Chapter VIII: King of the Dead

 

 

 

Link and Zelda sat in their bedroom, reading. It wasn't particularly late, and neither of them were tired, however the recent events made them feel uneasy. Reading often took their minds off their troubles, if only for a while. Zelda rested her head on Link's shoulder, reading along with him. It had been two weeks sense Twinrova's appearance, but the forboding feelings were still there. Suddenly the two were jerked from their reading to the inevitable crying of their hungry daughter.

 

"Ok... That settles it." Link said grinning. "You were right. She has my appetite." He joked.

 

Zelda walked over to the crib and picked up Tatyana. She returned to the bed, and began nursing her while reading with Link. Link looked over to his wife and daughter and smiled. They were the two most precious things in his world and every time he saw them brought a smile to his face.

 

"Mabye your right..." Zelda said looking from her daughter to her husband.

 

"I'll tell you one thing..." Link said with a mischevious look.

 

"What?" Zelda asked, she didn't seem to notice.

 

"I wish I was her right now..." Link said grinning.

 

"Link!" Zelda said jabbing him playfully in the arm. "Not in front of our daughter."

 

Link pulled her closer to him and smiled warmly at her.

 

"Perhaps if you weren't so perfect, I could control myself easier, My Love..." Link joked softly gazing into her eyes.

 

Even after all this time of being together, They were still as much in love as the day they'd defeated Ganondorf. Link always knew what to do to make Zelda's heart melt, no matter when or where they were. Zelda had the same effect on Link whenever she was near him. All it took for all their worries to vanish was a few moments together with each other, and with their daughter.

 

"Just shut up and kiss me, you idiot..." Zelda murmured. Link was only too willing to oblige.

 

At that moment a soft noise broke them from their moment just as their lips met. The two of them looked down at their daughter who smiled as their gazes fell on her.

 

"You just have to have all the attention, don't you?" Link said brushing Tatyana's face with his finger. The baby let out a happy gurgle in response.

 

Zelda looked up at Link whose gaze turned from his daughter, to his wife.

 

"Mabye later..." She said softly.

 

"I'll hold you to that, Princess..." Link replied grinning.

 

Tatyana let out a soft yawn and closed her eyes, snuggling into Zelda's breast. Link and Zelda looked at their sleeping daughter smiling.

 

"She'll be a fine young woman when she's older..." Link whispered.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Severius stood up from his seat and began to pace around the counsel's chamber deep in thought. After some time of watching this Agahnim decided to speak up.

 

"What is on your mind Severius?" He asked the Lich.

 

"Hmm?" Severius said snapping out of his thoughts.

 

"What is the matter?" Agahnim restated.

 

Severius broke into a grin, which was a rare thing for the Lich.

 

"I think it's nearly time I showed myself..." Severius muttered.

 

"Hmmm... very well..." Demoria said.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The Royal Family sat around the table, eating breakfast the next day, when a page came into the room. He had a serious look about him, which made them uneasy.

 

"High Seer Ori wishes to speak with you, Your Highnesses." the page said bowing respectfully. "He says it's urgent."

 

"Very good, you are dismissed." Daphnes stated.

 

"Thank you, Sire." the page replied before leaving.

 

"You think he's found out about the crystal?" Malon asked refering to the orb.

 

"Most likely." Link replied. "Why else would he say it's urgent?"

 

"I've had an unwelcome feeling about that thing." Zelda admitted. "I hope it's nothing bad."

 

"I hate to be the pessimistic one, but if that stone was the source of Twinrova's powers..." Darian began.

 

"I only hope it isn't..." Cyrus muttered.

 

The six of them headed to the eastern wing of Hyrule Castle, where Ori's study was located. The room was next door to the Library, as Ori frequently needed books of spells or regents for his experiments. They entered the room through the ornatly carved door leading to the eccentric seer's dwelling. Inside the walls were covered with parchment, scrawled with notes and theories, some many years old left untouched by the old scholar after the experiments regarding them were complete. in the corners of the room stood two great bookcases, housing the books written by Ori himself, chronicling his experiments. The floor was covered in red carpet, stained from the constant experiments that went on. In the center sat a long table piled with test tubes filled with various concoctions with pointlessly long names. Ori sat in the back looking over a dark crystal orb, the same one he'd been studying for weeks.

 

"Ahh, yes, yes. Come in, come in!" Ori beckoned to them upon noticing their entry.

 

Ori was an odd man. He was short in stature with a long white beard and hair. His face, though wrinkled with age still showed the spice of life. He wore a brown tunic with white leggings. His eyes were a deep brown and though aged, still shined with a energetic, almost playful nature. Next to Impa, he was as much of a caretaker as anyone could be, and often took care of Zelda as a girl, when her Sheikan nanny could not.

 

"You have some news for us Ori?" Link asked the old man.

 

"Oh, yes, of course." Ori began. "Please sit down, this is a very intresting artifact I have here..."

 

"Artifact?" Zelda questioned looking at the orb with interest.

 

"Yes, this appears to be none other than the Orb of Shadow itself!" Ori exclaimed holding the Orb for them to see.

 

"What's the Orb of Shadow?" Malon asked.

 

"This is... Or more specifically a part of it." Ori replied.

 

"Wait... What?" Darian asked.

 

"There is an old saying I'm sure you all know." Ori began. "'Every force has a counterforce'. But what is the strongest force in our realm?"

 

They were silent, neither of them quite understood what the old sage was getting at.

