Ok So we're back again! We lef tof with in Hyrule with Daltus along with the help of a mysterious ally come up with a plan to win the love of the people of Hyrule; 150 days of games in the Warriors Arena. But now let us go back to Parapa Deseret and see wha our other Gladiators are up too!

Don't forget to comment and stuff

Enjoy chapter!...

10

COMING HOME

The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.

-Leo Tolstoy-

The shouts of the crowd were all that could be heard. 'Hylian! Hylian! Hylian!'.

Link listend indifferently from inside the tiny tiger cage, where he sat with the other Warriors, each waiting for their turn to take the center of Arbiters Grounds.

He had grown used to the feel before a match, the anxiety and tension pulling at his stomach. The anticipation that made his pulse quicken and the adrenaline that totally took over once he was inside the Arena. Truthfully, he almost came to live for these emotions because in those short minutes inside the Arena, he was free. Free from all his loss and pain, his mind washed completely blank.

But then it would be over all too quickly and the hole in his heart would return and he would realize that nothing had changed. He hated that feeling. Hated coming back to his miserable reality. He hated the Arena, but he loved it at the same time. It was complicated.

'You are facing off against a crowd favorite' Groose said with a smirk as he fixed his chain-mail and straightened his gauntlets.

'Who is he?' Link asked still sitting. He never liked to wear any armour during a match.

'He calls himself The Jungle Warrior, but his real name is Odolwa. A silent killer. He has never been defeated in the Arena. He fights like a demon, whoever enters never makes it out in one piece.' Kafei said, as he sharpened his sword on a stone, 'Well at leas that is what the other fighters are saying.'

Link gave a small laugh. Groose patted him on the back as he got up,

'Don't worry Hylian, I never thought you would last this long anyway.' Kafei said with a smile. They all laughed.

Over the short couple of days that they had been fighting at Arbiters Grounds, the fighters had grown closer. Perhaps they shared the same bond through the bloodshed, but Link felt like each warrior was one of his brothers. He would happily give his life for anyone of these fine gentlemen and he was sure they would do the same for him.

Walking past his fellow Warriors to the entrance to the Arena, each one nodding and saluting him. Link couldn't help to be reminded of his battalion in the North. Back when he used to command such loyalty. Ganondorf nodded as he passed, giving one of his thin smiles through the helmet that he wore. His turn would come after Link.

Link looked out onto the sand pit of the Arena. The heat blurred his vision slightly and was already beginning to sweat, even though all he carried was a sword and small shield. Weapons he had grown accustomed to.

Waiting for him stood several heavily armed fighters each stomping their feet or bnaging their weapons together. But one man stole the attention as he stood in the in the center Of the Arena. He wore no armour, just a small cloth around his waist. He was easily twice the size of any of the other fighters and his massive body he was painted in many colourful, elaborate designs that ran from his neck all the way to his bare feet. All the colour made him look like an oil portrait that did not belong in this barren desert. His helmet covered his whole face, also engraved with strange designs. He wielded a large sword and small shield that he waved through the air as he did a strange sort of dance for the crowd. This definitely was the Jungle Warrior.

Link gave each fighter a half bow, he wasn't scared. He felt that other side of him emerge from the depths of his soul, the side that enjoyed this, the side that thirsted for the killing and the blood.

He started towards The Jungle Warrior in the center of the sand pit, but he had to go through each other fighter first.

Link moved on the attack coming hard with and overhand swing, that crashed down on the first fighters shield. It was deflected and he had to duck out of the way of the counter. Coming up Link landed a clean strike to the side of his opponents head followed by a thrust through his stomach. He slumped to the floor.

Two more attacked and Link blocked one, spinning with the momentum and coming down with a strike through the back. Deflect, parry, the second fighter's sword was ripped from his hand, defenseless, Link cut him down like wheat. All the while making his way closer to the center, where Odolwa just stood, watching and waiting. The crowd roared with every strike, chants of 'Odolwa!'.

When the last opponent lay dead in the sand, Link turned to The Jungle Warrior, scooping up one of the dead men's swords. The two fighters circled each other for what seemed like an eternity. Sweat dripped down Link's brow as he stared into the twisted engraved face of Odolwa's mask.

