The closer Colin and the others got to the coliseum, the greater the tension that gripped each of them. Steady rumblings thundered from the arena, causing pebbles to tremble against the dirt road as they raced back up the mountain. The sky was filled with the cries of panicked shifters as they transformed into various birds and fled to the sky. Still others scurried down the mountainside by whatever path they could find. Colin and the others hugged the mountainside as they fought against the current of shifters fleeing the stadium. None of them were given even a passing glance. Whatever had captured the fear of this proud people commanded their complete attention. In the distance, loud roars echoed through the cold winter air while smoke rose from the coliseum's center.

Everyone stopped when they finally reached the coliseum's entrance. Colin peeked around the corner but quickly retreated as a wave of debris came rushing towards him. Everyone clung to the mountainside as the surge of chaos rushed past them. Sections of marble, wood, and stone, some of it ablaze, rushed out at such a high speed that it would've been certain death if they had been caught in it. A strange spike of warm air followed the debris, providing bittersweet relief to the winter air. They all watched as sections of the stadium tumbled down the mountainside, leaving a trail of smoke as it descended into the valley below.

Rishu couldn't take his eyes off some of the flaming debris. "What is going on in there?" "

Do we have to go?" Tifa whimpered. She shivered from head to toe. An ominous dread filled her eyes.

Colin's heart pounded against his chest. What was he thinking in coming here? How could they possibly rescue Atrayu? They had barely escaped themselves! His breath became short as he watched another section of the stadium explode in the distance.

As if sensing his doubt, Midna gently touched his shoulder. There were no words necessary; the meaning of her gesture was clear. They were doing the right thing; they had to trust that everything would work out in the end.

Colin looked back at them. "I hope everyone's ready. There's no telling what we'll find in there."

Midna nodded her affirmation. "We're right behind you."

Tatl flew in front of all of them. "Are you all crazy? Do we even have a plan?"

Colin looked to Midna, but she shook her head. The youth shrugged his shoulders. "I was hoping to sneak in, grab Atrayu, and sneak out."

"And what if we get spotted?" Tatl challenged.

"Then we fight our way out," Colin replied.

"That's your plan?" Tatl scoffed.

"Pretty much. Do you have one better?"

The fairy hesitated. "Well…no."

Colin looked to the Zora. "How about you, Rishu? Any bright ideas?"

The Zora looked back to them eyes aglow with inspiration. "I just got a great idea!"

They all held their breath. They never knew whether to expect some sort of wise insight or stupid prattle.

"Then what are you waiting for? Tell us!"

He grinned cheekily. "Listen to this, Deku Baba. At my next performance, I want to have flaming debris fall onto the stage. Not just fireworks but actual flaming debris! Like a meteor! How radical would that be? The crowds would love it!"

Clearly, this time was the latter.

"Rishu?" Midna asked.

"Yes."

She leered at him. "You are an idiot."

The Zora laughed. "Lola tells me that all the time."

The Twili sighed. "Ugh…why do I even waste my breath?" She looked to the entryway. "Well, what are we waiting for? The longer we stay here, the less chance we'll find Atrayu alive."

Tatl gave one last glance in Tifa's direction. The Kokiri looked right back at her, shaking her head.

"This is too much," the fairy confessed, turning back to the others. "You'll all die out there. None of us stand a chance against that monster. And as Tifa's guardian fairy, I can't put her in that kind of danger. I'm afraid this is one we have to sit out."

Colin looked to the Kokiri. "Tifa? Is that really how you feel?"

The forest sage hugged her hands to her chest. "I'm getting a really bad feeling from inside. It scares me. I can't go in there. Not without Link here."

"Very well. Then it's just the three of us." Colin took a deep breath and felt for his sword. "We can manage this."

Midna looked sternly at the Kokiri and her fairy. "Be prepared to run for your lives. When we come back through this gate, we're likely going to have a mob or a monster after us."

Tatl nodded. "I'll make sure we're ready."

Colin peered around the corner one more time. This time, the coast was clear. Echoing off the walls, he could hear the yells and screams of shifters. It sounded like they were fighting something, but what or whom? Amidst the roars coming from inside the stadium, one of the shifters yelled incomprehensible instructions. Others grunted their acknowledgment. The walls shook as yet another explosion thundered through the mountain. There was no telling how much longer the foundations would hold.

"It's now or never," Colin said. "Let's go quickly. Try not to be seen."

With Tifa and Tatl waiting outside, the rest dashed through the tunnel back to the stadium. Their hearts pounded against their chests as the explosions intensified and the tremors increased in fierceness. They ducked and dodged debris falling from the tunnel ceiling. Loud growls and roars beckoned them closer. As they stepped into the light at the tunnel's exit, they braced themselves for the unknown.

The stadium was in chaos. Shifters crowded the exits of the coliseum as they fled for their lives. Large holes engulfed the structure where entire sections had been obliterated. The ground was covered in embers and ash, and smoke rose from burning sections of the stadium. Much of the snow had melted. Several bodies, all belonging to shifters, lay scattered across the fighting grounds.

The source of all this destruction stood in the center of the coliseum. Wrestling against ten of his former guards, Alpha thrashed against the ground. The shifter had been transformed into a half-human, half-dragon monstrosity slightly bigger than his original form. His skin had been replaced with scales. His hands still had the shape of a human's but with fingernails sharp enough to be claws. A long lizard-like tail whipped and thrashed through the air. His yellow eyes were monstrous and devoid of any intelligence. The aggressive roars that came from his mouth were all that he could say.

