So I'm only now getting the hang of using the line breaks and everything else, so forgive me if the first two chapters don't look as good.

Anyways enough babbling, and enjoy Chapter 3!

Chapter 3: A New Friend and an Old Foe

Link was speeding off towards the Eldin Province, where he knew the Fused Shadow lay. None of them (Link, Zelda, or Midna) decided to pick it up as they thought it was broken beyond repair. But he chose to heed Ordona's words carefully. Venture to the place where you vanquished the Evil King. There is an object there that will help you travel to the place you seek. He wondered if Zelda really knew what to do with it, but if it would help him travel back to the Twilight Realm, he decided he would not question the spirit.

Link arrived at the Eldin fields, where he remembered with a jolt about the horseback fight and Zelda's Light Arrows. And to think this all happened a couple days ago… It feels like forever ago! Now where is that Fused Shadow? His Triforce glowed and seemed to be pulling him further east, and soon, he came upon the hill that Ganondorf once appeared on, crushing Midna's helmet in an act of defiance. Midna… I thought I had lost you then… Tears began to form in Link's eyes, but he pushed them away. No. No more. She came back, and that's all that there is to it.

The broken Fused Shadow lay on the hill, exactly where Link had remembered it would be. Then, as he slowed Epona to a walk, he thought of something else. What was the danger that Ordona was talking about? An enemy more powerful than Ganondorf? I really hope that isn't the case. As if on cue, an arrow whizzed by his left ear, and Epona neighed. Link jumped off the horse and sent her away, fearing for her life as a few more arrows missed their targets. "Oh COME ON! I HAVE NO TIME FOR THIS!" he roared impatiently.

Turning around, he saw Bulblin Archers. Ten of them. And more Bulblins wielding clubs running for him. "I thought your king allied with me! What happened to that?" More arrows flew his way in response, and he blocked those that would cause the most harm with his trusted Hylian Shield. Well I guess something really is happening after all, he thought glumly before pulling out the Master Sword from its elegant sheath.

Link ran at the mob, taking out five with a Great Spin to start things off. Dodging an arrow, he approached an archer and used the Shield Attack to knock it off balance and finished it with a thrust to its chest. Three more arrows came his way but none of them were on target, making things easier for him as he performed the Helm Splitter on one and another Great Spin to down four Bulblins sneaking up behind him. Before two Archers could fire more arrows, the Hero took out his bow and fired two arrows of his own. Unlike the Bulblins, his aims were true and the arrows caught them in the chest. Putting his bow away, Link performed a beautiful Mortal Draw, felling two more Bulblins, before picking off another five archers with his arrows. Wait, there were two more Archers… Oh no! He barely turned around and raised his shield when an arrow nicked his shoulder, but successfully blocked the other.

Link winced but turned around to deal with the last of the Bulblins, letting them surround him. When the timing was just right, he executed a devastating Great Spin, felling all six. The last two Archers never stood a chance. Whipping out his bow, he nocked two more arrows and let them fly, each of them finding their targets. So 17 Bulblins and 10 Archers. Not bad for an exercise. He grunted as he pulled the arrow out of his shoulder, but smiled as the Triforce immediately healed the wound. Good thing it wasn't very deep, he thought. As he turned to walk back to the Fused Shadow, he saw something that made his heart stop.

Another arrow had been fired, and Link closed his eyes, waiting for the impact… When none came, he opened his eyes, and he realized he was encased in a light blue barrier, the arrow bouncing harmlessly off of it to land some feet away. With a final arrow, the hidden Bulblin Archer fell, and a few seconds later, the barrier dissipated as well. I wonder who could have protected me. I thought I was alone here…

Link realized something was wrong as he made his way back to where the Fused Shadow supposedly lay. He stared around, looking for it, but it was nowhere to be seen. "Where did it go…? It was just here! Oh no…" Just then a cackle was heard.

"Looking for this?"

