[EDITING] The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Dungeon Chapter 30 - Twilight & Shadow

...not sure if Dominus was following them or not. Not long after, two twilight beasts came racing in behind them into the next room, the orb tucked into one of their arms. They stopped next to Link and handed him the object. He picked it up and held it against the saddlehorn as Dominus came racing through behind them, urgently urging his mount on.

Dominus stated, "It is handled. We have a little bit more time now. Now, with the challenge ahead." He pointed ahead of them, where a series of stairs and drops curved around in front and above of them. "I have gazed ahead to get a better idea of the path forward. Only one way through this mess. Once you're on that path, it'll close behind you. That is, unless the guards catch up with you."

Epona stamped a hoof and snorted. "Let them try."

"You will be attacked," Dominus added as he focused on Link, "but you must carry that orb through. We can defend you from here."

"Let Quicksilver and I take it through," Endeavor said. "We will be able to navigate it better than you and Epona, Quicksilver is nimbler."

Epona's ear flattened. "We can handle it. I'd like to see you out run me."

Endeavor shook their head, Dominus laughing beside them. "Then get through it."

"Hold on," Epona retorted, before leaping into a gallop as she charged ahead into the course. Link bent down against Epona's neck, trying to keep a hold of the reins and the orb at the same time. Epona raced through, climbing stairs, turning hard around the narrow path, and making flying leaps over pits without need for direction. Monsters like twilight keese and vermin came at them from outside, but Link's companions handled them before they got close to Link and his cargo. At this point, he was largely along for the ride as Epona directed them ahead with great ease.

Only for so long though.

His horse took a fly leap, before sliding to a halt as a wall rose suddenly before them. She said, "I can't go any further. What do we do now?"

Link turned around in his saddle. There was still no sign of the guards, which was good. But that wouldn't last much longer. Link saw a ring in the middle of the wall. He led Epona up to it and set the orb on the mark. The wall opened up. Link brought the orb back up close to his side as Epona charged down the path once more. Link glanced back behind them. Another wall of shadow formed, and began to channel down the path behind them.

Endeavor shouted, voice distant over the maze, "Link! Hurry up!"

Epona pressed on, keeping her attention on path in front of her. The shadow raced along with them; a low growl could be heard beneath it. Epona neighed, panicked, "What is that?"

Dominus commanded his two minions in the Twili language. They grabbed shadow from where it stemmed at the beginning of the cave. It halted its approached towards them. A voice called out after Link, its voice echoing down the course, "What are you running from, little Hero? I will find you."

"The creature is blind!" Endeavor exclaimed.

"Creature?" Link demanded.

"Near blind, yes," Dominus added. "It has lived its life in the shadows. But it can see well enough in here."

Epona slid to another halt. "Link! That thing is getting closer."

Link hit the orb against the next ring on the wall just as the shadow pulled free of the two twilight creatures' grasps. Epona hit a gallop in record time, racing down the corridor in a near panic. The creatures charging them from the outside suddenly vanished as Yore dove in around them.

For a moment, they were climbing up a set of stairs and Link could see behind him back into the chamber. The guards appeared behind the others as they held off the entrance to the maze. Mirum called, "Link!"

"Come on, Epona, we've got to get to the other side," Link urged.

"I'm trying! Would you like to do the running?" Epona asked, breathing heavy. Finally, she slid to a halt as they reached the other side. Link leapt off his horse and set the orb on the pedestal.

The pathway shattered, and reformed in a straight path. The long shadow broke free, and began to take a shape. Link dove out of the way as the shadow crashed through the next door. He stood up as he looked at the door.

Epona collapsed as the others rode across the path now reopened for them. As the last of them cross, a wall formed. Dominus turned back. "It stopped the guards."

"That thing did?" Endeavor asked. "That has control over the temple then."

Dominus replied, "Yes, and that seems to be a problem. As long as that creature is in control of the temple, we cannot proceed any further. We better deal with it. And quickly."

Link helped Epona back onto her hooves. The horse sighed, sides quivering. "I'm fine. That was longer than I thought it would be. What do we have to do now?"

"We have to fight that shadow," Link answered, patting the horse's side. He led her over towards the others, waiting to climb into his saddle until she was really ready. "How much further after that?"

"We're about halfway through now," Dominus answered. "Or at least, we appear to be, judging on the walls."

Link looked at the walls. He couldn't read anything. "The walls?"

Endeavor explained as Dominus pointed to the features around them, "The walls have the history of the Twili carved into them, as a reminder for what happened." Link now looked at the pulse of light through the engravings, in a language he couldn't read of a history he didn't know.

"We are halfway through the tale," Dominus added. "Which would make us half way through the temple."

Link looked at Endeavor. "Can you read it?"

"I can read most every language and rune system ever created in Hyrule and its surrounding countries," Endeavor answered. "But I am not sure how much use that could be."

Mirum asked, "Can that wait? This temple may or may not destroy itself, depending on how quickly we can get to the other end of this dungeon."

Endeavor added, "She is right. Are you ready?"

Link climbed back into his saddle and nodded. Epona snorted, restless and ready to go already. Endeavor turned their horse and rode into the next room. Patting Epona on the side, Link followed after them...