The next chapter! Hip hip hooray! I hope you enjoy. :D

I fell asleep. I knew I would, and was rather angry at myself when I awoke, flushing in horror. Was it past midnight? Were they gone? Was I too late? I was sure I was, but suddenly I saw the silhouettes of two men against the trees, walking into the forest. They were leaving now.

I leapt up and began my chase.

It was difficult to judge the right distance to follow. Too close and they would discover me and send me back. Too far and I would lose them completely and be lost and alone in the forest, left to the wolves, surely. I had a dagger for a pretense of safety, but I had never really used one before for anything other than cutting food when there was no knife available.

By morning I was exhausted and upset at the endless walking these men did. They had not rested once since we had been going on, and I was ready to faint. Only fierce determination kept me from succumbing to my wishes to pass out. I could not reveal myself to them until we were so far away from Yuria's castle that it would be a great inconvenience for them to send me back. And I knew one morning of walking was not going to do the trick.

Eyes half closed from exhaustion and to keep out the sun, which pierced annoyingly bright through the leaves, I tripped on a root and came crashing to the ground with a thud and the loud snap of twigs and crinkle of leaves as I rolled down a small incline and onto a log. A branch stabbed against my side and my foot hurt, twisting my face with pain as I wearily tried to lift myself up again onto my sore legs. I naturally did not get that far.

With a silence that was frightening Snake was above me and his daggers were out and prepared to kill, his frightening hazel eyes burning holes in my head.

"Please don't kill me," I gasped.

The next instant Ike was there, his giant form a silhouette against the sun shining down on him. His golden sword was raised, glinting and golden; the sword that had almost killed me.

I determined not to faint and grunted pitifully as I lifted myself off the branch that was poking me and gingerly put weight on my hurt foot. There was pain, surely, but it wasn't bad enough to be a sprain.

"Lucina." Ike's voice dripped with a graveness that only meant one thing. He wouldn't give me three seconds to explain and he wouldn't think twice about binding me and carting me back to Yuria, or even Gania.

I faced him, taking a deep breath. He held up his hand to stay what he knew would be a torrent of words and I calmly ignored him.

"You will not send me back, Ike."

"I will send you back and you will see."

"No," I answered, folding my arms. "I am following you and I will help save my princess."

"You can't do anything," Snake replied.

"I can."
"You can't. You're a woman."

I wanted to slap him and turned my blazing eyes from Ike's blue ones to his light hazel ones. Unfortunately they were not calm and collected eyes, like Ike's; they were flashing sparks of anger.

"I am a woman and can be of more help in some cases than a man, Snake. You know that as well as I do! Who woke you when Princess Zelda was taken? I did! And you know I am not afraid. I am brave and I am able to be of use. Don't be afraid for my sake."

"I'm not afraid for your sake!" snapped Snake, turning red. "I'm…"
"Just say it," I taunted him. "Say I am a useless female."
Snake would not say it and I softened my tone, determined not to beg, but determined to go one way or another. "Snake, I shall come. If I cause any trouble, rest assured that I will not hesitate to leave. The last thing I wish to do is put my princess in danger."

"She's my princess as well, and you have to let me make the decisions about what would be safest in this case," returned Snake, folding his arms.

"That's true," I answered coldly. "I do. But you would be wise to listen to me."

I turned to Ike, wondering if I had to debate him too or if he was swayed by my argument with Snake. He was looking at me with a strange glint in his eyes and I self-consciously glanced down at my garb.

There was a grunting sound that I abruptly realized was a laugh. A chuckle, rather. And it was coming from Ike. It was the first time I had seen any remoteness of true mirth, not counting his fake smiles at Samus, coming from him. My eyes betrayed my astonishment and he smirked, folding his arms.

"I think you could assuredly be of use, not because of your gender, but because of your wit. It is not strange for two men to be teaching a young boy to hunt in these woods."

"What is strange about two men hunting in the woods without a 'boy'?" Snake broke in, folding his arms as well and glaring.

Ike, his natural frown back on his face as well, snapped, "For one, it is not as useful when we finally do engage the enemy. Having more men never hurt anyone."
"It might," Snake pointed out. "Especially when your 'more men' means one is a mere girl."

"You're up tight," I pointed out, angry. "Settle yourself, Snake, and you shall see that Ike is right."

Snake raised a wicked eyebrow. "You say that because of his muscles."

I turned a furious shade of red, but Ike didn't seem to notice Snake's derogatory pairing of us two. He had placed the golden blade of his sword on his shoulder and was heading on.

