This chapter will not only have action, but some funny and sappy moments too. Enjoy!

Chapter 7: Daring Rescue

Midna and Drimani were back in their cell, chained and weak. Zant had done a number on their bodies. Red welts could clearly be seen all over their arms and legs. Their bodies were cold and clammy, no doubt caused by the usurper king.

Drimani was still fully conscious, having survived much worse injuries during wars he fought with his brothers. "Darian… Ionin…" He looked at Midna and was appalled by her current state.

She was now unconscious, her head dangling down like a puppet cut the strings holding it up. Her breathing was shallow and every now and again she would murmur incoherent phrases. Drimani knew she could not last much longer. If Zant wasn't going to kill her body, the illness would. "Link…" he thought. "If you are going to do something, you better do it quick… Midna does not have much time… She needs you." Soon, he too fell unconscious.

"Did you feel that?" Link felt cold all of a sudden, as if someone had lowered his body temperature by a few degrees. He, Zelda, and Darian were walking along the secret passage they knew would lead to the main hall. So far they had not met any monsters or guards. It was eerily quiet, and the only sounds heard were their footsteps echoing in the hallway.

"If you are referring to the sudden cold, then yes, I felt it too," Darian answered. He also felt as if someone was trying to contact him. The voice was faint, yet it seemed that it originated from somewhere in this very palace. He could not tell who it was, or what it said, but he knew something was familiar about the voice.

Zelda alone did not feel the adverse effects. "I don't know what you two are talking about," she said quietly. "It didn't get colder all of a sudden. I feel fine as it is."

"Speak for yourself Zelda. I feel as if… As if I'm losing a piece of myself. Like something is being cut out of my life." Link stated. Darian nodded in agreement and the conversation stopped there. They slowly made their way to the hall, careful to not make any unnecessary noises lest they be trapped in the small passageway. Darian had to fold his wings in because they were so cramped.

At this point they were walking in a single-file line, Link leading the group, map in one hand, Master Sword in the other. The blade still shone brightly from the power of the Sols, providing a good light source. Zelda was in the middle of the group, now providing heat from a small flame (a more controlled and gentle version of Din's Fire). Darian was last, walking backwards, protecting the group from a possible attack from behind.

They stopped when they approached a wall of rock. Link looked at his map again and frowned. This wall is not supposed to be there, only an opening leading to the main hall. Zelda noticed Link was troubled. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes. I'm looking at this map, and it says there should be an opening right there." He pointed to the wall. "But all I see is this rock. I'd rather not bomb it and attract unwanted attention…" Zelda nodded. Darian, meanwhile, strode up to the rock and looked at it carefully.

"Hmm… Link, are you sure the map says the opening is here?" When Link murmured an affirmative, Darian turned his attention back to the rock. Just from sight, there seemed to be nothing wrong. "Maybe it just caved in or something… Or…" He made to punch the rock, yet his hand passed through. "It is just another illusion."

"Nice one!" Link grinned and clapped Darian in the back. The three of them strode into the main hall. It was just how Link had remembered it from his last visit. He took another look at the map. "Okay, it says we should take the second door on the right, and then the third door on the left. We follow the stairs down to the dungeons where Midna and Drimani should be." They heard a loud screech from the top of the stairs behind them.

"If we even make it that far," Zelda muttered before the three of them looked up the staircase. Ten Shadow Beasts were coming down, straight for them.

"Well this will at least be some exercise." Darian said, with a hint of a smile. It was clear he was itching to have a go at them. "Well hello friends!" he called to the beasts. "Come to your first lesson I see, eh? Alright! Class is now in session!" He readied his whip. "We, Professors Zelda, Link, and Darian, will be your teachers. Here is a little interactive activity I like to call 'students disobey, students whipped!'" he boomed, while leveling two monsters with a hard smack of his whip. He spun around and lashed forward, launching two more beasts into the wall, and then brought the whip over his head and brought it down on another.

Link was cracking up this entire time, and Zelda looked at him with a raised eyebrow. He readied his Master Sword and shield. "This guy is my new best friend!" he laughed before charging in. "Professor Link would like to teach you a little about the sword now!" he taunted, before executing a marvelous Back Slice, followed by a Shield Attack and Helm Splitter on another that raised its arm to strike him. He finished the last three with a perfectly timed Great Spin.

They turned around to see another ten Shadow Beasts coming out of a door. Link winked at Darian. "Well it seems our students would like another lesson. Professor Darian, would you please teach them the lesson of patience?" Darian laughed. Zelda cut in, wanting to play around a bit as well.

"Actually, Professor Zelda would like to step in, if you boys would please."

Link and Darian roared with laughter. "By all means, please share!" Link teased. Zelda pulled out some throwing knives.

