Author's Note

I've been wanting to write a Twilight Princess story forever now, and I finally had enough brain juice gathered to make one. I really hope it's a good read, cause I enjoyed writing it.

Uploaded

04/19/2025

LEGEND BELOW

"Good morning, My Princess." = Normal speech.

''Dont panic, think.'' = Normal thoughts.

Chapter 1

The time of nightmares

Rated-M

M rating for mature themes, nudity, romance, violence, blood, and adult themes.

Music of the day

The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess - Hyrule Castle Theme

She knew something was wrong when she awoke that morning, a nip in the air that just didn't sit right within her stomach, a foul taste on her tongue. She awoke with a start, sitting up so abruptly that she tossed the blankets from her bedside in her rapid shift from laying down to sitting up. She held a hand to her breast, sweat beading down her forehead as her heart thundered underneath her chest.

"What was that…?" The words left her lips in a breathless whisper, skin feeling clammy, the bedding beneath her thighs drenched in sweat. Black hair fell over her dull red eyes, her gaze distant as she stared out the barred window to her right. The sun was hanging lowly in the skies above Hyrule, the morning beginning once again.

But this sunrise failed to bring with it any semblance of ease, merely a looming dread that was bubbling within the swell of her breasts.

It didn't sit well with her at all.

She sat up slightly, leaning to gaze out the window half expecting to see the world on fire, but that simply wasn't the case. The nightmare that had plagued her dreams still felt fresh in her mind, as if a warning of things to come.

Swallowing thickly she shook her head in an attempt to dismiss the feelings plaguing her uneasy heart, tossing what remained of her blankets to the side as she slipped out of her bed. Her room was spartan, bare of anything save for the most essential items required for daily living. A bed, nightstand, mirror, and a few other accessories lined the walls of the relatively small room. There was space for more, but she'd never felt the desire to fill it in.

Her life was too busy to be focusing on the more frivolous things, so it continued to go undecorated.

She sighed deeply as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, naked flesh warmed slightly by the rays of the morning sun. She had no qualms about strutting around in her private chambers in the buff, as sometimes it helped her think just a little more clearly. But she didn't feel she had the time to dither about, and instead after some brief stretches got to work dressing herself.

It didn't take long to adorn herself in her daily garb, red tight fitting pants with royal intricately woven golden stitchings signifying her relationship with the royal family. The leggings vanished into big dark slate, almost bronze tinged metal boots that rose to shield her knees with big extravagant plates. Taking a brief moment to ensure they were dawned correctly, she then set about sliding the tight fitting grey top over her bare chest, the fabric sliding on easily over her slim figure.

It took a moment to clasp the other armor into place, the bronze-like corset protecting her stomach and back as it came up to cup her chest. For her right arm she wore a large armored gauntlet that stopped just before her elbow, while her left arm continued to be plated up to her shoulder where the plates connected to an armored collar she wore snugly around her throat.

Before slipping out of the room she took hold of the thick furred cloak hanging by the door, strapping it on around her shoulders. Just before departing she took hold of a small jar by the door, a pink glowing spirit sleeping inside quietly. There was a small string that wrapped around the head of the bottle, a makeshift necklace that she slid over her head before she tucked the small jar under her grey top.

Standing up, she almost forgot to put her hair up into a ponytail. Hands now encumbered by her metal armor fingers, she settled for a messy if effective bun at the back of her head. She took one passing glance at her appearance in the small mirror on her desk and deemed it appropriate for the day, grabbed her long sword hanging by her door before making her departure. The weapon was of a special make, crafted by an unknown blacksmith long ago in imitation of a legendary blade. She knew not if the story behind its creation was real, but the Princess had been adamant she take care of it, so she did.

The fabric of her cloak fluttered in the breeze caused by the opening of her door, the heavy metal frame slamming shut behind her.

The castle was quiet, almost unnaturally so, as she stepped into the hallways surrounding the throne room. Her bedroom was situated near the princess's for emergencies, and so that she could be ready for aid as soon as possible.

She was the personal guard to her royal highness, after all.

"Good morning, Lady Ashei." The gruff voice reached her ears with little struggle, the burly form of a heavily armed knight standing just ahead of her.

"Captain." She muttered in a curt yet respectful tone, not stopping in her stride as she stepped forward down the hall. The other man fell in line with her, the resounding echo of their armor clanging out as they went.

"Princess Zelda is expecting visitors from Ordon later tomorrow evening. The citizens of Ordona have expressed their wishes to offer a gift for the beginning of the year. A sword made by their finest blacksmith, so I hear." The man explained lightly as he walked, falling into line with her.

"Oh, I see." The warrior muttered, voice distant. He could tell instantly that something had her distracted, and his lips quirked downwards into a frown. If there was one thing that he could trust with his life it was Ashei's instincts, because it was one of the few things that never lied to her.