 

"In reality, three, or as of recently four forces combined. Power, Wisdom, Courage, and now Valor. The power of the goddesses. The embodiement of Light!" Ori explained.

 

"The Triforce!" Link and Zelda exclaimed in unison.

 

"Yes... Even the Triforce has it's own counterforce. And embodiment of Darkness to match the Light."

 

"So this 'Orb of Shadow' is as powerful as the Triforce?!" Darian concluded.

 

"Yes." Ori answered.

 

"But Circe told me there were six. Twinrova was one, that leaves five. But... there's only four Triforce peices." Darian explained confused, as were the rest of them.

 

Ori gave a soft grin. "Not all counterforces are the exact same, my friends..."

 

"What does that mean?" Cyrus asked.

 

"The orb's functions you see, are quite different from our Triforce. Though it's powers are essentially a corrupt version of it. Some things are similar however, such as the virtues... If you could call them that." Ori answered.

 

"So this thing has virtues as well as the Triforce... I assume each one also gives some sort of powers like Twinrova had." Link answered.

 

"Correct." Ori said.

 

"But what are the virtues? If we were to know it might help us agianst the others." Malon reasoned.

 

"That may be." Ori replied clearing his throat. "Perhaps we should start at the beginning. Please, sit. this story is quite long..."

 

The members of the Royal Family sat around the study table as Ori proceded to his bookshelf, removing a large leatherbound book with the title 'Legends and Myths of the Ancient Times' enscribed in gold lettering on the front. Ori placed the book in his lap as he set before the group and began to flip through the pages, until he reached a chapter titled 'The Orb of Shadow.". He began to read.

 

According to legend, after the Goddesses created Hyrule, they left six guardians in the land, to watch over the people. two for each goddess. These guardians watched over the people. Protected them from any ill fate which may have befell them otherwise. In time, the people began to worship these guardians as gods themselves. Slowly, the people began to turn away from Goddesses of the Triforce, worshiping their protecters instead.

 

As time wore on, the guardians became proud, believing it was they who deserved to be the true deitys of the people. They soon declared war on the heavens, fighting a battle they could not win. The goddesses, angered, and saddened by their creation's pride, banished them into the deepest reaches of oblivion.

 

Eventually they accepted their fate, becoming one with the darkness in that realm. They became demons, forever hating the goddesses, their creators. Using their power they created an object of equal, but dark power to mock the sacred golden triangles of those who banished them. This became known as the Orb of Shadow. These demons were Varinox, the Demon of Decay, Orthalin, the Demon of Corruption, Nexus, the Demon of Betrayal, Karinos, the Demon of Bloodlust, Maleficus, The Demon of Betrayal, and Xiraxis, the Demon of Chaos.

 

Ori finished reading and looked up at the stunned faces of the Royal Family.

 

"Even I have never heard heard of this before..." Daphnes admitted.

 

"That is expected. This story has become nothing more than myth over time." Ori explained. "Very few know the legend, and none remain who believe it."

 

"Until now that is... The rest of the sick bastards out there who want to kill us certainly do." Link said grimly.

 

"Not to worry." Ori said. "The Orb of Shadow's power may rival the Triforce, but it's individual Virtues do not."

 

"How do you mean?" Zelda asked.

 

"The Orb's power is seperated into six, while the Triforce's is only in three, and now the Centerforce." Ori explained. "Therefore, the individual Triforce parts, are stronger than those of the Orb of Shadow, due to their power being divided more sparsely. It is also imperfect."

 

"The lost power..." Cyrus muttered.

 

"Yes." Ori confirmed. "Where as the Triforce retains it's power if it leaves the wielder, the orbs loose their own. returning from where they came. This orb is nothing but a plain black jewel now."

 

"Thank you Ori." Daphnes said to the old seer.

 

"Good luck my friends!" Ori called as six turned to leave the seer's quarters, and returned to his studies.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Over the past year Kakariko Graveyard had expanded considerably to accommodate all of the deaths caused by Ganondorf's reign of evil. There was a large memorial garden to the south of the original graveyard in honor of those who died during the seven years of darkness. The Royal Family's Tomb was now surrounded by the graves of the brave souls who stood firm agianst Ganondorf during that time. Impa had taken steps to restore the worn graves from the years before. It was a tragic, and yet strangly beautiful place now.

 

Severius stood at the entrance. He delighted at the sight of the many graves that dotted the place. He grinned slightly. What better place for a Lich to raise an army? For a necromancy of this scale, it would require a much more powerful ritual than the one he used to summon Volvagia. He would need the aid of the moon to raise this army. He silently melded into the shadows to await the coming of midnight. It was then his minions would rise.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

"Zel?" Link whispered a few hours later.

 

It was late, but Link couldn't sleep. He knew something was about to happen, but he didn't know what. It wasn't the fact that something was going to happen that made him uneasy, but rather, the fact that whatever it was was taking it's time. As if to torment him.

 

"Hmm?" Zelda asked rolling on her side to look at Link. From the look in her eyes she seemed to be thinking the same thing as him.

 

"...You feel it to don't you?" He asked her. She nodded.

 

"Something's happening..." She replied, voicing just what Link thought moments before.

 

"Why is it waiting?" Link wondered out loud. "What is taking it so long to show itself?"

 

"I don't know, Link... I hate waiting like this..." Zelda replied moving closer to Link.

 

"I feel the same way." He said wrapping his arms around her. "I just want this to be over, so we can live in peace."

