Reunited

Noontime…Lira stopped the horses. She could sense that something was wrong. What it was, she did not know. She began to worry about her father.

"I hope Dad is doing alright." She said to herself. "There have been some funny looking guards showing up at the castle lately. I sure hope that I’m just being paranoid about all this." Lira and the horses were nearing Hyrule Harbor. She could smell the ocean air. But Lira suddenly snapped her head up at the tree branches above her, just in time to catch a glimpse of a figure dashing out of sight. "Only Shiekah move that fast." She thought to herself. Lira had been taught well enough to see a Shiekah on the move. Lira knew that since the figure had to be Shiekah, she would most likely not see him or her again (they do not make the mistake of being spotted twice). So, Lira continued on, with a hand on her sword. A figure still observed Lira as she and the horses began to fade in the distance. This person was joined by the figure that Lira had seen.

"That’s her all right. She moves like her father, but has the senses of a Shiekah." Said the one whom had just arrived.

"Yes, but why are you going to kidnap your own-" the person was interrupted.

"It’s not kidnapping and…she just isn’t quit ready to know me yet. Though the time for she and I to meet is fast approaching. That is one of the reasons why I have asked you to help me. I’m going to find the other five sages, so you’ll need to take care of her."

"What about Link?"

"I’m sending an old friend of his help him, but about the girl. Are you sure you can handle her?"

"I didn’t become the top bounty hunter in the world for you to ask me if I’ll be skilled enough to take a girl to Lake Hylia. I’ll simply give her a test in order to see what she’s made of, and then I’ll get her."

"Good, then I must be on my way."

Lira was now coming up on a left turn that would take her out of the fog filled forest, and into the harbor. Unfortunately, her trip out of the woods came to a halt when Lira heard someone shouting, "Help, someone help me!" She jumped off her horse and ran to the corner. She slowly peered at the road ahead from behind a tree.

"All right you old hag, give us all your rupees!" Lira was looking at three armed men who had cornered an old woman against a boulder, the size of a house that was placed only a few feet into the wood.

"Please, I’ am only a seller of junk and trinkets that I find along the road. I’m not much

more than a beggar."

"Gee ‘grandma’, I’d love to make a purchase but I ain’t got no money. So…" The man was starting to grab the money pouch out of the woman’s pocket. "I suppose I’ll just borrow some from you," and he let out a cruel chuckle. The old woman was struggling to get away but the man wouldn’t let go of her. "Look lady I’m not going to ask you again, now give me the money or I’ll-" CRASH! The old woman had broken a vase over the man’s head. "Arrhg! That’s it! Grab her, and slit her throat!" Shouted the robber. The two other men grabbed the old woman and when they were about to kill her they heard,

"Leave her alone!" It was Lira.

"Well, well. What do we have here, a hero? Look girlie, you have no idea whom you’re dealing with. So why don’t you just go your way."

"Well, I could but," Lira punched the man in the stomach and followed up with a swift knee to his face. He went flying back, landing on the ground six feet away. "where would be the fun be in that?"

"Get her!" shouted one of the men, and they charged Lira. Lira drew her sword. By the time the leader had finally gotten up off the ground he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Lira began to block swipe after swipe from his two men. No matter how many times the two tried to find a weakness, Lira would dodge their swords as if she were fighting children. She finally dropped to the ground and tripped the outlaws. Both men went flying on their backs. Lira did a back flip to put a little distance between her and the two outlaws who were slowly standing up. She would have continued to fight but, from behind, the leader grabbed her and put a dagger to her throat.

"Guess I get to have the fun instead of you, girlie. You should of thought before you tried to mess with me and my men-Arrgg!" Lira had elbowed his chest and grabbed the arm, which held the dagger.

"Do you outlaws always talk so much?" Said Lira. She flipped him over her shoulder and on to a tree trunk. The man started to get up but Lira pushed him back down with her boot. Lining up the tip of her sword with the leader’s adams apple she said "Ok boys I’m not your enemy, just a girl who doesn’t like old ladies getting robbed by guys like you. I’m also a girl who doesn’t like putting swords in people like, oh let’s say…your boss. Leave now or else." The two other thieves started into the woods.

"Look, you don’t need to kill me. I can give you money." Pleaded the leader.

"Oh give me a break. I don’t want to kill you."

"But anyone else would’ve."

"Well I guess that makes me a hero, doesn’t it. So, here’s some heroic advice, leave before you get on my nerves."

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* * *

General Valorum was walking down a long hallway in the castle. It was full of bright gold and purple light. Plush drapes hung from windows, which seemed to add even more brightness to the hallway’s décor. Yet, Valorum was not looking at the grandeur around him. No, he was busy thinking about how he was going to convince Hyrule that Link had murdered Zelda. Two men were waiting for him by a huge golden door. Valorum had been in the place beyond it few times before, trying innocent people falsely, as he was about to do with Link. Finally, Valorum reached the gold door, and spoke to the two men who stood at attention. "Did you put the poison in the king’s wine?"

"Yes sir." Said one.

"Good. Then you need not worry about a thing. I have the perfect plan." Gloated the general.

"What do you mean?"

"Come now, surely you’ve guessed it. That poison is magic, you see. The magic in it glows whenever it comes close to other magic of its own kind. In which case, I have had this knife enchanted by that same magic. If you know some secrets of the Royal Family it is easy enough to see my dear captain." Then

"I don’t see it at all, but I’m only concerned about that Zora?"

"You know she despises you!" Expressed the other.

"She almost ruined everything for us last time. What’s worse, she always looks out for Link. She was the one who got him his position as Overseer of the guards. If she sees through our deception-" The first guard was interrupted.