"Something is troubling you." He pointed out in worry, watching as the girl paused in her stride to face him.

"I had those nightmares again." She muttered softly, sucking in a short breath to steady herself. "Lately they've grown worse, and I cannot shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen…" Her fingers clenched tightly by her side with anxiety, the sweat dripping down her brown unnerving to see in person.

"Should we bring this to our highness's attention?" He proposed, but she shook her head.

"No." She muttered sharply. "She already has too much to worry about to be thinking about something that hasn't happened yet. But, perhaps it is necessary to increase the amount of guards at the ball tonight?" She proposed, feeling as if she would be doing something wrong if she did anything else.

"Understood." He nodded firmly, feeling it better to play by her instincts than to get caught off guard at a critical moment. "Where will you be?" He asked, glancing at her as she made her way towards the mess hall.

"I shall personally accompany the princess today." She explained softly, getting an understanding nod from the captain. She left him after that, her footsteps echoing out as her pace grew a tad bit faster. A bubble of anxiety began bubbling up in her chest, the hallways beginning to blur as her steps gained speed. People greeted her as she passed but she didn't pay them any mind, knowing well enough that her heart wouldn't be at ease until she was standing beside her princess once more.

She didn't trust anyone else to properly protect the woman in question. She was her personal bodyguard after all, leaving her safety up to one of her many other guards would be unbecoming of her to even think of.

She slipped into the shadows, her form all but entirely disappearing as she stepped through the many halls of the castle, seeking out the woman in question in utter silence. She passed by many of the guards, chefs and other subjects loyal to the Royal Family, but not a one was even aware of her very presence, a ghost stepping through the halls without so much as a hint to her presence.

Her ears felt like they were unable to block out the noise around her, always listening in to conversations in the background, eavesdropping on the servants in the mess hall, spying on the young recruits who were slacking on their training regimens. She was the shadow that lurked at the end of the hall, the ear that was always listening, the eyes that were always watching.

It's all she'd ever known, all she'd ever been good at. Trying to change something like that, something so deeply ingrained into her everyday life felt like an insurmountable obstacle that she'd never be able to overcome. So she didn't, and merely accepted the role she'd fallen into.

Her ability to blend into the shadows wasn't something she trained herself to do, but was considered a gift she'd stumbled upon. She couldn't help it if she was so quiet when she walked that no one heard a thing, couldn't stop herself from always listening in on conversations that didn't involve her. In the castle, she may as well have been a ghost for as oft as the servants or guardsmen ever took notice of her.

Perhaps it was her curse, to be invisible to those around her…

Either way, she wasn't sure she'd ever find out.

She silently slipped into the mess hall and was greeted by the sight of the woman in question sitting at the end of the long table, a pleasant small smile on her face. Her eyes lit up in surprise when she saw the raven haired woman entering the room, the only person in the room that even noticed her presence, and offered her a more personable look. "Ashei, what brings you up this way so early in the morning?" The elegant blonde woman asked with a gentle smile, lightly dabbing a cloth on the side of her mouth as she set her fork down.

The other guardsman in the room looked startled by her sudden appearance, flinching when they saw her standing at the other end of the table. They all swore that not a moment ago no one else had been in the room besides them and the Princess. It was as if she'd appeared out of thin air…

"I do not recall sending an order for you so early. Is something the matter?" Zelda inquired lightly, head tilted ever so slightly to the side as she eyed her special knight standing across the hall. Seeing her Princess so relaxed had the effect of passing that calmness onto her, as Ashei let out a shaky sigh, shoulders sagging slightly.

"My apologies, Princess Zelda. I did not mean to disturb. I merely felt compelled to assure your safety." Ashei explained with a curt, respectful bow, eyes hidden by her shadow.

Zelda's smile dipped slightly, a more worried expression washing over her like that of a concerned mother. "Ashei, have the nightmares returned?" Her words seemed to strike the knight physically, as Ashei flinched, straightening up slightly from where she stood hidden in the shadows of the hall. Seeing as she was correct, the Princess of the kingdom sighed. "Ashei, you mustn't let such thoughts plague your heart day by day. If you continue to let these things poison you I'm afraid you'll go gray long before I do." Her words held a small note of teasing to them, but her concern for the girl was genuine and well founded.

The shadowy knight bit her lips, cheeks warming at the worry sent her way as she averted her eyes from her Princess. Zelda sighed once again, moving to standing from her position at the end of the table. Silently she beckoned her over, a command that the raven haired knight did not refuse. Ashei did as was asked of her and moved to the tall blonde's side, flushing when Zelda reached down to take hold of her heavily armored hand with her own dainty fingers.

