The Legend of the Ring: The Beginning of the Fellowship

Author's Note:
*I am using actual lines and stories from the Trilogy movie The Lord of the Rings (Directed by Peter Jackson). I have seen many relations to these movies and The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. So I will do my best to transfer these to Hyrule terms. I do not own any of the actual characters from the movie. Enjoy! ^_^ *

None now live who remember it. It began with the forging of the great rings. Three were giving to the Elves: Immortal, wisest, and fairest of all beings. Seven were given to the Goron-lords: Great miners and craftsmen of the Mountain Halls. And nine…nine rings were gifted to the race of Men…who above all, desire power.

For within these rings was bound the strength and will to govern each race. But they were all of them deceived. For another ring was made. In the Land of the Gerudo Desert in the fires of Death Mountain, the Dark Lord Ganondorf forged in secret a Master Ring…to control all others. And into this Ring, he poured his cruelty, his malice, and his will to dominate all life….One Ring to Rule them All. One by one, the Free Lands of Hyrule fell into the power of the Ring. But there were some who resisted. A Last Alliance of Men and Elves marched against the armies of The Gerudo Desert. And on the slopes of Death Mountain, they fought for the freedom of Hyrule.

Victory was near. But the power of the Ring could not be undone. Ganondorf struck down the soldiers. And it was in this moment that all hope had faded, that Isildur, son of the king, took up his father's broken sword and slashed the fingers off of Ganondorf's hand. Being separated from the Ring, Ganondorf began to disappear. Ganondorf, the enemy of the Free Peoples of Hyrule, was defeated. The Ring passed to Isildur, who had this one chance to destroy evil forever. But the hearts of Men, are easily corrupted. And the Ring of Power has a will of its own. It betrayed Isildur…to his death. And some things, that should have not been forgotten were lost. History became Legend, Legend became myth. And for Two and a half thousand years, the Ring passed out of all knowledge. Until, when chance came, it ensnared a new bearer. The Ring came to the creature Gollum, who took it deep into the tunnels of the Misty Mountains (off of Termia Bay). And there…it consumed him. The Ring brought to Gollum unnatural long life. For 500 years it poisoned his mind. And in the gloom of Gollum's cave it waited. Darkness crept back into the forests of the world. Rumor grew of a shadow in the East, whispers of a nameless fear. And the Ring of Power perceived….its time had now come. It abandoned Gollum. But something happened then that the Ring did not intend. It was picked up by the most unlikely creature imaginable. A Kokori. Plabio Ingab of the Kokori Forest. For the time will soon come when Kokoris will shape the fortune of all.

*Kokori Forest…60 years later*

Chapter 1

Seyo Ingab (Frodo Baggins) sat under the shade of an oak tree reading, and smoking his pipe, when he heard the faint singing of an elderly folk.

Down from the door where it began

I must follow if I can

Seyo leapt up and stared in the direction of the singing. He then smiled and took off.

The road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began

Now far ahead the road has gone

Seyo heard the rattling of old wagon wheels and could already tell who it was. He slid down the his on his bare feet and jumped over bushes, as he sped towards the dirt road.

And I must follow if I can...

"You're late," he said, stopping beside the cart to look down. Even though he was small he was standing on top of a tiny hill which elevated him over the cart. As it stopped to the sound of his voice, the cloaked figure in the cart looked up from under her hood

"A Twili is never late, Seyo Ingab," the woman said. "Nor is she early. She arrives precisely when she means to!"

Seyo looked at her for a short time and then started to smirk, and then laugh, and then both of them were enjoying a nice chuckle. Sayo leapt from the hill onto the cart and hugged the woman.

"It's wonderful to see you, Midna," he said. Midna was now very old but she still had some step in her. She patted the Kokori's back and sat him next to her.

"You didn't think I would miss your Uncle Plablo's birthday?"

After the battle for Twilight Midna had settled down and visited more of Hyrule before going back to the Twilight Realm.

The two rode across the wide grassy area of Kokori Forest.

"What news of the outside world?" Seyo asked. "Tell me everything. Even the Twilight Realm."

"Everything?" Midna said as she grasped the reins of her horse. "You're far to eager and curious for a Kokori. Most unnatural…"

They came to a bridge a few seconds later and after they had crossed the bumpy rocks, Midna could resume talking.

"Well, what can I tell you?" she said in that old yet friendly voice. "Life in the wide world goes on as much as it has this past Age. Full of its own comings and goings. Scarcely aware of the existence of Kokoris."

She looked at the bustling town and sighed.

"For which I am very thankful," she continued. The busy market held many Kokoris, herding sheep, selling produce. One old lady spotted the cart.

"Look," she said. "It's Midna!"

Everybody waved to the famous Twili Wizerdess. Then the two finally reached a quiet open area and took a deep breath of fresh air.

"Oh," Midna chirped up, looking to her left. "A long expected party."

She saw tents being pitched and tables being set. And then a banner was raised high on two poles. On it read, "Happy Birthday Plablo Ingab." A lady clapped at the sight of the colorful banner and the crowd sighed. Midna and Seyo continued down the road to Plablo's house.

"So how is the old rascal?" she asked. "I hear it's going to be a party of special magnificence."

"You know Plablo," Seyo said. "He's got the whole place in an uproar."

"Ah," Midna breathed. "Well now that should please him."

"Half the Kokori Forest is invited."

"Gracious me!"

"He's up to something."

"Oh really?"

"Oh all right then, keep your secrets!"

Midna chuckled.

"Before you came along, we Ingabs were very well thought of."

"Indeed," she said.

"Never had any adventures or anything unexpected."

Midna sighed.

"If you are referring to the incident with the Twilight Mirror," Midna said, referring to when she had Plablo get the hundreds of pieces of the Mirror back together. "I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door."

Seyo laughed and looked back at the Twili Wizerdess.

"Whatever you did, you've been officially labeled a disturber of the peace," he said.

"Oh really?" Midna said, her rose shaped pipe in her mouth. For a girl, she smoked unusually often. They passed a house. An old man was sweeping his front porch. He looked up and gave Midna the evil eye. Midna looked back at the road and puffed some smoke out.

"Midna!"

Little Kokoris started to run towards the cart.

"Midna!"

The children scrambled over fences and stopped behind the cart. Midna kept riding.

"Midna, fireworks!"

"Midna?"

Ssssssfoom! Boom boom! Pop pop!

"YAAAY!" the children cried at the fireworks that went off in the back of Midna's cart.

Seyo smiled back at the kids. Midna laughed. The old man chuckled and when his wife came out, he gave Midna the eye again. They were half way to Plablo's house, and Seyo stepped out.

"Midna?" he said. "I'm glad you're back."

"So am I dear boy," Midna replied, as the Kokori left. "So am I."

Midna reached Plablo's house and stoped her horse. He walked through the gate that had a small sign on it. "No admittance, except on party business."

Midna knocked on the door with her staff of as she now called it her walking stick.

"No thank you!" a voice came from inside. "We don't want any more visitors, well-wishers or distant relations!"

"And what about very old friends?" Midna said. The door slowly opened and a small looking man (since they were Kokoris they were naturally small) poked his head out. The door opened completely and Plablo stepped out.

"Midna?" he said, and then he waddled to hug her. "Oh, my dear, Midna!"

"Plablo Ingab," she said, squeezing him tight.

"Good to see you," she said, then she peered at the old one's face. "111 years old! Who would believe it?"

She looked puzzled at his grey hair.

"You haven't aged a day!"

Plablo laughed.

"Come on! Come in!" he said entering his house. Midna ducked her head as she entered the house.

"Welcome welcome," Plablo said. Midna's head nearly touched the ceiling!

"Oh here we are," Plablo said. He took her cloak and staff and put them in his closet.

"Tea?" he asked. "Or maybe something a little stronger. I've got a few bottles of the Old Winyard left. 1296. Very good year! Almost as old as I am!"

He headed down the hall and kept talking.
"It was laid by my father. What you say we open one, eh?"

"Just tea, thank you," Midna answered. She backed up a few steps and hit the tiny chandelier in the entrance. She turned around to steady it and turned to head into the den. But she promptly hit her head on the short ceiling first. She hear Plablo's voice in the kitchen.

"I was expecting you last week!" he said. "Not that it matters. You come and go as you please. Always have and always will! You've caught me a bit unprepared. We've only got cold chicken and a bit of pickle…"

Midna looked around the den as Plablo kept talking.

"We've got some cheese here. No that won't do…"

She saw a table cluttered with papers and maps and decided to explore it.

"We've got some raspberry jam, and an apple tart…"

Midna found one map in particular. It had a Twilight Mirror drawing next to the picture of the Chamber.

"…but not much for afterwards. Oh, wait! We're all right!"

Her eyes explored the lands of Hyrule and all beyond.

"I've got some sponge cake here…"

Plablo entered the den.

"I can make you some eggs it you'd…"

The den was empty. Midna appeared behind him in the kitchen.

"Just tea, thank you," she said.

"Oh, right," he replied. He stuffed a piece of cake in his mouth. "You don't mind it if I eat do you?"

"No, not at all," Midna said smiling. There was a knock at the door and Plablo slammed against the wall.

"Plablo? Plablo!" came a voice outside. He looked at Midna.

"I'm not at home," he said. He placed the pot on the kettle and started pacing.

"I've got to get away from these confounded relatives, hanging on the bell all day, never giving me a moment's peace! I want to see mountains again, Midna. Mountains! And then find someplace quiet where I can finish my book! Oh tea!"

"So you mean to go through with your plan?"

"Yes yes. It's all at hand," Plablo said, taking the kettle off the fireplace. "All the arrangements are made."

"Seyo suspects something," Midna said. She took a sip of her steaming tea.

"Of course he does," he replied. "He's an Ingab!"

"You will tell him won't you?"

Plablo took his finger away quickly from the kettle and licked it.

"Yes yes," he said.

"He's very fond of you," Midna pointed out.

"I know…He'd probably come with me it I asked him. I think in his hear, Seyo's still in love with Kokori Forest…the woods the fields…little rivers."

Plablo looked out the window and sighed.

"I'm old, Midna," he breathed. "I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in my heart."

Plablo put his hand in his pocket. Midna noticed he was holding something in there. Plablo sat down slowly.

"I feel thin," he said. "Like butter, scraped over too much bread. I need a vacation. A long vacation. And I don't expect to return for a while. In fact I mean not to."

Later that evening, Midna and Plablo sat out on a hill watching the party starting to build up. They were both happily smoking their pipes.

"Old Toby," Plablo said, through his pipe. "Finest weed from Lon-lon Farm."

He took a deep breath and puffed out a smoke ring. Midna puffed slowly and it turned into a ship sailing through the ring of smoke.

"Midna, my friend," Plablo said. "This will be a night to remember."

Boom! A green flash and the fireworks went off. The Kokoris were feasting and drinking and dancing. Seyo kicked his feet on the dancing floor, and his gardener and friend, Bot, stared at the Saria, a bar tender in town. She danced like a butterfly up there. Bot took a sip of his ale and looked back into his cup. It was empty. Seyo parked himself next to Bot.

"Go on, Bot," he said. "Ask Saria for a dance!"

"Uh," Bot stammered. "I think I'll just have another ale."

"Oh no you don't," Seyo said, pushing his friend up. He fell into Sarias arms who continued to dance with him, smiling the whole time. Seyo couldn't help but laugh.

Meanwhile, Midna struck a fire rocket with her staff and it set off a silvery glow, spreading around the party. She went off to get more fireworks, chuckling in her mischievous manor. Just as she left her cart, two other Kokoris appeared. One lifted the other into the cart of fireworks.

"Which one, Tek?" the other asked.

"The big one, Mido," Tek said. Mido grabbed a dragon shaped one and scurried away. They went into the tent and lit it.

"Mido, you're supposed to stick it in the ground outside!"

BOOM! The two Kokoris fell to the ground, their faces black and their hair stuck up. The party goers cheered at the soaring tent. Then it exploded and a dragon head popped out, then the body. Then the people screamed and ran. Seyo ran to Plabbo.

"Plablo!" he said. "It's Vovagia!"

"Nonsense!" he said. "He's been dead forever!"

Then he fell down as the fire dragon flew over them and then in the distance exploded.

The crowd cheered. Tek and Mido stood up.

"That was good," Tek said.

"Let's get another one," Mido said. They both then felt a tug on their ear and cried out.

"Tekin, and Midonio," Midna said. "I might have known."

Later Tek and Mido were washing dishes and refilling Midna's mug of ale.

"Speech, Plablo!" the crowd cheered. Plablo held out his hands to hush the crowd.

"My fellow Kokoris!" he said. "Today is my 111^th birthday!"