 

"We'll get through it. I know we will..." Zelda said reassuringly.

 

Link smiled and kissed her forehead affectionatly.

 

"If it weren't for you, this probibly would have driven me mad long ago." Link said.

 

"Link..." Zelda murmured after some time.

 

"Huh?"

 

"Thank you so much." Zelda answered.

 

"For what?" Link asked.

 

"For everything..." Zelda answered. "I'd never been truely happy until I met you."

 

"Me either." Link said. "As I was living in the forest, I always knew I was different from the other kids. Back then, Mido always said I wasn't a true Kokiri and that I never belonged there. Deep down I knew he was right. Where it not for Saria, I probibly would have never known friendship back then. Then after I came to Hyrule that day, and I met you... Somehow I knew there was something between us, that went beyond just my quest."

 

"Oh Link..." Zelda sighed. "I love you so much..."

 

"Me too, Zel..." Link said.

 

He then slowly brought her up, and kissed her slowly, and passionatly. Zelda wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of his lips on hers. Link pulled her closer deepening the kiss, stroking her golden hair. Eventually they pulled apart. Link stroked Zelda's face tenderly, looking into her eyes and smiling.

 

"You're right, My Love..." Link said. "As long as we have each other, we'll get through anything."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

On the other side of the castle, Darian was feeling the same thing Link and Zelda had. It worried him. This new presense seemed much more dangerous than Twinrova had. Twinrova seemed overly confident and rash, while this new threat seemed cool and precise. Darian couldn't make out where the feeling came from, but it would show itself soon, of that, he was certain.

 

"This won't be like the witch..." Darian muttered to himself.

 

After some time a cool wind blew through Darian's window. Darian spun around to face where the wind came from. It didn't seems natural. Suddenly a familiar sphere of white light entered the room, materialising into a woman's form. The light faded, and Circe stood there looking upon Darian.

 

"Circe..." Darian sighed, his voice a mixture of both happiness, and worry.

 

Circe's face was set with concern.

 

"Not long from now you will have to face the second threat. Be careful, for he is more powerful, and cunning than the first." She said.

 

"I know." Darian said.

 

Circe blinked in surprise.

 

"How?" She asked genuinely startled.

 

"It's strange, but shortly after you appeared to me last time, I was able to sense the presense of evil, before it attacked. It first happened just before Twinrova came..." Darian explained.

 

"Amazing!" Circe exclaimed clapping her hands together. "I hadn't expected you to experience that for a while!"

 

"What?" Darian asked.

 

"Like the other Triforces, your Centerforce allows you to detect imbalances in the forces of good, and evil, there by detecting threats before they occur. But I hadn't expected you to be able to do so, so soon." Circe explained. "It's rather unusual."

 

"Perhaps it was because I was in the presense of evil for so long? I was trapped in a living shadow for six years." Darian suggested.

 

"You may be right." Circe admitted. "But whatever the reason, it's well you have this ability now, for it will be useful to you."

 

" I can see why." Darian said grinning slightly. Circe's expression turned serious agian.

 

"Be careful. The King of the Dead knows many foul tricks." She warned

 

"King of the Dead... Why do I not like the sound of that?" Darian asked sarcastically.

 

"Be ready... Your family will need you more than ever this night." Circe warned.

 

"Whatever happens, I won't let any harm come to them." Darian swore.

 

Circe nodded. "I must return soon. I wish you, your brother, and the princess well." she said before approaching the window.

 

She suddenly stopped and turned slowly walking over to him.

 

"One last thing." She said smiling, a large contrast to her previous mood.

 

"Huh?" Darian asked.

 

"My mother, Din sends her thanks. She was glad to know the people still love her, even after what happened." Circe said.

 

"I'm glad." Darian said grinning.

 

"Thank you..." Circe said looking into his eyes. "I've not seen mother so happy in years. Thank you so much for helping her."

 

Darian saw something else in her eyes as she said that. However as quickly as he saw it, it vanished. He brushed it away. 'I must have imagined it...' He thought.

 

"It was nothing, I-" He began He began to say.

 

Suddenly Circe leaned forward and before Darian knew what was happening, she kissed him softly on the lips. Darian was startled by the gesture and stood wide eyed. It lasted but a few seconds until Circe quickly pulled back looking startled as well. They remained that way for a few seconds until Circe finally spoke.

 

"I'm sorry..." She stammered nearly choking on her words.

 

"I..." Darian began but was to shocked to say anything.

 

"Forgive me. I must go!" Circe quickly said as she ran for the window.

 

She dematerialized into light and proceded to the heavens once more. Darian stood there, awestruck. The Goddess of Valor, his patron deity had kissed him. Whats more, it felt like more than just a simple kiss. Was he simply caught off guard after being trapped for so long?

 

"No... It's been nearly a year sense then, I would be used to it by now wouldn't I?" Darian asked himself.

 

"Was it... No, I couldn't be..." Darian began. "...In love with her, could I?"

 

Darian sat down on his bed thinking about everything that had just happened. It lasted not longer than an hour, however it felt like days to him. And then... At the end. He played the events over in his mind but his thoughts always inevitably returned to the ending. She had kissed him, and it was no accident. Not only that, but he had enjoyed it. It was more than just simple lust, or infatuation. He rushed to the window and onto the balcony attempting to catch a glimpse of the beautiful silver goddess. As he looked around he saw nothing but the moon, just begining it's ascent. He sighed and thought back back to the words of Link a few weeks prior.