"Ha! Ruto? Find out what we’re planning? That’s laughable. Just because she talks constantly, doesn’t mean that she’s smart. Besides, once the king takes a sip of his wine he’ll be dead within minutes. By the time that arrogant fish would realize what was happening, Link will have been executed. "

"If you say so."

"You’ll understand soon, just make sure you follow my lead." The general opened the doors and walked into a room that seemed to make up half of the castle. The floor was spotless and made out of marble. Great stained glass windows were placed in the walls to Valorum’s right and left. They had sparkling purple drapes and there were ten windows in horizontal lines that began at the gold door and went to the balcony, which was placed at the end of the rectangular shaped room. Five large pillars, also made out of marble, were supporting the balcony where the king and several senators sat. The king was sitting in the middle of a half moon shape, being created by the arrangement of the senator’s chairs; his was the most colorful chair. Everyone had his or her attention turned to the general when the king finally spoke,

"General Valorum, why is it, that you have entered this place which only senators may enter? Did I not make it clear to you that this council is not to be disturbed unless there is a great urgency within the kingdom?"

"Please forgive me your majesty, but this is, indeed of great urgency. I have found that your daughter was not trapped in the dark realm. She was murdered." Responded Valorum. The king raised an eyebrow showing he was interested in what the general had to say.

" You have found an accurate means of proving this?"

"Of course my lord. My proof was so accurate in fact, it led me to the killer himself. This evidence-"

"Why don’t you just show us your wonderful evidence and save us your nonsensical boasts." Came the voice of a Zora standing up in the balcony.

"My dear senator Ruto, would it really be so difficult for you to let me speak for just once!"

"All you ever do is avoid coming straightforward. You’re always like that. Why should I let you speak when you never say anything of worth."

"Alright, stop it. I will not allow such behavior inside of this senate." Said the king

"I’m sure that the general didn’t mean to cause a problem. It’s merely his nature." Said Ruto, putting all the blame on Valorum. The general scowled in anger.

"Ruto, I will not repeat myself. Now let the general speak." Said the king. Ruto nodded and than sat. "General, you may address the senate."

"Very well my king. Great members of Hyrule Senate, all of you have read the history scrolls. You’ve all heard the story. Some of you were there when it happened. Twenty years ago today, a wizard who commanded an army of incredible power threatened Hyrule. He would’ve destroyed us all, but thanks to two brave people, he was defeated. My king, can you tell the senate who they were?"

"One was my precious Zelda and the other was Link, protector of the Triforce."

"Please, tell us how these two knew each other."

"Well, for all their lives they had been friends. They faced many an enemy together, and when the War of Time came to pass, they were the commanders of all Hylians that fought in the war. In the last year of the war, though,yH they fell in love and married."

"But your daughter was supposedly trapped there, correct?"

"Yes Valorum, but I thought you said you had proof."

"Guard, bring me the evidence." One of Valorum’s two men was holding something in his hands that no one could make out. The guard walked up to the general and handed him a pile of strange looking fabric. "Your majesty, can you remember what your daughter was wearing the day she supposedly was trapped in the dark realm?"

"General, I grow tired of these questions. The proof is what I care about."

"Look at these my lord." The general held up two items, at which time the senate gasped.

"No it can’t be…that’s one of Zelda’s dresses." whispered the king. The king, Ruto, and all the other senators were astonished to see what Valorum held. In one hand, there was a dress that was blood stained and looked as if it had been slashed with a knife. In the other hand was a knife, also blood stained.

"Valorum, on your life this had better not be your insane idea of a joke." Said the king in an angry tone.

"My lord, I am sorry and I understand that this must be very hard for your heart. Perhaps a drink would calm your nerves. At any rate, the truth must be found out sire." said the general.

"Yes, yes general a glass of wine would be good right now. Servant, bring me my cup. Now Valorum, you said prior to now that you had found the man responsible for this, this heinous crime?"

"Yes my lord."

"Bring him before us then."

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* * *

After the robbers had fled, Lira walked over to the old woman. "Are you OK?"

"Oh yes, thanks to you young lady. That was a very impressive display!" Lira didn’t respond for a second.

"There’s something strange about this woman’s voice. It sounds unnatural, like a child’s voice, only scraped by too much sandpaper. I can’t even see her face, how do I know that she’s truly old." Lira strained to read the face behind the voice but could only make out the tip of a chin under the shadow of the stranger’s hood.

"Hello? Child, are you all right?" Lira finally realized that she was being spoken to.

"Huh? Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t hear what you said."

"I was thanking you for saving me, and now I would like to know if there is a way I can repay you?" Said the elderly woman, not lifting her head.

"Well, there is one thing you could do. The market in the harbor is always so busy. Would you mind taking care of my horses?"

"Say no more child. I would be happy to watch these beautiful horses for you. I’ll be here by this boulder when you return" With those words, the woman took the reigns of the horses and tied them to a tree next to the rock.

"Thank you miss." Said Lira as she began into the harbor market. The old woman waited for Lira to enter the crowd of people, and once Lira did, she began to change. Slowly at first, the hump on the woman’s back started to straighten out. She was becoming too large for her small cloak. The old woman began to talk to her self.

"Yes, I will be waiting right here, heh heh." Finally the woman stood up perfectly straight as if she was only a bit older then Lira, and the unusual scratchiness in her voice vanished. She pulled off her over coat to reveal a youthful face, blue eyes and green hair. "But when you get back, instead of those idiots I paid to test you, you’ll have to face me, daughter of Sheik."

