Alright, I hit the big 3-0! Sorry in advance if I make any spelling mistakes, (please point them out, you'll get an interweb!). Anyway, enjoy the story!

-Jack Knights

Nightfall came quickly to the valley occupied by hostile forces. Link and Jaz moved from one hiding place to another, trying to close the gap to the other side of the field as quickly as they could. When the very last of the sun's rays disappeared, they ran flat out, their movements muffled by the crack of firewood being burnt in a nearby campsite. They ducked behind a tent, Jaz slipping as she ran after Link. He caught her as she fell, hauling her to her feet.

Be more careful! said the look he shot her. I fell, not my fault! she returned indignantly. He was about to reprimand her when Link her footsteps draw near.

"What are you doing Jared?" came a voice from their right. Link crouched down, taking Jaz with him. They waited in silence, listening.

"I thought I heard something," said another man, obviously Jared.

"Yeah sure, and your mother's a fairy princess."

"Shut up, Mordecai," Jared said bitterly, stomping away from Link and Jaz's hiding place. Only when the footsteps completely disappeared did Link move out from his crouch. That was close, too close, Link thought as he and Jaz dashed away from the camp. Only once the were covered by the crags did he speak.

"We have to stay away from the soldiers at all costs," he whispered, and Jaz nodded. "Not to mention we have to be much more quiet if we are to reach the gates undetected."

"I slip in a patch of mud, what do you want from me?" Jaz hissed. Link shook his head and began climbing. After a time, Jaz followed him, copying his route. As they climbed, the clouds slowly drifted away, it's crescent shape giving just enough light to see. In the back of his mind Link wondered if the soldiers could see them grappling their way across the mountainside. He shoved the thought away and concentrated on the matter at hand.

In his hesitation, Link failed to notice the line of Bulbins directly below them. As he struggled to find the next foothold, Jaz clinging to the rock face several feet away, his foot slipped, sending a shower of dirt and pebbles below. He found a place for his foot and clung to the rock, pray that no-one had heard them. But he had no such luck.

The cascade of loose stones fell directly upon a Bulbin's helmeted crown, knocking him to the ground. Link peered down, barely able to contain his surprise. Jaz took in a sharp breath, watching as he did. When the Bulbin fell face forward off his post, several of the other monsters turned around making noises of surprise. The monster closest to the felled Bulbin studied his compatriot, poking him with his club. Several of the other creatures drew closer, and in their strange language began discussing things. Link nearly sighed with relief when they eventually dispersed, dragging off the unconscious beast, another one taking its place. Well, at least they didn't spot us. He went on, lightly picking his way to the gates that loomed in the distance.

There was a sudden explosion in the distance and when Link turned, looking in the direction the explosion had come from and gasped in surprise. The encampment they'd crossed was ablaze, high orange flames and rolling smoke enveloping the area. Fiddling with his glasses, Link augmented his view and watched in horror as men and monster alike were set on fire. A single figure stood in the midst of it all, tall and imposing. Almost as if sensing Link, he waved the Hylian on, telling him with his hands to hurry.

"Let's get a move on," Link said aloud to Jaz, who was watching the fire spread in amazement.

They made it as close to the gate as possible, taking a brief respite to rest on a ledge barely big enough for the two of them. Link eyed the way to the top of the gate with distaste. He hadn't been counting on rock being blown out, separating the gate's columns from the mountains. At least the monsters are preoccupied by the fire in the valley, he thought, trying to look on the brighter side of their situation. Speaking of which... who was that man? And why did help us out? he wondered as he gazed out at the charred remains of the field.

"So, how are we gonna cross?" Jaz asked, breaking through his thoughts. He mulled it over for a while before answering.

"We can't jump that gap, at least I can't," he said, beginning his analysis. "And what would we do about our packs?"

"OK, so we go further down and look for a smaller gap."

"We can't, in the time it would take us to go back the way we came, climb down and search for a place to cross, night will have given in to daybreak and then we'd be spotted for sure."

"So then what?" Jaz asked impatiently. "Do we just sit here and wait until they kill us?"

"No, we have to find our way across here and now," he muttered, thinking. "I doubt we'll get a second chance. That fire was no accident; someone's helping us out."