"Here is an exercise I like to call 'Headshots with Knives.' You play with sharp objects, you get cut!" She fired five knives at the approaching Shadow Beasts. Four of them lodged themselves in the heads of their targets, while the last entered the chest.

"Tsk tsk," Darian wiggled a finger. "Professor Zelda, I think your aim is slightly off."

"Yeah, Professor. Maybe you should practice your own exercise a little more," Link chimed in. The next five knives all found their targets. The two men clapped, while Zelda bowed mockingly.

"Now what were you boys saying?" she teased.

"Uhh, nothing! Nothing at all!"

"All we said was 'Great job, Professor!'"

"That's what I thought."

The three continued to laugh for a bit and then took a moment to catch their breath. They helped Zelda pick up her knives and headed towards the next room. Link sobered up as they approached the door. "I bet the closer we get to the dungeons, the more guards there will be." Darian and Zelda both agreed and readied their weapons once more. Link touched the door, and the runes glowed blue before the door opened, revealing more Shadow Beasts waiting for them on the other side. Roughly thirty of them.

"Looks like our students need to be punished some more," Darian sighed. He turned to Link and Zelda, who nodded their heads. He noticed Link smiling mischievously. "Link what are you planning?" he asked cautiously.

"Why don't we… Let's say… Make this a competition? Whoever has the least amount of kills has to buy us dinner when we get back to the Light Realm!"

"Oh you're on!" Darian exclaimed.

"Then it looks like one of you two will have to do just that!" Zelda laughed.

"Getting full of ourselves are we Zelda?" Link joked. Zelda readied her knives.

"No… I think she means business. But either way, I'm NOT buying dinner!" Darian flew in the air and dove straight into the fray, quickly and efficiently attacking with his whip.

"Oh no you don't!" Link yelled before going Rambo on a group of beasts, slashing the Master Sword this way and that, quickly cutting down all opposition.

"What the- HEY!" Zelda screamed. She threw her knives easily, killing as many targets as the number of knives she threw.

The battle was all over in less than a minute. The three competitors looked at the scene and were surprised it was over that quickly. Link made the final tallies.

"Well after the fighting, the scores are as follows. I got eleven kills, Darian also got eleven, which means Zelda got eight. Ohhh, I'm sorry Zelda, looks like you're going to have to get us dinner." He and Darian high-fived.

"But but but," Zelda pouted. "Come on. Can't you cut this lady some slack?" she made the cutest puppy-eyed pouty face she could muster. Link merely laughed. Darian, meanwhile, walked over and kissed her sweetly.

"Oh no Princess." he joked. "I'm afraid rules are rules. You got less kills than we did, therefore you have to buy us dinner."

Zelda smacked his arm playfully. "Dariannnn!"

"Fine fine, I'll get dinner this time around. I'll be the gentleman here."

Link put two fingers in his mouth and made a gagging noise. "I swear, if you two keep going, Midna and I are REALLY going to make you suffer! Don't tempt me!"

"Hmm… Alright fine, we'll stop." Darian smirked. "For now." They stopped laughing immediately when they opened the door leading to the dungeons, for on the stairs were so many Shadow Beasts that their number could not be counted.

"Oh WHAT THE HELL!" Link shouted. "YOU GUYS WON'T GIVE UP!"

Darian too was irritated. "Well THIS certainly changes things slightly." He put the whip away and pulled out twin daggers. "I can't even use the whip for fear of hurting either of you and I can't exactly fly since the hall is too short. Looks like we'll have to fight our way in." He expertly twirled the daggers before promptly plunging one into a Shadow Beast's chest. Using his leverage, he flipped over the beast, stabbing a second, before pulling out the daggers and running both through a third.

He then ducked as Link came running in, beheading two in one smooth stroke and stabbing three more. He then flipped out of the way as Darian took over, slicing two more across the neck and using his own spin attack, cut down two more. They repeated this pattern a few times, slowly moving down the flight of stairs (a flight too long in their minds). Zelda helped them as much as she could, throwing a few knives at beasts that were ready to take a swipe at Link or Darian. She also used her blade to cut down any more that managed to move behind the two men.

Just as the party was three quarters of the way down, the door at the top of the stairs opened, revealing more shadow beasts and guards.

"Guys, I think we have a small problem!" Zelda called after finishing off the last monster between her and Darian. Link had moved further down the stairs, leaving a few Shadow Beasts behind for cleanup. Darian turned around, and this time he lost it too.

"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW! WE DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR THIS CRAP!" he yelled. "SHILIOS ORNEM!" The blue barrier formed as the monsters were nearing Zelda. They collided with the barrier, unable to get past it, leaving Zelda enough time to recover her throwing knives. She looked at Darian.

"Darian, is there a way to let them through one at a time?" He nodded. "Good! Then let that happen! I'll deal with them as they come down!" She readied her blade.

