Ch 4: The journey begins.

Jack slept soundly that night, and woke up the next morning feeling totally refreshed. That's why he couldn't figure out why there was a sense of foreboding hanging over the castle. He walked out to the small dining hall that they had all been using during the weeks that Jack had been there. Link and Zelda were discussing something at great lengths. Another figure stood off to one side, but they didn't seem to notice it. Jack started to walk towards the two when the figure moved. It strode up to him but Jack still couldn't tell if it was a man or a women. Something about it said that it didn't want to be identified, and Jack's eyes unwillingly obliged.

"Hello Jack." It said, with a roughly masculine voice.

"Who are you?" Said Jack, noticing that neither Zelda nor Link took any notice of his voice.

"That's always a stumper. Let me think for a second. Damn, I knew the answer to that one too. Wait a sec, oh right. You may call me Taylor if you like. I go by many names, but that seems to be the one that most people I associate with call me."

"How come they can't hear me?"

"Because I don't want them too just yet. I couldn't have you randomly talking to nobody. They'd think you had flipped."

"They can't see you?"

"Nope. But then again, that's because I don't like to show myself to everybody. Not worth the questions. As seems to be the case here. Look, before you ask anymore questions, let me see if I can explain why I'm here. I, as you may have guessed, am quite a few levels above what these people can see. I exist on another dimension now, although I think I lived on a different one at some point in time. Thing is, you're not supposed to be here, are you? Nope, but the truth is, it was me that sent you. It wasn't an accident either. Course, I can't remember why I sent you for, but it must have been important. Then again, I do sometimes send off people for no reason…"

"You mean to tell me that you sent me here, and left me, and you can't remember why? What the hell kind of a person are you?"

"A rather forgetful one. And mind you're mouth; I don't suffer shouting in my presence. Now, where was I? Oh, I came to tell you something. You need to know this, above all else…umm…err…"

"What?"

"Ah, know this: It is not Ganondorf that you need to slay, although it is he that stands in your way. The source of the evil that has put the curse on you, is one much more powerful and clad all in blue…Wait a second, that's me. Shoot! That can't be right, I don't usually rhyme anyways. Oh, now I remember. Dark Link isn't dead. That's it. You see, you can't kill your dark side, but you can send it into banishment. And while I may have put you here for a reason, you were supposed to go back when that purpose was over. So you have to find Dark Link and get him to send you back. Or Ganondorf, but I figure Dark Link will be easier to convince. Still not an easy task though, is it? Hmm…what else can I tell you? Well, I could tell you lots of things, but that would take a while and even I don't have that kind of time. Is there anything you want to ask me, maybe I'll remember if you ask the right question?"

"Yeah, who the hell are you? Really."

"…Fine, I'll tell you. You remember Light Link, right? He was my messenger, up until I had him killed by Dark Link. I wasn't in a good mood that day, and I really thought that the white tunic was kind of fruity looking to begin with… oh, but I digress. I am what he described as one of the beings with unimaginable powers. The point I'm trying to make here is that, since he's dead, I was supposed to finish the message that he was going to give you, albeit slightly modified. And now I've remembered. The rest of the message is this: You stopped the events of one fate. But that person is far from safe. If they die, you will set into motion events that will shake this dimension to its core. They must live, but it will be no easy task. And now, I go. VANISH!"

"Wait, who was it that fate put me to saving?"

"Oh, right. Wait a minute, I can't tell you that. It's supposed to bug you until the end of this adventure. HAHAHAHAHA!"

Link and Zelda looked up suddenly, for they had both heard some faint laughter. But all they saw was Jack, looking incredibly pissed off. Link's reaction was spontaneous. His hand immediately went to his sword. He knew all too well that when stuff like this started happening, it was always safe to be on edge.

"Jack? What happened? Are you ok?" Asked Zelda, full of concern but also wary.

"Dammit! Damn it to hell and back! Why couldn't he just tell me who it is?" Shouted Jack to nobody.

"What? What is it Jack? Who?"