"Ashei, you have been working too hard in recent times. I'm worried about you." The older woman spoke, making a heat rise to the raven haired girl's cheeks. Ashei opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't manage to say a single word. "I want you to leave the castle today, have your head elsewhere for some time." She asked gently.

The response was almost instant as Ashei went to reject the request. "I cannot do that, Princess. It is my duty to protect you at all times." The response she gave was short, concise, and something she'd repeated many times over by this point. So when she said it in response to the orders sent her way, all Zelda did was offer her a knowing smile that had her tough knightly exterior melt away, revealing the young girl underneath it.

"And it is my duty as Princess of this kingdom to see to the safety and wellbeing of all of my people as well as my subjects." She wisely countered with a patient smile that had the girl's rigid posture and stone cold demeanor melt into dust the moment she locked eyes with her, and there was little Ashei could really do to resist her Princess in such a situation.

Nervously biting her lips, the raven haired girl's rigid posture averted her gaze in a last ditch manner of defiance once she realized that she didn't really have a say in the matter anymore. Seeing as she'd managed to get through to the girl, Zelda smiled a gentle look once again. "Ashei, I know you care deeply for me as I do you. Furthermore, I cannot stand to see you working yourself to the bone in my name. So please, if just only for today, do not worry about me."

The words swirled around in her head for a long moment, before she finally relented with a defeated sigh. "If it is your wish, then I shall do so…" She lowered her head with a small frown, but her cheeks only warmed up when the older woman's smile widened just a tad.

"I am pleased to hear you say that." Zelda said with a gentle laugh, her hands falling back to her side as she claimed her seat at the table once more. "I am sure that the captain of the guard can suffice for at the very least one evening, no?" She posed the question with a quirked eyebrow, managing to earn the first smile from the girl all morning.

Before she dismissed her, however, a thought struck her that only made the smile on her face widen that much more, small as it already was. "If you happen upon the food market today, it would please me greatly if you bring back some of the sweet rolls they bake there. Unfortunately the only food I am allowed here is prepared by my chefs, but I yearn for a more pleasant treat every once in a while." She explained with a wink.

Ashei's eyes widened as she offered a curt salute, arm across her breast as she bowed respectfully yet quickly. "I shall bring you as much as I can carry." She promised firmly, eliciting a beautiful laugh from the golden haired woman.

"Then I shall sit in eager anticipation of your return." She teased with a soul lifting giggle, before politely shooing her away. "Now then, I don't want to see you back until sundown. Understood?" She stated with a raised eyebrow as if to see if the girl would push back.

She didn't. "Understood, Princess." Ashei exclaimed quietly, before slipping away into the shadows. As much as she despised the idea of leaving her Princess alone for an entire day, orders were orders, and she was feeling particularly drained from the nightmares as of late.

Perhaps a day to herself would not be the worst thing she could spend her time doing.

Zelda smiled as she watched her go, blinking, and the young knight was gone. It was as if she'd never even been there in the first place.

"Would you like more water, Princess Zelda?" Her waiter asked with a patient voice.

The older woman offered him a smile. "Yes."

The mighty doors to the courtyard of Hyrule Castle closed with a mighty thud, ten guards moving in to position to stand in between it and the rest of the city. All there offered the girl a bow of respect as she passed, her wolf-cut cloak fluttering in the early morning breeze as she made her departure, her feet unsure as she went.

Ashei had always been one for orders, following a rigid regime to the letter as if her very life depended upon such actions. As such, she didn't put up much of a fight when I came to following her newest orders, but…

To do as she was asked would mean leaving her Lady completely and utterly unprotected in the case that something were to go wrong. Well, she supposed that she still had the entire royal army to protect her highness, but she wasn't going to feel any semblance of peace of mind unless she saw to her Lady's protection herself.

It was only natural, after all, she thought with a sniff.

"I suppose it would do well to let those men fulfill their role in my absence…" She mused aloud, voice quiet as she began the descent down the long stairs that lead directly into the city. This early in the morning was quiet, yet as soon as she began to approach the town square she could already pick up on the cacophony of the morning rush, people going to and fro, as the city began to awaken.

The sun had already risen somewhat into the skies above, the warm rays washing over the white bricks that lined the streets everywhere she looked. It felt nice against her cheeks, the season otherwise just a bit too chilly this time of year.

She stepped foot into the main town square, the massive illustrious water fountain still flowing in the center, the early morning light reflecting off its surface. People passed her in troves from every direction, few really taking notice of her as she stood there silently.

Where she was supposed to go and or what she was supposed to do while not standing by her Princess's side she wasn't sure, the idea of taking time off for herself almost a foreign concept in its entirety. She did, however, find her answer when the scent of freshly baked goods floated her way on the wind. She had to withhold the urge to drool as the scent nearly consumed her, the savory smell all encompassing.