Through the chaos gripping the stadium, it was difficult to spot any sign of Atrayu. The outsiders stuck to the sides of the arena, carefully scanning the stadium while hoping to avoid the mad king. The suffocating tension they felt was like being trapped under water; every second they failed to find her put them more on edge. After what felt like an eternity, they finally found her.

"Over there!" Midna shouted against the shrieks and cries of the chaotic stadium, but her words were lost to the noise.

Atrayu was in the stands, limping up the steps with Rin to the nearest exit. She could hear the loud and angry roars of Alpha behind her. She knew every second counted. Unfortunately, the mercenary didn't have the strength yet to transform or even walk without aid. She was forced to lean against Rin for support while she hobbled up the stairs.

"Can you go any faster?" Rin asked. "I don't know how much longer the others can hold him."

"Actually, I'm feeling pretty tired," Atrayu replied. "Mind if I take a quick nap?"

"Snarky as always, I see."

"You would be too if you were in this much pain."

Rin looked back to check on Alpha. From the corner of her eye, she saw Colin and the others heading her way. "Hey, Atrayu, aren't those the people you came here with?"

The mercenary craned her neck. A small smile crept on her lips. "Well, isn't that something? They must've come to loot my body. Won't they be disappointed to find me still alive?"

"Should we wait for them?" Rin asked.

Her exhaustion was catching up with her. "Yeah, let's wait for them. I really –huff- want to stick around and wait –huff- for Alpha to burn our necks off."

"Then let's keep going!" Rin looked up ahead to one of the coliseum exits. It wasn't too far off, but at the pace they were going, she feared they wouldn't reach it in time. Alpha's roars taunted her from behind. The cries of several more soldiers echoed through the air as they fell to the ground dead. Nonetheless, Rin steeled her gaze. She couldn't afford to look back. She would just have to trust the others could hold their former king off long enough for the two of them to escape.

"Rin?" Atrayu asked weakly. "Why help me?" She struggled to lifted one leg in front of the other, throwing much of her weight against her sister in the process. "I've treated you worse than a foreigner."

"Because you're my sister regardless of how you treat me," she replied, grunting as she supported Atrayu. "Do I need a reason?"

"But this –huff-is the first time-huff- I've seen you openly –huff- defy Alpha," she replied.

Rin hesitated a moment, giving Atrayu another firm push as they climbed up several more stairs. Atrayu's foot caught a lip in one of the steps, causing her to stumble forward. It took all of Rin's strengths to keep her on her feet.

"He isn't Alpha anymore. He's a monster," came Rin's reply.

"That's nothing new," Atrayu said through exasperated breaths.

"Enough talking," Rin said sternly. "Conserve your strength."

Something exploded behind them. A fireball shrieked past the two shifters, colliding into the seats just to their left. The debris flew into their faces and the ground shook beneath them, causing the weakened Atrayu to stumble. Rin pulled her upright.

"Goddesses! We have to hurry!" Rin cursed beneath her breath. Had Alpha shaken the guards off already?

She shifted more of her sister's weight on her and pressed further. Atrayu grunted in pain but said nothing.

Ten steps. Nine steps. Eight steps. Seven steps.

They were close to the exit now. The large stone archway beckoned them to its safety like a mother's embrace.

Six steps. Five steps. Four steps. Three steps.

They were so close that Rin could touch the final step with her hand if she leaned forward. Only a little more to go.

Unfortunately, neither of them would ever reach it.

Just when they were only a few steps away, Alpha's heavy figure crashed down between them and the gate, causing the stone to deform beneath the impact of his landing. The two women stumbled backwards, falling down a few steps from the sudden impact. As they looked up at their adversary, they saw in detail just what Mudora had done to their former ruler. His face was still recognizable, but scales covered his cheek and forehead. His eyes were dark and soulless, darting between the two targets more like a predator than a king. There was no sign of any conscious thought left in his mind. As he opened his mouth, he flashed a mountain of carnivorous teeth while his moist, putrid breath overwhelmed their nostrils.

Alpha growled at them and lunged for the two shifters. Rin shoved Atrayu out of the way and spun around his grasp. She attempted to claw his exposed arm, but his scales were hard as stone.

"Atrayu! Run! I'll hold him off!" Rin called.

"Do you really –huff- think I can –huff- go anywhere?" Atrayu yelled back. She struggled to her feet, one arm supporting the other. The impact of hitting the ground had severely dizzied her already weakened body. "We fight together."

Rin swallowed hard. She wanted to say no. But what choice did they have? Alpha had cut off their only chance of escape.

"Fine. But not by choice. Let's go!"

Their struggle was doomed before it ever began. While Rin attacked from the air, Atrayu attempted to attack from the ground. However, despite Mudora's healing, her movements lacked their normal speed and agility. Alpha noticed this right away and targeted her first. Within seconds, the mercenary was caught within his grasp. A panicked Rin tried to fly to her aid, slashing at Alpha's arm with her talons. Even those were not strong enough to penetrate his scaly skin, and she was soon caught within the mad shifter's grasp as well.

"Looks like this it," Rin mumbled weakly as she returned to her human form. She and Atrayu watched helplessly as Alpha flew off the steps and back to the center of the arena. They were right back at the beginning. "In the end, we couldn't even put up a fight."

Atrayu shook her head. The grip on her chest was too tight for her to speak.

"It was an honor to fight beside you, Sister," Rin said, giving her a sister a soft smile. "I know we have had our differences, but hopefully things will be better in the afterlife."

"Rishu! Now!" Colin cried.

FWIP!