"That man. Taylor. He was talking to me, but he didn't want you guys to see him. He told me that Dark Link wasn't dead and that I had to convince him to send me back. He also said that the person I was supposed to save is only partially safe. But if they die, then even worse things will happen. Whole dimensions could crumble."

"What guy? There was a guy here? That we couldn't see?" Asked Link, turning slow circles, sword half drawn.

"Yeah. He was…I guess a good guy. He wasn't going to hurt us, I think. But he was the one that put me here. He said that he did it for a reason but that he couldn't remember why. The bastard. He wouldn't tell me who it is that I'm supposed to save either. He just laughed and disappeared."

"Hold on a sec. I've still got the lens of truth…somewhere in this pouch. Hold on, it takes forever to find stuff in here."

Link pulled out a seemingly small sack from his belt. He started rummaging through it, pulling out all kinds of things that would never, in anyone's wildest dreams, would have fit in it. Finally, he found what he was looking for.

"Ah ha! Now we'll see who he was."

Link started peering through the glass at everything. He slowly paced around the room, looking almost Holmesian as he did.

"Whoa! I wondered where that went. I've been looking everywhere for it!" He proclaimed, holding up a small pouch.

"Oh geez. Now he's done it. That's a bunch of mini bombs. When he first got them, he kept planting them in everybody's soup so that it would explode and spray the poor person with soup. My dad loved it, thought it was the funniest thing in the world. Ruined three of my better dresses too. So I tried to hide them. Looks like I'll have to make them disappear again. And stop staring at me with that damned lenses Link! I know what you're looking at and if you don't stop, I swear I'll make sure you never see it again!"

Link blushed and went back to looking around the room. He stopped suddenly and stood looking at what appeared to be empty space.

"Hey. Look at this! It looks like some kind of weird portal. Here. Look through the lens."

"I remember these. This is a portal to another dimension. Ganondorf used something similar to summon forth minions and things. What do you suppose caused it?"

"Taylor made it. I'm almost positive. That's where he was standing last when I saw him. Where do you think it leads?"

"What are you guys all staring at? Something odd over there? Ooh. Isn't that the lens of truth? Can I see?" Said Coral, suddenly appearing in the door.

"It's a portal, Coral. We're wondering where it goes, if it goes anywhere at all."

"Wow. I've got to see that."

Link heard a sound from above. He looked up just in time to see Kitan jumping down from the rafters directly above Coral. Without even thinking about it, he dived forward and tackled Coral, who flew into the portal, dragging Link with her. Jack, without thinking about it, clocked Kitan in the jaw reflexively, sending him through the portal too. Zelda screamed as she fell to the ground. By the time that Jack and Zelda had recovered, several guards and Impa had rushed into the room, weapons drawn. Jack looked around for a minute and noticed that, while three people had all gone through the portal, the lens was lying on the ground, unscathed.

"Where did they go Jack? Did they go through the portal?" Asked Zelda, still shaken.

"Yeah, I think they did. I hope they're alright." He said, picking up the lens.

"What portal Princess? I see none here." Asked Impa, glancing about, sword still drawn.

"There's a portal there. You can't see it unless you use the lens of truth. Kitan tried to kill Coral from the rafters but Link pushed her through the portal, and he went with her. Kitan also went through. But it looks like the lens couldn't go through, so it's still here. That means that we can go in after them!"

"No. I can't allow you to go through there. You don't know where the portal leads to. For all you know, it could lead to somewhere that can't sustain life. It's too dangerous." Said Impa, stepping towards Jack and the lens.

"You're right Impa, but I refuse to believe that Link and the others are dead until I see it first hand. I will go, but I won't go unarmed. Jack, help me get the other's weapons. That way they're not defenseless. Come on!"

Zelda and Jack quickly located Coral's bow and quiver, and Zelda's chain. Jack already had his sword on his belt. Zelda also collected Link's sword and Kitan's daggers from where they had flown. They came back to the dining room, where Impa was still waiting for them.

"Be careful princess. Nothing good has ever come out of haste."

