AN: Thanks for the review Izzyboopers!

Suggested Soundtrack (for the second half) : Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens

Chapter 18

Link had left the princess after everything was cleaned up, the baby put in its own little crib, and Zelda was finally able to catch some sleep.

He couldn't, though. His bleary mind told him he needed to, but his heart refused to let him. Harumphing, Link made his way to the training grounds. There he found old Auru, the only one of the Resistance Fighters who had remained in Castle Town, due to the fact that, well, even though he denied it most of the time, he was getting really old. Auru turned when he heard Link and nodded a greeting. Beyond him sat a circle of people on the grassy ground, all listening to his flame-headed daughter, Melody.

Her audience was made up of the moblins she had somehow befriended, Gropkick, Krakrak, and Porkfic. Krakrak and Porkfic seemed to be intently listening, and Gropkick appeared to try, but he was either bouncing for fun or trying to get something out of his ear, Link couldn't tell which.

The sight of moblins so close to his daughter still raised his hackles, but he knew that, if this treaty were going to work, the two peoples would have to learn to live with one another.

And then there was the matter of the Gerudo boy. He sat listening to Melody, too, with all-too-much attention for Link's taste. He pursed his lips and strolled over. Melody had her back to him, so she didn't notice him until he was practically by her shoulder.

"Oh! Hey, Papa!" She grinned and got up to hug him. It had been a while since she'd been so excited to see him, so Link hugged her back with a dorky dad grin. Melody grabbed his hand and sat back down. Link hesitated a moment, and finally sat down next to her. "You look tired, Papa." Her eyes widened. "How is Aunt Zelda?! Did she have her baby?"

Link smiled. "She did. A healthy baby boy. His name is Sheik."

"A boy? Aaaw, and I was hoping it was another girl . . ." She brightened. "But no matter. I'm sure he's adorable!"

"He is."

"Is Aunt Zelda okay?"

"Yes, the doctors say she just needs a lot of rest." Link was honestly relieved more than he could say. The possibility of there being complications and Zelda dying in childbirth had been high when Zelly was born, even more so when Sheik was born. That so far things had turned out well was a miracle he did not mind attributing to the Goddesses.

"Nanaco," Melody said, speaking to the Gerudo lad, "Did you hear that? My aunt, the queen, just had a baby!"

The boy considered her words with narrowed eyes, then after a moment, he brightened and nodded, stating haltingly, "She is the strength of warrior!"

Link looked up at him in surprise. "You speak Hylian?"

Nanaco turned to look at him this time, and thought on his words, then nodded. "Yes."

Melody put her chin in her hands. "He said King Bulbin taught him, and boy did he do a bad job of it! But we've been helping him get better, haven't we, guys?"

The moblins growled their agreement.

Link regarded the Gerudo youth cautiously. "Are you faring well in the castle, Prince Nanaco?"

"Uh . . . yes. Very well, thank you. Although very cold."

"Have you and Melody been getting along?"

He nodded some more. "Yes. Melody. Very, very smart!"

Melody blushed and giggled. Link frowned.

Nanaco pointed to his temple and gave a tiny grin. "Melody teach a lot for Hylian. Red hair like Mara. Have Gerudo blood."

"Mara?"

Melody broke in. "That's Gerudo for mother!"

"Oh. I see." Link wondered if having a red-haired friend made the Gerudo boy feel more comfortable in the alien palace. He supposed that was a good thing. He forced himself to address the moblins, plastering a pleasant smile on his face. "How about you three? How has your stay at the castle been?"

"Tasty tasty meat!" Gropkick cried. Porkfic snorted his agreement.

"Cleeeeeean," was Krakrak's contribution.

Link took these all as compliments. "I'll let the queen know you're doing well. Have you heard anything from King Bulbin?"

Gropkick shook his head. Krakrak said, "I heard Aeralfos on castle wall." He pointed up at it. "Big battle at Korfka. King Bulbin troops leave to other towns."

Link nodded. So King Bulbin was true to his word, already sending troops to protect the various towns. "Thank you, Krakrak."

The blue bokoblin scratched behind a raggedy pointed ear, saying something in moblin.

"He said 'My pleasure,'" Melody translated.

Link smirked at her. "Well you're just becoming an expert linguist, aren't you?"

She grinned. "Yep! I'm having a lot of fun! But . . . I'd really like to show Nanaco Castle Town. Do you think we could go sometime?"