The arrow sailed through the air from Rishu's bow and struck Alpha in the eye. Blood streaked down the monster's face as he roared in anguish, releasing both shifters while he held his face with his claw. The ground beneath him shook as he stumbled backwards.

Both women hit the ground with a thud. The pain was too much for Atrayu's body; she lost consciousness in seconds. Meanwhile, Rin's world spun as she slowly rose to her feet again.

"What's going on?" she asked. She felt the tremors beneath her feet as Alpha stomped around the stadium. As her vision cleared, she saw a young man with a sword standing between her and their adversary.

"We're getting you both out of here," Colin said as he twisted his sword in his wrist.

"I…I recognize you!" Rin exclaimed. "You're that boy from before!" She looked to her unconscious sister. Midna and Rishu were tending to her. She looked back to Colin. "Why did you come back? I thought you would've been long gone."

Colin shook his head. "It's a long story. The important thing is we're here now."

Rin shook her head. "I have no idea what that is supposed to mean." A small smile graced her lips. "But thank you."

"Colin! Rishu! Here he comes!" Midna screamed, pointing to the raging monster stomping right towards them. The bloody eye was covered with a claw, while the other fixated on them with an animalistic rage.

"Everyone! Brace yourselves!" Colin cried out.

Rishu grabbed another arrow while Rin rose to her feet.

"This will be over faster than a rock concert at a temple," Rishu said. Nocking the arrow, he let it sail through the air towards Alpha's other eye, but the monster blocked it. The projectile fell like a pebble against a mountain.

"How do we kill him?" Colin asked.

Rin shook her head. "You can't. His skin is as hard as rock. Not even your sword will penetrate."

"Well, we have to do something," Colin responded. "Can you two serve as a distraction? I'll see if I can sneak up behind him and find a weak spot."

"No problem, Dodongo," Rishu said. He grabbed another arrow and let it sail. In the meantime, Rin took to the skies once more. With her scratching and slashing at him from above and Rishu's arrows prickling from below, Alpha didn't know which annoyance to deal with first.

While Alpha wasn't watching, Colin moved around in the monster's blind spot. Every step he took had to be done with caution. Even though Rishu and Rin had captured his attention, Alpha's thrashing and stomping were chaotic and random while his tail swept across the ground like a snake. Any wrong moves and he would be noticed immediately. Fortunately, although he had several close encounters, the youth was able to successfully sneak behind the monster.

After his search along Alpha's back proved unfruitful, Colin's eye turned towards the monster's writhing tail. If he could cut it, then it might be enough to throw Alpha off balance. It wouldn't be much of an advantage, but they needed whatever they could get. He just hoped the others could keep Alpha distracted long enough.

With a quick examination of the tail's size, Colin quickly deduced it would be impossible to cut off a large portion off. It was simply too thick near the base. He had a better chance of success if he sliced it near the middle. Yet, even though Alpha hadn't seen him, getting to that position would prove tricky.

Colin had to duck, jump, and dodge to avoid being clubbed as the tail squirmed through the air like a fish out of water. After what felt like an elaborate dance, Colin finally reached a suitable spot. He lifted his sword to cut it, but a loud roar from Alpha drew his attention. Shivers went down his spine. Had he been spotted?

Suddenly, Alpha's tail jerked towards him and swept Colin off his feet. His sword fell out of his hand and landed just out of his reach. Unwilling to be vulnerable for even a second, Colin rolled to it and quickly grabbed it. Jumping to his feet, he prepared for Alpha to come after him. But no such thing happened.

It was then, with horror, that Colin realized he was not the object of the dragon's attention. Alpha had honed in on Atrayu and Midna, the two easiest targets. Against a power like his, they were defenseless. The youth could see the glow of fire in Alpha's mouth and panicked. He would never reach them in time.

He screamed as the fireball hurtled from the dragon's mouth and engulfed the two women in flames.

As his voice gave out, Colin's heart dropped. How could it be over so easily? So quick? Like when his papa had died, he had been powerless to do anything. As he sat watching the smoke rise from the crater, he felt the sharp burden of loss once again.

Except something wasn't quite right. There was an odd sphere of rock in the center of the crater where Midna and Atrayu were supposed to be. The rock was charred and cracked, but it held nonetheless. Where had it come from?

Colin quickly received his answer. As the rock wall crumbled to the ground, there stood Midna with Atrayu lying at her feet. Both of them were unharmed thanks to the young girl from the forest standing in front of them; the one with untapped potential and an affinity for earth magic, the forest sage herself. Tifa's face was hard like a stone and pale as snow. Her fists were clenched tightly while Tatl hovered by her side.

"N-no one hurts my friends!" she shouted. "E-especially a big ol' troll like you!"

Alpha growled his annoyance and thundered towards them.

Colin snapped back to reality. As surprised as he was to find Tifa on the battlefield, he couldn't forget his role. With Alpha heading towards his friends, he had to act now.

While Rishu and Rin rushed to the others' aid, Colin tightened his grip on his sword and ran towards Alpha's tail. As he jump slashed it, the steel of his blade reverberated against the hard scales like a hammer against diamonds. Suddenly, the dragon stopped. Although Colin hadn't succeeded in cutting the tail off, he had successfully grabbed Alpha's attention.

The dragon's retaliation came quicker than Colin could ever have expected. With a quick twist, the very tail he had been trying to cut whipped around and slammed into his gut. The youth had wrestled with his share of Ordon goats and knew what it was like to take their horns to the chest. This felt ten times worse. The breath got knocked clean from him before the impact sent him hurtling through the air. When his back hit the wall, he felt like his ribs and spine had cracked in half. As he stumbled to the ground, a high pitch screech echoed in his ears. His vision blurred and he feared he might not be able to get up.

