Hi there! I'm back after a much shorter wait. Sorry it took so long, but I had some conflicting ideas in mind for this chapter. But they're all sorted out now and I give you the filler chapter! Now remember, last time we left off Adri was jumped by the golden wolf. Dududun! Hope you enjoy!

Bren: The Legend of Zelda belongs to Nintendo. Adri is the property of Storm.

Chapter 10: Lessons

The teeth never came. Confused, Adri slowly dropped her arms only to gasp at what was before her. The forest was gone. In fact almost everything was gone. The world was shrouded in a dense fog, so thick that she could barely see the ground beneath her. She thought she saw the image of a castle in the distance, but it could have been a trick of the light. The tops of trees were behind her, but the forest itself wasn't there anymore. There was no sun, only a stormy-gray, overcast sky. It was like she was in a completely different world.

Where am I?

The clank of metal on metal was her answer. Adri turned around just in time to have a shield slam into her stomach. She choked as the metal circle pushed the wind out of her and to the ground. Adri gasped for air as a red haze filled her vision. Her chest hurt so much that it felt like there was a vice closed tight around her body. She pushed herself to her knees, but wasn't able to get much farther because of the pain. There was a crunch of grass and a pair of rusted grieves came into view. Adri looked up, still clutching her stomach tight and struggling to breath. A sword point was at her throat, held by a ghostly figure. A warrior clad in ancient, battle stained armor was standing over her. She could see his teeth through transparent lips and his red eyes set in a frown. The sword moved away from her neck.

"A sword wields no strength unless the hand holds courage," the shade boomed. His voice was deep with an earth-real echo at the same time. "Get up."

Adri forced herself up, the pain in her chest beginning to lessen as her breath came back. She was greeted by a hard whack to the head. Adri yelped as her staff clattered to the ground after finally sliding out of its carrier and making contact with her head. Still, something told her that the skeletal warrior before her wasn't playing around. She grabbed the weapon, then just stood there. There wasn't much else she could think about doing, especially since she had no idea where she was or if she could even take on this new enemy. The shade started circling her, his eyes still narrowed.

"Fear flows from you like a wild river," he said, "Your eyes are filled with it." He snorted and raised his sword. "I thought She would have picked someone stronger."

"What?" Adri snapped. The statement was an insult, she was sure of it.

"Both you and you're friend, the new hero, would insult the line that came before you with the state you are in." His words were answered with a loud yell from Adri. She charged the shade head on swinging her staff wildly. Her rage made her oblivious to the sword coming at her from the side. The flat of the blade hit her side, not exactly hard, but enough to sting. She wanted to slap herself for not seeing it in the first place. However, when she looked at the shade's face, in his eyes was an amused twinkle.

"Fight with anger and you will not win," he said, then lowered his sword, "I see what I have to work with now." The shade moved into another attack stance and, with a snap of his fingers, had replaced his sword and shield for a tarnished gold staff. He twisted it saying, "It has been years since I last used this weapon. It will be a nice change."

"Now then, you obviously do not have even the most basic of forms down. However when I am through, we will see if you are indeed worthy of carrying out the task that has been set before you. Your first lesson will be the block."

Adri fixed her grip on her staff growling, "I think I already know how to do that." I was able to fight those things in the woods the other day. I know what to do.

A jab in the stomach was her answer. Adri let out a grunt, staggering back after the blow. The shade's eyes gleamed with fury. "Where was the block, Child of the Earth? Are you so arrogant that you would leave yourself open to attack when the hour is dire?"

"The block is the first technique all novices learn. You are no exception." The shade shifted into a more ready stance. "Come at me."

Adri winced at the bruises that were already forming from the shield and latest attack. She gritted her teeth. Fine. I want out of here, I'll listen. Adri's hands tightened on the hard wood. Without hesitation she swung her staff at the shade. He didn't make any motions to defend himself and for a second she was afraid she'd over done it, until his staff shot out. The metal collided with the ash and with a fierce twist had knocked the weapon out of Adri's hands. The shade swung his staff at her neck, stopping inches away.

"This is what will save your skin more than just once. When the enemy attacks you, this will be the difference between life and death." Adri hurried to pick up her weapon as the shade shifted once again into his previous stance booming, "Now, prepare yourself, child. It is your turn."

Wait, what? It was her only thought as the staff came right at her. Adri tried to block with the same movement as the shade, but she didn't have the right grip on her own staff. She was thrown back to the ground, the mist opening up as she hit the dirt. A loud "hmph" came from the shade.