"Ready?" he said. When Zelda nodded her head, he let the barrier dissipate for a brief moment, allowing one Shadow Beast through. She made short work of it, dodging its swipe and stabbing it in the chest. This process was repeated many times, although when one Shadow Beast was finished, another stepped forth to take its place.

"Link, how many more on your end?" Darian called. He was beginning to tire, the barrier becoming weaker every time a Shadow Beast rammed into it.

"Pretty much done!" Link yelled back as he fought the last few monsters. He finally killed the last one and kicked down the door leading to the dungeons. He began to search frantically for the cell holding the love of his life and Darian's brother. He stumbled across a cell holding two prisoners. One of them was a man, roughly his age. He had jet-black hair, like Darian, but it was short. His eyes were emerald green.

"Who-?" he asked.

Link stopped as he recognized the woman chained on the far wall. Tall, long red hair, and light blue skinned… Midna. She warily turned her head and looked at him with the ruby eyes he so vividly remembered.

"Link…" He was shocked that she sounded so weak. He lowered his hood.

"Yes Midna, I'm here. Don't worry, we'll get you out." He looked back up to the dungeon entrance. "Found them!" he called.

"That's great! Now can you please get in there and get them out?" Zelda shouted back.

"And make it quick! We don't have much time! My barrier's cracking!" Darian added.

"Darian…!" spoke the other prisoner. He seemed to be stronger than Midna at this point.

"You must be Drimani," Link said gently.

"Yes. You're Link, I presume?" He nodded an affirmative. More crashes and roars could be heard.

"LINK!"

"I'll be as quick as possible!" Link said, slightly irritated as he began to work on the lock. "Damn thing, why won't it open?" he growled. Zelda shortly joined him.

"Let me try." She concentrated for a moment, and gold light shot out from her fingertip and went into the lock. It opened immediately.

"Why aren't you with Darian?" Link asked as they ran in. He immediately started working on Midna's bindings.

"He told me to help you with the locks. He said he could hold off the beasts for a little while longer." Zelda responded as she went to unlock Drimani's chains.

"Darian's up there all alone battling those things?" Drimani questioned angrily. "That's suicide! There are so many of them!"

"You underestimate his strength. When he fights for those he cares about almost nothing can stop him." Zelda answered kindly.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to fight against him," Link added. He was now working on the chains holding Midna's legs. She looked up at him weakly and let a tear fall.

"You stupid stupid wolf. Why did you come back?"

"Midna… I should have said this before you broke the Mirror. And I'm sorry I didn't. I regret that time so much, because I thought I wasn't going to be able to ever tell you… But I finally found you." By now Link finished freeing Midna. He now held her in his arms, his face inches away from hers. "Midna… I… I love you." he said quietly before pressing his lips to hers.

Her lips were soft and sweet; indeed Link felt as if he were kissing the lips of a Goddess. She returned the motion gently, and both of their hearts beat as one. Unbeknownst to them, Link's Triforce lit up and golden energy surrounded them both, providing a large energy and healing boost.

When they finally broke contact, they looked at each other, ocean blue eyes staring into ruby red, and they knew no words needed to be said. Suddenly a large crash and a roar brought them back to reality.

"GUYS, HURRY UP! I CAN'T HOLD THEM OFF FOR MUCH LONGER!" Darian roared.

"We have to go," Link said gently. Pulling Midna up with him, they ran out of the cell, new energy flowing through them both. Zelda and Drimani followed them, pulling out their throwing knives and sword, respectively.

"AAAHHH!" The barrier finally shattered and a Shadow Beast rammed straight through and hit Darian. Link ran and caught him just as he was about to hit the ground. Zelda ran over and helped them both up. She noticed Darian looked weak and decided to give him a little energy of her own using the Triforce of Wisdom. Link also threw him a bottle of red potion, saying he will need it more. After chugging it down, Darian felt rejuvenated and was ready to fight again. Looking up the stairs, the group noticed more Shadow Beasts coming towards them.

"Wow they are so persistent," Zelda said in dismay.

"Well five of us are definitely better than three," Link said cheerfully. He looked at Midna and Drimani. "If they can fight that is."

"Puh-lease! Just who do you think you're talking about wolf-boy?" Midna said impishly. "Of course I can fight!" Just to prove her strength, she fired two bolts of purple magic from her hands, immediately destroying five Shadow Beasts.

Drimani then shot a bolt of blue magic from his free hand that passed through three more beasts, shocking them.

"Okay now you're just making us look bad," Darian laughed. "I thought we were the ones who were supposed to be doing the rescuing here!" Four throwing knives killed their targets, courtesy of Zelda. Darian looked at Link. Now he looked insulted. "Okay what the heck…" Link took the hint.

"Okay THAT'S IT! OUT OF OUR WAY!" he yelled.