He lifted his head just off the ground as he heard a loud roaring in front of him. It sounded slightly different than Alpha's previous roars, but Colin attributed it to his now-distorted hearing. All he could see was a large, red blur flying towards him and the others. He was a dead man now. He was sure of it. As his head rested against the ash-covered ground, these uneasy thoughts guided the youth into the realm of unconsciousness.

WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH!

What? What…is that sound?

WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH!

Is that water? No…it couldn't be. It's too rhythmic.

WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH!

Is it something flapping in the wind?

WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH!

It's loud. Must be pretty big.

WOOSH! WOOSH! WOOSH!

"Hey, I think he's coming around," he heard a voice say.

"Urgh…ungh…"

"Yeah…he's definitely starting to move. I was starting to worry Deku Baba would never snap out of it."

The youth slowly opened his eyes. As he sluggishly lifted his head, a gentle rocking lifted his body up and down, almost like he was on a boat. A sharp wind tugged at his hair and slashed his cheeks, quickly snapping him back to his senses. The ground beneath him was hard, but as he felt it with his hand, not rocky like he expected. Instead, it felt alive and organic. He looked around and saw two great wings flapping through the air. Could that be the source of the noise that had woken him?

"Ungh…where am I?" Colin muttered.

Tifa jumped on top of him before he could ask anything else. He grunted as her weight hit his chest. The impact took him by surprise, but he felt no sharp pain. His bones were still intact; that was a relief. Midna, Rishu, and Tatl gathered around him.

"You're finally awake, Colin! I was worried!" Tifa yelled.

"Ugh…where are we? I feel like I'm riding a giant Dodongo in the middle of the ocean," Colin muttered.

Midna looked around. "Well, you're close. Except we're riding a dragon through the sky."

"Dragon?" Colin asked. "We're riding a dragon? Who trained it?"

"Nobody trained it, silly. Animal lady says the dragon's name is Valoo," Tifa explained, shifting around on his stomach so she was comfortable (but much to Colin's discomfort). "She says he's a guardian duty or something."

"The word you want is 'deity'," Tatl corrected.

"Same thing, right?" Tifa asked.

"Not quite," the fairy responded.

Colin changed the subject. "So what happened? Where's Alpha? And Atrayu? And that other shifter?"

Midna bit her lip. "Valoo came to our rescue shortly after you passed out. One breath of fire from him was enough to send Alpha scurrying."

"Valoo? Who did you say that was again?"

Midna smirked and folded her arms. "He's the guardian of their country and the dragon we're riding right now. Weren't you paying attention when Atrayu gave us her history lesson of Nevkah?"

Colin looked away. "No, I guess not. I must've been distracted."

Midna shrugged. "It doesn't matter. What's important is thanks to him, we're finally out of that goddess-forsaken place and on our way to Hyrule. From there, we'll meet up with Zelda and figure out our next move."

Colin looked down. "What's the point? We've been all over the world and we're still short one sage. Where do we look now? And even if we do find him, how do we awaken them without Kari?"

Rishu laughed. "It must be hard to feel so down when we're so high up." The smile quickly faded. "Oh…that's right…we are really high up." His face became pale. "I forgot about that."

Midna nodded. "Rishu's got a point. We'll never succeed if we keep thinking so negatively."

Colin faked a smile. "Yeah I guess you're right." Eager to not be the center of the conversation, he changed the subject. "What happened to Atrayu?"

Tifa pointed with her head. "Animal lady is over there sitting by herself."

Colin looked in the direction Tifa had indicated. As the Kokiri had said, she was sitting by herself at the base of Valoo's neck. The shifter stared wistfully at the passing clouds, her eyes gazing into the expanse as if she were in another world.

"And what about the other shifter that was with her?"

"I don't know. I can only assume she stayed behind."

Colin nodded. "I see. And how is everyone here holding up?"

Midna looked down. "There were a couple of close calls, but I'm alright."

Rishu was sprawled out across the dragon's back gripping tightly to whatever he could find. "I've…I've been better, Deku Baba. Flying…well…it's not really my groove. The sooner we find an ocean, the better."

Tifa readjusted herself in Colin's lap again. "I…I don't like it out here anymore. No more fighting. No more blood. No more killing. I miss Link and I miss home."

Tatl rested on the young girl's shoulder. "Actually, that brings up something we need to tell you all. Tifa and I have been thinking and talking an awful lot." She paused. "There is no easy way to say it, so I'm just going to blurt it."

Everyone tensed.

The fairy looked everyone in the eye. "When we land in Hyrule, Tifa and I will be returning to the forest."

Colin rested a hand on the Kokiri's shoulder. "But Tifa…I saw what you did out there. What you did…whatever magic you used…was incredible! You saved Midna's life."

Tatl shook her head. "Colin, please…just stop. I know you want her to feel better, but Tifa has been through enough."

"We all have." Midna shook her head. "We've all suffered great losses."

Tatl nodded. "And I realize that. But I'm afraid the two of us can't continue this any longer. We tried our best. We really did. But we almost died in Nevkah, and things show no sign of improving. Tifa is not cut out for this sort of life, and frankly, neither am I." The fairy sighed. "I'm afraid that once we reach Hyrule, it'll be time to say goodbye."

The news hit each of them harder than expected. Especially Colin. It seemed like the longer this adventure dragged on, the smaller their company became. It had been hard enough to leave Ilia behind. It was even harder to see Link and Kari go. Now with the group getting even smaller, he didn't know how to respond. The shock was overwhelming.