"Uuuh, I don't think that would be such a good idea right now . . ."

"Aaaaaw."

"People aren't used to seeing Gerudos around, let alone a boy Gerudo. And I can't currently promise his safety, or even yours. Just wait a few more days, okay? Let Zelda get back on her feet."

Melody sighed. "Okay."

Talking to his daughter and her friends had apparently relaxed him well enough. He thought he might actually be able to sleep now. He stood up, grunting. "Well, I wish I could stay, sweetheart, but I'm exhausted. I'm gonna sleep for a while. Wake me if Zelda needs me."

"Okay, Papa." Melody jumped to her feet, got on her tippy toes, and planted a kiss on his cheek

He rubbed his cheek wonderingly. "Wow, what was that for?"

She shrugged. "Nothin'. You're my papa, that's all!"

Grinning, he pulled her into a hug. "I love you, princess."

"I love you too, Papa!"

She waved as Link walked away, and he waved back, cheerful despite how tired he was.

Then she sat back down. "Now! Where were we?"

It was three whole days before Link was called into Zelda's bedchamber. In the meantime he spent most of the days with Melody, trying to learn more about Nanaco, and grudgingly, the moblins. Zelda had said she'd had a vision, so Link knew she would tell him as soon as she knew what to do about it.

He was antsy. He wouldn't rest well until all his children were home under his and Malon's roof again, safe and sound and happy.

The halls were empty and his footsteps echoed as he made his way to her room in response to the summons. When he got there, Impa opened the door for him and he walked inside. Zelda looked slightly more rested, cradling Sheik in her arms as she lay in bed. The baby was fast asleep. Selda motioned for Link to sit in the chair next to her. "I've been thinking on the issue of the sages in my vision," she said quietly, to not wake Sheik.

Link sat on the edge of the chair and leaned forward eagerly. "Do you need me to go to the library to get you books?" he asked, equally quiet.

Zelda shook her head. "My servants helped me." A look of fierce concentration furrowed her brow. "They spoke of Vaati, and the seal he's under, and the greater darkness that resides with him. It will not be long until that seal is broken." She raised both eyebrows for a moment. "If it isn't already broken."

"What does that mean for Hyrule?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Vaati I know is a sorcerer consumed with madness, but this other creature . . . I fear it's the monster that King Bulbin warned us about. Bellum. If that's true, and the seal breaks, then no force in Hyrule will be able to stop it. From what he told us, the creature feeds on the Light Force of everything in creation, which would include the Master Sword."

Alarm crossed Link's features. "The Master Sword is useless?!"

Zelda nodded. "I'm afraid so. Anything that uses the power of Light, the power of the Goddesses, would serve only to feed him more power."

"What is he, some sort of god?"

"He did create the moblin race . . . but I know nothing more about him, and King Bulbin is not here to question."

"What about Prince Nanaco?"

Zelda's eyebrows crossed. "Hmm. Perhaps. Although he is not a moblin, so he may not know the secrets of his caretakers. The only thing I can think is to fight darkness with darkness. I wish we had Midna. Her ancestors' Twili magic would be invaluable, I think."

"Saria somehow got there, maybe we could rebuild the Mirror—"

But Zelda was already shaking her head. "We can't build a bridge from this side, not without Midna's power."

Link's heart lifted. "So if we could contact Midna, maybe she could find Saria and send her back?!"

With a pained expression, Zelda shook her head again. "Just as we need Twilight magic to create a bridge from the Light World, she would need an immense amount of Light Magic to create a bridge from the Twilight Realm. Whatever power it was that pulled Saria through the realms, it somehow had command over both Light and Dark magic in the Sacred Realm."

A moment passed as Link comprehended these words. Then he dropped his head onto his hands, distraught.

Zelda placed her hand on Link's head. "We'll find a way, Link . . . I promise."

"I know, Princess, it's just . . . I feel like such a failure."

"A failure? What for?"

"Everything! Being a father, a hero. I've saved Hyrule twice, Termina once, but I can't seem to keep my family together! What kind of hero am I if I can't even protect them? I almost let my daughter run off and live with the moblins!"

"But you didn't, Link. You did what you always do. You were presented with a problem and you dealt with it. Besides, Melody is stronger than you think. I'm sure she'll forgive you."