 

"You need to find someone yourself, Darian!"

 

"Mabye I have..." Darian muttered to himself.

 

He decided to think of the trouble ahead for now. It wouldn't do for his mind to be preoccupied when the time came for battle. It was going to happen soon, and he needed to be ready. However, he could never completely stop the thought of his beautiful patron from edging it's way into his mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The moon was in the center of the sky, directly above the graveyard. Severius grinned evilly as he began the ritual. He placed four perfectly round stones in the corner of the graveyard each one was inscribed by an ancient rune of a forgotten Dark language, and coated in his own blood. He stood in the center of the graveyard and began to chant in a tone nearly a whisper.

 

"Uthielan lanum seratos nigh arthritos isatus gastas mi... ORTHALIS!" He shouted completing the chant.

 

Slowly soulless bodies of all types began rising from the graves. An army of undead, made from the bodies who slept in the graveyard. They lined up watching Severius with unseeing eyes, or lack there of. Severius calmly pointed a gnarled, almost skelital finger to the entrance of the village.

 

"Go, destroy everything. When the heros arrive, attack without mercy. If you fail, I will personally destroy you!"

 

Without a word Severius' undead servants lumbered toward the village.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Kakariko Village was much like it had always been. A long open area in the west which the only structures were a tall wooden fence, which opened to a set of stairs that lead to Hyrule Field and a large lone tree which people sometimes gathered about to gossip and tell tales. In the west, three staircases lead to the village proper, with one house lying at their foot. The Bazaar and Potion shops stood to the north ,and further still lay two stone walls with an opening between to fit a gate, which lead to the trail of Death Mountain. To the south was an Archery range building, built during Ganondorf's reign to replace the one which had been destroyed in Hyrule Castle Town. To the south of this, lay Impa's house, a building on the highest point so she could watch over the village. Built into a high cliff in the far east was large windmill where a haunting, and yet strangely joyful tune could be heard from inside. At the foot of this stood an old well, and to the south of the well there was a large pin filled with Cuccos..

 

Diana, better known by her nickname, The Cucco Lady, was busy tending to her birds, and whistling along with the melody in the windmill. It was this time they slept, and she could more easily harvest the eggs they'd lain. She wore a green dress, and high-heels, and her hair was dark red and stretched to just under her shoulders. She was often praised with producing the most delicious cucco eggs in Hyrule, next to Lon Lon ranch. This was an accomplishment she was very proud of, and she enjoyed the work, despite her allergy to the birds.

 

Her head shot up in surprise as she was broken from her moment by a strange noise behind her. She turned to the entrance of the graveyard and nearly fainted from what she saw. Pouring from the entrance where hundreds of undead, lumbering into the village. Their eyes fell on her with blank, soulless stares. They began to approach as she screamed in horror. She tryed to run away but was quickly blocked by another rotted body. She closed her eyes not wishing to see how she would die. After a few seconds she heard a scream, but it wasn't her own. She cautiouly opened her eyes to see a Sheikah woman in purple, weilding a Dai Katana, fighting off the undead attackers. It was Impa.

 

"Send for help, and take everyone to Goron City for shelter!" She commanded.

 

"But what about you?!" Diana shouted.

 

"I'll be fine, just go!" Impa shot back.

 

Diana was reluctant but finally relented and went to gather the rest of the village. As she ran through the village, she was met with questions from those awokened from the sounds of battle.

 

"What's happening, Diana?" Asked the wife of the master craftsman when she came to her door.

 

"We have to get to safety Alina, the village is under attack!" Diana said.

 

"What!?" Alina exclaimed. "By who?"

 

"By the look of things... A necromantic army..." Diana said. "Impa is holding them off near the graveyard now. We have to get to safety!"

 

"Our own dead... Who could do such a thing?"

 

"I don't know, but we need to go!" Diana said.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

A couple of hours later a messenger arrived at Hyrule Castle's gate. The guard had been stepped up sense the Twinrova incident, and the guards were extra vigilant.

 

"Who goes there!" One shouted.

 

It was quite dark being just after midnight and it was hard to see who was coming and going from a distance.

 

"I have a message from Kakariko. We are under attack by undead... They came from our own graveyard!" the messenger shouted. "Lady Impa is there fighting as we speak, but agianst an army like this she may not be enough!"

 

The second guard lowered his head, he hadn't heard of an undead attack sense nearly a year ago. "I shall forward your message to the King." He said running off toward the castle.

 

He went ran through the corridors toward the king's bedchambers. This was the same guard which told them of Impa's arrival when Volvagia attacked the forest. He had heard the conversation between them, and knew of what had happened then. Something inside him said this was the very same Necromancer from before. The clattering of his metal armor on the stone floor alerted the rest of the castle, along with Link and Zelda.

"What's going on?" Link asked.

 

"There isn't time to explain it here. Please, come with me to the king, Your Highnesses, I'll relay everything there." He said.

 

They nodded and proceded to follow him.

 

"Link... Do you think it's one of them?" Zelda asked. Link hung his head.

 

"I didn't want to... But yes, and if you feel it to..." Link said.

 

"I guess we'll have to go then." Zelda said taking a glance back at their room, with their sleeping daughter inside. "They want us, and if we do not come to them... They will come to us." Link nodded in agreement.

 

"And if they came here agian... I won't risk my daughter's safety." He said determined. "I suppose I can't convince you to stay here, can I?"

