Dark Times

At the body of Colonel Hans, Kyle and a few other soldiers investigated. They were looking for clues as to who had the power to kill a colonel and get away. Kyle had a soldier interrogate the witness but all the got were ramblings about goblins. "Looks like Ganondorf has made good on his threat" Kyle deduced.

Suddenly a carriage appeared with royal guards. From out of the carriage came King Daphnes and Lord General Faust. All of the soldiers saluted upon their arrival. Both looked at the cloak covering Hans's body, he moved it to see his face and bowed their heads in respect. "Colonel Kyle, I want you to find who did this" King Daphnes ordered. Kyle then announced that the witness claimed goblins attacked him and the investigation revealed a Goblin scimitar indicating that despite his horrifying screams, he was telling the truth.

"He's not telling the truth" came a voice. Instantly Shin and Sieg dropped down from the buildings surrounding the crime scene. Kyle questioned as to what he meant but Shin pointed to his eyes. "Never doubt Xangese eyes. You Hylians have pointed ears to hear the messages of the Gods, but we have these dragon eyes so we can see the truth" he explained. "Things like illusions and lies don't work on us, and he's not telling the truth" he stated.

Daphnes looked at them, "You mean he's covering for someone?" he asked.

Sieg stepped forward, "No" he answered as he placed his hand on top of the witness's head. "Absuchen" he said using magic to scan the man's mind. "He is overwhelmed with fear, his mind is just making anything up to explain it" he explained while soldiers took notes. "It's also strange as to what could do this, and I'm sensing bursts of mana like I did a moment ago. It seems that whoever did this used magic that only activated for a moment, like requip magic" he explained.

This garnered the attention of all the investigators, "That's the same magic Link uses, you're not saying he did this, there's no way!" yelled one soldier with the agreement of many others.

Kyle turned to them, "No, despite our own belief that Link would never do this, we already have evidence and can have witnesses collected to insure his involvement in this was nonexistent" he announced.

Faust was pleased with this, not only did Kyle trust his gut and instinct but he could collect evidence to back up those who didn't believe him. He turned King Daphnes and both began walking back to the carriage. Inside, he turned to Daphnes, "I want you to call King of the Gorons and ask him to send his best engineers" he requested to Daphnes' surprise. Faust then took off his left glove and looked at his mechanical arm and leg, "When this guy strikes again, Ganondorf or not, I want to be ready" he declared with fire in his eyes.

The next morning a funeral was held for Colonel Hans, all were in attendance. Nobles from the different races that made up the Hylian Alliance paid respect for the murdered Colonel, except for the Gerudo who were noticeably absent causing suspicion. However, most knew they were very secretive and didn't like being bothered or to bother others. Afterward another meeting was held.

Zelda stood up at the table, "The current leader of the Gerudo, Aveil, sent us a message early this morning" he announced. "She states that Ganondorf and his men have entered a pyramid deep in the desert that contains dark power" she explained. "When her warriors tried to enter the pyramid, they were cut off by a powerful field of energy. Further reports discovered three orbs on the Pyramid's exterior that are apparently linked to the Forest, Fire and, Water temples around Hyrule" Zelda ended.

Kyle tried to hold back his chuckle when he heard that Ganondorf was using the temples like he thought. "So, apparently, he has infiltrated the temples to use their energies in order to create a forcefield around the pyramid so he can work undisturbed" Kyle deduced. Everyone agreed with this and began to deduce how to deal with said problem.

Zelda stood up, "I can seal the negative energies within the temples, provided someone can get me to the temples' alters" she explained.

At the Pyramid deep within the Lost Desert, Ganondorf stood among some Miniblin slaves working, "Dig damn you dig! I swear we shall obtain the hidden power within and glory for us, the being cast out of Hyrule's grace!" he yelled as he tried to boost their moral. Gorm stood beside him watching over the excavation.

Suddenly, Garin appeared before Gorm and whispered something in his ear, "What? Lord Ganondorf, it appears a Hylian colonel has been murdered and we're the prime suspects!" he stated. He was confused; he did not know that Garin, their best assassin, wasn't chosen for such a job or if they were supposed to do that to begin with.

Ganondorf turned his head and instead of a cocky look, or a menacing glare, there was confusion on his face. "Sounds troubling" came a voice from near them. They all turned to see Cain walking toward them. "Appears they wish to blame you to start something, what shall you do?" he asked.

No one was really glad to see him, but not mad either. "My warriors do not require more of your instructions Cain, though your training was much appreciated" Ganondorf diverted from the previous question. "How did you get passed my barrier?" he asked. Cain explained he just twisted a guard's arm until he agreed to let him through. "Still, this news is troubling, but not our concern. Garin, I want you to investigate this, do not kill anyone of importance" he ordered as Garin gave a bow and prepared to move out. "And Garin, find out who these new brats that are aiding our brats" he explained.

