The New Chronicles of Hyrule: Two Suns

When Tyras awoke, he realized the warmth that had been next to him was no longer there. His brow furrowed, blue eyes opening slowly, and sighed when he saw that Kura was not only not in bed, but had apparently taken her clothes and left. Rolling out of the bed, he rapidly tugged his clothing back on and ruffled his hair as he left the room. Wandering through the halls soon found him face-to-face with two very angry Sheikah, and an irritated-looking Gerudo. He blinked, then gave a sheepish grin to Sheik, Liru, and Kisa. "Um.. good morning, everyone."

"You bedded my daughter." The three younger ones winced at the blunt wording, and Sheik rolled his eyes. "Well there is no use beating around the bush. Tell me I am wrong, Tyras, and I may be lenient."

Tyras couldn't speak. He just blushed, dropping his gaze to the floor and shuffling his boot-clad feet anxiously. Before he could react, he was dragged forward by a hand fisted in his shirt, which belonged to the growling twin brother of his fiancee. "I swear, if you harmed my sister in any way..."

"Wait, what?" That was when Tyras lifted his head, frowning at Liru, and freed his shirt from the other boy's grip. "You know I would never hurt Kura. Why would you think that?"

"Liru and I saw her leaving the castle last night, and she's not at Elenna's tree, or in the Shadow Temple.. or any of the Temples.. or the Fortress..." As Kisa trailed off, the three males became eerily silent, sharing worried glances.

"..No one has seen her since last night?" Sheik's visible brow furrowed when the others shook their heads, and his hands curled into fists. What if something had happened to her..? "I am going to investigate the graveyard and the Temple again. You three, please go inform Zelda and Link of what has happened."

None were given the chance to voice protest before the Sheikah man melded into the shadows. Resigned to their task, they proceeded through the hallways, intent on locating the Hero of Time and the Queen.

-----

Kura groaned as consciousness slowly returned to her, wincing at the pain that radiated from the back of her skull. What had happened? She remembered being at her mother's tree, then a voice... That voice! Whoever that was must've hit her! Her eyes snapped open, and she stopped dead, staring at the rough wall ahead of her, illuminated by the natural rippling glow of water. When she tried to move, she nearly started panicking at the realization that her hands were bound behind her. Ignoring the pain in her skull, she managed to wriggle around until she was sitting on her knees, and looked around. Whoever had taken her had at least been kind enough to put her on a pile of soft furs, near a large underground lake. The rest of the cavern was expansive, and she couldn't quite see where it led, despite the small globes of glowing blue light that hovered here in there. She'd never heard of a place like this in Hyrule.. just where in the name of Din was she?

"Ah, glad to see you're awake, Shadow Sage." Kura stiffened. That was the same voice she'd heard before she'd been hit over the head? She twisted around, trying to see who it was, and found herself staring at a figure swathed in a black cloak, their features hidden. She could, however, see their hands. They were a mottled brown and teal, tipped with claws and.. were those.. fins? She shuddered, drawing back from the cloaked figure as he laughed. "What's the matter, Kura? Uncomfortable? I'd remove your bonds, but I wouldn't trust you not to run."

"..Not that I'd get anywhere. I have no idea where I am, and I doubt I could escape." She growled at him, shrinking back a bit further when he approached. Yes, those were fins on his forearms, like the Zoras! What exactly was this man? She almost snapped at him when he knelt down next to her, but went still when she realized he was removing the rope that was tied around her wrists. "..Thank you."

"Well, it's nice to know you have a civil tongue in you." Stepping back, the mysterious man watched as she stood slowly, rubbing at her tender wrists. He turned away, beginning to walk down the path next to the water. For a moment, Kura just watched, then she sprinted after him, reaching up and grabbing the back of his hood, yanking it down. She stepped back, but she wasn't fast enough. He whipped around, backhanding her so hard that she fell to the ground with a soft scream. "You little bitch! You wanted to see what I look like so badly, then look, damn you!"

Once again cursing her impulsive nature, Kura wiped blood away from her busted lip and reluctantly lifted her gaze from the cave floor, to look up at the man leaning over her. Her eyes widened, and her scream caught in her throat. He was around her age, but.. there, the similarities ended. His face was just like his hands, a mottled mixture of dark skin and splotchy teal, with patches of white.. his head was mostly bald, though there were little tufts of bright red hair in random spots. He had no lips to speak of, his nose was horribly crooked, and his left eye drooped, the right a bright gold that gleamed with malevolence. Had she been a little weaker.. Kura would have fainted. "Who..."