"Is there any way we can change your mind?" Midna asked. From the heaviness in her voice, Colin could tell the announcement was affecting her as well.

Tatl closed her eyes. "I'm afraid not."

Colin looked to the forest sage. "Tifa?"

Though she did not say anything, the Kokiri's silent tears and gently shaking head confirmed Tatl's words. It had been a tough decision to reach, and now there was no changing it.

Midna nodded. "Well then…I suppose that's all to be said on the matter for now. We're all exhausted so there's no sense in continuing this conversation. I hope Zelda can convince you to reconsider though."

There was an awkward silence as everyone wondered what to say next. The whipping of the wind and the steady flapping of Valoo's wings served as the backdrop to everyone's quiet reflection. The future of their expedition never seemed so uncertain. Even though they were finally returning to Hyrule, they felt more like survivors escaping a massacre than heroes returning from battle.

How would they find the final sage? How would they stop Mudora if the group kept splitting apart? Whether it was the effect of flying high or the overwhelming uncertainty of the future, each felt a pressure too heavy for words.

FFFPPPPPPPTTTTT!

Midna looked around. "What was that?" She began to sniff the air. "And why does it smell so bad?"

Rishu smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Bombchu. When I get scared, I get gaseous. I have to let it out at some point, right?"

Rishu's flatulence was enough to break the tension. Tifa giggled aloud. "Ewww! Gross!"

The Zora laughed. "To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed. Normally when I pass gas, I'm swimming so no one can tell the difference. I'm not used to being out of water this long." His face grimaced. "Uh oh. Here comes another one. Hold onto your noses!"

FFFPPPPPPTTTTT!

Midna took his advice and pinched her nostrils shut. "Ugh! This smells like your soup! But worse!"

Rishu smiled. "Well, I had to finish the whole pot myself since no one else would eat it. There's bound to be unpleasant side effects."

Colin stifled a chuckle and looked in Atrayu's direction. She sat perfectly still. She wasn't laughing. She wasn't listening. She was in a completely different world.

His smile slowly faded.

He had never seen her like this. It was almost scary. He recalled all their previous encounters. She had always been so bold and confident, staring death in the face with a defiant smirk. A firm purpose and code of honor had always guided her decisions, even if the outcomes were not always morally right. As much as he hated her, it was a trait that demanded his respect. How many opportunities did she have to kill him? And yet, he was still alive because of her sense of honor. Hadn't she even rescued him on one occasion?

However, the shifter he was looking at now seemed like a completely different person. She seemed lost and confused, with that sense of purpose snuffed out like an extinguished candle. Her injuries were severe, but the hurt seemed to run deeper even than that. For the first time, Colin finally began to consider and understand the scope of her loss. He had been to Nevkah now; he had seen Alpha's cruelty for himself. He even pitied her to a degree, despite all that she had done to him.

He felt the Spirit Pipes in his satchel and confirmed it was still there. He then gently pushed Tifa off his lap and rose from his position, drawing curious looks from her and the others.

"I'm returning the Spirit Pipes to Atrayu," he explained. This seemed to satisfy their curiosity.

He crawled and balanced along Valoo's back, wondering all the while what he would say. Venom had always naturally come to his tongue. Even now, a small part of him was tempted to add acid to her wounds. But he couldn't allow himself. Not this time. He had done enough damage already.

As he approached, Atrayu showed no sign of recognizing his presence.

"I have something for you," Colin said to get her attention.

Her face remained impassive as she continued to stare ahead. "I'm not in the mood to argue with you today, Colin. If you have no business with me, then go away."

"I…uh…" Colin stumbled with his words. He took the Spirit Pipes out of his satchel and offered the instrument to her. "I just came to return these," he replied.

This finally sparked a reaction in her. The shifter looked at him sharply.

"This? Why are you giving this to me?"

"Well…err…it belongs to you, doesn't it?"

She took the instrument from him and examined it. "It is mine." She looked back at Colin as she turned it in her hands. "But isn't this the whole reason you came to Nevkah?"

Colin hesitated for a moment. He wasn't quite ready to tell her she might be a sage.

"Well…err…without Kari, we can't do much with it." He fiddled with his fingers while he thought of what to say next. "I thought you might want it back for the time being."

Atrayu stopped examining it and pulled the instrument tightly to her chest. She looked up at him. "I suppose you're expecting some display of gratitude?"

The youth shook his head. "It wouldn't befit you. I just wanted to do the right thing."

"Oh…I see," she muttered and looked away.

There was a long silence as Atrayu looked out across the landscape. There were only a few clouds in the sky so weather wasn't a concern for the time being. Of course, this also meant that from their altitude, they could see for miles. Dragon Roost Mountain was now a lonely peak in the distance. A large mountain range loomed ahead, the very same mountains that served as the country's southern border. The entire ground below them stretched out in a field of white. The flapping of Alpha's wings filled the void left by their silence.

The winter wind sent chills up Colin's skin; he pulled his cloak tightly around him to conserve what little warmth he had. He looked once again to Atrayu, but she showed no sign of responding. Taking this to mean their conversation was done, he turned around and began the crawl back to the others.

"Is that why you came back?" Atrayu asked, freezing Colin where he was. "Because you felt guilty?"

The Ordonian turned back around. "No."

"Then why did you come back?" She looked into his eyes now.

"I came back because it was the right thing to do. If I had left you to die, then you and I would be no different."

Atrayu scoffed. "You should've left me to die." She looked at the Spirit Pipes in her lap. "You would've been doing us both a favor."

