Oddly enough, this one is pretty long. Unfortunately most of these chapters are kind of short… They're really for separating important events, I guess, but I upload them fast, right? Personally I'd rather have short chapters often then really long chapters like really rarely lol. Enjoy!

"Thank you," she said almost flatly. "I-I'm so sorry about the village… I didn't know," she stopped mid-sentence, choking up a little. From whether it was the smoke, or her own sadness she couldn't be sure. The man stared down, and Cyrene noticed a tear slide down his face and splash against the floor. "I'm so sorry, Link. I-I've never known anyone survive a dragon attack like that, besides you…" Suddenly, his head popped up, and he glared at the girl with icy blue eyes.

If I weren't so distracted by your petty accident, I might have come here in time to warn everyone! I could have saved them! He wanted so desperately to shout in her scarred face. Link started panting, and Cyrene merely stared at him. Her dark purple eyes were round with sadness, and she sighed.

"From what I can tell, you may think this is my fault. Actually, maybe you are right. I never should have come to Hyrule…" the last sentence was but a subtle whisper, and Link could barely hear it. The sounds outside stopped, and the crackling of the fire died down some. Peeking through the cave, Cyrene noticed the dragons were gone, except for one tiny wyvern. It was perched on the remains of a previously tall building, and examined her with intelligent eyes. Flapping its wings, it took off into the sky along with its forces. The girl's lips pulled back into a snarl, and her fists clenched. Link walked fully out of the cave and stared at the destroyed village. By now, most of the fires died down into a few glowing embers on the wooden framework. The wind blew gently across the warrior's tear-stained face, pulling his hair to the side.

He managed to calm down some, seeing the state of the current environment. Link sighed, falling to his knees. Her heart overwhelmed with grief was well; Cyrene knelt beside the hero and put a hand on his shoulder. "I know it may not matter much right now but… Facing that dragon back there, you were really brave. I've never seen a person ever stand up to something like that and not run away seeking shelter. You might have been able to handle yourself… Maybe… But I couldn't risk someone like you get hurt. However, if you keep up that courageous attitude you have, maybe we may be able to help others in need." Link stared up at her, watching the wind blow her silver hair around her. The sun made their eyes sparkle, and their gaze was locked there for a few seconds, each trying to understand the other's thoughts.

I'm sorry, Cyrene, for almost yelling at you like that… Almost as if she really understood, the maiden smiled a little and nodded.

"I appreciate that, Link. But…before we go any further, there's something I want you to know…" she said sadly. He stood up and stared at her, wondering what she could possibly be hiding. "… Come with me," she instructed shortly, walking off. He followed, watching the sun dip behind the horizon. The sky was getting darker, and Cyrene led Link to a rock wall far beyond the village. Satisfied with it for some reason, she glanced at her friend. "Now, you know what dragons are, right? Of course… Well, this may surprise you…" she sighed. "With any light source you have, shine it on me, please," she said softly. He fumbled around in his pouches and pockets, and found his lantern. Smiling, he lit it and raised it. "Alright, now hold it at that angle. Yes, that's it!" At just the right angle, a shadow was cast on the wall. Analyzing it, however, a loud gasp escaped Link's lips, and his fingers went numb, almost dropping his lantern. What he expected to show up on the wall was a shadow of a young Hylian maiden with long flowing hair. However, a spine chilling sight met his large eyes. The shadow on the wall embodied the creature he hated the most at this very moment.

The shadow was a dragon.

"Please, don't be alarmed…" she pleaded. "My name is Cyrene, previously Manasa. I changed the name given to me by my kind, because I wanted to come here to start anew…to escape the horrid ruler of all dragons… I escaped my home to live with the people of Hyrule, but now I see that I cannot hide from what I am inside. Link… Do you understand what I am, exactly?"

His head swam, trying to take it in that the one whom he had started to trust was a dragon. So far, every dragon he has met has tried to kill him, and even destroyed a place he could call home, and maybe even killed his friends. Link stepped back, and shook his head. Supporting his head with one hand, he dropped the lantern. The jolt shook the object, and the flame died. The shadow disappeared like a horrible nightmare, and all was silent as the Moon's brilliance substituted the fire's light. "I am a dragon… a silver dragon as if you couldn't guess. I know this isn't a good time to reveal this but I couldn't stand to hold it in any longer. W-when I first saw you, Link, I saw something in

No, no! This cannot be! He pleaded to the Goddesses that this was a horrible dream, that he would wake up in his home village and laugh at how silly all of this was. Cyrene stepped up to him, her hair shimmering in the moonlight.

"What I'm saying is, I need you. I know I don't have the strength to beat Gorethik, Ruler of All Dragons alone. I can sense that you are a hero inside, and many people I've spoken to prove these assumptions correct. Please, you must help me. If you don't, both of our kind will be swept away in the war Gorethik wants to declare on all of Hyrule, and quite possibly the world!" Her voice suddenly softened again into a whisper as she placed a smooth hand on his pale cheek. "I know you don't trust me; I see it in the way you stare at me. You have every right not to trust me, but if I truly wanted to do anything bad, don't you think I would've already killed you by now?" Cyrene kept her face close to his, letting her warm breath wash over his face.

He nodded, thinking that she just might be telling the truth. "The reputation of dragons has been butchered and mistreated for many years. Once we were noble and proud, loved by humans and other creatures alike. Even the few evil dragons were respected… But now, very few good dragons remain. Those who have been caught in Gorethik's wave of evil have succumbed to his power, their hearts becoming black as night and empty. I managed to avoid the darkness, but I also abandoned my realm, my species, my family, my friends, and my true self," she said, her voice getting lower and lower. Cyrene's hand moved from Link's cheek and down to his shoulder. The other hand went on his other shoulder.

The girl smiled, waiting for him to run away screaming. Instead, he stood there, looking straight into her purple eyes.

I'll try, he thought. Cyrene nodded, seeming to understand. The Moonlight intensified, and the cursed shadow blanketed the wall behind the maiden, illuminated in silver. "Find it in your heart to forgive me, Link. Even though your face is controlled, intense sadness weighs down your soul. I can feel it…" she stared down, the wind blowing her gray locks. "You probably hate dragons now for what they have done to people you love, but I know humans aren't stupid. Dragons usually can be seen many miles away, so they must've escaped."

You better be right. Link forced his tears to stay hidden as they burned his eyes and blurred his vision. Cyrene sighed.

"It is time for you to see my true form. Now that you know just what I am, I feel it is appropriate to let you see my dragon self." The young man stepped back a little, giving her some room. Cyrene put her hands together and chanted something in an odd language. The sentence ended, and there was a blinding flash of light. Link put his hand over his eyes, blinded for a few seconds. However, a human girl still stood there after the light subsided.

Well, that was spectacular, he said in his mind sarcastically. Cyrene was in shock, looking around franticly.

"My necklace! It's gone! I need it to complete my transformation!" she gripped her neck in shock, tears coming to her eyes. "A sacred relic entrusted to my kind… Missing in the realm of Hyrule…" Link searched his memories when he found Cyrene in the bush, in case he saw the necklace. He did sort of remember a small sparkle as he picked the maiden up into his arms…

But how can I tell her specifically! Sure she can read my eyes, but actual words?

"Do you have any idea where it might be, Link?" she asked, a gleam of hope appearing on her scarred face. He looked down, and then stared at her with confidence.