Link knew that voice all too well, but he thought its owner was dead. Unsheathing his sword once again, he looked to his left, and there, holding the Fused Shadow, stood a figure garbed in a familiar helmet and Twilight clothes.

"YOU!" Link shouted. He looked at his foe with utter hatred, remembering the Twilight War and all of the distress it caused the citizens. "I thought we killed you already! How did you come back? More importantly, why are you alive? ANSWER ME!"

Zant sneered. "Well well, if it isn't the Hero. I told you, my god would resurrect me without cease!"

"But I killed Ganondorf already! There is no way-!"

"Ah, my little Hero, how right you are about killing him. However he resurrected me one last time before you charged into battle with him! I refused, however, to protect him when you impaled him with that cursed blade, believing myself to be far more powerful now than he ever was."

"You're wrong. You could NEVER be more powerful than Ganondorf!"

"That is where you're wrong, my Light-dweller friend. You see, I work for someone else now, someone who wants to take over all the realms, and he has taught me a few things that made me much more powerful!" Zant cackled again, his eyes blazing with insanity. "All I needed was this Fused Shadow so I could gain access to the Twilight and begin the conquest anew!" Link launched himself at Zant, intending to cut him down, only to back off as a spell came his way.

"Now now, Hero. Let us not be so hasty now. We shall meet again in due time, of course, when your life will end by my hand. Now is not your time." As he turned to leave, Link went into a panic. No… NO! He has the Fused Shadow. The only way to get to Midna! And now he wants to conquer the realms again! I must stop him before…

Suddenly a whip cracked out of nowhere and hit Zant's hand. Although Zant wasn't hurt too badly, the Fused Shadow pieces were thrown from his grasp. Link, after a moment of surprise, launched himself and caught the Shadow, falling with it and shielding it from harm. Placing it into his pack, he stood up and surveyed the scene.

Zant was seething, his face contorted with rage and his eyes had the look of death on them. He was staring at a figure some 20 meters away. He had a traveling cloak on, which covered almost his entire body. He wielded a whip in his right hand and had an ornate, black shield in his left hand. "You!" Zant spat. It was clear he knew this third figure. "I thought I dealt with you already! You should be DEAD!" At this point, Zant was stamping his feet and sputtering nonsense. Link resisted the urge to laugh at his immaturity. He then looked at the figure, who spoke in a low, dangerous tone.

"Obviously you were wrong, because I am still here, alive and well. I'm not so easy to get rid of! Take this!" With that he attacked Zant, his whip making a loud CRACK as it hit him in the gut. Zant doubled over, and Link seized the opportunity to run in and perform a Back Slice. Zant howled in pain and teleported away from Link and his new ally. When he reappeared, he was no longer angry, but he did look at the two with murder and Link knew he meant business.

"Very… Good. But you'll have to do better than that to kill me." He started launching red spells at the newcomer, who promptly raised his shield and shouted an incantation. "Shilios Ornem!" His shield glowed blue and the blue energy formed into the barrier that protected Link not too long ago. Zant's spells rebounded off the barrier, leaving him unharmed. He took this opportunity to counterattack, his whip whistling in the air.

Zant was ready this time, and teleported away again, and started launching spells at Link, who promptly dodged the first few, and blocked the rest with his shield. Link realized that Zant had indeed grown stronger, as the spells were more taxing to block than before. Once he finished blocking, he ran at Zant, sword poised to cut into the man he so hated. Zant cackled before teleporting once again to a spot far away from him and his newfound friend.

"It seems that my time here is up, my friends," Zant spoke. "I may have failed to take the Fused Shadow, but make no mistake! You have merely delayed the inevitable! I will take over the Twilight Realm, just as I have taken over the Night Realm, and the Light Realm will soon follow! You cannot stop me, no matter what you try! And if you somehow manage to achieve the impossible and defeat me, my Master will not allow you to proceed any farther!" With a last cackle, he opened a portal behind him.

"Wait!" Link yelled. "I'm not done with you yet! GET BACK HERE AND FIGHT YOU COWARD!"