The crowd cheered at this old age.

"But alas," he continued, "eleventy-one years is far too short a time to live among such excellent and admirable Kokoris."

The crowd clapped softly.

"I..uh, have things to do."

Midna saw Plablo reach into this pocket and then take his hand behind his back with his other hand.

"I've put this off for far too long," he whispered to himself. "I regret to announce that this is the end. I'm going now. And I bid you a very fond farewell."

Then he looked at Seyo.

"Goodbye."

And he disappeared. The crowd gasped and turned their heads in confusion around the party grounds. Midna scowled and got up.

On the road to Plablos house, the gate opened by itself and the invisible Plablo giggled to himself as he entered his house. He took off the ring, flipped it in the air, and stuffed it in his pocket. He grabbed a walking stick and headed for the kitchen through the den.

"I suppose you think that was very clever," Midna said, leaning against the wall. Plablo jumped.

"Come on Midna," Plablo said. "Did you see their faces?"

"There are many magical rings in this world and NONE of them should be used lightly."

"It was just a bit of fun!" he said, gazing up at the tall Twilight Princess/ Wizerdess. "Oh you're probably right, as usual."

He went for the mantle above the fireplace for his pipe and then turned back to Midna.

"You will keep and eye on Seyo, won't you?" he asked.

"Two eyes," Midna confirmed. "As often as I can spare them."

"I'm leaving everything to him," Plablo said, reaching to grab the book he was writing.

"What about this ring of yours," Midna added. "Is that staying too?"

"Yes yes," he said, shoving the book in his knapsack. "It's in an envelope, over there on the mantelpiece."

He pointed behind him as Midna headed for the fireplace.

"Wait," he said. "It's here in my pocket."

He took the ring out and traced the edges with his wrinkly finger.

"Isn't that--? Isn't that odd, now?" Plablo said, now holding the ring with both of his hands. Then his expression turned serious. "Yet, after all, why not? Why shouldn't I keep it?"

"I think you should leave the ring behind," Midna said, feeling a sense of hostility rising in Plablo's blood. "Is that so hard?"

He suddenly turned around.

"Well no," he said, turning back to his ring. "And yes. Now it comes to it, I don't feel like parting with it. It's mine. I found it! It came to me!"

"There's no need to get angry."

"Well if I'm angry, it's your fault!"

Midna shuddered. Plablo had never acted like this. She sensed anger and selfishness rise up now.

"It's mine," he said in a sly voice. "My own. My precious."

"Precious?" Midna breathed. "It's been called that before…but not by you."

Plablo growled and turned to face Midna.

"What business is it of yours what I do with my own things?" he hissed.

"I think you've had that ring long enough," Midna advised.

"Y-you want it for yourself!" Plablo suddenly blurted out.

"Plablo Ingab!!!" Midna cried. The house creaked and became dark. Plablo pressed himself against the wall in terror. Midna's face turned dark. "Do not take me for a conjurer of cheap tricks! I am not trying to rob you!"

Her voice softened and the room lightened in the night.

"I'm trying to help you," she whispered. Plablo whimpered and then walked towards his friend. She greeted him with a comforting hug. She reached far down since Plablo was a few feet shorter than her. She bent down and looked into his eyes.

"All of your long years we've been friends," she said. "Trust me as you once did…let it go."

"You're right, Midna," he said. "The ring must go to Seyo."

He picked up his bag.

"It's late. The road is long. Yes it is time."

He opened the door and…

"Plablo," Midna said, standing up and putting her hands on her cloaked hips. "The ring is still in your pocket.

"Oh," Plablo innocently sighed. He took the ring from his pocket and stared at it for a few seconds. Slowly, hesitantly, his hand tilted sideways. The ring slid from his dry palm and landed with a "ting" on the wooden floor. Plablo then, walked out the door, Midna following him to wish him farewell. Then he stopped.

"I thought up an ending for my book," he said, turning to smile at his old friend. " 'And he lived happily ever after to the end of his days."

Midna bent down again and put her hands on his shoulders.

"And I'm sure you will, my dear friend," she said.

"Goodbye, Midna" Plablo said.

"Goodbye, dear Plablo," Midna said, smiling sweetly at the Kokori. She winked at him. He gave her one final smile and started his final journey down the road from his house.

The road goes ever on and on…

Plablo was singing all the way.

"Until our next meeting," Midna said. She sighed and went back inside out of the humid air. She entered and stared down at the ring lying on the floor. She was leaning down to pick it up. Her fingers had just brushed the gold, when an image of a fiery eye flashed in her mind. She quickly took her hand away from it.

Midna sat in front of Plablo's fireplace, smoking from her rose shaped pipe. She could hear Plablo's stinging words.

It's mine. My own. My precious.

"Riddles in the dark," she whispered to herself.

"Plablo!" came a voice outside. Seyo barged in through the door. "Plablo?"

He spotted the ring and picked it up.

"My precious," Midna repeated to herself. Seyo saw her by the fire and figured it out.

"He's gone, hasn't he?" Seyo said. "He talked for so long about leaving. I didn't think he'd really do it."
He walked over to Midna's tall figure, sitting in a rocking chair.

"Midna?" he said, noticing she hadn't reacted to anything he had said. She took the pipe from her mouth and looked down at Seyo's hand. "Plablo's ring. He's gone to stay in Hyrule with the Elves. He's left you his entire home and everything in it."

She held out an envelope, and Seyo dropped the ring in it. Midna closed it and sealed it with wax.

"The ring is yours now," she handed it back to Seyo. "Keep it somewhere out of sight."

"Where are you going?" Seyo asked, following Midna around to the entrance. She grabbed her staff and was about to head out the door.

"There are some things I must see to," she said.

"What things?" Seyo said.

"Questions," she answered. "Questions that need answering."

"But you've only just arrived." Midna stopped. "I don't understand."

Midna turned around.

"Neither do I," she said. She put a hand on his shoulder. "Keep it secret. Keep it safe."

She disappeared out of the door and into the night. Seyo looked at the envelope in his hand and sighed.

Off of the outskirts of the Gerudo Desert in the land of the Sand Fires, in the tower ofGanondorf, there came a cry of pain from within.

"Kokori Forest!"

"Ingab!"

The gates of the land opened and 9 black riders emerged. They had only one sense of where they were going and why: Kokori Forest to retrieve the Ring of Power.

Midna rode on her horse to the Sacred Library. She dismounted and headed in. She took out every scroll, every book she could find on Isildur and the Ring. She read page after page, until she came to one particular paragraph:

The year 3434 of the Second Age. Here follows the account of Isildur, High King of Eltora, and the finding of the Ring of Power.

"It has come to me. The One Ring. It shall be an heirloom of my kingdom. All those who follow in my bloodline shall be bound to its fate for I will risk no hurt to the Ring. It is precious to me, thought I buy it with great pain. The markings on the band begin to fade. The writing, which as first was as clear as red flame, as all but disappeared. A secret now that only fire can tell."

A realization struck Midna. She left the library in haste to get back to the Kokori Forest.

Somewhere in the Kokori Forest, some one was chopping firewood at night. His dog started barking at an approaching stranger. He barked and barked, and then backed into his home. A rider on a black horse approached the fence. The Kokori looked in terror at the Black Rider. The figure upon the horse uttered three words:

"Kokori Forest."

"Ingab."

"There's no Ingab here," the resident said. "There up in the woodsy area."

The horse stomped his foot.

"That way!" he said pointing east. The rider took off, letting out an ear piercing screech.

In the woodsy part of the Kokori Forest, at the bar, Seyo, Bot, Tek, and Mido said goodbye to Saria and headed home. Seyo said goodbye to Bot as he entered the gate to his house. He went in and found the den a complete mess. Papers were scattered everywhere and a chair was overturned. He looked around and then felt a hand grasp his shoulder. He turned around to Midna's face.

"Is it secret?" she asked. "Is it safe?"

Seyo opened a chest and looked through it. He found the envelope and handed it to Midna. She snatched it up and threw it in the fire.

"What are you doing?" Seyo demanded. Midna took some tongs and fished the Ring out of the ashes of the paper.

"Hold out your hand, Seyo," Midna said. Seyo gave Midna a puzzled look. "It's quite cool."

The ring fell into Seyo's hand. It was cold to touch.
"Do you see anything?" Midna asked.

"No," Seyo said. "There's nothing."

Midna sighed.

"Wait."

She turned back to Seyo.

"There are markings," he said. "It's some form of Hylian. I can't read it."

"There are few who can," Midna said. "The language is that of the Gerudo Desert, which I will not utter here."

"Gerudo Desert!" Seyo gasped.

"In common tongue is says: "One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all, and in the darkness, bind them."

"This is the One Ring," Midna sighed, holding her smoking pipe, "forged by the Dark Lord Ganondorf in the fires of Death Mountain. Taken by Isildur from the hand of Ganondorf himself."

Seyo clutched his cup of tea and gazed down at the Ring.

"Plablo found it," he said, "In Gollum's cave."

"Yes," Midna confirmed. "For 60 years, the Ring lay quiet in Plablo's keeping, prolonging his life, delaying old age. But no longer, Seyo. Evil is stirring in the Gerudo Desert. The Ring has awoken. It's heard it's master's call."

"But he was destroyed," added Seyo. "Ganondorf was destroyed."

There was a faint whisper from the Ring that sent a chill down Midna's and Seyo's spine. It said, "I see you." But only the trained ear could hear it.

"No, Seyo," she whispered. "The spirit of Ganondorf endured. His life force is bound to the Ring and the Ring survived."

Seyo knew the next words Midna was going to say.

"Ganondorf has returned. His monsters have multiplied. His fortress at the Gerudo Mesa is rebuilt in the Gerudo Desert. Ganondorf only needs the Ring to cover all of the lands in a second darkness. He is seeking it. Seeking it. All his thought is bent on it. The Rings yearns above all else to return to the hand of its master. They are one. The Ring, and the Dark Lord. Seyo, he must never find it."

"All right," Seyo said, picking up the Ring. "We put it away. We keep it hidden. We never speak of it again. No one knows it's hear, do they?"

Midna did not respond.

"Do they, Midna?"

"There is one other who knew that Plablo had the Ring. I looked everywhere for the creature, Gollum, but the enemy found him first. I don't know how long they've tortured him. But amidst the endless screams and inane babble, they discerned 3 words: Kokori Forest. Ingab."

"But that will lead them here!" Seyo said. He pictured servants of Ganondorf strangling him for the Ring. He held out the Ring to Midna.

"Take it, Midna!" he said. Midna backed up. "Take it!"

"No, Seyo," she breathed.

"You must take it!"

"You cannot offer me the Ring!"

"I'm giving it to you!"

"Don't," Midna shouted, "tempt me, Seyo."

Seyo lowered his arm.

"I dare not take it," she continued. "Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Seyo, I would use this Ring from a desire to do good."

Seyo thought then she should take it. But the Wizerdess continued.

"But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine."

"But it cannot stay in Kokori Forest!"

"No!" Midna agreed. "No it can't."

Seyo wrapped his hand around the ring, the cold surface felt icy and hostile.

"What must I do," he asked the princess.

Seyo reached into the closet for his cloak.

"You must leave," Midna said.

"Where?" the Kokori questioned. "Where do I go?"

"Get out of Kokori Forest. Make for Zora's Domain."

"Zora's Domain," he repeated. He walked down the hall, Midna swiftly behind him. "What about you?"

"I'll be waiting for you at the Ice and Water inn."

"And the Ring will be safe there?"

"I don't know, Seyo. I don't have any answers."

Seyo wrapped up a loaf of bread and put it in his knapsack.

"I must see the head of my order. He is both wise and powerful. Trust me, Seyo. He'll know what to do."

Seyo put the knapsack onto his back and looked back up at Midna's towering face.

"You must leave the name Ingab behind you. That name is not safe outside Kokori Forest."

"Nothing is," Seyo pointed out. Midna nodded.

"Travel only by day. And stay off the road," she cautioned.

"I can cut across country easily enough," Seyo said, taking his walking stick from Midna's hand. He stuffed the Ring in his shirt pocket.

"My dear, Seyo," Midna said. "Kokoris really are amazing creatures. You can learn all that there is to know about their ways in a month. Then yet after 100 years they can still surprise you."

Then there was a rustle in the bushes outside the window.

"Get down," Midna ordered. Seyo dropped to the ground. She grabbed her staff and slowly stalked to the window. She thrust her staff forward and a cry of pain came out. She shoved her hand forward and forced Bot inside the house. He landed on the table with incredible force. Seyo raised an eyebrow. He never knew Midna was that strong, even in her old age.

"Confound it all, Botin Gimag! Have you been eves dropping?!" Midna demanded.