Colin crawled closer. He couldn't believe his ears. He didn't know how to respond. Was this truly the same Atrayu?

"Well…isn't your country free now? Don't you want to go home?"

The shifter scowled. "The only thing that's changed about Nevkah is the hand of the tyrant who runs it." She sighed. "But how could I expect someone who's only stood on two legs his entire life to understand that? You know nothing about my culture."

Colin nodded. "Yeah…I may not know as much as you do. And I may not understand every detail of it. But how many humans are you going to meet that have actually been there, faced Alpha, and survived to tell about it?"

His words caught the shifter by surprise. She looked at him intently to judge the sincerity of his words. His gaze didn't back down, drawing a mocking chuckle from the shifter.

"Isn't this rich? I actually don't have a response for that."

Colin shrugged his shoulders. "Well…I'm glad. Because neither did I."

"I see. Well I guess that makes two of us."

Colin began to rub his shoulder. He was running out of conversation topics. "Yeah, I guess it does."

Another period of silence passed between them. Without taunts and shouts to fill the air, neither knew how to have a normal conversation with the other.

At last, Colin bit upon one of her earlier statements. "What did you mean that Nevkah is in the hands of a new tyrant? I thought Alpha is gone now."

Atrayu sighed. "To understand what I meant, you need to understand how our leadership is structured." She looked out to the clouds soaring by them. "But why would someone like you care about that? There's no reason to bore you." She nodded towards Midna and the others. "You've done your good deed for the day. You don't need to stay and humor me. Go and return to your real friends."

There was no missing the bitter tone attached to the last part of that sentence. It made Colin wonder if that bitterness was a hint of jealousy. As he thought about it, even during his darkest moments, he had always had his friends to support him. But who did she have?

At this point, he could very easily get up and leave and no one would fault him for it. She had given him a perfect opportunity to walk out. After all, why should he show any sort of friendship to the enemy? But then again, was she really the enemy anymore? At this point, he was beginning to suspect her loss was truly greater than his. At least he had a home and a family waiting for him. But again, who did she have?

Whether it was pity or compassion, something kept Colin from getting up and leaving. He couldn't explain it; he didn't have to stay, but something inside compelled him. Perhaps he was starting to see her as a person now instead of an enemy. Or perhaps he was just going crazy. Either way, he made up his mind to see this conversation through.

"We're still a ways out from Hyrule, so I have time to kill." Colin sat down and tried to find a spot where the scales weren't so lumpy. "Besides, you always accuse me of being ignorant of your kind. Now's your chance to change that."

"Well, that's not the response I was expecting." Atrayu smirked. "But if you insist, then so be it."

The shifter clutched the Spirit Pipes tightly and turned around to face him. Her face noticeably brightened, and there was more energy to her movements.

"Now what was I going to talk about? Oh yeah…about how our country is governed." She paused. "In Nevkah culture, there is only one absolute ruler; that ruler's title is called Alpha. The one who bears that title has complete loyalty and obedience from every citizen of Nevkah. They are also ruler for life…with one exception."

"And that exception is?" Colin asked.

Atrayu's eyes narrowed. "If they are defeated in single combat, then the victor becomes the new Alpha. That's what I had hoped to accomplish. Apparently, it wasn't meant to be."

"But why? What did you hope to gain by defeating him?"

She looked at him in disbelief. "Didn't you see what kind of monster he was? He isolated our country and ruled it with an iron claw. He needed to be dethroned!"

"So what type of ruler would you have been?"

His question caught her off guard. "I…uh…well…someone better than him." Slowly, her thoughts caught up to her words. "For one, I wouldn't impose such strict isolation. My mentor, Eidel, sought to learn from other cultures. That's why she came to Hyrule. When Alpha learned of this, he tried to stop her. When that didn't work, he banished her."

"Eidel? Isn't that the woman in the coma? The one we found in Termina?"

Atrayu nodded. "The very same."

Colin nodded. This was going better than he expected. "So is that why you were banished? Because you held similar views?"

The shifter laughed mockingly again. "I can't believe I'm actually talking about this! With you of all people!" She sighed. "I suppose I really have lost everything if I'm spilling my guts to you."

"Have you really lost everything?" Colin challenged.

The shifter glared at him. There was force in her tone. "Didn't I tell you I'm not in the mood for arguing? If you want to hear my story, then shut-up and listen. I'm not that far from changing my mind."

Colin smiled inwardly. That was the Atrayu he was more familiar with. Yet, at the same time, there was also something different about her. Her mood seemed to be all over the place depending on the subject. Perhaps she was in more emotional pain than she let on.

"I'm listening," he said quickly.

She smirked. "When did you start doing that? I think that's a new accomplishment for you."

Colin bit his tongue. He wanted to retaliate with something. It felt like she was baiting him. Instead, he remained silent and let her lure hang in the water unbitten.

The shifter seemed somewhat surprised by his silence. However, that quickly passed as she continued her explanation. "Anyways, I was exiled because I was the only one willing to stand up to Alpha. I had different views and wasn't afraid to defend them. A willingness to associate with outsiders was just one thing I was guilty of. Of course, he had a rule that anyone who helped a foreigner was guilty of treason punishable by death. But he wanted me dead anyways. So it didn't really matter whether I listened to it or not."

"So you broke it?"

Atrayu shrugged her shoulders. "That's what happened. All because I let Link go after our fight instead of killing him. Once Alpha found out that I broke his golden rule, he finally had all the ammunition to come after me."

"But how did he find out? It's not like you told him, right?"