It was almost too much!

The castle was left behind as she deftly made her way through the city streets, slinking to and fro as she walked past each and everyone she saw, following the mental trail she'd made as she tracked down the source of the most wonderful smells.

It didn't take long before she found herself in the market district, lines tens of hundreds of Hylians long as many began to line up in the hopes of snagging the freshest goods available. Everywhere she looked were stalls with fresh breads, apples and fruits, meats cooking on large open grills. She didn't even know where to start, w-which line to even get into, what she should-!

"Oooi! Lady Ashei!" A loud boisterous if manly voice called out to her, waving her down from the side of one of the bakery stands. Her eyes widened as she spotted the portly man behind it, eyeing her with a hearty smile as he waved her down. It took her a moment to pick out his face from amongst the many people around her, but once she did she recognized him immediately.

"Garf…?" She muttered in recognition, realizing who he was from merely a short glance even at a distance. Seeing as she was being beckoned over, she slithered her way through the crowd as she walked up to him, staring quietly up at the far taller man. "Did you need something, sir?" She asked in that trained knightly tone that had been all but beaten into her by this point.

He laughed hearty chuckle, waving her off. "Oh nonsense. You're way too formal, little miss!" He laughed, reaching down to pat her on the head, much to her embarrassment and secret enjoyment. Her cheeks flushed as he patted her, before her eyes widened as he offered her a still steaming sweet roll. "Here you are little lass, it's on the house!" He exclaimed as he all but shoved the pastry into her hands.

"O-Oh, I couldn't possibly take this for free…" Her quiet voice either didn't reach his ears or he simply had no intention of charging her in the first place, as she instead found her hands occupied by the largest sweet-roll she'd ever seen.

"Nonsense! I'm not going to be wringing out the Princess's knight of all her rupees because of her sweet tooth! Today's on the house, I won't take no for an answer." He grinned widely, eliciting a flush from the girl as she realized that arguing was pointless. She offered him a short but respectful bow as she gratefully accepted the gift, a small smile gracing her lips as she turned and walked away.

"Oh, good morning Lady Ashei!"

"Ahh, it's a fine day with you around little lass."

"Good morning, miss knight lady!"

The greetings and pleasantries came from all sides as she slowly walked down the main road, families and children alike all stopping to greet her as she passed with happy smiles or respectful nods. Try as she might, the attention always managed to elicit a flush from her, even though she would manage to keep her expression neutral.

She was well known around the capital as the Princess's own personal knight, a girl raised to fight since she was old enough to hold a sword. As such it was a common occurrence for anyone who would see the Princess to also see the little girl trailing close behind. Even as she grew up into the budding young woman she was now, it was rare to see her without Zelda by her side.

It was so common that many had begun to stipulate that there was something a little more… Special, between them. Although merely a rumor, it had unfortunately spread like that of a wild raging fire in a field of dry grass.

She sighed at the thought…

"Something on your mind, my Lady?" She wasn't startled by the sudden voice, yet it did have the desired effect of pulling her from her thoughts as she gazed up at the owner of the cafe, the man staring kindly down at her from behind the countertop. She'd wandered into a cafe on the east side of town, the soft warm lights greeting her as she stepped inside. Apparently she'd been standing in the doorway for nothing short of a long moment, lost in thought before the man in question addressed her directly.

Her cheeks warmed in embarrassment as she stepped into the establishment, taking a seat at a table by the small dainty window. "Oh, my apologies, sir." She whispered with a short bow, something that seemed to pull a chuckle from the man.

"No offense taken, Lady Ashei." He hummed lightly, pulling a mug from one of the many shelves behind him. "What can I get for you today? Will her highness be joining you today?" He asked curiously, seeing neither the Princess in question nor any of her other guards. It wasn't like her to be seen without the blonde haired woman by her side.

Ashei didn't pout, she didn't.

She was too proud for that, she was.

"Her highness has ordered me to rest for one day outside of the castle walls. She claims that I spend far too much of my time dedicated to my duty." She clarified with a neutral expression, but the pout that she definitely was not wearing told the man that she was particularly sour at the prospect of having to go a day without her highness by her side.

He chuckled lowly in that knowing tone that certainly didn't have the slightest effect in making her mood about the subject in question any more foul. His hands seemed to move on their own as he poured her a cup of green tea, sensing that it would do well in improving her mood.

Moving across the small yet well maintained cafe, he set the cup down on a plate in front of her. "I believe that her highness is only looking out for you. Our Princess Zelda has only ever done her best to make decisions she is sure are wise and just." He explained with an almost fatherly tone, the knowledge in his words making her eyes widen as he spoke. "Perhaps she is fearful of you being unable to work at your best if you push yourself too hard…" He suggested with a gentle smile, taking his leave as he returned to the counter to attend to the other civilians that had stepped inside.