Lira was squeezing through the huge crowd of people. Everyone was shouting out the prices of fresh fish and other meats and shoving each other. Lira was getting nowhere in this crowd. "There’s got to be an easier way to reach the harbor docks." Lira thought to herself. Just as Lira thought of that, she heard a voice shout,

"Hey, Lira! If ya can inch your way over here, I’ll give ya a lift!" Lira turned to see an old Goron, sitting on a horse driven cart that was full of crates. Now the description of this character is the simplest I’ve yet given. In all my millennia of existence, he has been the most entertaining creature I’ve known everything about. His name was Guildon, and Lira knew the Goron well. At seventy years of age, he had a happy expression on his face as he pulled on the reigns of his horse, which Guildon was almost as big as. He rode around the harbor, advertising his crate moving services. "Twenty Rupees to take your luggage down to the docks!" He’d yell in an accent, much like the Scottish people who now live in your time (but for a Goron who always offered to work for money, Guildon’s customers and horse always ended up doing all the work).

"Guildon! Wait right there!" Shouted Lira. She looked all around her. She finally noticed that on each side of the narrow road, there were shops and stores. Lira crouched down, waiting for a momentary gap in the crowd. As soon as one appeared, she darted towards one of the stores on the right side of the street. The store she was running toward had a roof, being supported by two large wooden poles. When Lira was a yard away from the store, she jumped. Her feet touched one of poles. Then, she jumped off that pole to the other, going even higher. Finally she jumped from the second pole, across the street, over everyone’s heads, and

front flipped on to the roof of a fish dealer, placed on the left side of the road. Some people, who saw Lira’s acrobatics, clapped but she paid no attention to the applause. Lira was busy jumping from rooftop to rooftop, trying to reach Guildon’s cart. Lira finally came to where the elderly Goron was waiting, but just as Lira started for the cart, she lost her footing. Lira went soaring headfirst into the pile of crates that was stacked in the back of Guildon’s cart.

"Ho Ho ha ha ha!" laughed the Goron. "Have a nice trip Lira? Ha ha! Guess I’ll be seeing ya next fall! Woo ha ha ha" Guildon would have continued laughing, but as soon as Lira had pulled her self out from under the boxes, she smacked him on the back of his head. "I-Yah!!! Hoo-wee! Ya sure can slap no matter what they say!"

"Well, maybe next time you’ll think before opening your mouth."

"Aye, I suppose you got a point there, don’t ya, ha ha. So, how are things?"

"It’s hard to say really. Dad’s been keeping to himself more than usual. I think that he misses mom a lot today."

"Oh? Why would that be?"

"Today is my parents anniversary."

"Is that so? Seems to me that today’s also the same day that that wizard fellow from twenty years ago was defeated; by yar parents if I remember what ya’ve told me correctly."

"Why Guildon, I had no idea you actually listened to me when I talked about those things."

"Aye, but ya see, I don’t. I was just in the army when it happened , hee hee hee." Joked Guildon.

"Anyways, I wanted to be there for him today but I’m on my way to the docks to meet Jonathan. And before you ask how I’m doing, everything’s fine with me."

"My, it sounds like you’re taking this whole deal with your dad pretty well. Not many people would be as calm as you are if their father was being put on trial."

"What are talking about? Are you still joking?"

"Oh no…don’t tell me you haven’t heard." Lira looked at Guildon with a dumbfounded expression and didn’t answer. "I don’t believe it! You really don’t know what’s going on. Well, there’s really not much an other way for me to tell ya this Lira, so I’ll come right out and say it. Your dad’s being put on trial for…for the murder of Zelda."

"What?!" shouted Lira in unbelief.

"Aye, I said the same thing when I first heard the news." Said Guildon.

"But Guildon, it can’t be true. Someone must be trying to frame my father. But even if he was guilty, how could he of done such a thing and, and when? There’s no way that anyone has proof. It would all have to be false proof. "

"Well Lira, no one knows very much, just gossip. I’ve heard that your dad killed your mother with a dagger, back when that wizard was attacking Hyrule. I’ve heard that he locked ‘er in some invisible castle and let ‘er starve." Guildon kept on talking, but Lira had stopped listening, the second he’d said the word gossip. She was thinking of whom would be trying to frame her father.

"Now if you want to know what I think" Continued Guildon "I’ll bet that he killed ‘er with a spoon." Lira had heard Guildon and turned to look at him.

"A spoon? You think my dad killed my mom with a spoon."

"Well, I’ve heard that if you grab a spoon just right and-" but before Guildon could finish Lira smacked him again. "Ahh! What was that for?" Said Guildon rubbing his head.

"Guildon just get me to the docks, now." Said Lira, becoming agitated.

"All right little missy, hold on to your fairies cause hear we go!" Shouted Guildon. With a crack of the Goron’s whip, the cart shot off threw the crowd.

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* * *

The senate room was still full of commotion as they waited for the general and his men to return with the murderer. The king had just begun to drink his wine when the great golden doors opened. Five men entered the room. Out of the five, was Link, bound in chains and struggling with all his might to get loose. As soon the king saw Link, he spit out his second drink of wine in astonishment. "General, what is the meaning of this!" Said the king.

"My lord, this is the man who is responsible for the death of your daughter." Said Valorum.

"General, you scum! Have you no dignity? Link is the protector of the Triforce and the very widower of Zelda." Shouted Ruto. Link stopped struggling when he heard Ruto’s voice. A bit of confidence came over him now that he knew that Ruto was there to defend him.

"Ruto for the last time, I ask you to sit down and control your tongue!" Demanded the king.

"General, I could have your head on a platter for this. The man you have in shackles is the most honored Hylian in Hyrule!"

"My dear king, the man you see before you is with out a doubt a criminal, and the knife I showed to you is the proof."

"Valorum, I am loosing my patience for you and your antics! Just because you show me a dagger with blood on it, doesn’t prove anything!"