Back at Hyrule, the plan was formulated. Zelda was to get inside the temples and calm the raging energies within, and Link was to clear the way for her Kyle had to stay behind in case the assassin came for him as well. It didn't take Shin long to volunteer to aid them, but they were still goading Sieg. "This isn't my problem, and last thing I want to do is clear the path for some spoiled-rotten princess" he explained. Problem was, he didn't know Zelda and as such he didn't know she wasn't spoiled rotten…but still either way he didn't want to "Demean" himself by working with others who weren't Magi. Hell, he'd complain if they were all Magi anyway.

Zelda seemed appalled at the idea of her being a "spoiled-rotten" princess. "I have you know, many consider me one of the most selfless people in the world! I have organized many programs to help the poor find jobs and attribute them as upstanding citizens, installed some harsher punishments for serious offenders of the law so they will not harm the people ever again…" she stated as she went down the list of good things she has done in her life.

Sieg wasn't paying attention though, in fact, Link and Shin saw him preparing his ventriloquism spell on Zelda, "And I can crack walnuts with my cleavage" he said…but it came out of his mouth not hers to everyone's surprise. He looked at his hand in sheer shock it didn't work.

"…and I noticed you reading everyone's minds yesterday so I put up a No-Magic zone in here so you can make yourself look like an idiot" she ended with the biggest smirk on her face ever. Everyone seemed pleased that she took Sieg down a few notches.

He stared at her for a few seconds and chuckled, "Well, if you're the one telling me what to do while I'm here, I guess it won't be too unbearable" he decided indicated he would aid Link and Shin. Shin tried to ask if he was telling the truth but Zelda changed the subject.

"Now that we got that settled, I want to announce that I found a suitable replacement for the position of colonel for the west…but none of you, including myself, will like it" Faust said as he called for the man to come in. He had the look of sheer disappointment on his face as he called him in.

As soon as he stepped in, everyone was in a state of shock and fear Shin and Sieg weren't for they did not know him. The man appeared to be in his late twenties to early thirties, he had gray hair, a pair of glasses, a long lab coat, pale skin, and most amazingly, stitch mark across his face, wrists and Gods knew where else. "Hello one and all" he said in a monotone voice and face.

Zelda and Link were huddled together in the furthest position from him. Link had his Hero's Blade pointed in the man direction but it was clear he was shaking too much to properly use it. "You stay away from us, we're not afraid of you anymore" Link lied with Zelda's agreement.

The man looked at them as the sun shined on his glasses, "Oh, then you won't mind me admitting that before the knights pulled you two away from me; I replaced your big toes with each other's so you would always have a piece of the other with you forever" he stated. Without a second the two pulled their shows off to see if he was telling the truth in a petrified manner. "Gotcha" he admitted.

"How dare you Viktor!" said a knight as he prepared to hit the man.

However, Viktor just raised his hand and touched him. It appeared that lightning was infused to his hand and the knight was paralyzed. "Lighten up" he said never removing the monotone voice. Instantly, Sieg noticed he didn't use a wand or spell book to do said magic and questioned him about whether he was a Magi or someone blessed like Zelda. "Oh no, I fought and killed a renegade Magi and replaced his hands with mine" he explained causing Sieg and Shin to fear him as well.

Faust just sighed in agony as all looked at him like he was crazy, "look, I KNOW what you are all thing, but no one can deny that Viktor has the abilities to take up the mantle. Besides, all the soldiers in the Western Branch are being transfer now to protect them from him" he stated.

This really didn't put anyone at ease, "Who will his soldiers be?" Kyle asked.

Viktor and smiled and clapped his hands as two armored being entered the room…with no one inside them. "My very own Iron Knuckles will be…professional scruples prevent me to say how I made them" Viktor said happily. He had no morals it seemed.

Link suddenly shot up, still shielding Zelda from the mad scientist before them, "And so, you got to go now don't you, now scram and…protect the western providences from Ganondorf. That pyramid is only in the west so watch out. GO!" Link yelled as Viktor admitted he wanted to experiment with Link and Zelda before he left.

Later, after Link made sure Viktor was far enough away, Link, Shin, and Sieg prepared to move out to the temples. Zelda approached him as he mounted Epona. "Be safe, the Forest Temple is closer so go there first" she explained. "As soon as you're at the altar, use this charm to summon me there, father wants me to stay within the castle until we know for sure that assassin is gone and Viktor is hold up in his new lab, as far away from us as possible" she further explained to Link. "You'll be alright right?" she asked.

Link looked at his comrades, Shin was literally standing on Epona's backside behind him and Sieg lazily pulled him off and onto a magic seal that floated off the ground. Jokingly, he made a "Tiny bit" movement with his hands as they moved out to ease her mind.

Zelda stood there as she waved luck to them, Impa approached her, "Don't worry my lady, he will be fine, those others as well, they aren't chosen champions of the Gods for nothing" she reminded her.

Above them on the castle wall, Garin hid in the noon shadows, he pulled out a knife as he looked at Zelda but he struggled to put it back, "Not supposed to do that" he kept repeating to himself to convince his body. He sighed as she was let inside and looked to the direction of the three heroes. He pulled out a communication orb and Ganondorf's face appeared on it, "There on the move" he reported.