 

"I couldn't even if I wanted to..." Zelda said. "They're after us both you know."

 

"I know... I'd just hate to think of what would happen to Tanya if they-" He began.

 

"They won't, Link." Zelda said. "We'll protect her."

 

Link nodded and grinned despite himself. He was prepared to fight for those he loved, and he knew Zelda was to.

 

After some time they came to the kings bedchambers. The guard knocked and in a few seconds Daphnes opened the door. It was obvious he'd been asleep, unlike Link and Zelda who were alert and focused, he looked rather weary.

 

"Yes, what's wrong?" He asked.

 

"Sire, Kakariko is under attack!" the guard exclaimed.

 

"What!?" Daphnes bellowed his tired look vanishing, replaced by a look of concern.

 

"An undead army is attacking attacking the village." the guard replied. "I fear this may be connected with the incident in the forest back then. Impa is holding them off as we speak, but, if the force is as large as the messenger has said... I fear for her safety."

 

"Impa..." Zelda muttered worried.

 

Link placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her one of his looks, one that said 'It'll be alright.'. She took the meaning and nodded.

 

"Do you know anything about who is doing this?" The king asked

 

No, but Sire... The messenger says they are coming from graveyard."

 

Link cursed in Ancient Hylian at the last part of the sentence.

 

"If these bastards are trying to make me mad they are doing a fine job of it." He said to Zelda, who had a similar look of anger on her face.

 

"What kind of monster would attack a town with their own loved ones?" She asked.

 

Daphnes noticed their stern expressions and lowered his head.

 

"You two are going agian, aren't you?" He asked.

 

"We have to, Father." Zelda said.

 

"What about Tatyana? Think of her!" The king said.

 

"That's why we have to go... These people, whoever they are, are after us. If we don't go to them, they'll come here. And if that happens...." Link began shuddering at the thought.

 

"We can't let that happen, Father." Zelda continued. "We have to protect her."

 

"I understand... If the one behind this is an Orb Barer, then you may be the only ones who can stop him. I'll send some knights with you, to help with the army." The king replied.

 

"Thanks, Dad." Link said jokingly. The King smiled.

"Just be safe. Remember what you have to come back to."

 

Link and Zelda nodded and returned to their room to prepare. If it was fight these monsters wanted, they would give them one.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The sound of clattering armor, and shouts of the Knights was all it took for Darian to realize it was time. He slipped his red tunic, and a chainmail chest armor he'd gotten shortly after the Twinrova incident on over his shirt, strapped Knightfire to his back and hung his Hylian Shield replica, which he had purchased from the Bazaar a few days earlier, from the sheath. He exited his room and walked down the corridor.

 

A few minutes later he saw Link and Zelda come from their room. Link had the Master Sword and his Mirror Shield and wore a thick steel breast plate over his tunic. On his hands he wore an enchanted set of golden gauntlets with a red gem set in the back of the palms. Zelda had her bow, and was dressed very differently from ussual. She wore a deep blue and white body suit with a strange eye like Symbol on the front. Darian recongnized it as the clothes which a Sheikan ninja wore. He mentally made a note to ask about that later. Now wasn't the time. The looks on their faces told Darian there was more to this than some maniac trying to kill them. Link said something, and Zelda's face lowered in sorrow and anger in turn, Link rested a hand on her shoulder kissed her lightly on the forehead. Darian approached them and turned from their conversation to him.

 

"Here we go agian huh?" Darian asked them.

 

"Darian... How did you know?" Link asked.

 

Darian thought for a second. He didn't want to tell them what had happened. Not yet. After a few seconds he answered.

 

"Circe came to me agian and told me. She said something about the 'King of the Dead'..." Darian replied.

 

"Then there's no doubting it..." Zelda muttered.

 

"Something tells me you two know something I don't." Darian said.

 

"We'll talk on the way to the stables. We can't waste time." Link said.

 

Link and Zelda told Darian of everything they had heard from the guard as they raced to the stables for their horses. Link mounted Epona mounted while Zelda took Starblaze.

 

"A Necromancer?" Darian asked. "I thought so, what else would a "King of the Dead" be? Do you think this one has any connection with the one who rose the dragon last year?"

 

"I hope not... But something tells me it is the exact same one." Link said. Zelda nodded solemnly

 

Darian approached a solid black stallion with a silver mane and deep blue eyes. Link looked over to him.

 

"You may want to take a different horse..." Link said.

 

"Huh?" Darian asked looking over the beautiful steed before him, he seemed drawn to it for some reason.

 

"None of our knights have ever been able tame Moon Shadow. Not even Link." Zelda said.

 

"He's more wild than Epona was." Link confirmed.

 

Darian didn't seem to hear them. His eyes were focused on the horse. The steed looked at him with a fire in his eyes, as if he was studying his soul, judging it's worth. Darian reached out his hand. Surprisingly Moon Shadow didn't even tense as Darian began stroking his mane. Instead, he lowered his head and closed his eyes letting out a small snort of pleasure.

 

"Amazing..." Link muttered.

 

"How did he do it..." Zelda whispered to Link.

 

"It's like... He chose him, like what happened with Epona and me."

 

Darian looked over to see the two of them watching him in amazement.

 

"What is it? Come on, we have a town to save." Darian said.

 

"Oh!" Link and Zelda said in unison.

 

"What is with you two?" He asked. It was obvious he hadn't heard a word they said.

 

"We'll talk about it later." Link said. "Right now, Impa needs our help."