Jack took out the lens of truth and looked through it. The portal was still there, spinning slightly counter clockwise. Zelda grabbed on to his shoulder and he cautiously took a step into the whirling gate. An odd sensation swept over him as he walked through the rest of the way. It felt like walking through a body of water that was turned sideways. For a split second, he floated as if in water and then he was through to the other side. Zelda followed after, never letting go of Jack's shoulder. Jack realized that the lens was no longer in his hand.

On the other side, Impa stood in amazement. It looked as if both of them had simply walked between air. When they had gone completely through, the lens fell to the ground. Impa stooped to pick it up, and found it unscratched. She peered briefly though the glass, just in time to see the portal closing.

"Good luck, all of you." She whispered.

Jack looked about. For some reason, the ground here was paved with broken stones. It appeared as if he and Zelda were standing in some kind of ruins. Walls were crumbling everywhere, and they seemed vaguely to resemble where they had just come from. There was a burnt table standing against the wall, or at least what was left of it.

"Uh oh. This is not good. I know this place and it is not good."

"The Dark World. I remember. But I thought it was destroyed when Ganon was all those years ago."

"Where one can come back, so can the other I guess. Or maybe this is a different Dark World."

"Either way, this is not what I expected at all. And you're right, this isn't good. So why do you think we could be here?"

"Because this is where Ganondorf is. And Dark Link too, is my guess."

"Dark Link? But he's dead."

"Nope, apparently not. That guy said that I have to find him and ask him to send me back. Doesn't make a lot of sense, but then again, neither did that whole time thing with Link."

"So where is everybody else? I don't see anybody out here."

"Well, there are footprints all over the place, and they all look like the kind of thing that people tend to make. Let's follow them, we should be able to find them pretty easily. I would have thought there would be blood though. With the knifes flying around, I hope no one was injured."

Instead of answering, Zelda made a quick slash on her arm and let the blood drip to the ground. The soil sucked it up so fast, it almost looked like it never touched it at all.

"Two properties of the Dark World. One, the ground is thirsty. It sucks up any liquid just like that, but especially blood. The second, and I'm confused as to why it hasn't happened, is that it turns you into what you truly are in your heart. That's why I was trapped in a crystal when I was first sent here. Link turned into a pink rabbit." Explained Zelda, giggling at the thought.

"Better get going, you never know where they've gone to." Said Jack, suppressing a laugh.

Link was the first to land on the rather unforgiving ground. This was quickly followed by Coral landing next to him, and then Kitan on top of him. Link shoved him off, and rose to his feet.

"What happened? Are you alright Coral?" He said, glancing at her before turning to Kitan. "What the hell are you doing! We had an agreement that you would leave us be!"

"You honestly expect me to honor that? I just agreed with you so I could get free." He replied, sneering.

"You son of a…"

"Guys, I don't think this is the time to be fighting. Where the hell are we?" Said Coral, genuinely lost.

"We're in the Dark World. Only, it can't be the real Dark World, because I destroyed it a long time ago. We'll settle this later Kitan. Right now, we'd better find a place to hide. They don't call this the Dark World for nothing. The creatures here are twice as vicious. And there are very few allies to be found here so we'll have to rely on our wits. I just hope Zelda managed to get through."

"Heh, alright then, since neither of us have weapons, I'll settle for a postponement. But only until we get equipped. So, where do you suggest, oh fearless legend?"

Link ignored this quip and took a longer stock of the surroundings. He seemed to remember them, having traveled all over this world in his search for the maidens so long ago.

"There should be a cave out that way. But it's a good little distance and I'm not entirely sure it won't be free of monsters. There's also the bridge that way and it's safe, but it's a lot farther. What do you guys think? I personally would take the bridge. It's farther, but I think we can make it if we're quiet about it."

"Whichever way you think best is the one I'll follow." Said Coral, beginning to get her bearings straight.

"If sneaking is what we have to do, you've found the perfect guide. I do it for a living you might say. The bridge sounds doable, I'd say. But you know best, Hero of Time."

