Author's notes: So to those who have read the original versions of earlier chapters just to see that they have been edited later there is a reason for that, I have a friend IRL that chose to join me on this project and he has gone behind every chapter to help make sure they flow well for y'all's enjoyment, and if you are reading this my talented friend then thank you HG for all you do… and with that time to venture into chapter 3 of A tale of chaos and twilight
Bonus Note: If things don't seem right i understand, from this point foward i am releasing "Beta Chapters" to see how they do and based off reviews me and my teammate will revise and polish the chapters... so if you see "Beta" by the chapter titles now you know why
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Baldur's Gate or Legend of Zelda, those are owned by Wizards of the Coast, Nintendo, and the partners have deals with… the only things I own are my portrayal of the bhaalspawn (Zach) and any OCs that are added into the story as it progresses
Chapter 3: Where in the world am I? (Beta)
Darkness… darkness… That was all Zach could see moments before he felt himself fall from a distance. The next thing he knew he felt a rush of wind from behind his back before he slammed hard into the ground. With a sickening thrash to his back from his descent he opened his eyes in shock and pain. From what he saw something wasn't right. The sky plagued in particles of black and the sky looked too dim for the time of day last he knew, was he out for a while? Who knows? The sky looked like shades of gold and black, like night could descend at any moment but never moving. Wherever he was time seemed to be in a stand still, nobody to be seen. He kept looking around to gather his bearings noticing he was no longer at the town he was tasked to cleanse instead he was standing within the courtyard of a castle, an unused one at that considering all the moss and overgrown plants that were around tracing on the walls like a kid with a pen not knowing what they were drawing and the grass growing out of the cobblestone below in multiple patches without order. "I don't think I'm in faerun anymore" He mumbled to himself as he paced back in forth trying to figure out what was going on. He was so fixed on thinking that he didn't realize that there was something fast approaching him from the shadows of the courtyard, moments later he bumped into something hard. He slammed his eyes shut out of pain wondering what hit him, did someone throw a stone at him? He knew he wasn't going to know until he opened his eyes again and with some resistance he did just that, what he saw next confused the hell out of him; it was a small girl with black and silver skin with tangled orange and gold hair, too well developed in her hips to be a kid if he said so himself, a Halfling perhaps? A dwarf? Maybe a gnome? No, no, no, her body type didn't fit any of those categories; she was a different species indeed. He knelt down to get a better look but when he did the creature girl glared at him and attempted to slap him, he claims attempted because her hands caused no pain to the experienced warrior, it was almost like being hit by kitten paws. He studied her face as she did… well of what he could see that is, about half of it was covered by a stone mask that seems to radiate a foreign magic, the mask was a beauty within itself it stared with a bulging unmoving eye and had runes that were unfamiliar etched into it from the bottom all the way to the horns that spiraled into curls like a totem. The face of the girl was also an interest as well. Her face almost looked like a painting, the skin above her cheeks looked like a midnight black just like a good portion of her skin while below looked in a hew of silver just like the other portions of her body, along her ears, legs, and arms there were blue runes similar to the ones he saw in the portal he entered and apparently exited from which to contrast her yellow and red eyes that looked like were ready to drill through the warrior's head. "Um, hello? Do you have any idea where I am?" The warrior asked the small person in a calm and low tone. The female creature tried to say something but Zach understood nothing that passed the little one's lips, it all sounded like gibberish. After the little one became quiet again Zach had an idea… he decided to write down the questions he was asking using a pen and paper he had in his pack, the idea didn't get the response he wanted. The little one flipped the paper side to side and up and down trying to decipher what was written but it shook its head a few moments, but seconds after she mouthed an "O" like she had an idea and pulled Zach by the chainmail sticking out on his collar to lead him into the castle. The duo wondered the halls for what seemed a few minutes taking a new twist and turn every few minutes until they reached a large set of double doors, after the little one tried to open them to no avail she shoves him into them like she was commanding him to open it for her. With a huff he did just that and soon they enter a massive room with lots of books, it was a beautiful library with many books with words that He didn't understand, but it didn't matter Zach was in awe with how much mysterious knowledge could be contained in this room. A few minutes after looking around the little one shouted something, Zach assumed it was telling him to come to her, after he approached her she was holding a old tan book that looks like it could fall apart any moment with how badly the bindings were holding on and the cover said "The history of lost languages: The history of Faerun and…" the last word Zach tried to read but had a hard time doing so. The little one looked in annoyance as she set the book down and opened it… after reading for a few minutes the girl finally said something Zach understood, "Do… you… understand?" She