A/N: With my amazing Friend and Co-Writer: Darkness Gundam, with Thanks to DancesWithVampires for her help.
The corridors of the Castle were busier than usual, more people bustled around getting their chores done and keeping the Kingdom going. Cye noticed how cramped the corridor ahead was and turned down the marble stairwell to walk in the lower, less used corridors. He reached the bottom and heard someone speaking in a somewhat frustrated tone and rather quickly for such a perfect day; Outside the sun shone and few white clouds floated in the bright blue morning sky and the smell of freshly cut grass resonated throughout the halls. Cye followed the corridor down and heard one of the most familiar voices, Desri's; his elder brother.
Thinking about how much time he had, Cye decided he could afford himself a little mischief at his brothers expense before joining his younger brother for Sword Practice at eight. He crept toward the wooden door and realised upon seeing it that he must of been in the lower dungeons of the Castle but paid it no mind as he pressed his pointed ear against it.
"No! We must do it sooner than that Pearce." Desri exclaimed in a hushed whisper.
"If we move to fast Desri they could discover us."
Cye pulled away from the door obviously confused by the dialogue he was hearing. His sword and shield clinked ever so slightly as he once again pressed his ear against the wood.
"You forget that it is my family that I must betray for our new Kingdom!" Desri shouted at the stranger named Pearce.
Cye's face hardened. Desri was going to betray their parents, the King and Queen of the land of Cuix. Knowing that his brother was not a serious man, Cye listened further. He had to be sure of himself before he acted.
"You were the one who asked for my help Desri. Your father is still young and you may not see the throne at all that is what you told me! And I agreed to help you as I have known you since we were children!" Pearce shouted back.
"I must kill my Father...But Father is not due back for another six days."
"Then we should go to him, assassinate him in Hyrule.. And blame it on the ones they shun; The Gerudo." Pearce said slyly.
Cye gasped. He was right but never had his brother been traitorous Desri had always been the model Prince, Brother and Son. Cye drew his sword with a scraping sound as it left its sheathe. The Sword was a real sight to behold, Cye had always thought. It's hilt held a intoxicatingly blue jewel, its cross section held Emeralds of a dazzling green at either end in between two points on either side. The blade was of standard length and had a emerald hue to it in certain lights but overall the blade was a polished chrome colour with two more emeralds embedded in the blade itself near the hilt in two indentations. The sword felt heavier than usual as Cye held it's blue grip tight and took his shield from his back.
His shield was bright blue with a emerald A like symbol on it, except all the lines were diagonal, one reached from the bottom left directly diagonal and over the right hand side line, where another smaller line that didn't reach any other sat. Above the symbol was something written in another tongue. and the shield had a grey surround much like a hylian shield except this grey surround that was made to protect the blue area encroached much further inward than the silver upon a Hylian shield would.
After looking to either end of the corridor, Cye swiftly entered the room in one fluid motion Sword raised to attack, shield ready to defend.
Desri's eyes grew wide but he swiftly pulled out his sword. It was much like Cye's own sword yet in the place of Emeralds, Desri's had rubies and instead of a green hue, Desri's had a red hue.
Before Cye had done anything else, Desri lunged at him and sliced into the younger man's side. Cye whined in pain but soon saw his injury to be superficial and raised his shield just in time to parry Desri's next slash. Pearce lunged at Cye but was no match for the Prince, Cye elbowed Pearce in the face, sliced a large gash in his arm then held his sword back-hand and slit Pearces' throat. Cye looked into his brother's red eyes, they were fixed upon his own brown eyes, although the two were brothers, they looked nothing alike, Desri, had jet-black short yet messy hair and Cye had smart-cut blazing orange hair. Their eyes were different and Cye soon saw that they were different in more than just appearance.
Cye moved forward his shield up on full guard; And Cye knew he had the advantage just because he had his shield.
The brothers circled each other briefly before Cye dealt a painful blow to Desri's sword arm, Desri howled in pain and dropped his sword as his left arm swung up and held his wound as he dropped to his knees. The sword had clanged and crashed to the floor and a fragment of one of it's rubies, broke off and skittled to in front of Cye's boot.
