The Seven Sages (Extra Opening Taken)

[Twilight Prince]

"No, I'm sure of it!" says Quigley.

He can't explain it, but something tells him to go south, to where his race lives.

[Link the Hero]

"South?" murmured Aquavorn, as he swung onto his own horse, helping his mother up behind him.

[Twilight Prince]

"Yes," says Quigley. "I don't know how to explain...but...do you know that feeling you get when you just know what you have to do?"

And he begins to ride south.

[Rafa]

Rafa checked his maps again.
"Oh, no wonder, I had the thing facing the wrong way."

[Twilight Prince]

(Sorry, this will be a bit long )

The Sages ride south, to the Shadow Lands, home of the Shadow race. On the way, they see people sitting on the ground, around a camp site. Vicious-looking monsters stand over them, and the people's faces are filled with fear.

Quigley says to the others: "Cassandra took over the Shadow Lands and made all of our people slaves. This is how we had to live."

The monsters pay no attention to them, but the people look up at the sages with sad, but hopeful faces.

After a while, they ride across a wide, open field.

"Look! Up there!" says Quigley, pointing ahead, "It's the Twilight Castle! Isn't it beautiful? My mother always said that I'd go there some day...but for now, I know where to go!"

And he rides through an opening in the trees, an opening that seems to just appear for a split second.

Eventually, they emerge from the trees and find themselves at the foot of a long, grassy hill, at the top of which rests a little house.

Quigley gets off of Midnight, then walks up the hill.

An old man walks out of the house. He has a long white beard, and wise-looking, but kind and calming eyes.

"Hello, sir," says Quigley. "Are you the elder?"

"Yes," said the old man. "I am Arvan. And I know who all of you are."

Quigley stares, quite impressed.

"Then..." he begins, his voice trembling with hope, "Can you help me find my mother?"

The old man nods. "My power certainly isn't as strong as the Sages', but we elders are relatively linked to them. The first Shadow Sage was my great-great-great-great...and so on...great-grandfather."

Quigley freezes. "Then...then that means..."

The old man smiles, and nods.

"That means..." says Quigley, lost for words. "I don't believe it...I thought....but...of course...you're...you're...you're my grandfather!"

[Link the Hero]

Aquavorn and Melina watched the old man silently, smiles on their faces.

[Desquode]

"Heh. Pretty nifty... OK, who's my grandfather, eh? And what color is my underwear? ... OK... Just forget I even asked that..."
Worice slides up to Arvan.
hey, Quig, why didn't we do something 'bout those monsters back there? We could've taken 'em."

[Twilight Prince]

"Oh, don't worry," says Quigley. "We will. I was just really anxious to meet...my grandfather..."

He then turns to the old man and asks:

"Why didn't you live with me and mom and grandma? You must be my mother's father, right? My father was an orphan."

The old man smiles sadly. "Around the time you were born, the prophecies of the new Sages were circulating all around the kingdom. Cassandra knew, from the ancient legends, that the Sages were the only ones who could stop the evil of this land. So she searched for your family when you were born. They fled to another part of the kingdom, but Cassandra soon found them, and destroyed your father. By telepathy, your grandmother and I learned of this, and became quite worried. My wife, your grandmother, left to help you and your mother, but I stayed behind, because Cassandra would look for me, because I was quite well-known throughout the land......but not just because I was an elder..."

Quigley watches him, very interested. "Why else were you well-known?"

The old man smiles again, and says: "Because I was the King of Shadow."

Quigley's eyes widen. "You were?! Then...that means..."

"The first Shadow Sage was the first King of Shadow. As his descendant, I was a member of the royal family...and you know what that means..."

Quigley's eyes widen even more. "Then that means...I don't believe it....I'm a member of the royal family, too! ...I'm the Twilight Prince!"

;D

The old man nods.

[Desquode]

(Oh you're so silly!
"Heh, well good for you Quig. What do we do now, Quigly found his gradnfather, and he also found out he's royal, and it's hot here..."

[Twilight Prince]

After the shock finally wears off, Quigley turns to his grandfather and says:

"We have to go now, but we'll be back. But before we go, I must ask you...do you know where my mother is?"

The old man closes his eyes for a few moments, then says:

"I feel her presence in Mystwood, to the west. Good luck, Quigley. Not only is she and I counting on you, but also the entire shadow race. We've been enslaved for years under Cassandra's evil reign, and only you can stop her. Take back the throne of Twilight. Cassandra and her minions are inhabiting your rightful home."

Quigley nods, and says: "Thank you...for everything."

Then he gets back on Midnight, and says:

"When I was a boy, I always heard the legends that the Shadow people told...they believed that one day, the Twilight Prince would come to save them...I never would've imagined it was me. I feel...stronger now. Let's go!!"

[Link the Hero]

"That's great, buddy!" smiled Aquavorn, clapping Quigley happily on the back.
"Truly wonderful! But we really must save your mother!" said Melina.

[Twilight Prince]

Quigley nods, and tears of joy fill his eyes.

"Thank you," he says.

Then, they ride off, through the open fields where Shadow houses once stood. The slaves watch them as they ride past, and the monsters begin to look angry, as if sensing the trouble they're soon to face.

But Quigley's number one priority, right now, is saving his mother.

So, like lightning, Midnight sprints through the country, across Mythica Field, into the trees of Mystwood to the west.

Inside the forest, they find a mysterious mist floating around the ground.

"So that's how Mystwood got its name," said Quigley.

He gets off of Midnight, then stops and closes his eyes.

He feels the Shadow Medallion in his pocket. He can sense his mother nearby...

Then, suddenly he opens his eyes. "That way!" he cries, running to the left through more trees.

He follows his feelings, winding his way through the forest, until finally...

He sees a rather young-looking woman with hair and eyes exactly like his...she wears a ragged dress, and looks exhausted.

Then, she falls to the ground. Quigley runs to her.

"Mom!" he cries.

The woman looks up at him, and says weakly:

"Quigley...thank...goodness..."

He lifts her up and says:

"We have to get back to my grandfather! He'll know what to do!"

So, Quigley runs back to Midnight, and gets back on her, making sure to hold onto his mother as he rides off.

The Sages return to the Shadowlands, to find Arvan waiting at his little hut.

Quigley carries his mother to the house, and Arvan looks greatly relieved.

He helps Quigley place her in a nearby bed.

Quigley leans down and says gently to her:

"Don't worry, mom, it'll be okay."

"Quigley," she says, still very weakly, "You're...our family...we're...."

"I know," says Quigley. "Please rest, mom. We can talk later."

She smiles, then closes her eyes and sleeps.

"I'll take good care of her," says Arvan, tears in his old eyes.

"Thank you...grandpa," says Quigley, smiling.

Then he turns to the others and says:

"I have a job to do, and I'll need your help. Those monsters have been in my home for far too long."

(Sorry it was so long. I know things moved kinda fast)

[Rafa]

"What's your plan? I'll do what I can to help." Rafa said.

[Twilight Prince]

"Thanks," says Quigley gratefully to Rafa.

"I feel stronger, now that I know my mother will be alright. I know what to do. I have to take back the Shadow Throne...with some help, of course!"

He then turns to face the far-off Twilight Castle.

"I may not be able to destroy Cassandra yet, but I can drive her out of my home!"