"I 'aven't been dropping no eaves, ma'am…Your Highness. Honest. I was just cutting the grass outside the window."

"A little LATE for trimming the hedges, don't you think?" Midna said, placing her fists upon her hips and scowling at the fat Kokori.

"I heard raised voices," Bot confessed.

"What did you hear?" Midna asked forcefully. "Speak!"

"N-nothing important!" Bot lied. "That is, I heard a good deal about a ring, a Dark Gerudo Lord, and something about the end of the world, but--. Please, Miss Midna, ma'am, don't hurt me. Don't turn me into anything…unnatural."

"No," Midna sighed. "I suppose not. I've thought of a better use for you."

Midna swiftly and gracefully walked across the grass with her horse, and Seyo.

"Hurry up, Botin Gimag!" she said behind her. "Keep up!"

Bot clumsily ran behind them. They came to a clearing, and Midna stopped.

"Be careful," she said. "Both of you. The enemy has many spies in his service: Birds, beasts."

Then she turned to Seyo.

"Is it safe?" she asked.

Seyo patted his shirt pocket and nodded. Midna knelt down to his height.

"Never put it on!" she commanded. "For the agents of the Dark Lord Ganondorf will be drawn to its power. Always remember, Seyo, the Ring is trying to get back to it's master. It wants to be found."

And at that, the Wizerdess mounted her horse and galloped away.

To be continued...

Seyo and Bot walked for a few days, stopping occasionally to rest and eat. Soon they entered a farm area. Seyo hadn’t noticed that Bot had stopped walking. Then he turned around.

“If I take one more step,” he replied, “it’ll be the farthest away from home I’ve ever been.”

“Come on, Bot,” he said. “Remember what Plablo used to say. It’s a dangerous business, Seyo…”

Going out your door. You step out onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”

Midna rode though the forests and plains, day and night, until she finally reached her destination. Over the hill was the Tower of Isengard. The home of another wizard. She rode down the path and saw that he was walking down the stairs to greet her.

Smoke rises from the Mountain of Death. The hour grows late. And Twilight Princess Midna rides to Isengard. Seeking my counsel.

“Zant,” Midna said, bowing. Even though she was further up in authority, Zant was a wizard and far more powerful than she.

“Yet you did not have the wit to see it,” Zant hissed. Midna turned her face away and scowled. “Your love of the Halfling’s leaf has clearly slowed your mind.”

“But we still have time. Time enough to counter Ganondorf if we act quickly.”

“Ganondorf has regained much of his former strength. He cannot take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the Lord of the Gerudo Desert sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth, and flesh.”

“You know of what I speak, Midna,” he continued. “A Great Eye, lidless and wreathed in flame.”

“He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon, he will have summoned and army great enough for an assault on Hyrule.”

“I have seen it,” Zant said, glancing to his left. He walked to a palantir. A crystal ball used for seeing into other places.

He pulled off the veil to reveal a black sphere, darker than the night sky. It sat on a pedestal in the center of the room.

“They are not all accounted for!” Midna added. “The lost Seeing Stones! We do not know who may be watching.”

She snatched the cover and flung it over the orb. For a moment the Eye of Ganondorf flashed in her mind as she touched the covered palantir.

“The hour is later than you think,” Zant said, walking around to his seat. Ganondorf’s forces are already moving.”

“They crossed the River of Death on Midsummer’s Eve, disguised as riders in black.”

“They will find the Ring,” Zant said, in a low and sinister voice, “and kill whoever carries it.”

“Seyo!” Midna whispered. She rushed for the door. Zant glanced that way and the double doors shut in front of the Wizerdess. She tried the other 3 but was promptly stopped by them as they shut. Even the windows closed, eclipsing the sunlight.

“You did not seriously think that a Kokori could contend with the will of Ganondorf?”

“There are none who can,” he added. “Against the power of the dark forces that lurk in the Gerudo Desert, there can be no victory.”

“Tell me…friend,” Midna said, through gritted teeth. “when did Zant the Wise abandon reason for madness?”

Zant reacted by clutching his staff and forcing the Wizerdess back. She hit the wall and stuck by incredible force. Then Zant released his power and she tumbled to the floor. He slowly walked towards her. She instantly thrust out her staff and Zant fell backwards. Then Zant flipped Midna over. Her forehead was bleeding. She moaned in pain. Then she sat up and forced Zant to fly back onto the floor. Then she got up and threw him into the wall. Zant tumbled her over and over again. Midna gave an explosion of power that sent Zant through the doors and back onto the floor. The Wizard threw out his hand and Midna’s staff flew from her hand. Zant now had twice the power. Midna was thrown back onto the floor. Zant was torturing her from the inside. She tossed and turned in pain.

“I gave you a chance,” Zant said, walking towards the princess, “of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain!”

And with that, Zant raise the staffs and Midna was sent rising with exceptional speed to the ceiling.

Bot made his way through the cornfield and realized when he came to an opening that Seyo was not with him.

THUD! BUMP! Bot and Seyo were knocked over almost as soon as the words left his mouth. Bot spat some grass out of his mouth. His vision cleared.

Seyo looked down at all the cabbage and carrots and other vegetable that Mido and Tek dropped.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he asked. Tek and Mido picked up they’re produce and handed some to Bot to hold.

“You’ve been into Farmer Seteag’s crops!” he said. All four of the Kokoris turned to the sound of a dog barking. They saw a pitch fork above the corn stalks.

Mido grabbed Tek and Seyo and ran off through the stalks. Bot looked down at his loot of veggies, dropped them and ran.

“I don’t know why he’s so upset!” Tek said as they ran through the field. “It’s only a couple of carrots.”

“And some cabbages,” Mido pointed out. “And those bags of potatoes we lifted last week! A-and then the mushrooms the week before…”

“Yes, Mido!” Tek interrupted. “My point is, he’s clearly over reacting! RUN!”

Mido stopped in front of the group as he almost tumbled down a steep hill. Then Seyo and Tek ran into him, and to finish it off, Bot came charging through, knocking the poor Kokoris down the hill. They rolled and tumbled and landed in a nice little heap at the bottom. Bot spat out some grass that had been lodged into his mouth. Mido looked at the dung pile that was inches away from his nose.

“I think I’ve broken somethin’,” Tek muttered, pulling a bent carrot out from behind his back. “Oh.”

“Mushrooms!” Mido called out, spotting a patch nearby. All but Seyo scrambled to the pile and started eating. Seyo looked around him at the quiet road and felt a dark presence getting close.

“I think we should get off the road,” he said. He heard a screech in his mind. “Get off the road! Quick!”
They didn’t ask questions. They just leapt under the roots of a giant tree. Everything was a frightful calm.

“Be quiet!” Tek whispered to Mido, who was rummaging through his sack of mushrooms. All of a sudden they heard the heavy footsteps of a large horse. It stopped. Seyo looked through the roots and examined one of its bloody hooves. Then they heard the clank of metal boots as the rider dismounted. It leaned over to look around and started sniffing for the Ring. Seyo felt an evil power suffuse him. He reached into his pocket and drew out the Ring. He positioned his finger to put it on. Then he felt a tight grip on his hand. Bot had thrust his arms over Tek and Mido to keep him from putting the Ring on. The Black Rider heard the stir and turned his head. Tek flung a bag full of cabbages in the opposite direction and the rider followed the sound with a wail. When they were sure it was gone they rushed through the forest. They stopped to rest in a clover patch.

“What was that!?” Tek demanded. Seyo breathed hard and looked down at the Ring. He stood up and continued on.

Night had fallen on Kokori Forest. The 4 Kokoris had nearly reached Hyrule Field. They hid behind a tree as they saw a Dark Rider canter by. As he disappeared they rushed across the road. They scrambled through trees.

“That Black Rider was looking for something,” Tek figured out. “Or someone. Seyo?”

They dropped to their bellies in surprise. Tek and Seyo peered over a bush to see a black rider in the dead of night.

“I have to leave Kokori Forest,” Seyo whispered. Tek looked at Seyo in shock. “Bot and I must get to Zora’s Domain.”

They pushed through the brush following Tek. A Black Rider popped out and cut Seyo off. Out of all the confusion, Mido managed to scream out, “Run! This way!”

Bot and Mido got to Tek, but Seyo was still weaving through, desperately trying to get to the others. He eventually faked out the horse and ran to the other side. He dashed after the other 3.

Bot, Tek, and Mido leapt over a fence. They ran onto a dock, where a small raft lay, bobbing up and down on the river’s current. They all climbed onto Tek’s ferry.

“Go!” Seyo shouted. Mido took his foot off the dock as they slowly drifted away.

“Jump!” all three of them cried. And he did. He landed face forward onto the wooden raft. The Rider skidded to a halt before it and its horse plunged into the water. It turned and left, seeing as it couldn’t catch up with the Ring that way.

As Tek rowed the raft down the river, Seyo caught his breath, Bot assured Seyo that he was fine, and Mido took out a carrot from his bag and ate.

It started raining when they got to the bridge. They tied up the raft and ran to Zora’s Domain. There was a giant ice gate and door. Seyo knocked and a slot opened in the ice above their heads. A baggy old Zora head peeked out and then closed the slot. Another slot opened at the Kokoris’ height.

“We’re heading for the Ice and Water Inn,” Seyo explained. The Zora closed the slot, and opened the door. He came out with a lantern full of fire flies.

“Kokoris,” he said, surprised, “Four Kokoris! What business brings you to Zora’s Domain?”

“All right, young sir I meant no offense,” he said, letting the four soaking wet Kokoris into the Domain. “It’s my job to ask questions after nightfall. There’s talk of strange folk abroad. Can’t be too careful.”

And he closed the door. The group of four walked through the streets of the Domain, and how huge it was to them. And there were other beings besides Zoras: Gorons, Sheikas, Elves, Men, even a few Octorocks. Seyo looked up at the Ice and Water Inn sign and they walked in. It was warm and dry ironically. A man stood at a bar counter serving the sober and already drunk folks.

“Good evening, little masters,” he said cheerfully. “If you’re seeking accommodation, we’ve got some cozy Kokori sized rooms available. Mister…?”

“We’re friends of Princess and Wizerdess Midna,” Seyo said. That seemed to clear things up for the bar tender. “Can you tell him we’ve arrived?”

“Oh, yes!” the man piped up, seeing Seyo’s disappointment. “I remember, elderly Twili.”

“Haven’t seen her for six months,” he suddenly said. That made Seyo’s stomach drop. He turned back at the group.

“But you’ve got a whole half already!” Bot said, but he was gone. He sighed and slumped back into the chair. Then he looked across the room at a dark corner.

“That fellow has been doing nothin’ but staring at you since we’ve arrived,” he said to Seyo. Seyo looked slowly to his right and sure enough, a cloaked man in the corner. He just sat there smoking his pipe. Seyo was amazed when he the fire lit up the man’s face. His eyes were a fierce and bright blue, but he saw nothing more then his eyes, under his cloaked head.

“Excuse me,” Seyo said to the bar tender that greeted him as he walked by. He bent down to hear him. “That man in the corner. Who is he?”

“E’s one of them Rangers,” he whispered to Seyo. “They’re dangerous folk, wandering the wilds. What his right name is I’ve never heard, but around here for some reason, he’s know as the Blue Eyed Beast.”

“Blue Eyed Beast,” Seyo said to himself. It sounded like a famous name that had been forgotten over time. He twirled the Ring around in his fingers. He began to feel drowsy. His eyes slowly closed, and he began to hear a whisper in his mind, like a chill of winters frozen lips.

“He’s right over there,” he continued. “Seyo Ingab. He’s my second cousin, once removed on his mother’s side, and my third cousin, twice removed…”

Seyo rushed to the bar counter. “Blue Eyed Beast” put down his pipe as he noticed the quick to react Kokori. Seyo reached Mido.

“Steady on, Seyo!” Mido said, pushing him back. Seyo slipped on the wet floor, and the Ring fell out of his grasp. The Ranger sat up. Seyo’s finger was by mere chance were the Ring came to rest on. It slid down his index finger, and he disappeared. Bot, Tek, Mido and the Ranger all jerked awake from the humming sound of the bar. They had just seen Seyo vanish into thin air! Somewhere off in the distance, the Black Riders heard the Rings call and headed in the direction of Zora’s Domain. Seyo turned over and began to crawl. All around him was a hard wind like icy steam. He couldn’t make out anything.

Seyo gripped the Ring, furiously trying to pry it off his finger. Finally it slipped and came off. Everything became clear and he was back in the bar. He looked around and sighed. But his relief was quick, for a hand reached down and forced Seyo up. He was thrown against the wall by the “Blue Eyed Beast”.