Ashei didn't respond, staring at her own reflection in the green liquid of the cup as his words echoed around in her head on repeat.

She's doing this to care for her…

She's doing this because she worries for her, not that she wishes to be rid of her for one evening…

Ashei sighed quietly, shoulders slumping as she slid her metal armored fingers around the cup as she took a sip.

Save for pleasantries and the occasional smile tossed her way by the other patrons, she was left relatively to her lonesome for quite some time, left to enjoy her sweet-roll and tea in peace. Her mind felt like a turbulent tide of fearful thoughts and anxiety bubbling just underneath her skin.

Fear and anxiety were two of the few things in her life she was unable to deal with by the bite of her sword, instead left festering underneath the surface. She knew that she was being unreasonable to call off the ball because of a particularly worrisome nightmare, one of many that had plagued her years, but…

She couldn't shake the unsettling feeling in her chest, a tightness that she was unable to do away with no matter how much she tried.

She was only vaguely aware of the handful of new faces just outside the window, particularly oddly dressed folk's walking past the street without a care in the world. Indeed, a ball had been planned to be thrown tonight and many wealthy people from across the land had gathered in the city to attend it. Naturally anyone allowed in the castle had to undergo investigation before being granted permission to enter, but that had never soothed her worries.

She'd seen enough of the dark world around her, the people that lived in the shadows, the likes of which she wouldn't ever even allow within spitting distance of her highness.

It was also why she'd been barred from attending the balls in years past due her tendency to distrust any nobleman who stepped just a little too close to the Princess.

A shiver ran down her spine, a dark cloud cutting off the sunlight she'd grown comfortable sitting within. Her head shot up in surprise, snapping to the window beside her only to find-!

Nothing…

Nothing but the hundreds of civilians going about their day's just as they'd done for the past many years. Sweat dripped down her forehead, hands feeling shaky, heart thundering beneath her breasts.

She swore that's she'd seen something, something that stood out, something that was wrong…

But there wasn't a sign of anything out of the ordinary.

She raised a hand to her forehead, wondering if she had become ill.

''Perhaps her highness was right… '' She mused in her head, suddenly feeling weak.

She didn't go to move for a while after that, her tea refilled at least twice before she'd decided to leave the cafe behind. This anxiety that was eating at her wasn't going away, but she was beginning to wonder if it was well founded or if her rigid mindset towards her duty was beginning to catch up with her.

She stepped outside to the market district, a strange quiet taking over the city streets. She found herself blinking in confusion, having expected the bustle and hustle of the busy streets to greet her upon her departure from the establishment, but…

Only silence met her.

Glancing further down the street she saw many of the citizens gathered at the square, all staring curiously up at the direction the of the castle. That's when she heard the sounds of explosions… fireworks maybe?

A cursory glance to the distant side of town where Purlo housed his carnival saw a handful of test fireworks launched into the air, likely testing the supplies for the ball that evening. Yet she still felt on edge, something still niggling the back of her neck.

She felt that eerie shiver crawl up her spine again, a sickening putrid feeling prickling at her skin like that of a dark cursed magic.

She looked up, eyes narrowing in bewilderment once she took notice that the sky had grown dark.

"How did…?" She muttered in disbelief, brows furrowing as she struggled to keep pace.

Had she been out too long?

Had night already come?

But she'd only been out for a handful of hours! The sun should be right there in the sky, looming overhead with the warmth typical of the beginning of the afternoon hours.

But instead…

Instead all she could see was this cold, sickly twilight, slowly enclosing around the fringes of the city walls like a silent predator.

Something was wrong…

Something had happened, something terrible was coming…

Her eyes quivered in her head as she suddenly felt sick to her stomach, the image of Zelda alone in the castle walls reaching out to her…

Defenseless.

She disappeared from the cafe, moving as fast as her legs could carry her, praying, hoping that she was wrong…

But her intuition was rarely, if ever, wrong.

''Please… Be ok…'' She pleaded inside her head, rushing through the streets on a war path towards the castle gates. She had to warn the guards, warn the princess that something serious was going down.

She slid to a stop just outside the castle gates, eyes widening in horror when she took in the sight of the guards placed outside, all face down and motionless. She ran to the only man left conscious, shaking his shoulder to pull his attention as she took a knee beside him.

"Hey! What happened?! What has become of the guard?" She all but hissed, heart in her throat as she took in the beaten and battered state of the man.

How had no one heard the battle?

How did the rest of the city go on as if they had no clue to what was happening?

Had no one seen the attackers?