Their Triforces reacting with each other, Link and Darian moved with inhuman speed, striking and smiting all Shadow Beasts within their reach. Daggers and sword moved fluidly and flawlessly, while their reflexes allowed them to easily dodge counterattacks. This went on for roughly a minute, while the remaining Shadow Beasts were cut down.

Finally escaping the dungeons, the five of them moved into the main hall, Link and Midna leading the way. Striking down a few more guards with Night Magic, Drimani turned to Zelda. "I never got a chance to ask you for your name. I'm Drimani."

"My name is Zelda."

"And what a handful she is," Darian added. This earned him another smack in the arm.

"Wrong thing to say Darian," Link chuckled.

When they finally ran outside of the palace, they stopped and stared. The portal back to the Light Realm lay roughly two hundred meters away. However, standing in the way were one hundred Shadow Beasts, all looking at them, ready to charge.

"These guys just never learn, do they?" Link muttered.

"I personally think they would like another lesson." Darian voiced his opinion.

"Why not make it another competition?" Zelda asked with a sly smile on her face.

"Hey I'm not Darian! I'm not buying you dinner, even if you pout!" Link exclaimed. Darian laughed while Midna and Drimani looked at them questioningly. Link decided to clear things up for them.

"I think that I, Professor Link, will get the most kills." Midna immediately caught on.

"Excuse me," she said sweetly. "I think you're forgetting Professor Midna." Finally Drimani caught on and cleared his throat.

"Umm, DOCTOR Drimani will definitely kill the most!"

Darian roared with laughter. "You won't beat the esteemed Professor Darian, little brother!"

"I say Professor Zelda already has ten kills!" Zelda said cheerfully. Everyone stared with their mouths open. Indeed she had already killed ten with throwing knives and was cutting down another with her sword. Darian recovered first.

"Oh HELL no!" He flew into the air again and attacked with his whip before landing in the middle of a group, spinning with his whip smacking many beasts down.

Link was next. "I'M NOT BUYING DINNER!" he yelled, going Rambo again, not caring what he sliced, as long as it was dead.

Drimani jumped in next. "You CHEATERS! Don't you start without me!" he ran at the horde, swinging his sword and firing blue bolts of magic.

Midna finally recovered from the original shock and watched Link fight. Just like I remember him, she thought. She then remembered she was in the competition too. "Step aside people and watch the REAL master at work!"

Five minutes later, one hundred Shadow Beasts lay dead. Five people from three different realms stood surveying the scene: Link was calculating the kills, Zelda was cleaning her throwing knives, Midna was leaning on Link's shoulder, and Darian and Drimani had their arms around each others' shoulder, glad the other was alive.

Link finally stepped forward, his calculations made. "Alright. Well this time around the scores are as follows: Darian had twenty-six, I took out twenty-four, Drimani got nineteen, Midna had sixteen, and finally Zelda killed fifteen."

"HA!" Darian pointed one finger at Zelda. "You took a head start and STILL got last! Pay up girl!"

"Come on Zelda, you HAVE to now," Link added playfully. "That was the second time you lost."

Zelda pouted and looked to Midna for help, immediately getting her wish. The Twilight Princess walked up to Link and grabbed him by the ear teasingly. "You're paying this time, wolf-boy." Link yelped but couldn't pull away.

"That's not fair! I had the second most kills. You can't just do this!" Darian burst out with laughter. He then thought of something and grinned evilly.

"Hey Link. Perhaps we can relent and buy dinner… BUT." He walked toward Link and whispered something in his ear. Drimani also got wind of this and could not help but laugh at Darian's brilliant plan. The two Princesses would be in a lose-lose situation regardless.

Zelda became suspicious. "But what Darian?" Said Night-Dweller and Link turned and faced them with mischievous smiles.

"We'll tell you when we get back. I have a feeling Zant isn't too happy with us right now."

True to his word, Zant had appeared in the middle of the palace grounds, looking at the destruction of his creations. He started stamping around again and letting out incoherent screams and curses. The five Heroes backed away toward the portal slowly. Zant noticed them and finally gained his composure.

"I will destroy you for this! Mark my words!" he sputtered angrily.

"I'm sure you will," Midna responded coldly.

"We've stopped you before and we will do it again," Link added before walking through the portal, his four friends following him.

Back in the Light Realm, Link withdrew the golden beam from the stone to prevent Zant from following them. Once they stepped off the portal, Darian turned around. "So Princesses. You wanted to know the deal, right?" Zelda and Midna nodded, realizing they were not going to win this battle regardless.

"Well… We will take you both out to dinner and pay…" Darian started.

"But you have to come with the three of us and drink afterwards. And not just sipping. To get drunk," Link finished.

Uh-oh! The Princesses? Drunk? Would they take the offer anyways? How does Caedin react to Zant's failure? Wait till next time!