"Please, let me attempt to convince you. My lord, as I said before, the truth must be found out." The king gave Valorum a look that suggested Valorum had gone too far. However, the king, who had been standing since Ruto spoke out, sat down and sipped his wine. Valorum bowed in thanks to the king. "This knife…it’s a good weapon is it not?" Said the general turning to Link and holding the knife in his hand. "I’ll bet that it saved your life many times in battle. Though it was used for one other purpose, eh Link? You used the knife to kill her, didn’t you." Link frowned at the general and said nothing.

"At least tell us this. Do you always engrave your name on your weapons? "

"My lord, surely you will not stand for this. How can you possibly believe I would ever hurt Zelda. I’ve done nothing to lose your trust!" Said Link.

"Link, understand that I trust you, but the general does have the right to convict you as long as he has evidence against you. If you serve this throne then you must answer his question." Said the King. Link paused for a moment and then answered.

"Very well my king. General, you would find my name engraved in every piece of equipment I possess. You’ll never get it out either. The writing has magic on it. Courtesy of Zelda, whom I did not kill."

"Than if I showed this blood stained knife to the king, would it not be yours?" The general handed the weapon to a guard who took it up to the king. As the guard approached the king everyone watched intently. The guard then handed the king the knife and he examined it.

"General, your evidence is utterly false! The blood upon the knife is not-" The king gasped as there was a small flash of green light and the king dropped the knife. "It…it glows. How! This cannot be! No! The blood glows!" And the king began to weep.

"You see senators, it is a secret of the Royal Family that if the open blood of a member of the Royal Family come near another member of the Family that it glows magically." There was a long silence until the king stopped his sadness over Zelda’s supposed murder and Ruto spoke.

"Good king, Link has rights as well." Said Ruto. "He cannot be put on trial for something so outrageous, and without someone to defend him. This trial is against the laws of this senate."

"It appears that the evidence proves that my daughter’s own husband is guilty of murder" "My lord, please! How can this be true? Link has saved Hyrule from countless evil! We owe him our lives seven fold. My fellow senators don’t listen to Valorum, for he cannot be trus-"

"Senator I begin to doubt that you have the ability to shut up! Can’t you see our king is trying to speak." Said the general to Ruto.

"How dare you, you, you pompous, arrogant, rude, fool of a Hylian!"

"That is the last straw!" Shouted the king standing up. "Will the two of you never stop bickering?! You two will leave this room immediately, and if you do not follow that command then I shall exile you both!" The king waited for the Hylian and Zora to exit the senate. When the doors closed there was silence as the king walked down the stairs from the balcony and stood face to face with Link.

"Your majesty, you cannot seriously believe that I would ever hurt Zelda. I-" The king raised his hand telling Link to hold his words.

"Link, you have been accused of murdering a member of the royal family, my daughter and…and your wife. This evidence would be enough to convince any judge of murder." Link lowered his head. "But…I know better than any judge ever will. I long for the truth and I have a means of finding it out. The royal family has always had the ability read minds…are you willing to let me probe your memories."

"Y-yes sir." Link responded to the king.

"Then I have yet one last way of knowing the truth." Said the king as he put his hand on Link’s forehead. Suddenly, a huge burst of light came from the king’s hand as Link’s head flew backward. There was immense power coming from the king’s hand. Link was watching his life fly past him at unimaginable speeds, and it hurt like a migraine, only five times over. When Link tried to cry out in pain however, nothing happened, he couldn’t move, and he couldn’t speak. In a minute’s time, Link saw every memory he had flash by. The power of what the king was doing, pushed the guards so hard, that they had to let Link go. In another flash of even brighter light, the king released Link and then both of them fell to the ground. Ruto and General Valorum had seen the light coming from the senate room, so they came running through the doors. The general stopped near the door to help his two guards, but Ruto ran to the king as quick as she could. Once she had reached the king she started to help him up.

"My lord, are you alright?" She asked.

"I think so Ruto but…Arrgh!" Said the king grabbing his chest. "Arrgh, my heart!" Ruto laid him on his back, holding his head as he tried to speak. Weakly, he said. "Ruto…Ruto you must listen to me-" He cut his sentence off because he was starting to choke. "Ruto, I entered Link’s mind. Valorum…he must not be allowed to take control of the throne, for he has deceived the senate-Arrrgh!." The king grabbed his chest harder.

"But…I don’t understand I-"

"Listen to the final…words of your king Ruto-"He coughed and a few dots of blood came out. "Link, he…he is-" The king did not finish his words for he breathed his last. Ruto let go of the lifeless body and backed away.

"He…he’s dead." She said, as a tear rolled down her face. All the senators hung their heads with sorrow. The general walked up to Ruto and placed his hand on her shoulder saying,

"I’m sorry Ruto. I know he was like a father to you, but I suppose this was for the better." Ruto pulled away from his hand. The general was about to say more to the senator, but everyone heard a "CLING" and turned in the direction from which sound had come from. The sound had come from a small glass capsule falling to the marble floor. Link had been pulled off the ground by the guards, and once he had been set on his feet, the capsule had fallen from his shirt pocket. The general and Ruto walked over to Link and Ruto picked up the capsule. Ruto looked at the drop of liquid in it and opened the top. She took her finger and touched the liquid, and then tasted it. Almost immediately she spit it out.

"Uugck, it’s poison." She looked at Link with an unbelieving expression. Ruto was completely taken aback at the thought that Link might have actually murdered the king. She simply could not understand how such horrible events could take place all within an hour’s time. Ruto didn’t move. She stood there, staring at Link and holding the poison in the palm of her webbed, blue hand. The general cared nothing for senator Ruto’s feelings, so he snatched the capsule from her hand.