"Okay, now we have a problem. Which way did they go?" Asked Jack, losing the tracks.

"We'll have to think about this logically. From what I know, there is a cave that way and a bridge that way. The cave is closer, and probably safer. But then the bridge leads to a house that I know for a fact is safe. This might be harder than I thought."

"Well, they don't have weapons, so we should look at it from that point of view."

"In that case, I think Link would have gone with the cave. It's a shorter distance and probably less likely to have monsters running around."

Jack and Zelda both started down the road for the cave, wary of anything that moved. Jack noticed immediately that, like the game he had played so long ago, even the trees looked like they were alive and had faces to back it up. He'd always wondered if each tree had been a person who had ended up in the dark world and been transformed. It seemed a ridiculous notion though, as the sheer amount of people needed to make even a decent sized forest would be staggering.

"Uh oh, looks like we've got a friend." Said Zelda suddenly, pointing up the road.

What Jack saw was far more grotesque then even Miyamoto might have imagined. It appeared to be one of the hopping creatures that had always been a hassle to Jack when he had played Link to the Past. The thing looked like a moldy sack, covered in glistening slime. Four rope like appendages extended from the top of it and waved around randomly. It had no legs, eyes, or any other features. He wasn't exactly sure what to expect from it, but he knew that fighting it with his limited expertise would be an extremely bad idea.

"Um, I don't think we should engage that thing."

"Why not, looks pretty fragile."

"You guys taught me a lot about the bestiary of Hyrule, but I don't think Link ever mentioned the creatures that live here. From what I know from my dimension, that thing is both extremely strong, and obnoxiously intelligent. If it senses us, it's going to follow us until it kills us."

"Do you think we can get around it?"

"Nope, doesn't look like it. I don't know how they sense things, but they have a very large range. I don't think Link went this way if that thing has been sitting on the road for longer than half an hour."

"I sure hope your right, let's head for the bridge and pray we don't run into another one of those."

"Damn, I know there was a bridge this way, but I don't remember it being this far." Link said to himself.

Link popped out from the bush again and looked around. All he could see was the road ahead and the occasional tree. Of course, it didn't help that he couldn't stand for fear of being spotted by the evil denizens which he suspected were lurking about.

"Are we there yet?" Asked Coral for the third time.

"No, we've got to go a little further."

"I'm really beginning to suspect that you have no idea where you're going." Piped up Kitan from a neighboring bush

"Look, it was your idea to go bush hopping. I have no idea if we're even traveling in the right direction."

"Shh. I thought I heard something coming. Get down."

Coral peered anxiously through the branches, trying to see what it was that was traveling up the road. It sounded like footsteps, but she figured that it could really be anything. She was just about to turn to Link and ask him if he could see anything when something came down on her shoulder. She turned very slowly and came face to face with a large spider. She screamed and flew out of the bush, brushing herself madly. The spider landed back in the bush and then crawled on. Jack and Zelda, at first scared witless by the sudden action, immediately broke into hearty laughter at Coral's antics. Link and Kitan stood up, shocked to see the two.

"Zelda! What are you doing here? Why did you follow, this is too dangerous for you."

"Well, as much as I appreciate your enthusiasm for my safety, I don't expect you'd get very far without your weapons, and besides, Jack couldn't have come through on his own."

"You brought Jack too? What the hell are you thinking? He'd never survive out here. This place is insane, and full of stuff I never taught him about."

"You know, I'm not totally stupid. I can get around just fine. I know about this place." Quipped Jack, looking around.

"Here, you'll be wanting this." Said Zelda crossly, throwing Link's sword at him.

Zelda distributed the remaining weapons to their owners.

"I trust you Kitan. We're all in this together, and I don't much care one way or the other what you do. But if you try to betray us again, I will lock you in a crystal and leave you here. I have no qualms about that. And Coral, please be more cautious about doing things like that. We're here now, and we've got to survive. There can't be any mistakes, or who knows what might become of us."

"Whew, don't piss of the lady Link; I'd hate to have her around on a really bad day." Joked Kitan, taking his daggers cautiously.