"Really? I don't think so," Jaz murmured, looking back at the dwindling flames.

"Think about it; we were saved from the snowstorm, and now this?" he said, going through his pack as an idea struck him. And then there was those times before. In Ordon Forest, the man following us at the Falls and then someone granting us passage into Oocconia. It's too much of a coincidence. He found what he was looking for, the Clawshot.

"What is that?" Jaz questioned, eying the mechanical device, both curious and hesitant.

"It's something I'd picked up in my previous travels. It fires a hook that grabs onto a target and I can reel myself towards the target," Link said, offering it to her.

"Excellent," Jaz said, turning it over in her hands. "That means all we need to do it find something it can grab onto on the other side of the gate and we're across!"

"I don't know if it'll hold us both though," he said absentmindedly as she gave it back to him. "I guess I'll have to teach you how to use it then," he mused, showing her the inside of the glove. "See here? You have to push down on—"

He was interrupted when a Bulbin squealed below them. Peering over the edge, Link watched as the monster waddled, running to another of its kind. It jabbered hurriedly in its strange manner and pointed excitedly to where Link and Jaz were hidden. The other looked up, spotted Link and took a horn from it's belt. It blew on it, a low echoing note filling the valley. Link cursed as he put on the clawshot and stood, not bothering to hide himself anymore.

"Link, what's happening?" Jaz asked, grabbing his arm.

"Hold on tight," he said, wrapping his arm around her waist as he aimed the clawshot at a metal grating on the other side of the gates. He fired it, and the claw was sent flying, its aim true as it latched on to the grate. Jaz's words died in her mouth as Link reeled the chain in, sending to to of them flying over the chasm separating the mountain from the gate. She shrieked once, and Link felt her grip on him tighten as they sped towards the gate.

A flurry of arrows sailed past them in all directions, missing them by inches as the gate loomed ahead. Unfortunately, one arrow hit the chain of the clawshot and became lodged between the links. Cursing, Link could do nothing as the caught link was retracted towards the clawshot. The device made an odd screeching noise and their advance stopped suddenly. They hung in the air for a moment before falling to the ground, the chain unraveling from the inside of the clawshot. Luckily, the claw remained attached to the grating and their fall was stopped little over halfway down.

They swung inward, crashing into the gate now that the chain had reached its limits. Link was knocked out by the force, and hung limply by the chain. Without his fingers keeping the claw attached to the grating, it let go of the grating and they continued to fall. Jaz shouted in surprise, managing to keep her hold on Link as they crashed to the ground on the other side of the gate. She landed on top of Link, the claw sinking into the earth with a heavy thud next to her. Jaz rolled off of the Hylian and looked back at the gates looming behind them.

At least we made it to the other side, she thought weakly as she tried to stand. Her hip sent pains down her leg and she dropped to one knee, cursing. Then the most ominous sound reached her ears; the raw scrapping of metal against metal. Jaz looked on in horror as, slowly but surely, the heavy gates rose. And on the other side, awaited an army, angry and full of blood-lust.

"Link! Link, wake up!" she said frantically, trying to rouse him. His head lolled to side and she saw a streak of blood running down the side of his face, matting his hair. Swearing loudly, she stood, putting her weight on her good hip, lifting Link with her as she stood. Jaz struggled to walk, supporting both of them as she limped over to a tree. Unable to support Link any longer, she sat him up against the trunk. She felt herself grow weary and suddenly her vision swam. She fell to the ground next to him, her hand on his sword as she struggled to unsheathe it.

No! It can't end like this, she fought back against the darkness, but it was a losing battle. I can't die out here... Please... she managed as her vision turned to black. Sound died in her ears, all except for her heartbeat, which filled her being.

Do you want to live? came a voice in the back of her head. It was neither male nor female, but it commanded her attention completely. Jaz, are you really going to give up and die?

I don't want to, no, she managed, trying to rouse herself. But there's nothing I can do.

That's a lie, and you know it, foolish girl, replied the voice angrily in her head. She coward in fear from the anger, the raw energy emanating from the voice. I can help you, if you want, the voice continued in a much softer voice.