"Senators! Surly you can now see! Link is not only the murderer of Princess Zelda, but also the assassin of the king! Judge for yourselves. What punishment will this evil man be given?" Shouted General Valorum. Link had finally recovered from the king’s reading.

"No, I haven’t done anything! It’s false evidence!" But it was too late. The senators had already begun to shout,

"Execute him! Execute him! Execute him!" The general grinned with pride having completed his task. Link was going to die.

"Now" Valorum thought to himself "Mistress Tenabera will be pleased with what I have done, and, as she promised, I will be given the throne of Hyrule and I shall be her king. My dreams and Link’s nightmares are finally coming to pass!" Ruto was near Valorum when he called five of his men to him. "I want you to get the others and then make a sweep of the castle. Who ever is loyal to the king…kill them. I want it done swiftly and silently, go."

"Wait, if Valorum arrested Link, his men should have found this capsule if or when they searched him. He’s lying!" Thought Ruto. "It’s you general! Because of you all this is happening, I can see through your deceit. You poisoned the wine not Link." She said, finally understanding everything that had been happening. The general turned around and walked to Ruto.

"Men" Said Valorum, stopping his men before they had left the room. "Please see that senator Ruto does not go anywhere." Ruto tried to run but couldn’t for the men had already caught her. "This is for calling me a pompous, arrogant, rude, fool of a Hylian." Said the general and then struck Ruto across the face.

"Stop this madness Valorum! Leave her alone!" Shouted Link. Link’s shout drew the senate’s attention and one senator stopped his shouting.

"General, unhand senator Ruto this instant." Said the senator and all of the senators ceased to yell. The general, having his back turned to the senators, began to laugh. He grabbed Ruto by her jaw and forced her to look him in the eye. It hurt her terribly since Valorum had just knocked a tooth out of her mouth.

"You know what?." He said laughing louder. "They should have listened to you Ruto. Heh heh heh hah hah hah hah!" Suddenly, he pulled a crossbow from one of his soldier’s belts, sped around, and shot the senator who had just spoken. The rest of the senators yelled in fear and tried to find cover. Laughing hysterically, Valorum ordered, "Kill every senator but Ruto!"

* * *

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In a minute’s time, the cart had reached the docks. Lira quickly jumped out. "Guildon, you’ll need to wait here for me and Jonathan alright?" she said to Guildon.

"But Lira, I have a job to do and you never said that I would have to do all this running around and I’m too old for adventures and, and, and…oh alright." Lira smiled and ran to a large ship to the left of the harbor. After a few people stepped of the boat, Lira walked up the boarding plank and moved towards two people speaking. By the time she’d made her way to the men, they had already finished talking. Lira tapped the youngest on his shoulder and said

"Now what was all that about?" The man turned to Lira. It was Jonathan, Lira’s life long friend. He was a young man, only a year older then she was, dressed in blue pants, a white shirt and a brown vest, which matched his deep brown eyes.

"Oh, just getting reprimanded for sleeping on duty, the navy sure is tougher then I imagined it. Before I get into that sort of thing though, I’d like to know why you’re so upset."

"How did you know that I was upse-" Lira stopped herself when see noticed him pointing to his head. "That’s right, you’ve been gone on so many sea missions lately, I’d almost forgotten." Both continued talking on the way to Guildon’s cart.

"About what?" He said, kidding.

"About how you could always read me like a book, with or without your telepathic abilities. And how you would always be able to say the right thing when I felt bad. And how…you were always there when I needed someone to talk to." Lira paused. "Jonathan, I’ve missed having you around."

"Well I’ve missed having me around too." They laughed, and started to load Jonathan’s bags in the cart. "So is this thing about your dad really true?" Lira just gave him a look of frustration. "Right, stupid question. Well, what are the three of us going to do about it then?"

"Three? Now see here Johnny boy, I am in no way a part of this adventure that you two youngsters are plan’n." Interrupted Guildon.

"Look Guildon, Hyrule’s fate may depend on us saving my dad. Not to mention your cart business." Stated Lira firmly.

"Yes, whoever is trying to have Link executed is definitely trying to get to the Triforce." Added Jonathan. "With Link out of the picture, no one would be protecting the Triforce, and if he or she had it in their possession, they would become powerful beyond imagination."

"Well, if you put it that way-"

"Thanks Guildon." Said Lira jumping into the cart along with Jonathan.

"One thing Johnny boy, I think ‘er dad killed ‘er mom with a spoon. What do you think?" Jonathan never answered because Lira had again backhanded Guildon. "Yow! Fine, we’re goin’, we’re goin’."

Soon the cart had reached the hill where the old woman was supposed to be, but all that was there was the boulder. The woman and the horses were nowhere to be found. "Oh this is perfect. Now ya don’t have any horses, which means that you’re going to come running to me for a ride. Well I don’t think so little missy. I’m too old for adventures now, and-"

"Shhh…do you hear that?" Asked Lira.

"Hear what? All there is to hear is squawking canaries." Responded Guildon.

"My point exactly. The birds are agitated…they can smell an enemy. Do you sense anything Jonathan?" Jonathan began to concentrate as he attempted to use his power to locate anything out of the ordinary. Guildon still, had not finished speaking or more to the point, complaining to Lira; making it harder for Jonathan.

"I like to think that I am a good person when it comes to helping my friends, but aiding your father in escaping the law isn’t something I consider help. I wish I could just live my normal, lazy life."

"Wait a second, someone is close." Said Jonathan. "Someone different. She’s preventing me from reading her mind…I don’t know how. But she’s…she’s going to…" In a flash, Jonathan opened his eyes and lunged at Lira. He pushed her away from where she had been standing and both tumbled over each other.