"Not fast enough. Again, child."

Adri bit back a groan as she got up. Three bruises she knew she was going to have on her stomach now. Three. She was getting tired of this. Adri gripped the wooden staff tight and shifted into a deeper stance. She barely felt it at all, like she wasn't in control of her body. Relax, a voice whispered, Let the weapon guide itself. She narrowed her eyes waiting for the attack she knew was coming. There! The shade stabbed forward at her face, but her feet shifted back giving her enough room to make her move. Her hands twisted her staff in a small circle and knocked the metal one aside. Adri rushed in with a sharp stab to the shade's transparent stomach. At first she thought it was going to go through, seeing as he was a ghost, but it made a solid hit. The shade staggered back with a grunt. Adri froze, her arms still stretched out from the stab.

W-what just happened? How did I hit him if he's a ghost?

To her surprise, a deep chuckle came from the shade. He straightened up, the amused twinkle from earlier back in his eyes. "Not bad, child," he echoed, "Not bad for your first try."

"Er, thanks?" It was all she could come up with.

"This is only the beginning of what I have to teach you, though. Grow in strength, test your limits, and when the time comes seek me out along with your friend. The statues that howl with the sound of the wind will be your guides. Seek the sound that calls to the spirit of the beast within to awaken me again." He frowned finishing, "The spirit of the sublime beast rests within you as well....but your courage I question." The shade started to step back, the fog swirling around him. "A sword, or staff, wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. Remember those words….."

"Farewell."

* * *

"Adri? Adri wake up."

A jolt ran through her body and her eyes snapped open. Adri bolted upright, her breath coming out hard. The sudden movement made her stomach hurt right where the shade had hit her at three times. That....that was real? Judging by the trees and lack of fog, she was back in Faron Woods in the same spot where the wolf had leaped at her. Her staff was back in its back strap only positioned correctly after her failure to pull it out in time. Okay, not a dream. She looked to the side and found that Link was kneeling next to her. A look of relief passed over his face.

"Good, you're up." He stood up, offering his hand as he did. Adri took it and he pulled her up straight.

"Thanks," she said. She dusted the dirt off of her pants, then asked, "Okay, what just happened? One minute there was this wolf-"

"The warrior," Link finished. He turned to the spot where the golden wolf had been. "We were transported to this spirit realm of some sorts. The shade said he was there to guide me and taught me this technique that he claimed only the hero's blood would be worthy of learning."

Adri nodded, rubbing her stomach. "Yeah….mentioned the same thing to me. I'm going to take a guess and say he didn't hit you with very much praise."

"Actually, he said I was decent."

She rolled her eyes. "Great. Even here there are teacher's pets."

Link smiled shaking his head. "Nevermind what happened. What we need to deal with right now is the temple up ahead." He pointed to the tree across the bridge. "That place....it's strange. I always used to feel protected whenever I came here. Now I'm getting this feeling of foreboding when I look at it."

Adri turned to the temple. He had a point. The majestic tree she had seen before did seem different. Its branches were shrouded in shadows of a purplish color. The exact same purple of the mist from the grove. The branches were like claws scratching at the sky. Adri shuddered when she realized they were actually going in there. "I think I see what you mean," she said quietly. Am I really cut out for this? she thought, How are we even going to get through this place in one piece? Link's voice brought her attention back to him.

"Then let's just go. We still need to help that monkey after she helped us through that mist." She nodded.

They started making the trek across the bridge. Adri was pretty sure it was making creaking sounds beneath her boots, but then again that might have been nerves. She kept trying not to think about the drop that was under the hollowed out root. What's waiting for us in there anyway? Link looked really worried when he saw the tree. Why? They were at the doorway, a black hole covered with spider webs. Link slashed at them with his sword then turned to her.

"Ready?"

Adri nodded. "I guess."

They crossed the threshold.

Why am I getting the feeling something bad's going to happen?

Wait, how am I supposed to us these powers!?

Haha, poor Adri! Still has no clue how she's supposed to use that new power of her's. You'd think they'd come with instructions for these things. I torture my characters so! XD

Bren: Ahem!

Oh right. So then, what dangers await them within the temple? Might have a long wait since this is my first ever dungeon chapter. Just a warning for all you eager readers. Hope you liked this filler, cause after this is when the real fun begins. Both for me and the pair(trio). -_-;

Bren: Reviews are much appreciated. Flamers answer to me, and you don't want that to happen. *forms fireball in hands*