Atrayu's face soured and her voice lowered to a growl. "He found out because my dear sister happened to stumble upon our fight. And like the obedient little girl she is, she reported everything to Alpha with little regard to the consequences. I was put on trial within a matter of days." Her tone lightened considerably. "Of course, I got away with exile, a much lighter punishment than death. I can only assume dear Rin had some influence there. I suppose I should give her credit for that much."

Colin nodded. "So that other shifter…that was your sister then."

Atrayu rolled her eyes. "Aren't you a quick one?"

Colin ignored her comment. "Where is she now?"

"Where do you think? Do you see her on this dragon somewhere? Because I certainly don't.

"So she must've stayed behind. But why?"

Atrayu shrugged her shoulders. "How would I know? She can do whatever she wants for all I care."

"It doesn't sound like you two are very close then. Is that the case?"

Atrayu glared at him. There was a threatening tone to her words. "Make whatever observations you want, but do not ask about that ever again. An interloper like you has no business butting in. It is between me and her."

Colin felt the back of his neck heat up. He felt really dumb for asking such a personal question. He should've realized it was going too far. He thought about getting up, leaving her, and joining the others. After all, this conversation was starting to get incredibly uncomfortable. However, he stopped himself. He felt like there was a crucial piece of information he was missing. But what was it?

Finally, he remembered. "So how will they choose who the next Alpha will be?"

Atrayu's expression darkened. "You won't like the answer."

"Why not?"

"Because Mudora is the new Alpha. There never was a choice to begin with."

Colin's eyes widened. "But…but…how?"

"It was decided the moment Mudora entered the stadium and demonstrated his superiority over Alpha. It became clear to everyone who the stronger combatant was. Although Mudora never once laid a finger on him, that man made it clear that he was the dominant force. Not only did he humiliate Alpha in front of thousands of his subjects, but he transformed him into that hideous beast we just fought." She sighed. "Like I said before, whoever defeats the previous alpha becomes the new one."

Colin's mouth dropped. "Goddesses…does that mean…?"

"It means that Mudora now has an entire nation of shifters that serves him and obeys his every word." She looked away. "I don't know how your little party was planning to fight him, but they are going to need a lot more strength than your country's pathetic army. One shifter alone is more than a match for two or three well-trained soldiers."

The youth stared out at the sky while the thought registered. "An entire army? How can we fight against odds like that?" He was silent for a while. "I wonder if that was Mudora's plan from the start."

Atrayu shrugged her shoulders. Now her tone was more casual and indifferent. "Who knows? Who cares? No matter how you look at it, it was a smart move on his part. He gets the respect of an entire army for minimal effort." She chuckled to herself. "It's actually kind of funny now that I think about it."

Colin was beginning to fear for his safety. Her laughter was unnerving, and her mood swings were becoming more unpredictable. Was she going insane? She had already lost everything. What would stop her from going berserk and killing them all?

He decided to humor her for now. "What's so funny?"

"The fact that all you've focused on is awakening these sages to stop Mudora and all I've cared about is reclaiming my homeland. This entire time we've been pursuing separate goals. Now, through a strange twist of fate, our goals have become intertwined. You need Mudora dead to save this world, and I need him dead to get my country back. Almost seems like I should join your merry band."

"That's actually not a bad idea, Atrayu," Midna said, approaching them from behind. She sat down between them so the trio formed a small circle. Her fist was closed slightly as to protect something in her hand. "But I never imagined the suggestion would come from your mouth."

Atrayu scowled. "Just to be clear, I was only joking. I have to protect my sanity somehow. I've already lost everything else."

"You still have your pride, don't you?"

Atrayu scoffed. "My pride was taken from me when I was humiliated by Alpha in front of my entire country. Now, no matter what I do, I will live the rest of my life in shame and die a coward's death."

Midna arched one of her eyebrows and slowly opened her hand. She lifted up the necklace that held the dragon scale Atrayu normally wore around her neck. "So you left your pride in Nevkah, huh? Well, I was going to give this back, but I guess you don't need it anymore." She looked out towards the sky. "Maybe I should just throw it overboard."

Atrayu snatched it from the Twili's hand and glared at her. She quickly placed it back around her neck. "Midna, I may like you, but I will shred you to pieces before I allow you to do that."

Midna's lips curled into a victorious smirk. "Don't have any pride, huh? I think you have that wrong." Her face became serious. "In fact, I think you have something else wrong too. You say that you've lost everything. But I don't think that's true."

Atrayu scoffed. "And what gives you the authority to say that?"

Midna smirked. "Because I went through the same thing. Do you even know who I am?"

"Aren't you just part of a traveling troupe?" Colin asked.

The Twili ignored him. "I was once the ruler of a land far away from here. Though I may not have been the best queen, I cared about my people and did what I thought best for them, But one day, I lost it all. I was banished from my home. Of course, Link helped me reclaim my kingdom, but only for a short time." Her voice began to crack. She paused to regain composure. "Not more than a few years later, Zant struck again. He took everything from me. There is no reclaiming it this time." She looked intently at Atrayu. "And yet, I press on. Do you know why?"

Colin looked from Midna to Atrayu. "Wait….wait a minute. Did I just hear you right? You're a queen? Like Zelda? But from another land? How did I not know this?"

Midna looked at the youth. Her fiery red eyes looked knowingly at him. "We're all allowed our secrets, aren't we, Colin? I'm sure you've some things you'd rather not share."

The youth looked away. "Yeah, I guess when you put it that way…"

Atrayu crossed her arms. "But how do I know this isn't a story you've just created?"