"Try to keep up," Snake snapped, whirling on his heal.

"I'm not a mere girl," I said, as I made my pace match is. "I'm a woman." Then, despite my aching legs and weary body, I hurried to pass him and catch up with Ike.

By evening I was wilting and it was obvious to both men. Ike took my pack of food to carry, but, though it lightened some of my load, I was still unbearably exhausted and Snake finally relented in his obstinacy not to help me and let me lean on his arm.

"River," said Ike in his quiet deep voice. "We'll stop."

Snake leaned me against a tree and I gratefully shut my eyes, opening them a moment later as I realized the two men might go on and leave me here; Ike's admission of me to stay a mere distraction so I would not complain before they left me behind.

Snake saw my look and read in it panic. He gave a harsh laugh. "You think we are such cowards we would leave a woman in the middle of the forest alone? You certainly don't think highly of bodyguards."

"Not when they are not sworn to protect me," I answered sourly, instantly regretting my words. It wasn't true. I did think highly of bodyguards. At least some. At least Snake and Ike.

Snake moved off to sit on the rocks by the bank beside Ike. The two began talking in low voices and I dragged myself closer, listening.

"Why not get rid of the sword?"

"I can't do that. He'd find it eventually."

"A giant hand cannot float around. That is ridiculous."

"He is rich and powerful. He can do more than float around. I believe he has a brother similar to him and he has great influence, especially over ruffians."

"Ike, that assassin I fought was anything but a ruffian. He was well trained in the arts of body attack and self-defense. I would even guess a former bodyguard."

"I would guess the hand trained him."

"The hand?"

"The hand may have hired someone to do so. He knows he needs to train his ruffians before he sends them out. On bungle and his whole scheme will be exposed."

"When did you receive the sword?"

"I received it from Marth."

"Is that why the hand wanted him?"
"I do not know. I do not know if the hand even wishes for the sword."

"You said you believed he did."

"Because I know this sword has some sort of power. At least in legend. According to the old man who read the script written on the blade. But who knows if he was trustworthy. Rumor says he was even blind and blind men cannot read." Ike's voice rose in frustration. "It may be a useless sword besides that it is well made! The hand may truly wish for the prince and only did not wish to fight me, which is strange."

"If he wanted the sword," I broke in, making both turn around, "It was a backwards way to do so."

"He may just have kidnapped Zelda for the fun of it, and added Marth in the ransom note to see how many royal persons he could collect," answered Snake. His eyes narrowed and flashed as he said his princess' name.

"What would he do with them after, do you think?" I asked.

"That is a theory," snapped Snake, leaning back and shutting his eyes. "And I do not know."

Ike stood and jerked his head at me.

"What?"
"Sleep. We journey at dawn."

I hastily obeyed, tired to the bone, and wishing these men were not so annoyingly strong that they would not rest for longer than one night after a full day of walking.

The bird song woke me and I was far from refreshed. Ike and Snake were both standing, everything ready to leave, and they were talking in low voices. What made me shiver was the fact that they were watching me with their frightening eyes as they did so.

"Splash water on your face," Snake ordered, but his voice was gentler than it had been the night before. "Then we leave."

The sun was still rising when the trees thinned and we found ourselves on a road.

"Good," said Ike.

"How do you know where to go?" I asked.

Snake gave me a stern look that implied I should not ask stupid questions and I snapped my mouth shut and gave him a rebellious look in turn.

The road was flat, and that was a small relief from the up hills and down hills of the forest, but it was plain monotony straight ahead for hours, and my eyes constantly wandered to the forest, wondering if there was a bodiless hand in every tree.

"Stop."

Snake's voice jolted me from a daydream and I realized my head had drooped past my shoulders. I halted behind him and peered around his back.

We could all hear the clear, high notes of someone whistling a happy tune.

"Friend or foe?" Snake's voice was so low it was almost inaudible.

Ike shook his head, his forehead creased with a worry that explained he had no idea how to identify between the two.

I stared as the person, a young man, came around the corner. He was dressed in a black clothes and he had blonde hair and a black cap over his head. It was the face I recognized.

"Link!"

"Lucina?" His voice could not have born more surprise and he staggered back as I rushed forward.
"Wh…what…" he was at a loss for words and I filled the gap with my own.

"Why are you here? What are you doing all alone? I'm so glad to see you! You are an excellent tracker. Would you be able to aide us in finding Princess Zelda?"