“You draw far too much attention to yourself, ‘Mr. Underhill’,” the Ranger hissed. He forced Seyo up the stairs and into his room. Seyo fell to the ground, but got up as he heard the door close shut.

“A little more caution from you,” the Ranger replied. “That is no trinket you carry.”

“I can avoid being seen if I wish, but to disappear entirely,” he continued taking his hood off, “that is a rare gift.”

Seyo had a moment or two to study the man’s features. He had a clean shaven face, his eyes were still fiercely blue, and he had dirty-blonde, shaggy bangs that clung to his face with sweat.

He stepped closer to the small Kokori, but as quick as lighting, as he hear the door start to open, he drew his sword as 3 more Kokoris shuffled in.

“Let’em go!” Bot shouted, putting up his fists, “Or I’ll have you, Ranger!”

“You have a stout heart, little Kokori,” he said, sheathing his sword. “But that will not save you. You can no longer wait for the Twili Wizerdess, Seyo. They’re coming.”

The old Zora at the gate heard a rumble and headed for the door. He opened the slot and gasped before the horse charged into the ice, knocking it over, crushing the poor gatekeeper. Three more Black Riders followed the first and galloped into Zora’s Domain. They drew their deadly swords and entered the bar. The tender hid behind a door, mouthing a prayer to the goddesses.

The four Kokoris slept peacefully. The Riders stalked into their room as quietly as a mouse. They each took a bed, raised their swords, gave an ear piercing cry and stabbed through the sheets. Over and over again they struck the beds. And then they pulled over the sheets noticing no bloodstained comforter. Pillows were piled into the beds, feathers flying everywhere. This was the Kokori’s room, but no Kokori lay in bed.

“They were once men,” he replied, “Great Kings of Men. Then Ganondorf the Deceiver gave to then nine rings of power. Blinded by their greed, they took them without question. One by one falling into darkness.”

“They are the Nazgul. Ringwraiths, neither living nor dead. At all times they feel the presence of the Ring, drawn to the power of the One. They will never stop hunting you.”

Later that morning, the Ranger, who still had not revealed his name to them, made them leave Zora’s Domain with him.

“How do we know if this ‘Blue Eyed Beastie’ is a friend of Midna?” Tek asked Seyo.

“To Hyrule, Master Gimag,” the Ranger called from up ahead. “To the house of Daltus.”

“Do you hear that?” Bot said, excited. “Hyrule! We’re going to see the Elves!”

They group of now five trudged across the vast field and swamps of Hyrule. There were trees much bigger than in Kokori Forest. The Kokoris had never seen trees so big! The grass was so green and soft, and there were so many animals! Blue Eyed Beast walked on, but stopped when he noticed the Kokoris had stopped.

“What about elevensies? Luncheon? Afternoon tea? Dinner? Supper? He knows about them doesn’t he?”

Then out of the blue an apple cam flying over the hill and landed in Tek’s grasp. He smiled, gave it to Mido, patted his shoulder, and walked off. Another apple flew their way and hit Mido.

Far off I Isengard, the now evil Wizard, Zant spoke to Ganondorf through the palantir.

“The power of Isengard is at your command,” he said, “Ganondorf, Lord of Hyrule.”

Zant sat in his chair awaiting the green monsters that usually sat up on the look out platform. Three of them came in.

“What orders from the Gerudo Dessert, my lord?” he hissed. “What does the eye command?”

The monsters along with Octorocks cut down the trees that stood around the tower. They cut and tore at the bark until it fell.

High up on the flat roof of Isengard, Midna awoke from unconsciousness. She painfully got up when she heard the moaning of the murdered trees. She walked toward the edge of the roof. Looking down she saw many fires burning, axes swinging, and monsters killing. It started to rain but the fire persevered.

Down in the patch of dead dirt, where the trees used to stand, Zant walked up to his chief goblin.

Midna sat down and rested her back against one of the 4 spikes that reached out toward the heavens. She put her head into her hands and sobbed for the trees and land that Zant was destroying.

The Ranger and the 4 Kokoris continued on their journey to Hyrule. They came to a stop in front of a large hill with a ruin on top.

“This was once the great watch tower of Hyrule,” the Ranger said. He turned to the Kokoris behind him.

Seyo took off his knapsack and sat down joining Tek, Bot, and Mido. The Ranger unfolded a piece of tanned hide and tossed each Kokori a small sword.

“These are for you,” he said. “Keep them close. I’m going to have a look around.”

Seyo awoke to the smell of cooked food. He sat up to see Bot, Tek, and Mido having their own little feast.

“We saved some for you, Mr. Seyo,” Bot said. Seyo rushed over and stomped on the fire.

Then they all heard a blood curdling scream. The four of them rushed to the edge and looked down over the valley. They saw 5 figures, cloaked in black walking towards the hill.

“Go!” Seyo cried, drawing his sword. The others drew theirs and headed for the top the hill where the ruins lay. They reached the top and stood back to back, waiting for the Nazgul to reach the top as well. Seyo saw a shadow appear in the distance. A Ringwraith appeared out of the middle of two pillars. It drew its jagged sword, as it was followed by the other 4. Tek, Bot, and Mido turned around and for an instant felt like they were staring straight into the eyes of death. The Nazgul drew closer to the Kokoris.

“Back you Devils!” Bot cried, attacking one. It blocked his sword and threw him aside. Two more grabbed Tek and Mido, casting them to the side as well. They all closed in on Seyo. He dropped his sword and fell backwards. Then he felt a pulse in his shirt pocket. He drew out the Ring and saw one of the Waiths turn his way. He drew a dagger and approached him. He positioned it to stab Seyo. Then Seyo put the Ring on and vanished. He could still see them, and then he knew…they could see him. He felt the Ring try to reach the Wraiths, but Seyo restrained it with his other hand. When the Nazgul leader had realized he had been denied the Ring, he stabbed Seyo. He cried out as the icy cold blade pierced his flesh. Then he heard another cry. It sounded deeper and angrier. He looked and saw an outline of Blue Eyed Beast charging at the Waiths with his sword and a torch. Seyo grabbed his finger and desperately tried to get the Ring off. It came off and he appeared, screaming and wailing.

“Seyo!” Bot shouted, rushing to his side. The Ranger fought off the Nazgul, waving the torch this way and that, blocking their swords with his own. Bot fell to Seyo’s side.

“Oh, Bot,” Seyo whispered hoarsely. The Ranger ducked under a sword and waved the torch. The black cloak caught fire and the Wraith ran down the hill. He fought off one, driving it to the edge of a cliff. All of them retreated. The Ranger looked at Seyo and then realized there was one more left. He turned around and saw it raise its sword. He chucked the torch right into the Wraith’s face (which wasn’t even visible to be honest). It shrieked and ran to join its fellow Nazgul in pain. Blue Eyed Beast dropped his sword and ran over to Seyo.

“Help him, Ranger,” Bot pleaded. The man picked up the dagger that had pierced Seyo.

“He’s been stabbed by a Morgul blade,” he sighed as the blade disappeared. All that was left was the hilt. “This is beyond my skill to heal. He needs Hylian medicine.”

He picked up the poor Kokori in his arms and took him down the hill, the other 3 anxiously following him. The Ranger was looking for something, but what?
”Hurry!” he cried. The Kokoris picked up their pace.

In Isengard, there was nothing left but ash and dirt. All the trees had been torn to the ground. This was now a place of machinery and war. But amidst all the clanging and burning, a tiny white moth flew to the roof. Midna saw it and caught it in one hand. Carefully she put the tiny moth to her lips and whispered a message. The moth’s head bobbed up and down and then flew away. Down in the pits of Isengard, weapons were forged, armor built. And even further down, mystic bones were uncovered. Each set a complete skeleton. Once free from their earthly bound they sprang to life. The Stalfos rose one by one. Their bones still had remainders of skin and dried blood on them. Some were rotten but still strong and some were so new, they looked no more than a few years old. Zant gave and evil cackle as he saw hundreds of Stalfos rise out of the mud and into the soon to be evil and dark world.

“He’s passing into the Shadow World,” he explained. “He will soon become a Wraith like them.”

“Bot,” said the Ranger, as he stood up, “do you know the Athelas plant?”

He handed a torch to Bot and the scouted the forest floor. The Ranger saw a white tiny flower plant on the floor. He pulled out a knife and started to cut some small stalks off of it. Then he felt cold metal against is throat and a feminine voice.

Seyo felt like he was chocking on air itself. The air felt so cold he expected ice to be beneath him. Then he felt a warm light to his right. He painfully turned his head to see a beautiful woman approaching him on a white horse. She dismounted and walked towards him. She had long dark blonde hair that fell to her waist. She knelt down at the Kokoris side.

“Seyo,” she whispered. Her voice was like crystal liquid. She spoke in Elven tongue, but somehow she could understand her. “I and Zelda- I’ve come to help you. Hear my voice. Come back to the light. “

“Seyo,” Zelda said. The Ranger came up and sucked on the Kingsfoil, placing it in Seyo’s wound.

“He’s fading,” she said, picking Seyo up. “He’s not going to last. We must get him to my father. I’ve been looking for you for two days.”

“Where are you taking him?” Tek demanded. Zelda seemed to ignore him. She handed Seyo to the Ranger to put him on her horse.

“There are five Wraiths behind you,” she said. “Where the other four are, I do not know.”

“If I can get across the river,” Zelda continued, “the power of my people will protect him.”

And then The Ranger said something in Elven that no one has ever been able to translate, but when he said it, Zelda smiled softly and then mounted her horse.

She nodded and then spoke to her horse in Elven. The white horse was nothing more then a trail of light.

Zelda rode fast and hard across Hyrule Field. Seyo was tossed around like a rag doll, clinging to the light by a thread. They came to a woodsy area s the sun rose high. And as the light began to creep over the hills, Zelda saw behind her 5 Wraiths behind her. And then to the sides, 4 more. But her horse was swift. She continued to out run them for a distance. She wove in and out of the trees, one branch catching her cheek, leaving a cut. They came out onto a clearing. She could see all 9 of the Nazgul trailing behind her, determined to retrieve the Ring from Seyo. One came onto their right side and reached for Seyo. Zelda spoke to her horse, and with all her might the horse galloped across the plain. Then she had to dodge through the trees again. Her ears pricked up when she heard running water. She came to the river and crossed the shallow currents. The Wraiths stopped at the bank and shrieked again.

“If you want him,” she said, fury burning in her eyes, “come and claim him!”

“Nenovila hastubetha,” Zelda muttered. “Remonitheini Nenoheathithlia remoniaholia!”

From upriver came the rolling sound of waves. As if a dam had been release, a great rush of water sped down the river. The edge of the wave took the shape of stampeding stallions. It crushed the Wraiths under the water. They and their horses disappeared under the current. Zelda lowered her sword. Seyo rasped and choked. She took the Kokori off the horse and laid him down on the pebbled ground.

“No. No!” she cried. “Seyo, no! Seyo, don’t give in! Not now!”
What grace has given me, let it pass to him. Let him be spared. Save him.

Seyo passed into the Elven world. Daltus spoke and gradually took away the poison from the blade.

“Your in Hyrule Castle,” said a familiar voice, “and it is 10:00 in the morning on October 24^th, if you want to know.”

“Yes, I’m here,” she said, smoking her rose-pipe. “And you’re lucky to be here too. A few more hours and you would have been beyond out aid. But you had some strength in you, my dear Kokori.”

Seyo sat up and felt a bandage wrapped around his left side and over his shoulder.

“I am sorry, Seyo,” Midna sighed. There was a long pause. “I was delayed.”

Zant cast Midna’s frail and injured body over the edge of the roof. He merely kept her hanging there by her ankles, floating in midair.

“One ill turn deserves another,” Zant growled. “It is over. Embrace the power of the Ring…”

He flipped her over back onto the roof. She landed on her already bleeding face.

“There is only one Lord of the Rind,” Midna said. “Only one who can bend to his will…”

And with that, Midna leapt up and jumped off the side of the tower. Zant looked over the edge to see her riding on a giant owl. She flew off into the horizon that could barely be visible with all the ash and smoke.

“By the skills of Daltus, you are beginning to mend,” she said. She looked to her side and a tall man approached.

Seyo walked out onto the balcony of Hyrule Castle. He and Bot spotted Tek and Mido. Tek pointed to a small bench beside a dogwood tree. There sitting, writing in a book, and smoking his pipe was Plablo.

“Hello, Seyo, my lad,” he said. His hair was white with age. He embraced his nephew warmly.

“I miss the Shire,” said Seyo. “I spent all my childhood pretending I was off somewhere else. Off with you on one of your adventures.” He paused. “My own adventure turned out to be quite different. I’m not like you Plablo.”