The man coughed a ragged sound, blood trailing down his lips as he stared up at her with shaking eyes, tears forming at the corners of his dull orbs. His fist clenched by his side, but it was all he could do. "T-They came out of nowhere… T-They slaughtered us all, l-l-like we were nothing…" His voice, once filled with a bitter anger at his defeat quickly faded into a quiet silence. "B-Beasts of d-darkness… W-We didn't stand a chance against… a-a-against his power…"

Ashei's eyes widened in horror when his grip on her slackened, and he stopped breathing. She made the terrible mistake of looking him right in the eyes as he faded away, the very light vanishing from him.

She stumbled to her feet, heart thundering in her chest. She didn't even have time to morn the man as another explosion rang out, this time fire visible from the castle rooftop.

She drew her blade, the sword made from a dark black metal. She ran into the courtyard, only to pause when one of the dark beasts the man had spoken of accosted her, screaming with a monstrous sound.

She didn't have time for this!

She needed to get back to Zelda's side!

Before it was too late…

She swallowed thickly, her own sword clenched tightly in her hand. It had happened so suddenly, so quickly that she had little time to respond. The attack was swift and decisive, bursting in through the castle gates, laying out her soldiers like they were merely toys to be tossed about and brutalized without mercy.

She was hastily taken to the tallest room in the castle, the grand chamber a final fortress in the event that an opposing power was vying for her very life. She thought she would be safe here, thought that this mysterious foe would falter against the might of her knights.

She had been wrong.

"Y-Your highness! You must flee! They seek your life, you must make your escape while we hold them off!" The man who stood as the captain of the guard nearly demanded this of her, shouting pleading words as he begged her to take her life and retreat.

Her heart thundered beneath her bosom, eyes shaking as her grip on her sword tightened. Even now she could hear it, the sounds of her precious soldiers being thrown around like they were nothing to her opponent. The sounds of pleading, the screams of dying men, the sickening noise of bones broken beyond repair followed by a sickly silence…

If she ran now, what of her other soldiers? This enemy didn't seem to be after anything else but her very life, and they'd seemed unlikely to leave empty handed.

If she left here and now, she was dooming her soldiers and the people of her kingdom she had been born to protect.

She swallowed thickly, the shaking in her hand stopping as she leveled a stern look at the doors barring access to the final chambers.

Fifty of her strongest soldiers stood in between her and this sudden foe, fifty men who had dedicated their lives to the royal family's protection over the years. They all stood poised with mighty shields and swords made of the finest craft in her castle, eyes locked firmly on the doorway before them.

The chaos outside had suddenly gone silent, the screams of soldiers outside forever silenced.

Zelda swallowed thickly, sweat beading at her temple. Her right hand began to glow, a godly symbol appearing that represented three golden triangles. One of the three illuminated, the Triforce of Wisdom, a gift of the gods passed down to her from her late mother a legendary power that was coveted by those who knew of its existence.

Could this be what this mysterious figure was after?

Could they be after her part of the Triforce?

A sickening feeling welled up in her gut, telling her that her thoughts were indeed correct.

She tried not to flinch as the door was suddenly and inexplicably destroyed, blown open with a blast of dark evil magic that immediately rushed into the room. Black clouds radiated outwards as mysterious dark creatures made their presence known, crawling across the floor of her castle like that of monstrous spiders.

"Protect her highness!!!" The battlecry was roared out by the guard captain, the man rushing forward as he lead the charge into the battle. Loud gruff screams filled the room as her soldiers all rushed headfirst into the battle, blades raised high to strike down upon these strange cursed monsters.

However, what little strength she felt she had been blessed with in the face of this adversity vanished as she watched her men fall one by one. For every beast they would slay, four of them would fall in battle.

The battle, if it could be called as such, didn't last long.

It felt as if it was over in the blink of an eye, fifty of her finest warriors pinned to the ground in pain, groaning and crying in agony, or scarily silent.

Four men remained in between her and the monsters. Their hands shook in terror, but they did not leave her side, shields ready to defend until their last breath.

"G-Goddess's above…" Zelda breathed out in a quiet horror, her entire body shaking. "I call out to you now… Please, help us."

But…

Her plea fell on deaf ears.

Then she heard it, the evil dark laughter that echoed out in slow dreadful drones. The beasts that all stood still began to move to the side as a man stepped forward from the darkness, garbed in darkness, evil magic swirling around him freely. The beasts all bowed down to their apparent king as he walked down the blood stained carpet to her throne.

No opposition stood to slow him, his step only halting once he appeared before the final steps to her throne. His face, if the monster beneath the garments had one, held no emotion as he spoke. Face hidden behind a stone mask of ancient dark arts, his words seemed to make the world around her quiver.