'I cannot do it' Cye thought as he angled his sword ready to decapitate his brother. 'I cannot kill Desri. He is my brother….' While Cye's thoughts whipped around his mind Desri whipped his feet from under him, snatched up his sword and ran from the room and up the way Cye had came down.
By the time Cye got to his feet and steadied himself, Desri's footsteps had long since faded away, knowing that his Mother couldn't stop Desri and that he couldn't either. Cye sheathed his sword and hooked his shield onto his back and took off at a fast-paced run toward the Field he and Syen trained on.
He arrived five minutes later, breathless and panicked.
"Brother!" Cye called before seeing his younger brother as he jogged over to him.
"What happened Cye?" Syen asked seeing the patch of purple on Cye's pastel blue shirt.
"Desri." Cye said as he bent over to catch his breath.
"Oh. You shouldn't worry me like th-"
"He is going to kill Father," Cye panted "I caught him plotting with another man in the lower dungeons, he escaped."
Syen looked at his brother in utter confusion and shock. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair and over his face before helping Cye to a neighbouring bench.
"It doesn't make sense Cye. Why would Desri betray us?"
"He thinks he won't see the throne" Cye said after a pause to get his breath.
"If we hurry we can apprehend him and end this madness Brother." Syen said quickly.
"No, we have to go to Father. Desri will be long gone Syen, I injured his sword arm and it must have hurt as he dropped his sword. He wouldn't stay in the castle if he couldn't defend himself."
Syen regarded Cye as if he was a mad-man before his face settled in understanding.
"We don't know Desri anymore but we know he has sense." Syen replied solemnly.
"Yes little Brother, Desri may not be the man we knew but he wouldn't be stupid - He isn't stupid."
"Father is in Hyrule, even on your horse Cyro it would take a day to reach him and by that point Desri could be anywhere and anywhere he goes he will have serious time on us. Cye, you go find Father, I will hunt Des-"
"No, that would leave Mother, our sons and partners exposed. Desri helped to train most of the best guards we have, one of us must stay behind."
Syen grimaced knowing Cye was right but still believing they were letting Desri escape, he unbuttoned the top button of his amethyst purple shirt as the heat suddenly got to him.
"I will protect Mother, Kayl, Leah, Cali and Kallium. You go to find Father once Teran has looked over your wound." Syen said levelly.
"The wound is fine, its superficial but send Teran out after me I may need him."
"Bu-"
"No, I am fine, I will go and get some things ready for the journey expect me back within four days and please send Teran after me."
"Yes of course. I will saddle Cyro up."
"Thank you Syen.
The two men split up after agreeing to meet in the stables. Ten minutes later, the two met Cye carried his sword and Shield on his back and a rucksack under his arm when he emerged in the stable. In his left hand he held a dagger which was practically small version of his sword.
"C'mon I'll give you a lift up." Syen offered as he took the rucksack from Cye and laid it on Cyro's back.
"Thanks Syen." Cye said to his brother as his brother interlocked his fingers and nodded for Cye to place his foot on his hand, Cye did so and then hauled himself up and then swivelled around onto the saddle.
"Good Boy Cyro." Cye murmured as he stroked his horses main.
"Take the North-East road, the North road will not be packed but it will be busy and the people will try to distract you."
"Yeah, I'll go North-East then take the North road back toward the gate, I should exit our Kingdom a few hours before dusk and be at Castletown around midday."
"That is crazy, that is just over a day. Noone has made such time."
"I have Cyro, the fastest horse in the Kingdom Brother," Cye said smiling. "Plus I will ride fast and rest little but Ca-"
"I will protect her as I would my wife and I will protect Kallium as I would my son."
"Thank you Syen"
Syen Secured the rucksack and stepped back.
"You're clear Cye."
"I will see you on the full moon, four days from now."
"We will all be here."
Cye guided Cyro onto the Field waved and before Syen knew it both Cyro and Cye has vanished.