asked slowly like she was carefully catering the words, He nodded his head indicating he does, She continued "What.. is.. your.. name… long… ears?" She asked in concentration. He huffed at the long ears comment before he gave his name "Zacharia Alexander" He replied. She continued "Take.. the… other… book.. next.. to.. me… and… read.. it… Zacharia" She said pointing to a white tome with unfamiliar writing on it. Zach took the tome and started reading it seeing it was a translation book between Elvish, Dwarvish, and Common Faerunian and a language called Hy-lian… over time he started to try to say some of the hylian words which caused the little girl to laugh like he said something hilarious, but after hours of back and forth the two seem to understand what they were saying and were having a well-held conversation. "So your name is midna, you are a creature who is also foreign to this 'hyrule' as well.. did I catch that right?" Zach asked the girl now known to him as midna. "Yes, I am here to fix a fuckup someone I know caused" She replied satisfied he now understood her. "Do you think that whoever owns this place would be ok with me borrowing these tomes?" He asked her simply. "Yeah I know the chick who runs this place, I doubt she would be concerned that some dusty book disappeared right now.. she is dealing with some other major stuff right now" She said in a snarky tone as she handed him the two tomes they were using before. He stashed him away in his pack then turned to her. "Hey, when we were in the middle of our chat earlier you said you were looking for something here in this castle.. would you like some help?" He asked in a tone indicating he had nothing else to do. "Sure why the hell not? It's better than mumbling to myself" She said in a smartass tone that was so thick he wondered if she would turn into a literal ass. The two left the library to search the castle, as they wondered Zach decided to take in the views of the whitish yellow walls and the beautiful structure of the columns and all the paintings of kings and queens that seem to resemble royalty of many generations, he did take a moment to stop at one particular painting of a man in green stabbing a giant pig-man in the head with a blade that seemed to look like it was divine in origin, it looked like it was akin to the equalizer he had sheathed on his hip, but the design was much more simple, the blade had a beautiful purplish-blue hande with the guard stretched into wings and a yellow gem that seemed to stand out of place on it in a unique way and the blade itself was a whiteish silver with the symbol of three triangles etched into it.. what in the world was such a blade. Zach was snapped out of his musings when Midna yelled at him to catch up. A while later they say a narrow passage that lead to somewhere underground. Midna seemed hesitant to go to the dark dephs so Zach took the lead, the duo went down a spiral of stairs that seem to take forever to head down until they found a shabby looking door that was barely held up by the rusted hinges it sat on. Not thinking Zach decided to kick the door down just to see jail cells as far as the eye can see, they went into the hall and saw nothing but bones, stones, iron bars, and stone as far as the eye would see until they heard something… a growl? They ran to the cell that the noise came from and they were surprised that they say a wolf of all things being chained up. The wolf looked in a rough way but still held strong with something in its eyes…Determination? Anger? Caution? Zach really couldn't tell, but all his instincts yelled to help the animal and that is just what he did. The wolf lunged at him as he entered the cage and got close, he held his arm out so the wolf would bite there since his arm was protected by the metal gauntlet he wore, he pulled out his sword and broke the chain that held the beast in place and with a soothing voice he told the wolf "Hey there little guy, I don't know what you are so anxious about but why don't you come with me and maybe we can figure out this weird place together?" The wolf looked at him with curiosity for a minute wondering what the man was up to, seeing no hint of worry or danger the wolf decided to let go of the man's arm and walk with him out of the cell. Midna looked amazed that the boy she just met was able to tame a beast like that so calmly and quickly, "Hey, where did you learn to do that?" She asked as she floated up to the man and wolf. "Do what?" He replied confused. "Tame animals like that?" She asked with a little annoyance. "Oh, that, I didn't, that has always been something I could do.. reminds me of a story I can tell you later" he said chuckling, "So what are we looking for anyway?" He asked now realizing he had no idea what he agreed to help with. "Irony has it, this wolf was what I was looking for. I will try to explain later" Midna replied in a nonchalant tone. "I think I owe you both an answer as to where EXACTLY we are so if you both would be kind enough, follow me" She continued as she started to float away from the two. The treck took hours, from running around what seemed to be the sewers to climbing broken stairs, and even fighting smaller versions of the monsters Zach fought earlier that day, the trio made it to the top of the castle structure. Viewing the city below Zach was in complete awe at what he saw, the city was beautiful with so many buildings of different shapes and sizes and the streets of well placed stones, and the thing that really took his breath away was what he saw beyond the limitations of the city, with the advantage of further sight due to his half-elf blood heritage Zach was able to see the fields that were a beautiful yellowish-green under this sad colored sky but it all soothed to the most pieceful view he has seen in years… the only time that came close was when he standing on top