Ash: well that was it for Ch.12 of Shadow Hyrule! I hope you guys liked it Still not quite where I want to be yet, but as you can see Valory is getting to be quite a warrior type who won't back down :D R&R please! I really enjoy reviews or even PMs. Those are what keep me going because it feels good to know someone likes my work:

Valory: so R&R pwease Ja Ne!