The Twili's eyes darkened. "If you'd like, I can take you to Arbiter's Grounds where it all happened. I haven't had time to bury them properly, so I'm sure there will be plenty to see."

Colin's face turned pale. "That place? Those were your…?" The horrifying scene in the mirror chamber jumped to the forefront of his mind. Corpses. The thick smell of decay mixed with the blistering heat. It all came rushing back. As the realization slowly hit him, the youth looked down at the ground and his voice quieted. "I had no idea, Midna."

The Twili waved him off. "It's too late for pity now, Colin. Right now, I just want this over with so I can pick up the pieces and move on."

Atrayu looked at her. "I'm still not sure if I believe you." She unfolded her arms and rested them on her knees. "However, you've piqued my interest. Continue with what you were going to say."

"I forget where I was."

"You were talking about how you're able to keep going," Colin replied. "You know…before…well…all that stuff happened."

"Oh right, I remember now." Midna nodded her head and continued. "I press on because of the support of those around me and because I want to be part of something greater. I don't want anyone else to endure what I've had to." She paused. "I understand your pain better than you know. But you're wrong if you think you have nothing left to live for. If anything, you have the chance to be a part of something greater than yourself."

The shifter looked at her skeptically. "Explain yourself."

The Twili nodded. "Atrayu, ever since we left for Nevkah, you've been with us but you haven't been one of us. You've always had your own separate agenda. But now, we share the same enemy. Like you said, we both want him dead. Why can't we work together?"

Atrayu shifted her position to sit cross-legged. "So you actually want me to join your merry little band? Is there some sort of initiation ceremony or something?"

Midna smirked. "The ceremony doesn't take very long. You just have to go around to each person, give them a hug, and tell them five things you like about them."

"You had me until you said the word 'hug'." Atrayu said dryly.

Midna chuckled. "I was only kidding. Rishu is the only one who's actually done it." She paused and her face became serious. "All I ask is that you lend us your strength. If we help each other, then there's a chance we can each get what we want."

Atrayu paused. "I might think about it. That's the most I can give you for now."

Midna nodded. "Then we'll take it." She rose to return to her former spot but stopped. She looked over her shoulder. "And I want to thank you."

The shifter looked at her curiously. "For what?"

"For making me feel better." She smiled playfully. "All this time, I thought I was a terrible ruler. But after seeing how Alpha ran things, my self-esteem has gone through the roof."

Atrayu crossed her arms and looked at her sternly. "Is that supposed to be a joke? Or are you serious?"

Midna shrugged her shoulders. "A little bit of both I suppose."

"Umm…guys…you might want to take a look at this," Colin said quickly, leaning forward and pointing to the ground below them.

The two of them came up beside him. They quickly saw what he was looking at. It was hard to miss the thousands of specks dotting the snowy landscape. They were spread out over a large valley surrounded by mountains.

"Are those monsters down there?" Midna asked.

Atrayu peered over the edge. "It's hard to tell, but they're certainly not shifters. And they don't look like animals."

Colin took a deep breath to compose himself. "So they must be monsters. But why flock around that tower? It's in the middle of nowhere."

He pointed to the white colossus at the valley's center. The structure, when viewed from the air, exuded a strange blue aura from its exterior.

Atrayu shook her head. "That tower marks the border between Hyrule and Nevkah. It's been there since I was a little pup, and probably long before that."

"But what's it used for?" Midna asked. "It must be important if so many monsters are camped around it."

"No one knows what it's true purpose is since no one's been inside," Atrayu explained. "The door is sealed with some sort of magic. Of course, that hasn't stopped the rumors. It's even earned the nickname 'Tower of the Gods' because some believe it was built by divine hands."

Colin shook his head. "I have a bad feeling about it."

As if he sensed the same thing, Valoo veered away from the tower and the monsters that surrounded it. With several mighty flaps of his wings, he redirected his course back to Hyrule.

Slowly, the tower faded into the distance behind them, allowing the trio to gradually relax.

The rest of the journey passed by in silence. Exhausted from their experiences in Nevkah and knowing this might be one of their few times to rest in safety, they all slept for the rest of the journey.

Valoo's loud roar startled them awake when they finally got close to their destination. Colin's eyes shot open and he quickly adjusted his position to look over Valoo's side. At first, the terrain was foreign to him. Yet, once he found Death Mountain and Hyrule Field, it was easy to recognize Kakariko Village. However, the village wasn't the same as he remembered. Where he last recalled a broken battlefield, the village was now rebuilt and bustling with activity. Tents filled both Kakariko and sections of nearby Hyrule Field. From the sky he could make out Hylians, Gorons, and Zora walking between them in preparation for war.

Clearly, Zelda and Ilia had been busy while he and the others had been away. With all the sour news they had received, it was nice to finally see something encouraging. Perhaps they stood a chance after all.

Despite knowing that a grueling battle awaited him and the others, Colin couldn't help but be excited. As Valoo approached the camp and everyone prepared to disembark, a thought struck him.

He had done it. In the past several months, he had traveled all over the continent. Now, after an arduous journey, he was finally home. That was something no one could take away from him.

And so the story marches onward. Though the adventures in Nevkah are over, now we prepare for the final arc in this epic tale. We are approaching the end, and each chapter gets us closer. I ask that you have patience for a little while longer. I will do my best to make each chapter worth reading. As always, thank you to all who have read this story, favorite it, and review it. I hope you'll stay with me all the way to this story's thrilling and final conclusion.

Edit: I've gone ahead and made some minor changes to this chapter. Small things like word usage and the way characters respond to certain things. Special thanks to Etc Flip for pointing out some things that I missed initially.