"Who am I? My name is Sirith. As for what I am, which is what you're really thinking..." Sirith chuckled darkly, staring down at the Sheikah girl with a nearly maniacal, crooked grin. "I am what comes of the union between a Zora, even changed as she may be, and a man."

Kura stared up at him as his meaning sank in, and quickly scrambled backwards, swallowing down the bile that suddenly surged into her throat. "You.. you're..."

"Yes, Kura.. I'm the son of Ruto of the Zoras, and Zyrix, the King of Darkness."

-----

Sheik materialized from the shadows in Zelda's study to a scene of utter chaos. Liru and Link were pacing, with Kisa and Nabooru both trying to calm them down while Zelda watched it all with a worried expression, talking quietly to her son. When the Sheikah man stepped forward, everyone stopped and rushed him with questions, which he halted with an upraised hand. "There is no sign of her within the Shadow Temple, but I found blood at.. at Elenna's tree. I believe it is Kura's."

Tyras paled, his hands curling into tight fists. "..This is all my fault."

"Yes, Tyras, it is, and I swear if anything has happened to my twin..." The threat trailed off, but Liru didn't need to continue. Sheik was glaring daggers at the prince too, and it was obvious they were both thinking the same thing.

"All right, stop with the flying testosterone and let's think of a way to try and find Kura." Nabooru was the unexpected voice of reason that cut the tension, and everyone seemed to relax a little, ready to do just as she suggested. They were interrupted by a knock at the door that made Zelda sigh.

"Enter." A servant shuffled in and around the group of heroes and offspring, right up to the Queen, and handed her a letter with a quick bow. Dimissed with the wave of a hand, the servant left as quickly as he'd come, while Zelda broke the plain wax seal on the letter and opened it. Her blue eyes widened, and she dropped the letter with a gasp, hands clapping over her mouth.

"Mother? What is it?" Tyras quickly knelt and grabbed the letter, his own blue eyes narrowing dangerously as he read its contents.

Link knew this feeling. It was the calm before the storm.. it always descended before something life-changing occurred. His voice was serious as he looked at his nephew, his voice calm. "..Tyras.. what does it say?"

Tyras swallowed hard, his gaze fixed on the letter's contents as he recited them to everyone else. "`I have Kura. Unless the Queen hands over Hyrule to me, I will kill her. You will all come to Lake Hylia, without the other Sages, when the sun reaches its peak.`"

Liru's legs gave out, and he collapsed into a chair, his expression bleak. Someone had his sister. But who? His hands gripped the arms of the chair until his knuckles turned white, and the wood creaked dangerously. He blinked slowly when he felt a hand on his cheek, and looked up at Kisa's beautiful face, her golden eyes filled with something he never thought he'd see directed at him. Love. "It's okay, Liru. We'll get her back. I promise."

"The sun is almost at its peak.. we should go." Sheik's voice stirred them all, and they quickly filed out of Zelda's study. They had to hurry. There was no telling what this maniac would do to Kura if they didn't heed his commands.

-----

"The time has come to meet your family, Kura."

Kura blinked when Sirith spoke, and looked up at him blankly. She gasped as she was hauled to her feet, hissing at him. "Watch your hands, or I'll remove them."

Sirith chuckled, tugging the hood of his cloak up to hide his features. "Such fire.. it will be a pleasure to smother it."

She wasn't even given chance to respond as he gripped her arm. Darkness rushed up around them, and when it faded, she blinked rapidly, nearly blinded by the sudden bright sunlight that assaulted her eyes. She gasped as she saw everyone standing at the edge of the lake, watching her anxiously. Tyras stepped forward, but at a gesture from Link, he remained where he was, though it was obvious he wanted to take down Sirith and rescue her. Zelda was the one that spoke, regal as always. "We have come as you requested. Who are you, and what right do you think you have to demand Hyrule?"

"I am Sirith, the child of your former enemies." He chuckled at the array of surprised and dismayed reactions from the assembled forces of light, and pulled Kura in front of him with one hand. The other produced a knife, which was held to her throat. Link and Sheik had to forcibly restrain Tyras, and Liru was held back only by Kisa clinging tightly to him. "Now, will you give in to my demands, or am I going to have to slit Kura's lovely throat?"