“My dear boy,” Plablo whispered, placing a wrinkled hand on Seyo’s shoulder.

“Packed already?” Seyo asked. Bot was surprised. He stood up and put his hands in his pocket timidly.

“…we did what Midna wanted, didn’t we? We got the Ring this far, to Hyrule. And I thought, seeing as how you’re on the mend, we’d be off soon. Off home.”

“You’re right, Bot,” Seyo said. He turned to his friend and took the Ring out of his pocket. “We did what we set out to do. The Ring will be safe in Hyrule. I am ready to go home.”

“His strength returns,” said Daltus on a higher balcony, watching the Kokori walk away with his friend.

“That wound will never fully heal,” said Midna. “He will carry it for the rest of his life.”

“And yet to have come so far still bearing the Ring, the Kokori has shown extraordinary resilience to its evil.”

“It is a burden he should have never had to bear,” Midna declared. “We cannot ask more of Seyo.”

“Midna,” Daltus said, “the enemy is moving. Ganondorf’s forces are massing in the East. His eye is fixed on Hyrule. And Zant you tell me has betrayed us. Our list of allies grow thin.”

“His treachery runs deeper than you know,” Midna added. “By foul crafts, Zant has dug up some of the most deadly creatures on this planet, Stalfos. He’s breeding an army in the caverns of Isengard! An army that can move in sunlight and over great distance at speed. Zant is coming for the Ring.”

“This evil can not be concealed by the power of the elves,” said Daltus. “We do not have the strength to fight both the Gerudo Desert and Isengard!”

She stopped and leaned against the railing. She sighed. A man came trotting in on a horse. And to her left she saw an elf ride in. Then coming from the North, a group of Gorons trailed in.

“This peril belongs to all of Hyrule. They must decide now, how to end it. The time of the Elves is over. My people are leaving these shores. Who will you look to when we’re gone? The Gorons? They hide in their mountains seeking rocks to feast on. They care not for the troubles of others.”

Midna gazed down at the arriving party and then said, “It is in Men that we must place our hope.”

“Men? Men are weak. The race of Men is failing. It is because of Men that the Ring survives. I was there, Midna. I was there 3000 years ago. When Isildur took the Ring. I was there the day the strength of Men failed. I led Isildur into the heart of Death Mountain, where the Ring was forged, the one place it could be destroyed. It should have ended that day, but evil was allowed to endure. Isildur kept the Ring. The line of kings has ended. There is no strength left in the world of men. They’re scattered, divided, leaderless…”

“There is one who can unite them,” Midna declared. “One who could reclaim the throne of Eltora.”

“He turned form that path a long time ago,” Daltus added. “He has chosen exile.”

The Ranger was reading in the glow of the moonlight. The other man that had arrived (who was called Eross) entered the room, not aware that he was there. The particular room he was in was called the Sword Chamber. Eross approached the alter where the broken Master Sword lay, the broken bits aligned only a tiny distance apart.

“The shards of the Master Sword,” he whispered. He picked up the broken hilt and like the feel of it. “The blade that cut the Ring from Ganondorf’s hand.”

“But nothing more than a broken heirloom,” Eross said, placing the hilt on the edge, causing if to fall onto the steps. He walked off, leaving silence in the sacred chamber. The Ranger picked it up and placed it gently with the other shards.

“Why do you fear the past?” someone said from behind him. “You are Isildur’s heir. Not Isildur himself. You are not bound to his fate.”

“The same blood flows in my veins,” he said, turning to face Zelda. “The same weakness.”

“Your time will come, Link” she said. “You will face the same evil. And you will defeat it.”

Then in Elven she continued, “The Shadow does not sway yet. Not over you…not over me.”

Link and Zelda were out in the gardens, the moonlight shining on their heads. Both of them speaking in Elven.

“Long years have passed. You did not have the cares you carry now.” She took a small breath. “Do you remember what I told you?”

“You said you’d bind yourself to me,” he said, “forsaking the immortal life of your people.”

“And to that I hold. I would rather share a one lifetime with you than face all the Ages of this world alone.”

She took her hand off of his and he uncurled his fingers. There lay the Hyrulian Star.

She closed his fingers around the Star. He stared at her for a moment and then they shared a gentle kill that seemed to still the world around them.

Everyone who had arrived the day earlier was now gathered in a secret meeting discussing the Ring.

“Strangers from a distant land,” said Daltus, “friends of old, you’ve been summoned here to answer the threat of the Gerudo Desert. Hyrule stands on the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite or you will fall. Each race is bound to this fate, this one doom.”

“Bring forth the Ring, Seyo,” he said. He hesitated and then walked up, and placed it on the stone table where everyone could see.

“It is a gift,” Eross said. “A gift to the foes of the Gerudo Desert. Why not use this Ring? Long has my father the Stewart of Eltora, kept the forces of the deadly desert at bay. By the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Eltora the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him.”

(Author’s note: Eltora was a city I created in Aurora’s Diary, so I decided to use it in place of Gondor.”

“The One Ring answers to Ganondorf alone,” Link continued. “It has no other master.”

“And what would a Ranger,” said Eross, tauntingly, “know of this matter?”

“This is no mere Ranger,” he said. “He is Link, Hero of Time. You owe him your allegiance.”

Eross looked stunned, but tried unsuccessfully not to show it. He looked at the Ranger in disbelief.

“What are we waiting for?” a Goron (called Darunia) said. He took up his ax and slammed it down hard on the Ring. The blade broke into pieces and so did the wooden handle. The Goron fell backwards.

“The Ring cannot be destroyed, Darunia,” Daltus lately added, “by any craft that we hear possess. The Ring was made in the fires of Death Mountain. Only there can it be unmade. It must be taken deep into the Gerudo Desert and cast into the fiery chasm from whence it came. One of you must do this.”

“One does not simple walk into the Gerudo Desert. Its black gates are guarded by more than just Goblins. There is evil there that does not sleep. And the Great Eye is ever-watchful. It is a barren wasteland riddled with fire, dust, and ash. The very air you breathe is a poisonous fume. Not with 10,000 men could you do this. It is folly.”

“Have you heard nothing Lord Daltus has just said?” he demanded. “The Ring must be destroyed!”

“And if we fail what then?” Eross added, “What happens when Ganondorf takes back what is his?”

Then a great uproar of comments arose. Everyone rose and started a great argument on who would take the Ring into the Gerudo Desert.

“Never trust and Elf!”
”Do you not understand?” Midna said. “While you bicker amongst yourselves, Ganondorf’s power grows stronger! None can escape it. You’ll all be destroyed!”

Seyo was the only one sitting down. He could hear the Ring speaking to him. Its whispers were like searing fire in his head.

“I will take it!” he finally shouted, rising to his feet. “I will take it!”
Midna closed her eyes in despair. How could Seyo go through with this? They all turned to him.

“I will take the Ring to the Desert,” he repeated. All eyes were on him. “Though…I do not know the way.”

“I will help you bear this burden, Seyo Ingab,” she said with a smile. “as long as it is yours to bear.”

“You carry the fate of us all, little one,” he said. “If this is indeed the will of the Council…then Eltora will see it done.”

There was a rustle in the bushes and Bot came racing up the pathway (apparently he had been eves dropping).

“No indeed,” Daltus said. “It is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not.”

“Oi!” Tek shouted. “We’re coming too! You’d have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!”

“Anyway,” Mido said, “you need people of intelligence on this sort of…mission…quest…thing!”

“Nine companions,” Daltus said. “So be it. You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring.”

“Yes,” his uncle agreed. “It was made by the elves, you know. The blade glows blue when Goblins are close. And it’s times like that, my lad, when you have to be extra careful. Here’s a pretty thing.”
He pulled a white chain mail-like shirt.

“Mithril,” he said. “As light as a feather, but as hard as a dragon’s scales. Let me see you put it on.”

“Oh,” he said. “My old Ring. I should very much like to hold it again, one last time.”

Seyo buttoned his shirt back up. Plablo’s eyes went savage and wild, as he hissed and tried to grab the Ring. Seyo shuddered. Plablo seemed to snap out of whatever he was in. He moaned and sat down on the bed.

“I’m sorry I brought this upon you, my boy,” he groaned. “I’m sorry you must carry this burden.”

“I’m sorry for everything,” he choked. Seyo walked up and put his hand on his uncle’s shoulder. Plablo grabbed it tenderly. He would miss his nephew.

And so the Fellowship of the Ring set out. They walked across hills and valleys, passing ancient ruins, and little towns. Midna, Rusle, Darunia, Seyo, Tek, Mido, Bot, Eross and Link. The nine companions of this task.

“We must hold to this course, west of the Misty Mountain for 40 days. If our luck holds the Gap of Ordon will still be open to us. From there, our road turns East into the Gerudo Desert.”

(Authors Note: I had to expand a few of the regions, so Ordan village is now the Kingdom of Ordon.)

Bot was fixing himself some sausage for breakfast. He helped himself and went and sat over by Seyo, who was watching Eross help Tek and Mido how to properly handle a sword. Link was sitting nearby occasionally giving them advice as to how not to get sliced in half.

“Move your feet,” Link said. Mido blocked an upper attack and then to the side.

“If anyone was to ask for my opinion,” grumbled Darunia, who was over by Midna, “which I note they’re not, I’d say we were taking the long way around. Midna, we could pass through the Goron Mines. My cousin, Darbus, would give us a royal welcome.”

“No, Darunia,” Midna said, “I would not take the road through those mines unless I had no other choice.”

“Get him!” Tek cried, knocking the full grown man over. “For Kokori Forest!”

But Rusle knew there was something out there. Something evil. Bot saw a dark mass in the eastern sky where Rusle was looking.

“It’s moving fast,” Eross said who had just gotten up from his Kokori beating. “Against the wind.”

They rushed for their stuff and hid under the rocks. Bot put the fire out and dove under with Darunia. Just after they had all hidden, the flock of Keese (no pun intended) flew across the rocky area and seeming as if they had not seen anything, flew off. They all crept out from under the coverage.

“Spies of Zant,” Midna said. “The passage south is being watched. We must take the Pass of the Snow Peak.”

The pass was high up in the mountains. The ground was covered in snow but there were no blizzards…so far. The Fellowship trudged through the white blanket. At one point, Seyo fell and rolled down to Link. He helped him up. Seyo brushed off all the snow and realized he had dropped the Ring. Then he saw a glint in the snow and Eross picked it up. He stared at it in question and mystery.

“It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing…such a little thing.”

He saw Link glare at him. It was colder than the snow around them. Eross patted Seyo’s curly hair and trudged back up the mountain. Link took his grip off of his sword.

“So, Midna,” Zant said to himself, “you tried to lead them over the Snow Peak. And if that fails where then will you go? If the mountain defeats you will you risk a more dangerous road?”

Midna and the others (except Rusle) was waist deep in snow, trying to get through the blizzard that just hit them. Rusle walked ahead of the group and heard something.

“There is a fell voice on the air,” he said. Midna listened carefully and then realized it.

“It’s Zant!” Midna cried. They heard a crack above them, and then a crash, and soon a chunk of ice nearly crushed them.

“He’s trying to bring down the mountain!” Link shouted over the air. “Midna, we must turn back!”

“No!” Midna yelled. She stood up out of the crevice of snow and shouted enchantments back at Zant. The voice kept rumbling the mountain. It was like thunder times 10. Then lightning struck the mountain and a ton of snow toppled onto them, burying it in its icy prison. Rusle was the first to pop out. Everybody followed choking on the freezing air.

“We must get off the mountain!” said Eross. “Make for the Gap of Ordon, and take the road west to my city!”

“The Gap of Ordon is too close to Isengard!” Link added loudly over the blizzard.

The Gorons delved too greedily and too deep. You know what darkness awoke in the darkness of the Shadow Temple. And you know that what is in the mines is far worse. Shadow and flame.

“Let the Ring bearer decide,” Midna said. All eyes turned on Seyo. For a while he didn’t speak. “Seyo?”
“We will go through the mines,” he said.

They exited the snowy caps of the Misty Mountain and made for the rocky walls along the Mines. Darunia gasped.

They reached so high they nearly disappeared into the clouds. And the sides were endless. Seyo stepped into the swamp-like lake that was on the edge of the walls. His foot was green with muck when he swiftly took his foot out.

Link knew this substance. This is what his mirror shield was made of. Midna turned around to see the moon peeking out of the clouds. The etchings started to glow, and took the shape of an archway in the stone. There was a message branded into the stone from Ithildin.

“It’s simple,” Midna said. “If you’re a friend, you speak the password and the doors will open.”
She placed the edge of her staff on a sun shaped etch and spoke something in Elven. Then nothing happened. She pushed against the doors with her shoulder, but again, nothing happened.