"Jonathan! What was that for?" Demanded Lira, who was now slightly shaken up. Something wasn’t right though. Jonathan seemed to be trying to stand up, but it appeared as if he was falling asleep against his own will. Weakly, he said,

"She’s here…the woman. Lira, you must be care…full." Then He passed out. Lira shot up on her feet and ran to his side. Guildon couldn’t quite see what Lira was doing as she kneeled down and examined Jonathan’s neck. Lira stood up again holding something the size of a splinter that Guildon recognized at once.

"EEEEck! It’s a dart! Someone’s trying to kill you…and Jonathan and, and me!" Squealed Guildon, and then rolled up like a mole until he looked like a rock, as most Gorons do when they are frightened. Suddenly a figure, shot out of the trees, knocked Guildon off of his cart, and leaped back into the wood. Lira had only heard what happened, because by the time she had turned to Guildon, he had already been assaulted. She hurried over to the Goron, but it was too late. The attacker had hit him with the same dart as Jonathan. Lira had just began to study Guildon’s dart when she heard,

"Gee, looks like your friends decided to take a little nap. Then again, those darts really did help." Lira turned around and there, in the middle of the road, stood a woman! The woman’s clothing resembled that of the Kokiri people, in a strange and world-worn way, even though Lira had never seen a Kokiri in her life. Lira knew about the strange clothing in which the Kokiri children were garbed from her father. Lira also observed that the woman had short, green hair and a rather unusual scar upon her left eye.

"What have you done to-"

"Your friends? Oh don’t worry about them. They’ll only be out for another six hours. Although, when they come to, they’ll have a nasty headache." Lira frowned at the woman. "Unfortunately, you won’t be around when they wake up." After the woman had said this, she drew her sword.

"I don’t take kindly to people who hurt my friends, but I don’t want to fight you…unless I have to. I know your type lady, but unfortunately for you, you don’t know mine. You do not want to fight me. So leave me and my friends alone!"

"Oh you’ll fight me Lira." Then the woman suddenly disappeared in a flash of green, smoky light. The light, however, lingered for a moment and then passed through Lira as the wind passes through a thin and warn bed sheet. Lira turned around quickly to see where the light had gone but once Lira had turned, the light had made the woman appear behind Lira. The woman was standing an inch from her Lira’s face so she quickly reached for her sword, but the woman pulled it out before Lira and used its hilt to punch Lira who fell to ground. "Of course. I haven’t fought a worthy prey for years, and you’re the daughter of Hyrule’s finest, Link and Zelda. I thought that you would be a good challenge." Said the woman. "So far though, you’re not living up to my expectations." Like lightning, Lira tripped the woman, flipped back on her feet, and regained her sword from the woman all at the same moment. Lira caught a glimpse of the woman holding a small crystal, which had a green, ball-shaped light inside it as the woman fell backwards, but, before she had hit the ground, in another flash of green light, she disappeared and the light soared by and through and around Lira. Lira spun around again just in time block an attack from the woman’s sword. Lira dug her foot into the ground and braced herself as the woman’s sword, shimmering with green magical power, slammed against her own. Their swords locked hard against as one tried to over power the other.

"Farore’s wind…impressive, but you won’t beat me using a disappearing act." Said Lira, and then kicked the woman away. They began to circle each other waiting for the other fighter to make a move. "You’re a bounty hunter; I should have known there was something weird about that old woman. She was you, and the robbers were just some people you paid so that you could see if I had a weakness. That’s pretty cold you know."

"Cold? Alright, then how about some fire to heat things up a bit?" Said the hunter, throwing a crystal with a red light at Lira. Lira reached behind her, grabbed her shield by its edge, and tossed it as quick and as hard as she could. The shield knocked the crystal away from Lira and towards the huge boulder. The bolder exploded into hundreds of flaming pieces that shot in every direction. Guildon’s horse galloped away as fast as it could in pure fright. One rock came soaring at Lira. She tried get her shield but couldn’t get close to it. The bounty hunter turned to Lira just in time to see her kneel down and cover her head as the flaming piece of granite slammed into the ground where Lira was.

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* * *

"Please no, don’t kill me!" Pleaded the last senator as he was run through with a sword for the third and final time.

"Very good, very good indeed. Captain, I want you to make sure the records show that this incident never happened. After you and the other men have cleaned the blood off the walls, say that…humm" Valorum paused for a moment to look at Link and Ruto, and then continued. "Say that in an attempt to escape his punishment, Link used magic to kill everyone that he could. In the process he killed himself. As for Ruto, say that she tried to aid Link and also died."

"But some off us would have died as well sir." Replied the captain.

"Yes…I do see the problem in that. Thank you captain." Valorum pulled his sword from its sheath and a cry came from the captain as Ruto shut her eyes. When she once again opened them, she saw the lifeless body of the captain lying on the floor, without a head. "Problem solved."

"You’re mad!" Yelled Ruto.

"Mad!?" Laughed the general. "Yes I am mad Ruto, but for power. I suppose neither of you know who the Mistress of Darkness is. She has many names, the goddess of evil, the dark empress and so on and so forth. Well, she came to me one day and opened my eyes." Said Valorum, pointing to two eyes that seemed filled nearly to brim with darkness yet not all evil; as if Valorum, deep down in his soul, was not wanting to do what he was. Ruto could still hear, however, that he was speaking in an even darker tone than before. "She said that I would receive things beyond my wildest dreams. All I needed to do was kill you, Link, and learn the location of the legendary Triforce. As you can see, my dear hero, your demise is fast coming." Link did not respond. All he did was hang his head feeling defeated. Valorum grinned at Link’s reaction and turned to Ruto. "Now as far as you are concerned, my dear senator, it just so happens, that I know who you are…a sage. I can hardly believe it…but I do. If I’m not mistaken, that means you are one of the only people, besides Link, that knows the location of the Triforce. Now I won’t need to torture him senseless for weeks to gain the information. You’ll break much quicker then he ever would have." While Valorum had been speaking, Link had heard a voice as if it was the voice of a thousand beings of holy origin saying to him,