Suddenly Odolwa lunged forward with a wild swing; Link barely had time to block with his shield. Then the battle was on. Odolwa's movements were very acrobatic, almost as if he were dancing, following some deadly rhythm. A colourful blur of man and steel. If he hadn't been trying to take his head off, Link would have considered it almost beautiful.

With lightning speed the two fighters flitted around the arena, the swords were like quick lines slashing through the air. Link parried and twirled, and twisted and turned but each time he moved in, Odolwa was three moves ahead, dancing just out of reach of his strikes. He countered and sliced Link's leg, sending him down to one knee, the crowd roared. But when jumping in to finish the job, The Jungle Warrior made the mistake of leaving himself open. A deadly mistake.

Link quickly raised his sword just as Odwola came down with his own strike, Impaling himself on the blade. The unprotected midsection of the Jungle warrior, now red with his own blood. He stumbled stumbled backwards fumbling to pull the blade from his stomach. Not giving him a chance to recover Link was on him immediately, thrusting his remaining sword into Odolwa's chest. His arms fell limb to his sides and he dropped to his knees with a dull thud. Blood trickling down from underneath his cracked mask.

Link listened now to the dead silence of the crowd, holding their breath in anticipation. And suddenly he felt the rage bubble up within him. It burned his blood and he felt the heat resonate from the pit of his stomach. Everything he had been through, everything he was going through he was sick and tired of it. He hated all of this. Why had the goddesses cursed him with life? Even if he killed Odwola it would change nothing, the void in his heart would still be there.

Link glared at the spectators now, the anger and frustration blurred his vision. How could anyone watch this? Link knew what it was like to be around death. Always, somebody lost a son or a father. The men he had just killed, what would their families say knowing he would never return. He had hoped he could ease his pain by the pain of others, but now he knew that it was just an endless cycle. But why then could the spectators find so much comfort in the death of others? How dare they watch this? Well, if they wanted death so badly, he would give it to them.

With a loud frustrated cry Link ripped both swords from Odolwa's chest and slashed them together, slicing the Jungle Warrior's head clean off. His tattooed body slumped to the floor and his masked head rolled to Link's feet.

Link picked it up and hurled the The Jungle Warrior's head into the crowd, followed by his own sword. They crashed into a table spraying food and drink all over. The spectators dove for cover, knocking each other over in confusion and fear.

'ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?' Link shouted at them walking around the Arena, arms in the air like a maniac 'IS THAT NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?' He caught Gaepora's eye, sitting with an amused look on his face. Link threw the second blade on the floor, and spat in disgust. He turned and stormed out of the Arena.

But just as he was about to leave, the crowd began to cheer. Louder than anything he had ever heard. Link turned back to them both confused and amazed by the people. Maybe death was what man really wanted. Then he turned and went back to his cage along with the other Warriors, each waiting for their turn for a shot at a glorious death.

Link was still in a foul mood later when he was summoned to Gaepora's chamber later that night.

He had never been to this side of the compound before and was mildly surprised at how beautiful it was. Fine antique furniture filled the rooms along with many pieces of fine art. The smell of polished wood was nice compared to the mold that Link had grown used to.

Gaepora's chamber was no different from the rest of the house except for the fact that it was way more crammed with fine works. Paintings, carvings, and suits of armour filled the room. Various vases of all sizes filled with scrolls and other dusty junk. Somehow Link wasn't surprised that Gaepora had all this stuff, he wasn't the type of man to give anything away. There was a small bed and desk shoved in the corner, but other than that there was barley any room to stand.

'You sent for me?' Link said impatiently to Gaepora's back.

'Ahh yes,' Gaepora said, turning from examining one of the fine statues, 'You are good, Hylian, but you're not that good. You could be magnificent," He said maneuvering his way through the mess.

'I am required to kill so I kill,' Link said coldly, he still didn't know if he liked Gaepora yet.

'That is enough for the provinces of Parapa, but not in the Great City of Hyrule. Not in The Warriors Arena.'

'Hyrule?' Link asked slightly interested.