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Impa was fighting with everything she had agianst the swarm of undead. She'd fought for hours and her arms were tiring from the constant swinging of the heavy Dai Katana. She was finally starting to feel the effects of the battle now, and prayed she could hold the village long enough for help to arrive.

 

She couldn't use her Shadow magic to aid herself either. These undead, being creatures of shadow and darkness themselves would not be effected by the offensive spells she weilded. As for defense, she could bend shadows around her to render herself invisible, but that only worked on opponants who focused on sight in battle, and unfortunatly, smell was the sense which undead used. A voice spoke to her from behind the crowd after a time.

 

"Why bother fighting fighting, Sheikah? You cannot possibly defeat my army on your own."

 

Impa managed to decapitate the undead she was currently fighting, a rather hideous looking zombie before the rest moved aside to reveal a figure in a dark cloak standing behind the army.

 

"You are the one who profaned our dead and commanded them to attack us?!" Impa shouted in anger.

 

"But of course! What better way to lure your Heros and Princess here?" The figure sneered.

 

"Link, Zelda..." Impa muttered.

 

"Don't forget your dear Hero's older brother..."

 

"What does Darian have to do with this?" Impa asked.

 

"Who but the very blood of the Hero of Time could weild the sister peice to the Triforce of Courage?"

 

"You know...?" Impa stammered.

 

"Twinrova wasn't so useless after all. Because of her we were able to find out."

 

Impa stood wide eyed for a while.

 

"You are one of those who wish to kill them?!" Impa asked shocked.

 

"I am... But do not think I will be defeated as easily as the witch." Severius said. "So blinded by her own power she was that she didn't even think to fully master her new abilities before she foolishly rushed into a loosing battle. Such a waste..." He paused for a second. "I and the others however have had more time to... prepare."

 

"Why do you wish them dead? What could you possibly gain from their deaths!?" Impa shouted. "Perhaps Twinrova wished revenge, but what of you?!"

 

"We all have our own reasons for what we do, Sage of Shadow..." Severius said cryptically. "It may indeed be true that she wished revenge, however I know not, and care less. I, however have more personal reasons." Even in this explaination he maintained his calm nature.

 

This sent Impa over the edge. She rushed at Severius with renewed strength brought on by her anger and will to protect those she loved as family. In one swift motion Severius took out a large Obsidian Scimitar and easily blocked the Sheikah warriors blade.

 

"If you even THINK to touch them, your head is mine, you monster!" Impa shouted.

 

"As I've said, Sheikah..." Severius began, his blade still locked with Impa's. "You cannot defeat me, or my army."

 

"Perhaps not, but if I must die for them to live I will do so gladly!" Impa said taking another strike at Severius, who easily dodged the blade.

 

"Why continue with this? We are more alike than you think, Shadow Walker..." Severius began sending his sword down in a cruel arc. Impa dodged a fatal blow but was still caught in the arm. "Why not join us? With your Shadow Magic, and my necromancy we could become the two most powerful beings in the world. No longer living unseen, known only to this village? No longer to serve under that pathetic Royal Family?

 

"How dare you!" Impa shouted. "The Royal Family is kind and benevolent. They are in no way "Pathetic" as you call them. I am honored to have served under them." She paused for a second and then added in a menacing tone, "I would never join the likes of you."

 

"A shame..." Severius said, then raised his left hand which began to pulsate with dark energy. "Death's Flame!" He roared

 

A jet of black fire shot out of Severius' open palm and hit impa in the chest. She screamed in pain as the fire spread throughout her body, burning her skin and sapping her strength at the same time. After some time the fire died and Impa fell to her knees panting in pain and exhaustion.

 

"You impress me. I understand why you were made the Sage of Shadow..." Severius said calmly approaching Impa, surrounded by his undead army. "Many would have died from a blast like that..."

 

Impa tryed desperately to raise her sword in defiance but did not have the strength. She dropped the heavy Dai Katana to the ground with a thud. Severius kneeled down to her level and sneered menacingly.

 

"So determined... Such a waste I have to kill you."

 

Impa spat in his face in response.

 

"Do your worst, you bastard..." She said weakly, but unrelenting.

 

Severius wiped the spit from his face with his sleeve of his cloak and rose to his feet. He slowly raised his blade above his head.

 

"One sheikah closer to the extinction of the race... Very well!"

 

He brought his blade down toward Impa, it seemed to come in slow motion, but she hadn't the strength to even move. Just as she was about to accept her fate and give her soul to the goddesses she heard a shout.

 

"Nayru's Love!" a male voice called from behind her.

 

The blade of Severius' Scimitar was stopped mid strike. Impa saw a barrier of blue light surrounding her. She grinned when she realized who the voice belonged to.

 

"Farore's Wind!" Another voice called. This one Female.

 

Impa was picked up in a miniature green whirlwind and vanished before Severius even knew what happened the first time.

 

She appeared agian nearly fifty meters away among a small army of knights. Leading them was none other than Link, Zelda, and Darian.

 

"Are you alright, Impa?" Link asked glacing briefly to the battle weary Sheikah.

 

"Perfect timing you three..." She said weakly. "I think I'll live."

 

"We'll take over from here." Zelda said turning her eyes to the undead army, and the stange necromancer who lead them.

 

A medic who came with them helped Impa drink a bottle of red potion. Her burns healed but she was still weak. She wasn't fit to fight anymore, but at least now that she could move, she wouldn't be a liability either she thought.