of the fortress of candlekeep looking to the lands beyond as a kid, wondering what was in the big world beyond his home. He thought he would never gain that since of wonder again after all the traveling he has done but fate decided to give him that gift once again by sending him to somewhere he didn't know existed. "Hey, we are not here to sightsee! Hurry your ass up!" Midna shouted in irritation. "Coming" Zach yelled as he caught up to the other two entering a small window in the tower in the middle of the collection of spires around them. They raced up the stairs until they got to the top and entered a large room, this room didn't have much in besides a bed in the corner covered in what looked like expensive silks, a chamberpot in the opposite corner, a fireplace by the chamberpot, and a table with a chair sitting by the window where a hooded figure sat. "Midna, what are you doing here? Did you find what you seek?" the figure asked as it turned around. "Close enough, the wolf will do, but I did find a bonus. I think he will come in handy" Midna grinned as she pointed first to the wolf then to Zach who pointed at himself in confusion mouthing the word "bonus?" as if he was a kicked puppy himself. "May I get a closer look at you Mr.Bonus?" The hooded figure asked as it approached the Zach to get a better look at his features. He put a palm out to stop the figure in its tracks before saying "I don't like to be called that, I am not some prize of an egg hunt, My name is Zacharia Alexander, Zach to my friends, and I'm not comfortable with having a hooded stranger get close to me, I've already been subject to that and the results were not pleasing, take your hood off then approach" Zach said in a serious tone, a tone he hasn't used since the last time he had his traveling crew together, "Ok, I understand, I will do as you ask Mr. Alexander" The figure responded as it removed its hood revealing to be a woman looking no older than twenty with long brown hair, two strands of it were tied to the front with regal ribbons, on top of her head was a small tiara that faintly shined in the light of the fire nearby embedded with many jewels. Her face looked of divine beauty but seemed in constant gloom, dark eye ligner was traced around her large dark colored eyes, small lips that seem to resist frowning, and clear skin with no blemishes upon it. With those features Zach deuced the woman before him was either royalty or was nobility at the least so he took the only approach he knew how, he went down on one knee and bowed "Sorry to get you out of your comfort zone milady, but I like seeing the faces of those I come to meet" He said honestly. "It is fine, I was told of the possibility of your arrival Zach, but I will say the wolf is new" The lady said as she turned to the beast in question. "So what happened for you to be here? This is hardly a room for a lady of your nature so care to explain" Zach asked regaining the lady's attention. "I do at least owe you all an explanation don't I?" the lady asked as she put a finger to her chin looking like she was in thought. "Ok, so now how to explain what happened…" she murmured "The land that you now are currently in was once the beautiful land of Hyrule, the land blessed by the goddesses Din, Nayru, and Farore" The lady started but Zach interrupted "Sorry to stop the introduction but I can learn the culture of this beautiful land later, right now we need to get to the meat and potatoes of the situation… what caused the land to be the way it is now?" He started in a calm manor then asked kindly. She continued "The 'meat and potatoes' as you call it was that our castle was attacked a month ago by an army of beasts that were taller than anything the guards have ever seen and stronger than any goron, we had no time to make a strategy as the beasts trampled and slaughtered most of the knights in ways that would even the strongest of men get sick. After the slaughter their leader waltzed into the room demanding we either surrendered or die… fearing for my people I chose to surrender to the man's demands and thus hyrule was blanketed into the forever limbo of twilight… that is the sad fate I Princess Zelda chose for my people" The lady now known as Zelda said as her features looked more tired rather than sad. " I…see… Is there any way I can help restore the balance to your land princess?" Zach asked as he slowly nodded taking in the information. "I figured you would say that. First I think that our little puppy friend might need your help" She said with a ghost of a smile while looking at the wolf. "Most who enter the twilight turn into souls who know no better of what is going on, but it seems you are immune to it and I think the wolf isn't what it seems either, maybe something changed it this way" Zelda said as the back of her left hand began to shine in an energy that Zach could only consider divine. When Zelda approached the wolf its paw started to do the same, "I see so that is what it is." She said in thought but afterwards all present could hear a door creak open at a distance. "Hurry all of you, a guard is approaching, I don't want to know what would happen if you are caught!" Zelda said in a worried tone gesturing for the others to leave. The other three did as she said and were quickly running through the door but Zach stopped for a sec and asked "How did you figure I out of all people would be here?". Zelda just smiled and replied "You'll see, now go". That was all Zach could get before he heard the steps of the guard get closer so he ran to the closest wall nearby and jumped out the window to the balcony below.
End of Chapter
Author's notes: Ok, this was a bumpy setup I will admit, I was having an issue on timing on how Zach was going to meet midna and link but due to how my editor changed chapter 1 I had a headway and I am very appreciative of it… see ya next chapter :)