"It is time for you to choose. Surrender or die." She was ashamed to admit that she flinched upon hearing his sickly voice echoing in her ears, eyes shaking in her skull.

"Oh yes, a question for all the land and people of Hyrule." He continued unabated, no mercy in his voice, staring through her as if she wasn't even there. "Life…? Or death?"

The few soldiers still standing shook where they stood, but still they found themselves compelled to look back at their Princess to see her decision.

The sounds of those soldiers still alive, still being choked out by the hands of the monsters filled her long pointed ears.

The dark king chuckled, a low sickening sound.

Zelda's hand shook, and her fingers loosened around the handle of her sword. This was the only option, the only chance she had…

She…

She had to give up.

And yet, before she could make that crucial decision, someone else chose that moment to intervene. In a flash of movement saw Ashei launch into action, landing in between the dark mage and Princess Zelda. Her eyes were drawn in a dangerous sneer, brows furrowed furiously as she drew her long-sword, pointing it straight at the man. Blood painted her figure, but it was not her own.

He chuckled, head tilting to the side as he eyed her with a sick sense of cruel amusement. "Ahh…" He hummed eagerly, looking her up and down. "Kill her." He ordered lowly, pointing his hand forward.

The shadow beasts roared as the one nearest her bowed its head to oblige with its master's command. It fell into a sprint as it ran straight for the unmoving girl standing between it and Zelda.

The young knight's red eyes narrowed thinly.

The beast leapt into the air, flew past her, and fell into a heap.

It didn't get back up.

"Hhmmm?" The mage mused aloud, head tilted to the side as he watched his subject fall dead behind her, laying in a pool of its own blood. Ashei flicked her blade to the side, the pitch-black sword glinting with dark blood. It was as if she hadn't even moved.

"Ashei!" Zelda cried out, mortified at the prospect of watching the girl die a brutal death. "Please, get out of here!" But her words fell on deaf ears.

The girl didn't hear a word sent her way as she bent down into a battle stance, prepared to face this mysterious combatant without mercy.

But she had no inkling of an idea so as to the caliber of her opponent.

Still, that had never stopped her before.

Choosing to ignore her orders for the first time in her life here at the castle, she threw herself forward. Two more shadow beasts arrived to replace the one that fell, fast and agile. She ducked the first one's swing, an attack that threatened to do more than just sweep her off her feet.

She ducked low, spinning around with sword in hand as she cut the beast's legs out from underneath it. It was only her years of training that saved her from loosing her head as the third beast attacked her from behind.

She hit the ground, spinning on one palm as she swept the legs of the third shadow beast. Its hefty weight was its own downfall as it crashed into a heap, unable to react in time as she cut it down. Her sword was dripping with blood, but her eyes once again found their target as she locked gazes with the mage king.

She raised her blade, pointing it at him. No words needed to be shared with her foe, it wasn't necessary.

He chuckled, a blade of his own appearing in his hand as if from thin air. He flashed forward, attempting to cut her down in a single swipe. But she was fast, meeting his dark blade with a special weapon of her own. Sparks flew as their swords clashed, the man in the mask finding her not so easily toppled like her companions had been. "Oh?" He mused aloud, stepping back as she pushed forward.

He leapt back as she attempted to push him off his feet, a swing made in the hopes of cleaving his head from his shoulders. In a flash of dark magic he reappeared ten feet away, just out of range of her swipe.

Ashei wasn't idle, immediately setting upon him the moment he appeared with a devastating blow. Again he blocked her, going blow for blow, their blade strikes echoing throughout the entirety of the main chambers. But to his surprise, she was actually overpowering him.

At least, for the moment. "I'm impressed." He uttered, deeply amused as he disappeared again only to appear far too close to dodge. Ashei's eyes widened as he swung for her head, too close, too fast! It was by the grace of the goddesses that she managed to escape with her life, his blade cleaving across her chest without mercy, tearing open her grey blouse like it didn't even exist.

She held back her strangled tears as the pain assaulted her body, biting her teeth hard enough that they began creaking, sharp incisors glinting with her own blood. A dark magic radiated from the gash across her bosom, glowing with a strange white aura.

"My, my. And here I had believed that there stood not a single man in this kingdom who could dare to oppose me." The mad mage chuckled, the first sign of genuine amusement he'd shown this entire time making itself known with a sick and twisted laugh. But that amusement vanished as soon as it arrived. "Time for games, however, is over." He muttered, raising his sword as he vanished in a burst of speed to cut the princess down in one strike.

But…

His dark blade never struck true.

Zelda's eyes widened in horror when a new body moved to take the attack in her stead, her scream echoing in her long pointed ears as she watched Ashei take a lethal strike that was meant for her. It felt like the world had slowed to a crawl as her knight's blood sprayed across her royal garb, the girl falling to her knees.