 

"It's about time you three arrived. I was getting impatient." Severius said in a mock bored tone.

 

"You're going to pay for this, you soulless son of a Stalfos..." Link said in a low, angry tone.

 

He stepped forward with Zelda and Darian along side him. The knights filed behind them brandishing their blades and holding their sheilds in front of them.

 

"brought your own army hmm? This will be interesting." Severius said showing no signs of fear, nor confidence. "Very well. Attack, my servants!"

 

The undead all began lumbering toward the group.

 

"Use their lack of speed to your advantage!" Link advised and then raising his sword into the air yelled, "Charge!"

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Diana lead the group of tired villagers up the trail of Death mountain. It was after midnight and all the villagers were tired. Eventually they came to a wide entry way half way up the mountain which lead into the primitive, yet homely city of the Gorons. They walked into the city which was brightly lit by torches all around. Upon the walls were artistic cave paintings, telling storys of legendary Goron heros. The interior was devided into four ascending levels. The upper three housing smaller caves that seemed to be Goron houses, while the bottom contained two caves, one leading to the Goron's shop, and one leading to the chambers of the Goron leader, Darunia, and his son. Diana lead the weary villagers down to the lower area, and into the chambers of Darunia. The huge Goron looked up from his young son, who he had named Link, after the great hero who he had made his Sworn Brother.

 

"What is all this then?" Darunia said with a large smile on his face.

 

Unless he had reason to be angry, Darunia was, despite his appearence, normally a very carefree Goron. He never really saw himself as a Leader of his people, but more of a "Big Brother" as they often called him.

 

"Darunia, sir. We-" Diana began. But Darunia cut her off with a raise of his latge hand.

 

"None of that. Just Darunia." He replied with grin.

 

"Darunia." Diana began agian. "We have come at the request of Impa... to ask for a safe place stay."

 

Diana was often very nervous when talking with strangers. Even more so with ones who could flatten her without trying.

 

"Safe from what?" Darunia asked raising an eyebrow.

 

"An undead army is attacking our home!" Diana blurted out sobbing. She recalled what nearly happened to her before Impa saved her life.

 

"A WHAT?!" Darunia said cursing silently so not to let his young son hear before speaking agian.

 

A couple of villagers tryed to calm Diana while another stepped forward. It was the son of the guard who defended the gate to Death Mountain.

 

"We've already sent for help to the castle, but it isn't safe in our village now." He said sorrowfully.

 

"You were right to come here." Darunia said trying to calm himself down. He then turned to his son. "Link, help me tend to our guests."

 

"What's happening dad? Is it bad?" Link the Goron asked with innocent concern.

 

Darunia hng his head. He didn't wish to tell his son of the terrible things that were attacking the village near their home.

 

"Nothing son. Just a little a problem down in the village, so the people will be staying here a while." Darunia said kneeling before his young son.

 

The little Goron smiled and ran off to the guest chambers to prepare them for the people of Kakariko.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The Hylians were fighting with all they had in the clearing near the lone tree in Kakariko village. bodies of both soldiers and undead littered the ground, and the situation was becoming desperate for the Hylians. Despite Link's advice on how to combat these creatures, the soldiers were not doing as well as he thought they would. Even with the speed advantage they posessed the undead army was much larger than anyone could have imagined, and they were greatly outnumbered. Many of the knights with them had fallen and the rest, only about a half dozen, along with Link, Zelda, Darian and Impa, who was still weak were quickly being surrounded. Zelda however had an idea.

 

"Link, get ready. I'm going to cast Nayru's Love on everyone, when they get close, use Din's Fire.

 

"Good idea..." Link muttered as Zelda rose the barrier. He formed a small sphere of fire in his hand and waited. The undead army approched unsuspectingly while Severius smirked evilly not noticing the ruse. To him it looked like the spell was merely a final desperate atempt at survival.

 

"Just a few steps closer..." Link muttered.

 

"Seems like this is your end Heroes!" Severius said. Darian and the rest of the knights raised their blades in defiance. Link merely grinned.

 

"I think it's yours." Link said. Before Severius knew what was happening he yelled "DIN'S FIRE!"

 

As he said the words Link slammed his fist into the ground. A massive dome of flames spread from his body away from the the Hylians who were protected by Zelda's spell and engulfed the nearby undead in flames. It then quickly spread further out catching even more undead in the blaze before fading harmlessly into the air. the bodies of the soulless soldiers fell smouldering to the ground leaving a smell of burnt flesh. Though he was agile enough to avoid the blast himself, Severius' cloak was caught by a lick of flame and began to burn. He quickly flung it off, revealing his form at last.

 

"A Lich!" Darian exclaimed, recongnizing the identity of the foe that stood before them.

 

Severius' eyes were nothing but pupiless orbs. dead looking though their owner still walked. His colorless face was nearly skelital in appearence looking like one about dead of starvation, and the other visible parts of his body didn't look any better. Indeed he looked much akin to the soldiers he had risen albeit his body was less rotten.

 

Link tryed to step forward, however he didn't have the strength to go on. He'd placed alot of energy into that spell and it took it's toll. Zelda was feeling the effects of her own magic use as well. She hadn't ever kept a barrier on so many people, nor maintained one so long. She limped to Link's side, hoping to support him with what little strength she had left.

 

"L-Link..." she stammered slowly approaching him.