"You're a monster! You let her go!" Tyras veritably roared at the male, straining against the grip of Link and Sheik. He was seeing red. He had to get to Kura!

"Be calm, Tyras." Zelda's soothing voice did nothing for her son's anguish, and she was torn. Maybe she could trick this man..? "..I will do as you ask. Return Kura to us, and Hyrule is yours."

"Hmm... I think not, Queen Zelda. I believe I'll keep Kura.. as my bride." Sirith laughed as darkness began writhing up around them.

"NO!" Those words made Tyras snap. With an unbelievable feat of strength, he broke away from Link and Sheik and ran forward, throwing himself into the twisting tendrils of darkness just before Sirith and Kura could disappear.

Gasps resounded as they all vanished, and Zelda felt her heart sink as she nearly fell into her brother. "..Tyras..."

-----

All the air fled from Kura's lungs in a rush when a large body slammed into hers, pinning her to Sirith, who in turn hit the cave floor quite hard. His head smacked into the stone, and he became still. As she was struggling to regain her breath, she found herself picked up in strong arms, cradled tenderly against a muscular chest. The person had a familiar scent, and she was puzzled at first, until she recognized it. "Tyras..?"

"Kura! Thank the Goddesses, you're all right." He nearly sobbed in relief, sealing his lips against hers in a soft kiss. Breaking the kiss, he stood and set her carefully on her feet, then grabbed her hand as he looked around. "Where are we?"

She was a little shaken, but she forced herself to focus. "I don't know."

"..We have to get out of here. Come on." Gently squeezing her hand, he gave her a slight tug, and began leading her down the tunnels that surrounded them. They came to several dead ends and had to backtrack, and they were nearly running by the time they heard other footsteps, and voices. Pulling her into a small depression in one stone wall, Tyras looked around anxiously, then down at her. "He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"No.. I'm okay." She nibbled fitfully on her lower lip, then glanced up at him, her red eyes shining. "Tyras.. wh--"

"Kura!" They both jumped at hearing that whispered voice so near, and whipped around just in time to see Sheik emerging from the shadows behind them. For the first time ever, Kura was glad to see her father. "Good, you are both safe. Come quickly, I found the exit."

Nodding at his words, they both hurried after the Sheikah man as he led them through the twisting passages. As they went, they noticed it was gradually becoming lighter, and finally, they burst through a cleverly hidden wooden door into bright sunlight. Kura and Tyras stared in surprise when they saw where they were. Lake Hylia sprawled out far beneath them, and to their right, the river from Gerudo Valley splashed down into the pristine water. "..We should've known."

"Move, we have to get down before he comes after us." Sheik unwound a length of rope from around his waist, slinging it over a protruding rock and knotting it firmly. He made sure Kura started down first, descending quickly towards the grass of the lake shore. She was halfway down when the two men heard a commotion from the tunnels they'd just left. Sharing a look, Sheik moved closer to the rope, intending to protect it. "..If he comes out.. kill him."

Just as the Sheikah man said that, Sirith himself emerged from the tunnels in a rush, his hideous facade bared for both of them to see. Tyras recoiled, but quickly recovered, drawing the sword at his hip and shifting into a defensive stance. "You'll pay for taking my bride, Sirith."

His single eye darting over to Tyras, Sirith bared his teeth in a feral grin, then drew his own blade as he uttered a gurgling chuckle. "We'll see about that, princeling."

Sun glinted off steel when the two launched themselves at each other, and the clash of metal against metal. Sheik anxiously watched them, then glanced over the edge of the cliff, breathing a sigh of relief when he saw Kura safely on the ground, and running to the others. His attention shifting back to the duel, his eyes widened at the sight of Sirith pressing Tyras closer to the rushing river. "Tyras, watch out!"

Looking around his opponent at Sheik, he quickly ducked and rolled aside, just in time for the Sheikah man to launch himself at the Zora hybrid. They both tumbled into the river, descending towards the mostly-dry lakebed below and disappearing from sight.

The twins saw the valiant dive from their father, and Kura gasped when they disappeared into the water. For the first time, she realized just how much she'd longed for her father, all her life, and how glad she was that he'd returned. And now.. now.. had they lost him all over again? She clutched her brother tightly, barely even hearing his words. "..Is he..?"

Her heart sank, and she dropped to the ground, a single tear rolling down her cheek. "..Father..."