'The Young King has arranged for a series of spectacles. A hundred and Fifty days. So finally, after five years of scraping flea infested towns like this one, we are going back to our true home, to where we belong, The Warriors Arena.' The mere mention of the word seemed to strike a nerve and his eyes glazed over, remembering long forgotten times, 'You should see The Arena, Hylian! Fifty thousand spectators watching every movement of your sword, willing you to make the killing blow. The silence before you strike… and the noise afterwards, like a storm as if you were a god or The Hero of Hyrule himself!'

At the mention of Daltus's name Link's jaw locked and his fists clenched. But he was able to control himself.

'You were a Warrior?' Link asked instead, somehow not surprised.

'Yes, I was' Gaepora said quietly, but Link could sense the pride in his voice.

'And you won your freedom?' Link continued a hint of an idea forming in his mind.

'Long time ago, I sat before the old King, Daphnes Nohansen and he presented me with the symbol of our freedom.'

'You knew Daphnes Nohansen,' Link gave a small laugh, finding it hard to believe that these two completely different men would have ever crossed paths.

'I didn't say I knew him. I said I knelt before him once.'

Suddenly an idea flickered to life in Link's mind. He waded into the sea of junk and once he was closer to Gaepora he whispered, 'You asked me what I want? I also want to stand infront of the King, as you did.'

Gaproa raised his eyebrows, a slight look of understanding in his eyes, 'Then you listen to me. Learn from me. I wasn't the best because I killed the quickest. I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd and you will win your freedom.'

Link thought about freedom. Truthfully, there was only one way he could be free, but that time had not come yet.

'There is nothing for me out there, back in my country,' Kafei said as he, Link and Ganondorf sat atop the roof of the compound, gazing at the setting sun. It would be their last sunset in Parapa, as for tomorrow they would be leaving for The City of Hyurle. Link had to admit he was going to miss the peaceful nights of the desert. But not that much.

'Every man has something.' Ganondorf said, slicing an apple with his knife and plopping a piece into his mouth. It seemed success in the arena merited its benefits.

Kafei let out a deep sigh as if he was remembering something painful, 'I once had a great love, but I was a coward and in my cowardice shamed our relationship. I cannot go back.'

'What happened?' Ganondorf asked

'I lost something that we both held very dear. And when I attempted to get it back it was destroyed. She said she would wait for me to bring it back. But that was five years ago. And still I have not returned.'

'Tell us about her.' Ganndorf said

'Her beauty rivals that of any goddess, eyes so deep you'll find that you have lost yourself inside them. She was perfect, I did not deserve the warmth of her touch or the kindness of her smile.' Kafei looked down in shame

Gnaondorf placed a hand on his shoulder, 'If she is how you describe, then perhaps you should try and right the wrongs you have committed. There is no shame in that. When all this is over of course.'

Kafei gave a weak smile, 'I am a coward at heart Ganondorf, I am not like you.'

'There is a coward in all of us. We just need to control when he decides to show himself,' Link said, 'I think you will find there is more valor in you than you could know.'

'Thank you my friends, and I am honoured to call you that.' Kafei said.

There was a small pause while they watched the stars fill the sky, millions of tiny dots painting beautiful images on the black canvas. The crickets were singing their midnight medleys and the night owls were hooting at the moon.

'It is somewhere out there, my country, my home, my family.' Ganondorf said finally, gazing out far to the east. 'Will I ever see them again, I think not.'

'Do you believe that you will see them again when you die.' Link asked thinking of his own family

'I think so. But I will die soon, they will not for many years. So I will have to wait a bit.' Ganondorf chuckled.

'But you would… wait?' Kafei asked as Ganondorf offered him a piece of apple.

'Of course.' Ganondorf answered.

' My wife and son are already waiting for me.' Link smiled, looking up at the sky.

'You will see them again, my friend, but not yet. Ganondorf patted Link on the shoulder in assurance, 'Not yet.'

'Not yet, not yet.' Link said with a slight smile. There was still much he had to do.

Alright so that's the chapter! I don't know why I picked Odolwa to appear in the arena I just thought he might be a cool character. And the little dialogue between Link, Ganondorf and Kafei is the start of the friendship between them. Let me know what you guys thought of the chapter and if you wanna see any more characters make an appearance!

Till nxt chapter...