"Huururi…furefuure iauursheyt, umde Ruto, la yeuvee. E un uHurry…prepare yourself, and Ruto, to leave. I am arrived and only await the correct moment to aid you in escape." Now you must understand that in your time, none speak the language of the ancients, and even in the days of Link, few spoke it; Link and Zelda being some of those few. He understood the voice’s words perfectly, even thought he had not heard the ancient tongue spoken since end of the Great War. Link looked up and all around him as if he expected someone to be hiding in the shadows and speaking to him, but no one was there for the old hero to see. What he had heard had been inside his mind. Link thought to himself for a moment.

"That voice or at least one of those voices…it sounded so familiar. But where? Where have I heard that voice… It, it can’t be but yet, it has to be! I’ve got to signal Ruto." Link motioned to her that now was the time to get loose of the guards. It was now that Valorum finished his words and Ruto answered him.

"Well…I don’t know what to say. You’ve got me general." Said Ruto.

"Good, then you will tell me the location without confrontation?" Asked Valorum, content that he had finally won.

"I will." Then she indicated to the general that she wanted him to come closer. So, he leaned over as to hear her whisper. "I," She began softly. "will tell you that…" she paused and then at the top of her lungs shouted, "you deserve this!!!" Ruto took her legs and used them to hold Valorum’s head in one place. Then she slipped her arms out of the grip of the guards, grabbed each one’s head, and slammed them into Valorum’s. She let go and flipped backwards, away from the three Hylians who now held their heads in pain. She rushed over to help Link, but by the time she got there, he had already knocked out two guards, and had used his chains to trip another. Valorum was too headstrong to let Link get away though. He quickly grabbed three arrows from one of his guards, reloaded the crossbow he held and shouted to his men in the balcony to shoot Link. Link turned to Ruto who tossed him the shield of a passed out guard, and then she took one from the other for herself. Link wasn’t able to catch it though. The guard, which Link had tripped with his chains, drew his sword and shield and charged at Link from behind. Link fell on his back just as the guard swung his sword missing Link completely. Link then placed his hands on the marble and jumped back on his feet. His feet hit the guard’s shield sending it flying up into the air. Link reached up, grabbed the shield, and smacked the guard across the face using the flat part of the shield. The man was hit so hard, that his feet left the ground as he spun around three times before landing, passed out, two feet away. Link smiled in triumph, but his smile turned to an expression of pain as an arrow soared into his leg.

"Ahh!" He cried and fell to his knees, letting go of the shield and wincing from the sting of the arrow. Ruto heard his cry and quickly disarmed the guard she was fighting so that she could turn and see what had happened. It was Valorum. He had shot Link and was now preparing, along with four other men on the balcony, to shoot him again. So, Ruto pulled the rug out from under the guard she was fighting, kicked him in the face and than leaped over him, running as fast as she could towards Link. Link had just begun to stand when he heard two things as he looked up at the balcony and saw the men with cross bows. He heard the general shout,

"Now, fire!" and then the decisive twang of tight strings launching arrows. Before Link even had time to think, he was suddenly knocked two yards away from where he was. A great fear came upon Link as he quickly turned to see what had happened. Ruto lie on the floor motionless and with four arrows in her, making Link’s fear a reality.

"Nooo!" Shouted Link as he shot up and kneeled at Ruto’s side. She was in terrible agony and could hardly breathe.

"You fools! I needed her for questioning!" Valorum yelled at his men. "But if I can’t have her, I’ll get Link." General Valorum reached for his sword. "Take him…alive!" Link wasn’t paying attention to the general and his men as they charged at him and Ruto, but when Link started to try and help Ruto, he noticed a glow around her. Not only Ruto was glowing though, but everything in the senate room glowed of a white light. Suddenly Link heard shouts and cries coming from Valorum and then his men. Link looked confused for the men could have struck him already, but one by one they dropped the sword and held their hands in pain. Link looked at one of the swords and he saw that the handle was glowing bright red. All the swords were glowing with heat!

"Look!" said one guard, pointing to the windows. A light, that seemed as if it was not of physical properties, was blasting through all of the windows and making them shake violently. Then they burst into a million pieces one by one, starting form the golden door and going to the balcony at the end of the room. The pieces shot all over the marble floor and covered it like a great multi-colored carpet. One window still remained intact. On the wall at the end of the room, where the balcony was and about twenty feet above it, a huge circular window was placed. The design

upon it was that of which was on the Hylian Shield; the picture of a great red winged creature with the mark of the legendary Triforce above its wings. The light began to burn pinholes into the glass. The light steadily grew brighter as a figure seamed to be approaching the window from the outside. Instead of the figure casting a shadow on the window, however, the figure was casting a light on to the window in the vague shape of a woman.

"Link quickly! Cover your eyes." Said the same voice as before. Link shielded his eyes as fast as he could and immediately the wall, balcony and window exploded in a blinding flash of light. All the guards fell to the ground and covered their eyes but the light had already impaired their vision to the point of seeing only blackness. Link finally dared to look up at where the window had been so he stood up and opened his eyes. Link stepped back almost in fear for there, floating above the ground and shinning bright as the sun, was a Great Fairy. She was garbed in white with long, glowing hair that flowed as if she stood in the wind. Link could only say, now recognizing the fairy,

"Navi?!"