Link snorted wryly. "Sometimes I wish she was still five years old . . . obedient and perfect. But then I think of all the wonderful conversations we've had since then, how much she's grown and learned. Even when she's angry at me and we disagree, I'm still just so proud of her. I remember what a terror I was at that age, my stupid thinking, but she's not like that at all. She's become so open-minded and beautiful, just like her mom. And her aunt." Link smiled at her.

Zelda rolled her eyes. "I feel like a deflated, dried up puffer fish!"

"Nope. Still beautiful!"

"Oh stop it." But she seemed pleased. "In any case, we need to come up with a plan to stop Bellum, or at least slow him down until we can defeat him." Her eyes fell closed, and she forced them open. "There is a legendary blade, called the Phantom Blade, that is able to cut through all darkness. It is not powered by Light, but by the sands of time. If we find that blade, we may be able to fight Bellum. Without it . . ." She frowned in deep worry.

"Hyrule may be toast."

Zelda smirked. "To put it in food terms . . . now I'm hungry. Thanks a lot!"

"My pleasure!"

She threw out a hand to try and smack him, but he dodged with the expertise of the Hero. He cackled.

"Zelda," he said after a moment. "If I go on an adventure to find this sword, who's going to lead your country while you recover?"

"Oh. Right." Zelda laid her head back on the pillows again and sighed throatily. "I'm so used to Shadow being here to deal with those questions."

"Auru's here."

"He has no expertise and would rather die."

"I could recall Shad?"

"That may work. What about . . . Malon?"

Link blinked. "Malon?"

"Well, she has experience with babies, and I could definitely use some help, and with Shadow gone and the country in such disarray, I can't let anyone else sign paperwork. If Malon were here I would trust her to help me with Sheik while I stay in bed."

Link's eyebrows crossed in concern. "Has the doctor told you when you'll be up and about again?"

She shook her head. "We'll just have to hope that either the Goddesses bless me with inhuman strength or else . . . Shadow finds his way back."

Link nodded. "I'll talk to Malon." His gut knotted. The last time he'd spoken to his wife, they'd been fighting.

They made it to Faron Spring. They had no choice but to seek shelter within. The light-sucking darkness had already caught up to them. They could hear the distant yells of the Dark Beasts. This spring had no gates, so they would be at the monster's mercy more likely than not. They huddled in the shallows of the spring, Ilia trying to keep everyone calm, though she knew it was futile.

Nothing could stop the darkness. It was only a matter of time before this Light Spirit gave way to it as well. "Everyone!" she called, "Have faith! We were saved once from a darkness similar to this. We MUST believe in salvation! Get as near to the mouth of the spring as possible."

And so they waited. As the sounds of shriveling plants reached their ears, some began to cry. Beth's baby sensed the tumultuous mood of the adults and started screaming. "I can't stand it!" Beth shouted, breaking from the others and running to the spring entrance. "It Talo, but there's no way I'm letting it take me! OR my baby, so there!"

"Beth!" Ilia raced after her. "Stop!"

Suddenly several animals burst into the area, but not from the direction of the darkness. Beth jumped back, colliding with Ilia. "AAAAUGH! MONSTERS!"

They were bulbos, and on their backs were moblins, armed to the teeth and menacing. Ilia recognized the large one. "King Bulbin!"

"Hello, Lady Ilia. What is troubling you?"

Beth's eyes widened at Ilia, clutching her baby in open terror. "Get away from us you MONSTER!"

Ilia pointed toward the way they'd come from. "We're being chased by darkness! It took our friends and turned them into . . . into monsters! We can't run away fast enough."

King Bulbin took this in, then nodded and barked commands to his troops. They began to dismount from their bulbos. "You and the villagers will climb onto the bulbos and escape. We shall stay to battle the darkness and the monsters within."

"You don't understand," Ilia insisted. "The darkness turns every living being in its clutches into a monster!"

King Bulbin grinned, his pointed fangs yellowed at the gums. "Lady Ilia, we are already monsters. This is a darkness we know very well. Your concern for us is touching, but weak."

Unable to resist curling her lip in a snarl, Ilia spun and called to the villagers, "Come on! They're going to let us ride out of here! The moblins are here to help!"

"You can't be SERIOUS!" Beth shouted.

"I AM! We need to go NOW!"