"All in due time, Hero, all in due time," Zant replied coolly, turning around and walking toward the portal.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" growled the mysterious figure. "You shall pay for what you have done to my family! GET BACK HERE!"

Zant turned his head to look back at him. "Darian, was it? You should really listen to your older brother and know when to give up and save yourself. You too will die eventually, but like the Hero, your time has not come yet." Darian ran after him, Link close behind, trying to prevent his escape, but to no avail. Zant disappeared through the portal, which closed before the two could follow him.

"I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR I WILL KILL YOU EVEN IF IT COSTS ME MY LIFE!" Darian roared into the air before collapsing onto his knees and clenching his fists, trying to control himself.

Link did not know what to think. Is Zant really more powerful than Ganondorf? Is he the danger Ordona spoke of? How was he resurrected? Who is his Master? He looked at Darian, and felt a pang of pity. It seems his family was attacked by Zant, leaving him alone. But I will end up asking him about the Night Realm. It seems we will have to venture there eventually. He looked at the broken Fused Shadow in his pocket. This Darian helped me recover the only way to get to Midna. Helping him is the least I could do… And so, Link approached the figure cautiously.

"Thanks for helping me get the Fused Shadow," Link started. Darian looked up and gave Link a small smile.

"It was no trouble," he responded. "I noticed it was very important to you and simply wanted to help." He hesitated, and then slowly lowered his hood. "My name is Darian, by the way. I'm afraid because that creature showed up I did not have time to properly introduce myself."

"My name is Link. And don't worry, I was preoccupied myself." Link took in Darian's facial features. He had pale skin, as if it had not caught any sunlight for the last few months. His hair was jet-black, and somewhat ruffled in the front, but tied back into a ponytail that reached the middle of his shoulder blades. His eyes were, again, different. His left iris was midnight blue, while his right was an emerald green. He had a small bulge around his back, but his cloak kept it a secret. Darian noticed Link staring and said "If you were wondering about my back, I will show you when we get to someplace more private. I do not feel comfortable with others in this realm knowing."

"I understand. I will not press on until you feel comfortable. However I do have a few questions for you." Link answered.

"As do I. However, I shall attempt to answer yours to the best of my ability," Darian replied with a smile.

"Likewise. So first off, Zant mentioned the Night Realm. Do you have any idea what he is talking about?"

"The Night Realm," Darian began, "is a place where the skies are eternally dark. However, before you get any ideas and associate it with something evil, let me assure you that it is different. The stars are always out, and the moon is up for a period of 10 hours every day. During the other 10 hours, the only light the Realm receives is from the stars in the skies."

"Oh! So essentially, it is always evening in your Realm?" Link questioned.

"Yes. Now I have a question for you. Where am I, exactly? What realm is this?"

"You are in the Light Realm, where every 12 hours the sun is up, and the moon is up for the other 12. This land is called Hyrule, and we are in the Eldin Province." Link explained each of the four provinces in detail, having traveled through all of Hyrule during the Twilight War. Darian seemed satisfied, and allowed Link to ask his next question. "What happened to your family? It is okay if you do not wish to answer the question as it is a personal matter…"

Darian thought for a minute, and then took a deep breath. "My family, the Royal Family of the Night Realm, was attacked."

Link gasped. "You are of the Royal Family? Are you a prince, a king?" At this, Darian laughed.

"In a way, I am a prince. I am the second of three males born into the family. My mother died shortly after my younger brother, Drimani, was born. My father was once the King of the Night Realm. That is, until he was assassinated. This left Ionin, the eldest, to begin his rule over the kingdom. Three weeks later, Zant came and attacked without warning. Ionin created a portal that led to unknown places and urged Drimani and I to run and save ourselves, and perhaps to get help. Drimani ran through just as Zant walked into the throne room. I tried my best to fight alongside Ionin, but Zant overpowered us. In a last desperate attempt, Ionin told me to go through the portal and that he will buy enough time for me to escape. He didn't even have to say it, because Zant hit me with a spell and I was blasted right into the portal, leaving my brother alone with him. The last thing I remember was Ionin engaging Zant in a last stand before everything went dark.