Hours had gone by. Midna was still speaking in Elven, trying to open the doors. Everybody sat somewhere, tired and hungry. Tek was throwing rocks into the lake. Mido was about to throw one in but Link restrained him.

“Do not disturb the water,” he said. Midna cast down her staff and sat down.

“Oh this is useless,” she murmured to herself. Seyo stood up and looked up at the message that was in Elven tongue so he couldn’t read it. But he remembered what Midna had said.

“It’s a riddle. ‘Speak friend and enter’,” he repeated. “What’s the Elvish word for friend?”

“Mellon,” Midna uttered. The doors opened, slowly and wearily. Hesitantly they all walked in…well all but Darunia.

“Soon Master Elf, you will enjoy the fabled hospitality of the Gorons. Roaring fires, malt bear, and the moss still on the rock! Yum.”

Midna breathed into her staff and the small orange stone gave the room a Twilight-like glow, as Darunia continued with his bragging.

“This, my friend is the home of my cousin, Darbus. And they call it a mine. A mine!”

Midna raised her staff to see skeletal bodies strewn across the stairs ahead of them. Eross looked around him.

Seyo looked down and backed up as his foot was touching the rocky skeleton of Goron’s skull. He didn’t even know they could decompose. Darunia looked around. He saw Goron skeletons everywhere.

Rusle squatted down in front of a skull and pulled out an arrow that had gone into the eye. That was their only weak point.

“Bokoblins,” he said, standing up. He swiftly drew out an arrow and positioned it on his bow. Eross and Link drew their swords.

“We make for the Gap of Ordon,” Eross said. “We should have never come here. Now get out of here. Get out!”

Suddenly Seyo fell and slid out of the mine entrance. The others dashed after him. He was being dragged by a vine of some sort, right towards the lake.

Bot slashed at the vine until it came off. Seyo crawled back. Then the water erupted with vines, but they realized they weren’t vines, they were tentacles. It whacked Tek, Mido and Bot backwards and took Seyo back. It waved him over the surface of the lake. He wailed for help.

“Seyo!” Bot cried, getting to his feet. Rusle positioned an arrow and fired at the tentacle.

“Link!” Seyo cried. Eross and Link were in the water slashing at every slimy arm they could see that was in their way. The arms lowered him closer to the water, and then a giant head popped out. It’s jaws opened revealing rows of huge fangs. It was going to swallow Seyo! Eross sliced an arm off, causing the Octopus to writhe in pain. Link sliced the one that was keeping Seyo and caught him as he fell.

Rusle continued to shoot his arrows. One struck the monster’s eyes and it was stopped temporarily. It gave the two Men just enough time to reach the mine.

“Run!” Link shouted as the monster advanced on them. It crawled out of the lake, and attempted to get inside. But the doors shut and rocks crushed the beast. Then there was darkness. Utter darkness that felt empty until Midna struck her staff on the ground and her orange crystal glowed once more. The entire room looked like the Twilight Realm.

“We now have but one choice,” she said. “We must face the long dark of the Goron Mines. Be on your guard. There are older and fouler things than Stalfos in the deep places of this world.”

“Quietly now,” the Twili cautioned. “It’s a four day journey to the other side. Let us hope that our presence may go unnoticed.”

And thus began their long journey through the Goron Mines. They climbed steep stairs, littered with Goron bodies. They came to an area that had a three way forked passage. Midna raised her staff to get better light in the large room. Then she just stood there.

While Tek and Mido were having a worthless conversation about food, Seyo looked behind him when he hear a pitter patter of feet. There was something below them. Seyo rushed over to Princess.

“Escaped…or set loose. He hates and loves the Ring, as he loves and hates himself. He will never be rid of his need for it.”

“Pity? It is pity that stayed Plablo’s hand. Many that live deserve death. Some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them, Seyo?”

“Do not be too eager to deal out death and judgment. Even very wise people cannot see all ends. My heart tells me that Gollum still has a part to play yet, for good or ill before this is over. The pity of Plablo may rule the fate of many.”

“I wish the Ring had never come to me,” he said. “I wish none of this had happened.”

“So do all people who live to see such times,” Midna offered. “But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us. There are other forces at work in this world, Seyo, besides the will of evil. Plablo was meant to find the Ring. In which case you were also meant to have it. And that is an encouraging thought.”

She smiled down at the Kokori, bringing out a smile from him. Then she looked up and grinned even wider.

“No,” Midna replied. “But the air doesn’t smell as foul down here. If in doubt, Tekin, always follow your nose.”

They came to another room, but none of them, not even Rusle with his Elven eyes, could see the sides or end of this enormous room. The pillars supporting it were tall and thick.

“We risk a little more than light,” Midna said, lighting up more of the room in the Twilight glow. “Behold the great realm of the Goron city of Gorodelf.”

“There’s an eye opener, and no mistake,” said Bot. They walked for what felt miles until Darunia spotted a doorway where sunlight was showing. He dashed into the room without word.
”Darunia!” Midna cried. They all followed after him. Inside was a single window on the ceiling shining sunlight down on what seemed to be a tomb?

He knelt down at the stone coffin, and began to sob. Midna came across to see who this coffin belonged to. The description was written in Elven.

“‘Here lies Darbus,” she started, “son of Darblios, Lord of Moria.’ He is dead then.”

Darunia continued to weep for his cousin. His helmet hit the stone with a peculiar thud as Midna pulled off the hood of her cloak.

“It’s as I feared,” she continued. The Goron gave a soft wail and kept on crying. Midna walked over to another Goron with an arrow in its eye. It was clutching a book; it was thick and heavy as Midna picked it up, dusted it up, and opened its yellow pages. A few fell out as she turned to a certain page. Dust flew everywhere when Midna blew on the page.

“‘They have taken the bridge,” Midna read aloud, “and the second hall. We have barred the gates…but cannot hold them for long. The ground shakes. Drums…drums in the deep…

Mido backed up, afraid that something would sneak up behind them as Midna read on.

“…We cannot get out. A Shadow moves in the dark. We cannot get out. They are coming.’”

Mido turned around to see another skeleton. He twisted the arrow in its eye, and it made a banging sound. And then it fell down what looked like the well it was sitting on. Midna swerved around. It banged and clanged as it fell deeper. Mido flinched with every metallic thud. His head shuddered one last time as they heard it hit the floor of the mines. Then there was silence. Mido opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. Midna slammed the book shut.

“Fool of a Kokori,” she said. “Throw yourself in next time, and rid us of yours stupidity.”
She snatched back her staff she had told him to hold. She turned around to say something else to the group, but stopped. A chill went down everyone’s spine as they heard the faint sound of drums. Bot looked down at Seyo’s sword.

“Seyo!” he whispered. Seyo pulled Sting out a bit and saw the blade glowing a bright blue. Then they all heard a high pitched cry.

“Bokoblins!” Rusle said. Eross rushed to close the door. Then he moved his head out of the way of two oncoming arrows. The door refused to close.

He dropped the torch he was carrying and went to help Eross close the stubborn door. Before it shut, they heard a low mumbling cry.

“They have a cave-Morblin,” Eross pointed out. Rusle handed them an ax for them to bar the door with. He threw them another one for double blockage. They backed up and Rusle and Link drew a bow and an arrow and positioned to fire. Midna drew her sword for the first time in this entire expedition. The Kokoris got the hint that they needed their swords out. The door was banging and breaking. Darunia stood up on the stone coffin and growled.

“Let them come,” he snarled. “There is one Goron yet in these Mines who still draws breath!”

Swords were coming through the door. They sliced holes in the door. Once there was a decent opening, Rusle released his arrow and it flew straight into the gut of a Bokoblin. He quickly drew another arrow out as Link fired his and struck another one. Then the door burst open and fell down. A swarm of Bokoblins were running in. Rusle’s arrows came one after another. Then they drew swords and combat began. There were cries everywhere. The loudest was Darunia beating the heck out of any Bokoblins that came near him with his ax. The door way suddenly shattered as the cave-Morblin stomped in with his club. Rusle released an arrow into its chest. It barely flinched. It slammed its club down on where Bot was supposed to be before he crawled through the beast’s legs. Darunia threw a spear at it. Nothing happened. It raised its club again and this time it broke open the coffin. Rusle fired two arrows at the same time. For some reason the Morblin was effected by that. It staggered back a few feet. Rusle killed two more Bokoblins and saw the monster’s attention was directed on him. It swung a chain trying to know him off the second floor of the room. Rusle ducked and jumped over the chain. Then he swung it around a pillar and it got stuck. Rusle ran up the chain onto the Morblin’s head. He shot three arrows into its skull, and leapt off. Bot kept hitting Bokoblins over the head with a frying pan.

“I think I’m getting the hang of this,” he said. Tek Mido and Seyo met the Morblin as it prepared to crush them. They fanned out each way.

“Seyo!” cried Link. The Morblin followed Seyo behind a pillar. Seyo’s back was to him, so he didn’t know if the beast was coming from the left, right, or it he would just smash up the pillar. He moved to the left and right trying to avoid it. Then it faked him out and surprised him. Seyo cried out and fell backwards into a corner. The monster lifted him up by his feet and swung him around.

The Morblin was about to squash him when Link jumped in just in time. He slashed sword, keeping the beast a good distance away. Then he picked up a spear and drove into the Morblin’s gut. But it didn’t go through enough to kill it. Tek and Mido where throwing rocks at it, but that just pestered it. The Morblin swatted Link away with his free arm, and pulled out the spear. Seyo ran over to the unconscious man. Seyo looked behind him and rolled out of the way before the Morblin could run him through with the spear. He tried to run a certain way but it blocked his path, shoved him back into the corner and drove the spear into him. Seyo choked and rasped. The Morblin sucked up phlegm that was hanging from his mouth and resumed his killing steak with the other pests. Tek and Mido looked at each other and then charged at it with their swords raised. Midna was speechless.

“Seyo!” Bot cried. Seyo fell to his knees, and then the floor on his face. “Seyo!”

Bot banged every Bokoblin head and stabbed every Bokoblin gut. Midna fought off her own patch of opponents. Tek and Mido were on the Morblin’s head, driving their swords into its skull a multitude of times. It threw them off, and Midna and Darunia came to their defense. The Goron chopped at the legs and Midna kept its head away from anyone. It hit Darunia, knocking him away. Rusle pointed an arrow up at the Morblin. He released and it went through its mouth into its brain. It staggered a bit and then fell down dead. Midna did not think twice. She rushed over to her beloved Kokori friend. Link had recovered and was at his side. Bot felt tears well up in his eyes.

“Oh no,” Link whispered. He turned Seyo over. The Kokori started coughing and gagging. Bot’s tears died down and the room seemed to lighten up.

“You should be dead,” Link breathed. “That spear would have skewered a wild boar.”

“I think there’s more to this Kokori than meets the eye,” Midna said. Seyo pulled open his shirt to reveal the Mithril he was wearing.

“Mithril,” Darunia said, dumfounded. “You are full of surprises, Master Ingab.”

“To the Bridge of Khazad-Dum,” ordered Midna. They rushed out of the room into the seemingly endless hall; Midna’s staff their only following source. Bot looked back and saw hundreds of Goblins chasing after them. They saw them erupting from the ground and crawling out of the ceiling. The monsters surrounded them, cutting off their path. They all formed a circle, enclosing the Fellowship. They were about to make the kill when out of the deep came a loud, low roar. Midna swirled around to see a red glow coming from their entrance. The Goblins cried out and retreated into their caverns and holes. Darunia gave a laughing shout of glee. All became silent except the rumbling growl of what came near.

“Fyrus,” Midna murmured. “A demon of the ancient world. This foe is beyond any of you.”
That chilled them to the bone even though they could feel the heat already entering the room.

“Run!” she yelled. They dashed for the exit. They came to a flight of stairs. Eross was the first to realize that there was a huge gap in the stone stairway (mainly because he almost plunged in). Rusle ran over and pulled him back over.

“Lead them on, Link,” she said, putting her hand on their shoulder. “The bridge is near.”

He looked over and saw a long narrow line stretching from side of the gaping pit to the other. He looked back at her in doubt.

He nodded and went down to the others, Midna rushing behind him. Rusle was the first to jump. The rocks trembled and crumbled at the sound of Fyrus.

“Midna!” Rusle said. She leapt into his catch. As soon as she hit the ground, an arrow came whizzing past her head. Rusle fired and arrow and it hit 100 yards way, a Bokoblin in the forehead.

“Tek, Mido!” cried Eross, grabbing a hold of both of them, and jumped. The place where they had been standing fell apart and plummeted into the crevice below. Rusle hit another Bokoblin in the chest.