Timidly at first, the villagers approached the bulbos, wary of the moblins around them. Beth stuttered, staying put, when a moblin grabbed her around the waist and placed her quite carefully on the nearest bulbo. "Mama Human be safe now, okay? Okay." The voice sounded vaguely feminine. Beth's eyes softened. She gave a brave smile and nodded. The moblin climbed up behind her and took the bulbo's reins. The other villagers similarly mounted the bulbos behind or in front of their moblin drivers, and soon they were galloping away from the spring.

Ilia glanced behind her. They had barely made it in time. If King Bulbin hadn't appeared when he did . . . she shook her head. She wasn't about to start liking the monster.

King Bulbin watched them go, then turned to face the approaching blackness of death, hefting his double-bladed ax. Five moblins had stayed behind. The darkness climbed across the ground until it even reached their toes, then suffocated the ground beneath them. King Bulbin flexed his feet, raising an eye ridge at the curious sensation of nothingness beneath him. A growl rose from the deepest part of him, vibrating the air around him, for such was his power in a place of darkness. "Without light," he explained to his overwhelmed moblins, "all that is left is what has already died. This is the place of your origin, my friends. Feel its nothingness." He spat on the twisted ground. "We may have power, but what good is it if there is no world to use it upon? This is why we must fight, to save this world of Hyrule, or the entire world of light, to avoid this NOTHINGNESS!" He raised his ax above his head and drove it into the black earth. A split appeared in the darkness where the ax struck, and although it was only dead earth, it was no longer controlled by the darkness. The darkness, however, soon began to close up the wound. Ahead, the figures of Beast Shad, Talo, and Bo, and Fado appeared around the bend, eyeing the moblins distrustingly. For the first time, they hesitated moving forward. "Do not harm the Light Beings," King Bulbin instructed. "The darkness draws great power from them. If we can stop them, we may be able to halt the darkness."

While his troops got into position, King Bulbin ran into the spring. "Light Spirit! Hear me! Lend me your Light and I offer you my ax!" He raised it above his head. Symbols began to glow on its surface. It was an ancient relic of the past, an heirloom passed down from one moblin king to the next. It took the energy that the darkness granted him and bent it to his will. "We must merge our powers to stop the darkness. Merge with me, O Light Spirit!"

A bright, silvery, pulsing light appeared in the spring and spread outward, enveloping King Bulbin's feet. The light rose up his legs and the rest of him, convalescing on the handle of his ax, and finally mixing with the darkness on the edges of the blades.

Outside the spring, the five moblin warriors had trapped Fado in a corner. Three pointed their weapons outside at the other three monsters, and two pointed theirs at Fado. The leader shook his head as they defended themselves against the constant onslaught and roars of the monsters. The beasts had given up their unearthly cries when they found it had no effect on the moblins. I know Master said don't hurt them, but I don't want to die trying to save a filthy Hylian!

Just then the moblins were caught off guard when a paradoxical mix of Light and Dark surrounded their weapons. Sure it was King Bulbin who had somehow granted them extra power, the leader took his spear and drove it straight toward Fado's chest.

The beast caught it, and then began to scream. As if unable to let go, it flailed with the spearhead in its hand as it was consumed by the silver and black light. The beast's shape morphed and shrank, then grew, and finally its color returned to that of a being of Light, and Fado, no longer a beast, fell to the ground, hand still clutching the spearhead, and bleeding.

The moblin leader blinked, then shrieked, "Hit them with the flat of your blades! We may yet follow our king's ill-conceived orders to save this filth." He shook the spearhead out of Fado's hand, and was displeased to find the darkness begin to creep over him yet again. He spun, and all five moblins shot their spears and knives at the remaining beasts, who had retreated in terror at the dying scream of their own. The moblins had to chase them far into the dark, but eventually they caught Bo. Talo was more difficult, but they managed that as well. The one they could not seem to catch was Shad.

Shad was unrecognizable. He no longer took on the general shape of a human being. Instead, his limbs had lengthened, his joints going in all the wrong directions, his neck stretched to an impossible length, his face was now half a mouth, jagged and dripping black ooze. He had been in the darkness the longest. Appendages had grown from his back, haphazardly shaped limbs, and even now one more was shaping itself slowly from whatever recesses it had left in its torso. Or what used to be its torso. What was once Shad had been completely taken over and changed by Bellum.

Belshad curled its craned neck and shrieked at the moblins. King Bulbin came up behind his troops and hefted his ax. "Let us tame the beast!" They stared at their leader, who was covered in the same twisted light as their weapons. Then, they nodded.