That wont be necessary." Came Ravio's tired sounding voice from the entry way to the room, he was braced against Winona's shoulder as he made his way into the room. "I'm sorry for my…over reaction at your presence, Link. I just.. wasn't expecting to see you again, especially not after so long. I though that this had something to do with the Triforce. I panicked. I see now that you are simply once again on another one of your 'adventures to save the world.'" He laughed dryly.
"The Triforce.." Legend said, surprised. "The Triforce of Lorule, you mean?"
"Yes… You and Zelda blessed us in a way that our world could… can Never repay… but at the same time." He smiled ruefully. "We still worry that there may come a day when Hyrule asks of us what cannot be given. I…saw you, the 'Old' you. Young again.. The Warrior. I thought that perhaps our golden era was in danger of coming to a close. Empress Hilda has tasked me with ensuring the safety of the Triforce, and to that cause I will always be loyal. Regardless of how heavy the cost…"
Legend gave the older man an uncharacteristically gently look. "Ravio..." He said softly. "What Zelda and I did.. that… it was just what was Right. There was no 'IOU' attached to it. We did it for Lorule.. For You, and for Hilda… You gotta stop thinking everyone looks at things the way you do, you greedy slob." He finished with a smirk.
Ravio flinched at that playful little barb, and Legend immediately regreted his words. Ravio looked at his feet briefly before clearing his throat and straightening his ostentatious silk tie. "Well…be that as it may… You said a portal sent you into the Rabbit's Foot tonight?"
Legend cocked his head to the side, causing Ravio to sigh.
"The Club? The building that I am assuming that you Destroyed tonight? Speaking of which. What the Hell happened?"
"Hey!" Wind stood up in indignation, he pointed a finger in the older man's face from across the counter. "We didn't destroy Anything! We SAVED people. It was the horde of monsters that caused all of the damage…" He sat back down with a huff and folded his arms.
Ravio paled visibly. "M-Monsters?"
"Yes." Said Time. "There were many in the building ..from several different 'Hyrules'. It was quite a fight. Your Valda took down a Lynel on her own."
Ravio simply nodded as he sank into a seat at the counter, not seeming the least bit surprised. "Well…that's good, at least she's doing her job." He sighed and pulled the crystal decanter over to himself and poured himself a small glass without ice. He gulped it down and poured a second before recapping it. "But…there are no monsters in this world.. Not for many thousands of years. I made Sure of that.. .that's why I chose it.
"…Chose?" This time it was Winona who spoke up, until now she had simply stood by the door, listening, soaking in the information from the Chain and the man she knew as Rav.
Ravio swiveled in his seat and gave the woman the saddest little smile she had ever seen. "Yes…Chose, see The 'Triforce' is a powerful tool… something magical, a gift from the Gods, but…" he hung his head looking away. "In the wrong hands it can cause untold devastation. Many thousands of years ago... after innumerable bloody wars fought in pursuit of that golden gift of the Gods, my people, in the interest of peace, thought that it was simply too dangerous to allow it to continue to exist. They destroyed our Triforce. But in doing so, they doomed our world to a slow painful necrotic death... Until one day: This brave man," he nodded to Legend with his nose "saved us all.. he and his Kingdom's Noble princess used the Triforce from their own world to restore ours. He saved us all.."
Ravio looked at Legend with a grateful expression of admiration and of sadness. a begging question behind his eyes pleaded to simply let the story rest as it was told. It was incomplete… They both knew it. He'd left out entirely Hilda's treachery, and complicity to the theft of Hyrule's Triforce.. the kidnapping and almost murder of Zelda and Ravio's own blatant cowardice. But.. He hadn't lied. For whatever reason, be it shame, or pride, or something else entirely. Ravio didn't want to share the whole story with the present company, and Legend could respect that.
Legend simply nodded to his old friend and took note of the obvious relief wash over his features.
Ravio continued; "Well.. It seems that even after almost losing our whole world, some people just will not learn. We had to secret away the triforce to protect it from would-be thieves or fanatics who sought to re-destroy that which is solely responsible for holding our fragile world together. The Empress herself carries a piece, the piece of Cunning, for never again will she be tricked or fooled by those that would harm or usurp Lorule! She guides and protects the people with a shrewd, and steady hand. I too carry a piece, that of Loyalty. It was bequeathed to me by her most gracious majesty for safekeeping. The third we had initially hidden away deep inside the castle keep to protect it.. This worked for some time, but eventually, it was discovered. When we realized what had happened and that the third pice was now vulnerable, we made moves to protect the Triforce, we decided to use our powers to hide it somewhere that it could Never be found. We hid it here. In this world with no monsters and its comparative peace. But…"
He poured another drink, and sighed sadly before continuing again.
"It seems that even here we may have been discovered if there are now monsters in the city." He sighed deeply and took another drink from his once again dwindling glass. "None of you are safe here... In fact, it would probably be best if we make our way to Lorule. The Empress will protect us.
"I'll need some time to make some preparations of course, especially with so large a party.. but in the meantime, you all are welcome to stay at my house. In fact.." He looked them over in their various gear and armor "I think that would probably be for the best.. Lest someone sees you.*sigh* Christ in a Handbasket.. Thank Goodness it's Halloween! I cannot believe you people were walking around like that all night. You'd have probably been arrested with all those weapons. You look like a LARP group."
Legend made an indignant notice but did not comment further.
"Anyways," Ravio continued "My car is waiting downstairs.. There will be enough room for everyone." He stood and buttoned his suit jacket. "We ought to leave now."
Wind piped up as everyone began to stand. "What's a 'Christ'?"