“Bot,” said Link, grabbing the Kokori. He threw him over the gap and into Eross’ arms. Link reached for Darunia, but he held up his hand.

“Nobody tosses a Goron!” he said. The stubborn rock jumped and hit the edge, falling back. Rusle grabbed his moss made beard.

“Seyo!” Link shouted, moving out of the way. The area which they were standing on was wobbling. Link grabbed Seyo by the shoulder.

“Lean forward,” said Link. Seyo didn’t think twice. As they bowed to the ground, it fell forward and they jumped. After they were on solid ground, the stairs behind them tumbled down. They continued to run towards the bridge and the light outside. They reached the crossing as fire was lit all around them.

They all scrambled across. And out of the flames came a flaming head with horns like a ram, and it roared at the Twilight Wizerdess. Its wings were smoke and its roar was fire. As 8 adventures crawled up the stairs from the bridge, one stayed behind. Midna stood her ground on the bridge.

“I am a servant of the Twilight Mirror and the wielder of the Fused Shadows!”

A flaming sword appeared in the Fyrus’ hand. He rammed it down on Midna’s own blade. She cried out in struggle against the foul beast.

“Go back to the darkness!” she commanded. Fyrus took a step onto the bridge, and produced a whip from the flames. When it cracked, lightning burst forth. Midna clutched her staff.

“You shall not pass!” she screamed at the top of her breath. She struck her staff into the bridge’s stone floor. There was a moment of loud pause, then a crack was heard, then a crumble and then the first half of the bridge fell into the deep. The flaming beast raised his whip but fell down with the bridge. Midna sighed and turned to leave when the fiery whip arose back out and caught her ankle. She fell to the ground, clutching the side of the bridge. Seyo tried to reach her, but Eross restrained her.

“Midna!” Seyo yelled. She struggled for grip. She looked up at her companions.

“NO!” Seyo screamed. He saw his beloved friend plummet after Fyrus. Everybody could not believe what they just saw. Link stared at the broken bridge. Eross picked up the still screaming Seyo and made for the exit after the others.

“Link!” he yelled at his fellow companion. Link continued to stare for a moment and then backed up. Arrows whizzed by his head, hitting the sides. He dashed out the tunnel and into the sunlight. Bot sat down and cupped his face in his hands. Eross embraced Darunia who was pointing at the door and crying out to her. Tek held Mido’s shoulders as they both cried. Rusle was speechless. He merely looked down at the ground in shock. Link cleaned off his sword and spoke, “Rusle, get them up.”

“By nightfall, these hills will be swarming with Bokoblins!” Link answered. “We must reach the woods of the Forest Temple.”

“Seyo!” he cried once more. He stopped and looked back. A single tear fell down his cheek, and onto the hard stone ground.

The Fellow ship traveled somewhat slower that day…well, the Kokoris did. Link sped ahead to a forest in the distance, Rusle right behind him. It was quiet and dark, and the trees seemed to not be swayed by the faint breeze from the west. They all entered the mystic wood. All was silent, and all was dark. Darunia saw the four Forest folk lagging behind them.

“Stay close, young Kokoris,” he whispered, letting them catch up to him. “They say there is a great sorceress that lives in these woods. A fallen goddess…of terrible power. All who look upon her…fall under her spell...”

“Mr. Seyo?” said Bot. Seyo did not respond. He merely kept on walking; the voice in his head had stopped.

“Well,” puffed Darunia, “here’s one Goron she won’t ensnare so easily. I have the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox.”

Just as soon as the words left his stony lips, an arrow was pointed straight towards his face. “Ooh!”

Everyone had arrows at their heads. Rusle drew his bow and arrow and pointed it at the mysterious strangers. Link put his hands slightly up.

“Impa of the Forest Temple,” said Link in Elvish. “We come for help. We need your protection.”

“Link!” Darunia protested. “These woods are perilous! We should go back.”

“You have entered the realm of the Lady of the Wood,” said Impa. “You cannot go back.”

Impa took them deep into the woods. They came to a place that looked like a city in the trees. The staircases wove around the trunks until they came to what looked like a palace of sorts. They entered the strange domain and waited. At the top of a small set of stairs there came a light. A lady walked down. She wore all white and had aqua blue hair. Link lowered his gaze. Seyo saw her face come from the light. Her eyes were a magnificent blue. It was her!

“Eight there are,” said an elf next to the lady. “Yet nine set out from Hyrule. Tell me where is Midna? For I much desire to speak with her.”

“She has fallen into shadow,” she said. Her voice was like liquid, smooth and perfect. Yet terrifying.

“The quest stands upon the edge of a knife,” she continued. “Stray but a little and it will fail to the ruin of all.”

She looked over at Eross. Her eyes seemed to pierce his heart. He turned away. Then she looked down at Bot.

“Yet hope still remains,” she said, bringing a lightness in the air, “while Company is true. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Go now and rest, for you are weary with sorrow and much toil. Tonight you will sleep…”

The Fellowship was in tents that were canopied by the soft light of the trees. All around them they could hear voices singing a mournful song. Rusle walked by and said to himself, “A lament for Midna.”

Link walked over to Eross who was sitting alone on a large tree root that acted as a bench for him.

“I will find no rest here,” Eross choked. “I heard her voice inside my head. She spoke of my father and the fall of Eltora. She said to me, ‘Even now there is hope left.’ But I cannot see it. It has been long since we have had any hope.”

“My father,” Eross continued, “is a noble man. But his rule is failing…and…now…our people lose faith. He looks to me to make things right, and I would do it. I would see the glory of Eltora restored. Have you ever seen it, Link? The White Tower of Ecthelion. Gimering like a spike of pearl and silver. Its banners caught high in the morning breeze.” He paused. “Have you ever been called home by the clear ringing of silver trumpets?”

“One day,” said Eross. “Our paths will lead us there. And the tower guard shall take up a call: “The Lords of Eltora have returned.”

Seyo lay fast asleep under the soft glow of the trees, when someone walked by him. Who ever it was, walked so softly, you could have thought they were floating. And for some reason, Seyo awoke when they pasted him. He saw the lady that who had greeted them when they entered the Forest Temple. He quietly followed her. He saw her walk down a small flight of stone stairs and came to a small room like clearing. There was a tiny spring and a table with a silver basin in the middle. She took a silver pitcher and filled it up in the spring. Seyo slowly came down the steps and felt soft moss beneath his feet. She turned around, carefully carrying the pitcher. She gazed at Seyo with emotionless eyes. There was silence.

“What will I see?” Seyo asked, walking a little further along the moss covered forest floor. She softly smiled, but then it faded.

“Even the wisest cannot tell. For the mirror shows many things...”
She walked over to the table and tilted the pitcher over the basin. The water poured from the pitcher and into the bowl.

She stepped away from the basin and placed the pitcher next to the spring. Seyo looked at the basin and then at the lady. Then he stepped forward and peered into the water, seeing his own reflection. He looked back up at the lady. She made no movement, except cast her eyes back down into the mirror. Seyo looked back down. The water rippled and a figure appeared. It was Rusle! Then there was Tek and Mido. And Bot! Then he saw his home in Kokori Forest, the lush green grass swaying in the breeze. Then it morphed into a burning house with Kokoris running, and screaming. There were goblins and Morblins. Seyo gasped. Then all the Kokoris were in chains. He saw Bot being beaten as he marched along with the other prisoners. Then there was the Eye. It’s pupil like a slit and it was surrounded in flame. The Ring slipped out from under Seyo’s shirt and hung from the chain over the mirror. It drew him down closer to the water. Seyo finally grabbed the Ring and fell backwards onto the ground. He sat up and stared at the lady.

It is what will come to pass if you should fail. The Fellowship is breaking. It has already begun. He will try to take the Ring. You know of whom I speak. One by one, it will destroy them all.

“If you ask it of me,” said Seyo, holding out his hand with the Ring inside, “I will give you the One Ring.”

There was a rumble and she began shine aqua, such as the color of her hair. Her voice turned low and somewhat evil.

“In the place of a Dark Lord you should have a queen, not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me despair.”

“I pass the test,” she said. “I will diminish, and go into the West…and remain Nayru.”

“You are a Ring-bearer, Seyo. To bear a Ring of Power is to be alone. This task was appointed to you. And if you do not find a way…no one will.”

“Then I know what I must do.” He paused. “It’s just…I’m afraid to do it.”
Nayru leaned down to his height.

“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future,” she whispered.

“Do you know how Bokoblins first came into being?” asked Zant. The commander Stalfo stood in the tower, receiving this knowledge from his leader. “They were Hylians once…taken by the Dark Powers, tortured and mutilated. A ruined and terrible form of life. And now….perfected. My fighting Stalfo…whom do you serve?”

The Bokoblins suited up the Stalfos in their armor and presented them with their swords. A few were killed because the Stalfos were not satisfied with the way they presented their weapons.

“Hunt them down!” commanded Zant. “Do not stop until they are found. You do not know pain. You do not know fear. You will taste Man-flesh!”

There was an uproar like from the Stalfos like lions who had just made their kill. Zant turned to the commander Stalfo.

“One of the Halflings carries something of great value. Bring them to me alive, and unspoiled.”

“Kill the others,” Zant finished. The pack of Stalfos marched out of the pits of Isengard and out on sight.

Farewell, Seyo Ingab. I give you the Light of the Triforce. Our most beloved star.

Seyo remembered when they had left. Nayru gave him a glass bottle in the shape of a tear drop. It was filled to up to the slim part with liquid that was supposed to light up.

Seyo looked to the eastern back of the river and saw Nayru’s aqua hair swaying in the breeze. She lifted her hand up in farewell.

The Fellowship paddled down the slow river. Link rode with Seyo and Bot. Darunia reluctantly rode with Rusle, and Tek and Mido were carried in the same canoe as Eross. Seyo held the Light of the Triforce in his hand. It looked as if it would feel like ice, but it was warm and comforting to touch.

In the woods, just off of the bank of the river, the troupe of Stalfos trudged swiftly through the trees and over fallen logs. Their helmets and sometimes bare heads bore the orange hand of Zant. They continued to run. The Fellowship sensed something was not right on the bank.

As the suspicious feeling died down, Link patted Seyo on the shoulder and told him to look up. Above them, were two colossal statues, each on the other side of the river. One, Seyo recognized to be King Daltus, the other he did not know. The others gaped at the stone settings and would have run into them if they had not looked down to steer their canoes. Soon, they followed the river, and left the magnificent monuments behind.

Rusl spotted a waterfall ahead of them and pulled over onto the bank, followed by the rest of the Fellowship. Eross looked around cautiously, and shook his brown hair out of his eyes. Darunia started a fire and for some reason the Fellowship did not know, placed a stone in it, and then took, it out and ate it like a potato.

“We cross the lake at nightfall,” said Link, gathering everything out of the canoe, “hide the boats and continue on foot. We approach the Gerudo Desert from the north.”

“Oh yes?” Darunia piped up, spewing pebbles everywhere. “It is just a simple matter of finding our way through the Gerudo Mesa, an impassible labyrinth of razor-sharp rocks! And after that…”

“…it get’s even better! Festering, stinking marshlands as far as the eye can see!”

“That is our road,” Link casually replied. Mido glanced up at him with a mouth full of food as he continued. “I suggest that you take some rest and recover your strength, Master Goron.”

Darunia puffed out his rocky chest and slammed the stick into the fire.
“Recover my-“

He stopped upright and growled something under his breath. His mossy beard trembled as he shook his head. Rusl looked into the forest and then approached Link, who was gathering up some rope.

“No,” replied Link, using his head to point to his right. “Bokoblins patrol the eastern shore. We must wait for the cover of darkness.”

Rusl clicked his teeth together.
“It is not the eastern shore that worries me.”

He glanced around, looking at the ruins of some ancient temple that used to dwell here.
“A shadow and a threat have been growing in my mind,” he said. “Something draws near. I can feel it.”

Over at the fire, Tek dropped a bundle of sticks at Darunia’s feet as the Goron continued to grumble.

“Recover strength?” he muttered to himself. “Pay no heed to that, young Kokori.”

“Where’s Seyo?” he asked. Link did a double take and looked around himself. Bot sat upright and searched wildly with his eyes. Link looked at the base of a tree to see Eross’s lonely shield and pack sitting alone, against the bark of the tree.

Seyo climbed up the steps of the ruins of whatever used to stand there. He walked by a huge stone head three times bigger than him. Mostly everything was bigger than he was, he being a Kakori. They never seemed to mature past what looked to be childhood. This never bothered Seyo, but he always hated being so small.

Seyo looked away, not saying a word or showing any emotion on his face. Eross sighed and walked towards him

“I know why you seek solitude,” he said. “You suffer. I see it day by day. You sure you do not suffer needlessly?”