 

Zelda leaned agianst Link as he did her. It was then their legs failed them. They were simply to exhausted to stand anymore, and slowly they fell to their knees panting heavily from loss of energy. Severius smirked at the scene before him. Despite the loss of his army it seemed the heroes hadn't the strength to fight him anymore.

 

"So this is how the end will be eh?" Severius said disappointed. "Pity. I had hoped for a challenge."

 

"And you'll get one, you freak." said a voice.

 

Link and Zelda looked up to see Darian standing protectivly in front of them, staring down the Lich. They couldn't see his expression as his back was turned to them, but from his tone of voice, they knew what he was thinking. It was time he finally honored his father's dying wish. Darian's blue eyes were burning with a protective fire. He had a sworn an oath to his father, to himself, and to the woman he loved to protect his brother and his wife. He wouldn't let them die by this monster's hand.

 

"So, the shadow finally shines it seems..." Severius sneered cockily.

 

"You won't lay a hand on them Lich." Darian said in a threateningly calm tone.

 

"A fight, is it? Fine." Severius said brandishing his obsidian blade once more. Darian did the same with Knightfire.

 

"Have at you!" Darian yelled charging towards his opponant.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Circe watched the fight between Darian and Severius through the Seers Well in the heavenly gardens. The magical water of this well stood calm and still like the reflective glass of a mirror. This mirror however, showed not ones reflection on it's surface but, rather that which the beholder wishes to see. Circe watched, eyes fixed on the battle before her. Each arc of a blade and each clash of metal was seen by her. Her feelings were a strange mix. She felt pride that her chosen one fought to protect his family, truely a warrior of unsurpassed valor. However at the same time she felt worry for the same man's safety. The man she had come to love.

 

"Please be safe..." She whispered to the image of Darian.

 

This was the land the goddesses dwelt. It was a peaceful place filled with beauty. The sky was bathed in a golden light, much like how the Sacred Realm in Hyrule used to be, before darkness infested it. Splended cities of stone, gold, silver, and even precious gemlike structures dotted the area. The land itself was vibrant and filled with life. Plants of all types and colors dotted the green fields, and clear waters ran through streams making a calming trickling noise as they passed over rocks and aquatic plantlife. Creatures never seen anywhere else resided here. Apart from the goddesses lived Angels, Manifested forms of the pure souls who died, and came to live among the gods in the magnificent cities of this land. The Half Horse people known as Centaurs, Strong and Majestic beings possessing both theintellect of any sentient being, as well as a animalistic connection with nature. The Winged horses known as Pegusi, Proud beasts which could both gallop over land, and soar through the air. Those were only a few of creatures who resided here. This place was known as Ascendius Sori. The Kingdom of the Heavens.

 

A woman approached Circe, unnoticed by the distracted Goddess of Valor. She had golden colored skin and blue hair that fell freely down her back. She wore an ankle length, sleeveless dress which seemed to flow like water as she walked. Upon each of her arms were three loosly fitting silver bracelets her eyes were a deep blue, and showed a great amount of wisdom, that betrayed her young appearence. She was Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, and Love.

 

"How does he fare, My Daughter." She asked in a kind voice.

 

Circe jumped in surprise at this and swiftly turned to her mother. She began to speak nervously.

 

"I... I was just..." She stammered.

 

Nayru laughed softly at her daughters nervousness.

 

"Do not try to hide it. I know you are watching him." She said. "Please tell me. How is he faring."

 

"He is doing well." Circe said though concerned, as she looked back towards the Well.

 

"You sound worried, Dear. Is there something you wish to speak about?" Nayru asked.

 

Circe stood still for a few seconds, not knowing if she should reveal her feelings for Darian to her mother. She had the faint idea however, that she already knew. Being the goddess of Love, as well as Wisdom, how could she not see it? After a few minutes she ran up and hugged Nayru tightly. She began to cry, not of sorrow, but of confusion.

 

"Oh mother! I don't understand myself anymore." She sobbed.

 

"Calm down, Young one. What is troubling you?" Nayru said in a soothing voice to comfort her daughter.

 

"I don't know... why I... feel this way... I have never felt like this toward... anyone before." Circe said between sobs.

 

Nayru pulled from Circe's embrace and looked into her daughter's tear stained face. She brushed away another tear which threatened to fall from the silver garbed goddess' eye.

 

"Please don't cry Child. What is it that you feel?" Nayru asked.

 

"Mother, I... I think... I've fallen in love with him." Circe finally admitted and then began to cry agian. "I shouldn't feel this way. You must think I'm a terrible Goddess..."

 

"Of course not, Dear." Nayru said pulling Circe into a comforting hug. "Never question how you should feel. Especially when it comes to something as precious as Love... It is not a thing to be ashamed of, it is one that should be cherished."

 

"But... Never has a God fallen love with a mortal. If we were to be together he would..." Circe couldn't bring herself to finish the sentence.

 

Nayru's face shifted into a frown. It was time to tell her daughter the truth.

 

"Circe, when we came to you, you were a mortal like the rest of the people of Hyrule, you know that much. We knew you held a great destiny the moment we sent your soul to Hyrule to be born. With your birth, a prophecy was created as well. We saw it in our own dreams. The fourth Goddess of the Triforce, hand in hand with the warrior who was to be her chosen. We knew this day would come. It was already predetermined by fate."

 

"This was... Meant to happen?" Circe asked, shocked.

 

"Yes..." Nayru said lowering her eyes.

 

Circe's face broke into a wide sm