Cye galloped down the north-east road as he and Syen had agreed. Many of his people tried to flag him down, many with questions of concern; all of which he answered with "I cannot stop."
Link sat upon the grass beside Zelda, they had been together a year on the full moon in three days time and were planning the day together, happily. Link's sword and shield lay carelessly upon the grass beside him.
Zelda, the Queen of Hyrule did not get much time to herself or to spend much time with Link so she cherished the small hours they spent alone in Hyrule Field beside the drawbridge.
When Link stopped mid-sentence and quickly got to his feet as he stared off into the vast green of the field.
"What is it, Link?" Zelda asked getting up and standing just a step from him. Link lifted his hand and pointed to a chestnut blob with a orange haired figure in the distance.
"That, are we expecting any visitors from the Desert?" Link asked as he turned to Zelda.
"No… I do not think so Link."
"Then who or what is that?" Link gulped before he took up the legendary Master Sword and his shield.
"I do not know, it could be Nabooru or another Gerudo?" Zelda said as she squinted at the fast approaching object.
"It's gaining ground quick, is it wearing blue?"
"I believe so?"
As Master and horse gained ground exhaustion dug deeper in and soon Cye felt Cyro slow and allowed his horse to slow further into a brisk trott.
"Easy boy, we are within sight of the Castle." Cye whispered before he patted his horse affectionately and took a drink from his bottle.
"C'mon boy we can make it, not far now." Cye informed as he became level with Lon Lon Ranch.
"It has slowed Link." Zelda said slightly relieved.
"It's even closer though. Its definitely a man and his Horse."
"What shall we do?"
"Wait," Link moved in front of her and unsheathed his sword. "The Rider appears… Hylian…"
"Thats the Cuix Emblem!" Zelda exclaimed and headed around him and further into the field.
"ZELDA! WAIT! IT'S NOT SAFE!" Link shouted after her.
Zelda ran toward Master and Horse but soon felt her legs tiring after she gained a considerable distance on Cye and Cyro.
Link was not far behind and once again shielded her with his body.
"Link, it's not a threat. Its someone from the Sheikah Kingdom two days ride from here."
"Please, for me stay here?"
"Link…"
"Please."
"Fine but I'm telling you he is no threat to us."
Soon the Horse slowed just a meter from the Hero and his Queen and Cye promptly dismounted and fed his horse before he took a metallic looking bowl out and poured what remained of his water in to it then he turned and gave a high-bow to Zelda.
"Queen Zelda." Cye greeted.
Links eyes narrowed, how did he know her name? He pointed his sword at Cye, yet Cye's sword remained sheathed on his side.
"Prince… Cye?" Zelda asked unsure of which Prince she was addressing.
"Ah, you remember me and my brother; Syen?"
"I would not forget the Princes of the Kingdom that kept me safe for so long."
"Of course."
"What?!" Link asked his face contorted in confusion.
Cye placed two fingers on the tip of the Master Sword slow and carefully.
"I am of the Kingdom of Cuix, a Kingdom that is at peace and friendly with the Kingdom of Hyrule." Cye explained as he attempted to ease Link's wariness.
"Cuix is a two day ride… Why would you come here."
"Because I am in search of the King… My Father, Jine." Cye said as his face dipped in silent shame.
"What is it Cye?" Zelda asked confused.
"Cuix has been betrayed I must find my Father."
Impa walked out over the drawbridge and soon broke into a brisk walk upon seeing the Prince.
"Impa," Zelda jogged over to her attendant. "Do you know where King Jine is?"
"I just left him, he was waiting for you in your throne room Zelda. He said something about going to see King Zora."
"I have to go find him Zelda!" Cye exclaimed.
"Impa, go inform the Guard that we are returning please." Zelda said smoothly.
With a nod, Impa rushed off. Cye took up the bowl and reloaded his horse; Cyro before taking the reigns and pulling the horse into a walk.
"Which way?" Cye asked. "I haven't been here before."
"Straight through the town from the bridge." Link said before he took Zelda's hand in his own.
Cye jogged in front of the others and soon was over the bridge.