Link put a finger to my lips and squinted. "I am here to hunt and gain money. I am all alone because… I am pugnacious. And I did hear about Princess Zelda's disappearance, but alas, helping you might be detrimental to me. I'm in debt again."

I stepped away from him, glaring. "Link, you horrid brother! I warned you away from those gambling houses!"

"Don't worry. I'm employed right now, and promised a handsome sum of money."

"Link, you must help us find Zelda. Please!"

"Unfortunately," he said, smirking at me and glancing up quickly as he acknowledged the two bodyguards, "I am not as attached to your princess as you are and I have troubles of my own."
"Than for your love for me do so!"

"No. But I assure you that if you need protection for yourself and yourself alone, I will help you." He grinned and nodded curtly to the two men before walking off. "Be careful, Lucina!" he called over his shoulder.

My shoulders slumped. Link had seemed to have such hope in removing himself from his cycle of drinking, gambling, paying off debt, and doing the same things over again. Now I saw that he was back in his circle of life and it pained me.

"Your brother," remarked Snake shortly. "He's a disgrace to mankind."
"Do not speak about my brother like that," I answered, but said so wearily.

Snake bravely touched my shoulder briefly; a comforting gesture. "Don't pay attention to him. We have far to go."

I nodded and as we walked on I turned over his words in my head. He was employed by someone to hunt for him. Interesting. He had also said if I need protection he would help me. Why would I think I needed help with Ike and Snake on either side of me? His last words were frightening. Be careful. He saw that I had two men with me; burly ones at that. I was not alone and both men were armed and I was armed as well. Surely he guessed we could take on any stray beast or vagabond that might attack us as we journeyed. Or perhaps he meant something else?

I was troubled by these thoughts as we continued on through the forest.

"He told me to be careful," I said that evening. My legs were still sore and I had hobbled the last two miles, but Ike had finally halted the party, whether for my sake or because he was tired as well I didn't know.

"I'm sure it was only brotherly concern," answered Snake. He was folding and unfolding his hands, staring past the at the ground. I knew he was thinking of Zelda and kept myself from stepping forwards and patting his shoulder. Seeing him so worried about her helped take my mind off my own worry for my princess and my growing worry for myself.

"You think he meant something by it?" asked Ike, his eyes narrowing as he walked over to stand above me.

I stared up at him for a moment and then lowered my eyes. "I hope not."
"Could he possibly be involved in her kidnapping?" Ike persisted, his voice lowering dangerously.

I inched closer to Snake, who glanced up.

"I asked a question." Ike's voice was hard and Snake looked at me, his hazel eyes hard.

"I don't think so," I answered. "He knows that would hurt me very much and he loves me."

"Maybe that is why he told you to be careful," said Snake gruffly, narrowing his eyes as he returned to stare at the ground.

I pushed myself to my feet, tears standing in my eyes. "I only wish to find Zelda. I don't even care about sending her kidnapper to jail or execution! I just want her safe!"

I wiped my eyes and took a shuddering breath, angry at my lack of self control. This was no way to act, especially who knew how close to danger.

Neither bodyguard told me to be quiet and neither pursued the subject anymore. For all their bravery and muscle, they both seemed rather confused and uncertain at my tears.

As the light slowly faded the strange night sounds suddenly seemed louder than before and I kept opening my eyes as I lay against a tree, searching the darkness for danger.

Unable to stay in my vulnerable position on the ground, I stood up and began pacing near Ike and Snake, who both lay stretched out on the ground, sleeping.

I walked away from them and then back. The hair on the back of my neck prickled as an owl screeched in the night. Clasping my hands together I returned to my tree, my back pressed up against it as I scanned the trees, eyes wide with terror. I knew it would be foolish and would anger the two men if I awoke them. After all, the danger was only in my imagination.

A gloved hand clamped itself over my mouth, blocking all air to my nostrils. I opened my mouth wide to take a gasping breath as I reached up to grab the hand.

An arm grabbed my hair, pulling me away from the tree, and quickly encircled my waist, jerking me away from Ike and Snake, and into the trees.

Stomach twisting; heart pounding, I gave a muffled cry and began fighting desperately. But the person kept a tight hold on my mouth, pulling my head back into his chest for leverage, and dragged me out of the clearing.

Unexpectedly he let go and sprang away from me. I fled to the nearest tree and grabbed it before turning to see the man, cloaked in black, turn to run back into the forest. He never made it.

Why didn't he make it? And who is this cloaked... dude?