What can you do? You're just in my head...

I can grant you power the likes men have fought over for millennia, the voice said seductively.

No... I only need enough to save myself, she stated clearly.

And what about the Hylian? Do you not want to save him as well?

Of course, Jaz said hastily. But what is it you want in return? I doubt your assistance is free.

Think of it as a token, a gift, the voice said smoothly. I need naught for anything you can give me at this time.

Alright, she muttered eventually. If you can save myself and my friend, then I'll accept your help.

Excellent, the voice said gleefully, and if Jaz had been listening more closely, she would have heard the evil undertone in the voice's glee.

Sheik's resolve to join the Resistance was fading fast, but Felicia had remained cheerful enough since then that he simply didn't have the heart to tell her otherwise. His guilt was so powerful that he hadn't even asked her once about the sword since then. I'll take her to the Resistance and then sneak off to some place where there isn't any war.

They'd made it to Saria without any problems, nor were there any Bulbins on their heels. Sheik secretly wished something, anything had happened to take his mind off of things, but their journey had been surprisingly uneventful. Saria itself was quite large, a verdant village off the coast of the sea. The houses were big and the spaces between them more than sufficient. The center was filled with an assortment of shops and stalls, which seemed to be forever occupied by people. Sheik left Felicia in a clothing store and went off in search of his contact, Dormu.

He eventually found an aging Zora sitting in a fountain, watching the people go about. His skin was oddly green and his eyes were closed. Despite his body's evident age, Dormu's visage held a youthfulness not lost upon the Sheikah.

"Hey, Dormu, how's it hangin'?" Sheik said as the approached the fountain, exaggerating his speech. The Zora nodded once and upon recognizing Sheik's voice, smiled, revealing two rows of very sharp, yellowed teeth.

"I'd recognize that voice anywhere," Dormu said gaily, eying the Sheikah as he sat down next to the Zora. "Sheik, you sly bastard."

Sheik grinned widely. "What'cha been up to, old man?"

"Nothin' much, just sittin' here, watchin' the days roll by," the old Zora said as he leaned against the edge of the pool. "Not much else to do, you know?"

"Sucks, don't it?" Sheik continued their witty banter as the Zora scratched his face, several scales falling to the ground. "Hey man, listen, I got a favour to ask you."

"Hm? Sure, lemme hear it," Dormu leaned closer to Sheik, who noticed the old Zora smelled like rotting fish. Sheik told him a whisper then proceeded to watch as the old man's grin faded, replaced by a scowl. "You are ten kinds of crazy, kid, asking somethin like that that out in the open."

"So are you, confronting the King forces every chance you get," Sheik said, dropping his exaggerated accent.

"True, but neither of us are what we seem, correct?" Dormu grinned madly. "I think I can help you out, but you're going to have to help me back to my house, where we can discuss things in private."

They agreed to me up at his house and as Sheik went back for Felicia, Dormu got out of the fountain and went the other way. Sheik found Felicia haggling with a fruit peddler and yanked her away before she could finalize her bid. He quickly told her what had happened and they set off for the Zora's house.

Surprisingly enough, Dormu's house was completely ordinary, except for the fishing and diving gear lining one of the walls. The door was ajar and when they went inside, they found him, milling about the kitchen. He had a disgusting looking sandwich in his hands—tuna, seaweed, pink algae and mayonnaise, he'd said—and proceeded to join them in his living room.

"So, you say you want to join the Resistance, eh?" the Zora said after finishing his meal.

"Yes," they both replied, albeit Sheik more hesitantly.

"And what makes you think the Resistance wants either of you?" Dormu said with a wave of his hand. This took the both of them back and they looked at each other, hoping the other had an answer. "Sheik I know, has reason and modes enough to join the Resistance, should he wish to. But you, you're just a girl. Why would someone like you want to join their ranks?"

"Well, the King murdered my entire family, and most of my village, to start with. I want to play a part in his downfall, and the Resistance is already working on that. That's why."

"A mighty fine speech, young lady, but it's one I've heard time and time again," Dormu said belatedly, standing. "If you don't have anything of value to offer, you know where the door is."