"I woke up here after what seemed like hours, and it was so bright that I was briefly blinded by the light. Once my vision adjusted, I saw monsters heading in a certain direction. Hopeful that I would catch one of them off guard and get some information, I followed them, and they led me straight to you."

"It was you that cast the shield spell, wasn't it?" Link asked.

"Yes, it was. I saw you heading over to the object you call the 'Fused Shadow' and saw them surrounding you. I am most impressed that you were able to handle all of them on your own. I then saw Zant appearing out of a portal, and pick up the Fused Shadow. Seeing that you had become angry, I knew you were not going to help him, and so I entered the fray and the rest is history."

"Well thanks for your help," Link said sincerely.

"Don't mention it. What were you going to do with this Fused Shadow, if you don't mind me asking?" Darian questioned.

"I… I was looking for a way into the Twilight Realm. There is… Someone I deeply care about," Link finished lamely. Darian looked at Link and smiled.

"I have a feeling we shall have to go to the Twilight Realm in the near future. Zant had said he was heading there, remember?" Link nodded. "Then it's settled, we shall…" He was suddenly cut off as the back of his right hand started to glow in a familiar golden color. Link's Triforce similarly glowed.

Link looked at Darian and became wary. "Darian what is that on your hand?" Darian looked at Link the same way, before slowly taking off his gauntlet, thus revealing his hand completely. Link jumped back in surprise.

On Darian's right hand, plain as day, was a piece of the Triforce, yet this piece was different than the rest. The middle upside down triangle was gold and radiated the same energy as Link's.

"I am guessing you have never heard of this Triforce piece?" Darian asked. Link was relieved to see Darian was smiling and not readying an attack. "This is called the Triforce of Mediation. It allows me to balance the power of the three Triforces. Only through the proper balance can Courage, Power, and Wisdom reach their fullest potentials. The Triforce of Power has always been shrouded by darkness, but at this point I lost track as its last owner was killed…"

"By me," Link finished the thought.

"Yes, by… Wait, you destroyed the one with the Triforce of Power?" Darian asked incredulously. When Link nodded, Darian grinned. "About time someone destroyed that fiend. He was only sealed every other time. Looks like you broke the tradition Hero." Darian smirked.

Link laughed. "Well someone had to act. He was causing too much trouble anyways." He became serious, noting the bottom point of Darian's Triforce shown brighter than the rest. "Why is your Triforce glowing like that?"

Darian looked at his hand and said "This is because the two pieces the point connects, Wisdom and Courage, are working together." Link looked more closely and noticed a star on the point connecting the bottom two Triforces.

"Perhaps it is because I am close friends with Zelda that this is happening."

"Oh? You know the Bearer of Wisdom then?" Darian asked hopefully.

"She is the Princess of Hyrule. I was actually taking the Fused Shadow to her when those monsters attacked." Link answered.

"May I accompany you then Link? I would like to meet her myself, and we should tell her about Zant and everything else that transpired."

Link agreed, and climbed on Epona, who recently trotted back to him. He offered a hand to Darian, who merely shook his head. "Come on. You're not going to save any time by walking to Hyrule Castle." He gasped as Darian unhooked his cloak and handed it to him. On his back, protruding from his shoulder blades, were two large black wings. "I… But… You ha… Wings?"

Darian laughed. "Don't tell me you haven't seen wings before!"

"I… Yes! Just not on a person!"

"Fair enough." Darian continued to grin. With a powerful flap of his wings, he was up in the air, floating next to Link. "Shall we go then?"

"What about all the people in Castle Town? I doubt they would welcome a winged Hylian with open arms!"

"Don't worry Link. I will stop flying when we reach the city limits. Lead the way."

With that, Link took off in the direction of the castle, Darian flying just above him.

As usual, R&R please!