“There are other ways, Seyo,” Eross offered. “Other paths we might take…”

“I know what you would say,” Seyo interrupted. “And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart.”

“We’re all afraid, Seyo. But to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have…-don’t you see that is madness?”

“There is no other way,” the Kokori stuttered. Eross got a strange look in his eyes as he spoke.
“I ask for the strength to defend my people!”

“You are not yourself,” Seyo stated. Eross glared at the Kokori with hungry eyes. It’s taking him, thought Seyo. The Ring is taking him.

“What chance do you think you have?” Eross hissed. “They will find you. And they will take the Ring…”

“It is not yours, save by unhappy chance. It could have been mine! It should be mine!”

Seyo brought out the Ring, slipped it over his finger and disappeared. Eross sat up, and then fell back as Seyo had kicked him with his invisible leg. He saw leaves shuffling and a log move as Seyo dashed over it and away.

“I see your mind,” he sneered. “You will take the Ring to Ganondorf! You will betray us!”

“You go to your death! And the death of us all! Curse you! Curse you, and all the Kokoris!”

He stood up but then tripped and fell face first into the leaves. He felt a sense of fear rush over him like a rushing stream. He shivered on the ground.

In the realm where everything looked like grey fire, Seyo scrambled about. Only he existed in this realm of invisibility. He climbed up the stairs of the ruins and hid behind a rock, even though it was not necessary. He looked up and saw an image of a dark tower. He flew up to the top. An eye covered in flame stared straight at him. It chanted a mysterious language. Seyo was terrified. He backed up and tried to pull the Ring off. He slipped and fell backwards just as he yanked it off. The ground was soft, but far away, so it shocked him a bit. He looked up at a clear sky and hyperventilated. He slowly sat up and looked around. The air was quiet until he heard a boot hit a rock.
“Seyo?”

The Kokori jumped up and backed away. Link stood there, his expression unreadable. Seyo choked for words.
“It has taken Eross,” he said. Link’s eyes widened.

“Where is the Ring?” he demanded softly, walking towards Seyo. Seyo scrambled back.

“Stay away!” he cried. Link saw fear, pity, and anger in the Kokori’s eyes. What has happened? He thought. He walked after him.

“I swore to protect you,” he said, holding out his hands in an explanatory manor.

“Can you protect me from yourself?” asked Seyo. Link shot him a confused look. Seyo held the Ring in his right hand and slightly held it out.

“Would you destroy it?” he asked. Link took a step forward. Seyo saw a hint of lust for the Ring sparkly in his eyes as he reached out for the Ring. Then he saw it die, because Link closed Seyo’s fingers around the Ring, assuring him he would not take it. He held the Kokori’s hand tightly.

“I would have gone with you to the end,” he said, putting Seyo’s hand to his chest. “Into the very sands of the Gerudo Desert.”

Seyo stared at his companion with love in his eyes.
“I know,” he replied. “Look after the others. Especially Bot. He will not understand.”

Link nodded and then looked down. His eye brows bunched alertness.
“Go, Seyo,” he said drawing his sword. Seyo drew out his sword to see the glowing blade, shining blue.

Seyo sheathed the dagger-sized sword and took off down the hill. Link walked out in full view of the approaching Stalfos. About fifty or more stood in a bunch in front of him. Link held the sword in the middle of his face and then attacked. He slashed and punched. Already he had knocked down 5 Stalfos. He fought hard with his Ordanian sword. The bones of the Stalfos cracked and shattered under it. This was war.

“Mr. Seyo!” cried Bot. He heard swords clashing and looked up the hill. Link was slashing his way through creatures that looked like skeletons. He leapt onto a staircase and cut down two more Stalfos. He rushed up the remaining stairs and fought off more. The leading Stalfo cried out, “Find the Kokoris! Find the Kokoris!”

Most of the Stalfos rushed off, but some remained to take on Link. He jumped off the platform and onto two Stalfos that were running away. One dove in on him, only to fall on Link’s sword. Then out of the corner of his eyes, Link saw Rusl’s arrows fly and Darunia’s ax come hard down on a Stalfo’s helm.

“Link, go!” cried Rusl. Link ran after Seyo to protect him as he had vowed to do. Rusl stuck an arrow into the eye of a Stalfo and then shot it at another one.

Seyo fell down as he saw them coming. Link tripped a Stalfo and stabbed it with his dagger. Meanwhile Seyo hid behind the tree as the skeletal monsters ran past him. He glanced to his side, and between the rushing legs of the Stalfos, under a log, Tek and Mido slowly poked their heads out.

Tek jumped out after him but ran into him when he saw a group of Stalfos running down the hill after them. Tek turned to Seyo.

Seyo gaped. They were leading the pack away from him! This was his chance. As they took off to the right, Seyo leapt up and headed for the riverbank.

Mido and Tek dashed through the thick woods. But they stopped short when they saw Stalfos coming in both directions. One of them stalked up with an ax and was about to strike when a streak of silver slashed off its head.

“Eross!” cried Mido. The man jumped into the fray of Stalfos, forcing them away from the Kokoris. He threw a dagger from ten feet away into the neck of another Stalfo, destroying the bone.

Link stabbed his foe as Rusl shot down another one. Darunia destroyed the bones with his ax and all stopped when they heard a low-pitched horn.

“Eross!” Link said. He sheathed his dagger and ran towards the trumpeting sound. But so did the Stalfos.

Eross threw down the skull of a Stalfo and blew his horn again. More skeletons were coming.

Mido and Tek obeyed, sprinting as fast as they could as the man fought off more enemies. They stopped and looked back. A Stalfo with a quiver of black arrows and a mangled bow appeared over the hill. It nocked an arrow, and as Eross killed another one of his foes, he let go of the bowstring. Eross staggered back as the arrow struck his left chest, right below his heart. He fell to his knees and almost dropped his sword. This is it, he thought. I’m going to die. But he stood back up and fought without even pulling the arrow out. The Stalfo strung another arrow and aimed. The bowstring gave a twang and it struck Eross in the stomach. It roared, thinking it finally killed him. Mido and Tek, stood there, speechless, unable to take in what they had just witnessed. Eross stared at them, choking on his own breath. Then, with the last ounce of strength he had left, he stood up and struck down an approaching Stalfo. He knocked another down and stabbed in the back, fracturing its spine, killing it. Everything moved in slow motion. He stumbled back when another arrow flew into his chest…right into his heart. He fell onto his knees again, and this time he did not rise again. Mido and Tek drew their swords and cried out for Eross. They charged at the Stalfos, only to be picked up and carried away. Eross remained on his knees, trying desperately to breathe. The first arrow had punctured his lung. Then he saw two legs, the lower part of a bow, and an arrow. He looked up to see the Stalfo archer standing over him. It nocked an arrow, aiming for his head, about to deliver the final blow. Then a big lump fell on top of it and the arrow was fired elsewhere. Link arose from his leap and drew his sword. The Stalfo hit the sword away from his hand, forcing him onto a tree. It then threw its shield, the curved form, trapping Link’s neck to the trunk. He tried desperately to remove the shield. The Stalfo charged, ready to decapitate him. At the last second, Link threw the shield away and punched the Stalfo in the head, leaving a crack in its skull. He grabbed his sword and examined the skeleton more closely. This one had much more skin on it. In fact, its heart was still stuck inside its ribcage. The Stalfo kicked him down and roared in pain as Link’s dagger pierced his leg bone. The man rolled away, retrieving his sword. The Stalfo yanked the knife from his bone and threw it at Link, only to be hit away by the sword. The impact made a loud ringing noise. The Stalfo growled and picked up his sword, charging at the man. Link fought it on his knees and then recovered to his feet. There was a slice and a crunch, and the Stalfo’s right arm fell to the ground. Link stuck his sword into the front part of its spine. It grabbed the blade and pulled it in further, taunting Link. He grimaced as he heard the bone crunch and then pulled away and sliced the Stalfos head off. The skeleton fell, once again lifeless. Link took in a breath of relief and then limped over the other bones that were sprawled out on the forest floor.

“No,” he whispered, scrambling over to Eross. He found him lying on the ground, his face a deathly pale.

“Hold still,” Link muttered. He examined his companion’s pierced body and sucked in his breath.

Eross saw his life flash before his eyes, his mother’s death, and his father being put into stewardship, him leaving for Hyrule to begin the Fellowship. Now there was nothing. The world around him was darkening. He was about to die.

“No, Eross,” Link softly scolded. “You fought bravely. You have kept your honor.”

“Leave it,” he pleaded. “It is over. The world of me will fall. And all will succumb to darkness… and my city to ruin.”

He clasped his hand on Link’s shoulder.
“I do not know what strength is in my blood,” said Link. “But I swear to you, I will not let the White City fall…”

Link nodded. Eross reached out his right hand. To his right, his sword lay just inches from his fingertips. Link placed the hilt of the blade in its owner’s hand, and Eross lay his hand across his chest. Rusl ran up and stopped short when he saw the arrows in Eross’s chest.

“I would have followed you my brother,” said Eross. “My captain…my king.”

And he breathed his last. Link stared in sorrow at his fallen partner. He cradled his head in his hands and whispered to his passing soul.

Then he kissed his forehead and closed the man’s eyes. Darunia walked up and leaned on his ax to keep from falling. Link stood up and let a single tear trickle down his face.

Seyo stood at the bank of the river, holding the Ring in his hand. He blinked tears fro his eyes, as he looked to the eastern shore of the river. I wish the Ring had never come to me, he thought. I wish none of this had happened.

“So do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide.”

Seyo pictured the Twilight Princess’s face in his head. Her eyes, though red, were soft and kind. Seyo clasped his fingers around the Ring and stuffed it into his shirt pocket before climbing into one of the boats and paddling out. Bot burst out of the forest just as he was leaving the shore.

“No, Bot,” Seyo whispered. Bot stood there for a moment and then began to trudge through the murky water.

“Go back, Bot!” cried Seyo. “I’m going to the Gerudo Desert, alone.”

“You can’t swim!” yelled Seyo, with the knowledge that no Kokori in Hyrule could swim, but Bot kept wading until it was too deep for him. Then he began to flail and slash.

Bot could see the light shining through the surface of the water. He felt the water flow into his lungs. He was going to drown. He reached up with his hand, as if there was some imaginary rope he could cling onto and pull himself to safety, but there was none. As he slipped away from life, a firm hand broke through the surface and caught his arm, pulling him up into the boat. Seyo patted his back to get the water out of his lungs. He sat up and looked at Seyo in the eye. Water dripped off his red hair and into his eyes, but he did not care. He was going to stick to Seyo whatever it took.

“I made a promise, Mr. Seyo,” Bot sobbed. “A promise. ‘Don’t you leave him Botin Gimag.’”

“And I don’t mean to,” Bot continued, blinking back tears. “I don’t mean to…”

Seyo hugged the wet Kokori close to him. They were going to get through this together, no matter what. Then, Seyo pulled away and grasped Bot’s shoulders.

“Come on,” he said, handing him a paddle. And they rode to the eastern shore.

Eross’s body lay in his canoe, his round shield at his head, and his sword in the forever clutch of his white hands. Link tightened the strap on his glove as he saw the canoe pass beyond his sight, flowing down to the edge of the waterfall and falling down the misty path to eternal rest. Rusl broke the silence as he grabbed the third canoe and pushed it toward the edge of the river.

He turned around to see Link casually sitting on a tree stump. He gazed over at the other shore to see two small figures disappear into the woods. He sighed and looked down.

Rusl stepped away from the boat, but looked back one final time, and with his elven eyes, saw the two Kokoris walk away into the depths of their destinies.

“Than is has all been in vain,” Darunia said, stepping forward. “The Fellowship has failed.”

Both Rusle and Darunia looked to Link for words of wisdom. He looked up, walked over to the elf and Goron, and put his hands on their shoulders.

“Not if we hold true to each other,” he said, as Darunia put his hand on his arm. “We will not abandon Tek and Mido to torment and death.” He paused. “Not while we have strength left.”

“Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light.” And he smirked. “Let’s hunt some Stalfos.”

And he took off. Darunia exchanged glances with Rusle and then growled, “Yes!”

Seyo and Bot reached the peak of a rocky hill and gazed over the landscape. Their surroundings were nothing but sand and the blazing sun above them.

“The Gerudo Desert,” said Seyo, gaping at the wondrous yet deadly sight. “I hope the others find a safer road.”

“Blue Eyed will look after them,” said Bot, placing a comforting hand on his partner’s shoulder. Seyo never took his gaze off the sandy sea.

Bot smiled back and they started down the hill. Right onto the very path of their destiny.