The mage paused as he cut the girl down instead of the Princess he'd been aiming for, eyes narrowing at her defiant eyes that stared back at him with the defiance like that of a raging wild inferno. And even in this situation, it made him smile. There had been no hesitation on her part, throwing her life away to protect her master like some sort of lost and confused puppy.

It almost made him laugh.

Almost.

"Ashei!!" Zelda cried out in horror, watching as the girl was tossed across the chambers, crashing into a heap on the far side of the room. She went to move to her side, but stopped when a blade was poised at her neck.

"I will not ask again." He muttered coldly, glaring down at the bleeding girl at his feet. "The choice is yours, Princess Zelda. Life…? Or death…?" He repeated for the last time.

Zelda swallowed thickly, hands shaking around her sword…

And then…?

She let it go.

He smiled darkly. "Good girl…" He purred, raising a hand to the woman's chin, running his dark blueish colored thumb over the smoothness of her flesh. She bit her tongue, maintaining her composure as he touched her. Behind the mage she saw the girl stand up, the jar around her neck shattering as the pink glowing spirit held within reversed her grievous wounds as if they'd never happened.

The large glowing white and black gash across her breasts seemed to stay, radiating a dark power.

Zelda eyed the girl on the ground, and conveyed everything she needed to without words.

Ashei sucked in a sharp breath, holding a hand to her chest as she shook, tears welling up in her eyes as she watched everything she'd ever loved, everything she'd ever known be stripped away from her. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Zelda's lips quivered, a single word echoing out with a broken quiet voice. "Run…" She pleaded quietly, voice barely above a whisper. "Run!" She screamed, crying out as the mad mage's hand shot forward to wrap around her throat, lifting her up into the air.

Ashei sucked in a breath, eyes widening in horror as the dark mage slowly turned to eye her like she was no more than an ant to be stepped on. Shame and anger welled up inside her chest as she stumbled backwards, took one last glance and the crying eyes of her Princess…

And ran away.

She never noticed the golden light shift from Zelda's right hand and to her own in that final moment, before she vanished into the shadows of the castle before the beasts could stop her escape.

The dark mage laughed, the sound starting out slow before it gradually exploded into a loud cacophony of putrid disgusting chortles. Zelda bit her tongue, and bowed her head in defeat…

Hyrule had fallen.

Ashei stumbled out of the castle, nearly tripping over her own two feet as she scrambled to get away. Tears stung in her eyes as the mage's maddening laughter echoed out from the royal chambers behind her, a large dark magic white gash across her breasts aching with a deep pain.

She had to run…

Had to…

Had to flee.

The whole world felt like it was ending, a thick blackness spreading out that once it filled the castle walls began to spread even further. Fire erupted into the skies as the royal capital was set ablaze, and there was nothing she could do.

She didn't look back, taking only her life with her as she fled moving as fast as her legs could manage. Even as the citizens still about called out to her, demanding an explanation, she didn't stop.

Run.

Those were her orders.

Run.

Run until you could find a way to fight back.

Her heart thundered beneath her chest, begging her for a moment of rest that would not come. Even as her eyes blurred from the tears streaming down her cheeks, the desperate sob that threatened to burst out as she was forced to watch that terrible scene unfold, she didn't stop run.

It was only once she'd made it beyond the city walls did she stop, collapsing to the ground underneath the shade of a tree. Her legs didn't want to work anymore, everything hurt.

Her eyes were cast upwards towards the skies above the castle, watching in horror as a thick unstoppable twilight enshrouded the horizon. Darkness had come, fully encompassing the city within mere moments, before spreading far beyond.

She watched as the darkness rapidly spread towards her, and she had no more strength to run.

She closed her eyes as it covered her, expecting the very end.

…

…

…

But the end didn't come. Tentatively she opened her eyes, but all that met her was the world before, the world she'd come to know well, bathed in twilight. Everywhere she looked was darkness, the land covered in a dark thick gloom.

A shaky breath filled her lungs as she feared if even the air was safe to breathe, and while murky, it was. Shakily she stood to her feet, using the tree at her side to stabilize herself.

That's when she noticed her hands shaking.

She glanced down at her hands, and try as she might, she couldn't stop it.

That's when it hit her.

A strangled scream erupted from the back of her throat as a dark power filled her without warning, sinking into her body as if her skin wasn't even there.

She fell to her knees, feeling suddenly sick, suffocating in this putrid darkness. A bright golden light radiated from her right hand, but she didn't see it.

She closed her eyes, and then the power exploded out.

Her scream turned into an animalistic snarl as her flesh was suddenly altered in a flash, as she collapsed to the grassy lands below in the body of a white furred wolf.

Then all she knew was darkness…

Chapter

1

End