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* * *

The rock exploded into pebbles as smoke and dust covered where Lira had been. The bounty hunter hit her fist against a tree and said to herself, "No! I didn’t mean for her to get hurt! I was supposed to take her to the lake not, her ashes! What will I tell Z-" The bounty hunter stopped, for suddenly a huge burst of golden light shot out of the dust and smoke, blowing all of it away. Lira was still there, kneeling on the dirt with her eyes shut and protecting her head with her arms. She slowly opened one eye and then the other and then lowered her hands.

"I’m, I’m alive?" Was all she managed to utter as she felt all over herself to be sure she was not a spirit. The bounty hunter stood next to the tree with her mouth fixed open in astonishment and staring at Lira. Then her staring was cut short for out of nowhere a woman’s voice said in the bounty hunter’s head,

"Saria! What are you doing? There’s no time to be playing around. Just get Lira and her friends and go to Lake Hylia! I’ll be arriving with the other sages shortly after Link and Ruto get there so get going!" The bounty hunter sighed and jumped into the trees. Lira had just stood up when someone’s hands pulled her arms behind her and tied them together with rope. Lira barely had time to realize that it was the bounty hunter before a dart had put her to sleep.

"Sorry kid, I’d love to play swords and shields with you, but I’ve got to take you to Lake Hylia." Said the woman as she dragged Lira over to Guildon and Jonathan and laid her on top of them both. The bounty hunter pulled Farore’s wind out of her utility belt and gripped it in her hand. With that, in another flash, all four of them disappeared and a green light shot off into the sky, towards Lake Hylia.

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* * *

Link stared into the completely white shinning eyes of the fairy and was surprised to find that his eyes were not hurt by the light coming off of it. "Navi, is it you? Is it really you?" Asked Link, nearly forgetting Ruto. The fairy did not move her lips but spoke to Link again in is mind, in the ancient tongue.

"Yes Link, it is I. I have come from a far to take you and Ruto from this castle, but there is no longer time to talk; time is steadily running out." Then the shining fairy waved her hand and the arrow and the wound in Link’s leg disappeared. Link turned around and Ruto’s wounds also disappeared.

"Navi, why isn’t she awake? I thought you just healed h-"

"Link, there is no time. Pick her up and we’ll be on our way." Link kneeled down to Ruto as Navi turned to Valorum. He was holding his eyes and crawling on the ground trying find his way to the door. She stretched her hand out at Valorum and he suddenly stopped moving. He was completely frozen, as if in time. Navi drew her hand in to her and the general raised off of the ground and floated toward her. When he was only a foot away from her, she made a fist and Valorum’s body went limp except for his head, which had a very apparent look of fear as he stared into the fairy’s gleaming eyes. "Valorum, servant to your own selfish desires, may the good which has lay dormant in you for twenty years be once again awakened." Navi then gently placed her hand on Valorum’s heart and a great blue light came from her hand. It slowly dimmed but when Navi removed her hand, a small ball of the light lingered and then was absorbed into the general’s chest. Navi opened her hand again and the general landed on top of one of his men. Navi slowly turned back to Link. He was holding Ruto, still with a puzzled look upon his face. Navi give a slight grin and then turned the gapping hole in the senate room where the window she had come through had previously been. She gracefully lifted her arms and she and Link and Ruto rose into the air. Navi moved her arms down to her side and they shot through the opening in the twinkling of an eye. Link could not see the castle with in seconds as they flew through the air, away form the general and his men, towards the lake at faster rates then any in Hyrule could have ever fathomed. He immediately found that Navi was using her powers to give Link the ability to fly as he wished. So he, who had been behind her for a short time, caught up with her. Link had so many things to ask her that he could barely think of which to ask, but he found the words to say,

"Navi…how did you know that Ruto and I were in need?" Navi still moved not her lips but answered him. This time however in the common tongue.

"She told me you two would be in peril and in need of my help. So she summoned me to help you and then bring you both to her." Link paused and looked down at Ruto’s face. It had less color in it and it seemed to Link that she was still in need of help. He turned his head back to Navi.

"Who Navi? Who?"

"The only one to have ever survived the evil of the Dark Realm. She is a survivor of the Great War of Time and the only one possessing knowledge of the evil which approaches Hyrule this very hour. Zeld, Link…Zelda."

To Be Continued……

Ha!AHA I’ll bet you twenty rupees you peoples didn’t expect that annoying, stupid, sponged from the pits of hell, little ball of light to be in my story! Or even Saria! (And some say I have no sense of surprise) Anyhoo, there it is folks, the second part of my story. I promise though, the next part is only going to get cooler! Here’s a teaser. A great evil is approaching Hyrule and only one knows of it, Zelda. A council is summoned to decide what everyone living in Hyrule should do. In this council, Lira and her friends find out many things of days long past that involved the supreme and powerful goddesses, of days not far behind the present that involve the Great War of Time and Link and Zelda…and of days soon to come that involve a prophesy from Zelda herself. The council is not whole however do to Ruto’s unconsciousness and Nabooroo no longer being alive, but another Gerudo takes her place…a Gerudo who knows Link and Zelda.

Next installment, The Council of Sages!

That’s all! I wouldn’t want to spoil all the surprises! Now for one last thing. Paly the Wind Waker!!!! It has the sweetest story line since Ocarina of Time. As a matter of fact, it’s a sequel to it! To that note, I’m going to tie my story in with it. Viva la Wink Waker! If you liked my story and want to tell me so or give me some advice my e mail changed. It is now Gandalfinee@Yahoo.com

Thanks for reading and remember that hermits have no peer pressure! Or the truth is out there, which every pointless statement you prefer.

Matt T=Thomas Gnojek

Back to Part 1

Page edited on Saturday, July 28, 2007

Page created on Friday, June 13, 2003

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