A terrifying sand monster has kidnapped Malon and disappeared into the desert!

Will Red and the others be able to find her and defeat the beast... before it's too late?

Read on to find out!

(Yes, I know. I do the whole "ask questions then say find out in the next chapter" bit. I know it's dumb/corny. But I like it. So I'ma keep doing it. ^^)

Chapter 10 - Heart

"She… she's gone…" Red felt his voice crackling as tears started to bubble on his face. Weakly, he sank to his knees, feeling the sword in his left hand fall to the ground, sticking in the sand briefly, only to fall flatly to its side. His tear-filled eyes looked down at what was still held in his right hand… weakly, he brought Malon's harp up to his eyes…

And once more, burst into tears.

Looking down sadly on Red, Green sighed and knelt down beside his friend, draping a comforting arm around his shoulder. "Red… we'll find her, okay?" he reassured with a soft smile. "Don't cry."

"That jerk!" Blue fumed as he rose his fists, gritting his teeth in a furious sneer and slashing his sword angrily at the sands. "He'll pay for kidnapping that innocent little girl! I swear I'll tear him to pieces!"

"Yes… but, how are we going to find the monster in these sandstorms?" Vio mused quietly as he looked out across the sands, crossing his arms. "It was a miracle we ever found the caravan in the first place. And even then, we all saw how things almost worked out…" He sighed and looked away, suddenly feeling pessimistic. He hated being the stick-in-the-mud of the group sometimes, but he was only stating the obvious, wasn't he?

"What are you talkin' like that for?" Blue raged at Vio. "It doesn't matter how, we just… well… we gotta!" Even he was at a loss- but he wasn't about to admit it. What else besides going after her could be done?

Around them, Vio noticed the panic of the nomads as they rushed to calm their horses and account for everyone. He noted quietly that, sooner or later, they would notice the girl's absence. He then wondered briefly if they would be blamed. Either way, they had to make a decision, fast. His eyes traveled back towards the others, notably the one knelt by the crying Red.

Unable to break Red's sobbing fit, Green sighed and stood up, looking back at the other two. "Blue, I hate to admit it, but Vio's right," he said, sheathing his sword. His eyes narrowed in determination as his gaze swept out across the desert. "We can't just charge in like we did last time- we need a plan."

Sniffing, Red wiped his tears on his sleeve as he once more looked at Malon's harp. Taking it in both hands, he looked at it carefully, remembering Malon's music… closing his eyes, the memories of the harp's song flooded back to him of his dream, of how it had played its beautiful music, clearing away the sands only to then lead him to the monster…

… That was it!

Eyes snapping open, Red gasped as he jumped up and whipped around to face the others, who turned in surprise to see him so enthusiastically jump up.

"Guys!" Red said as he balled his hands into fists determinedly, his tear-streaked eyes narrowing in determination, "I… I think I can lead us to him!"

"What?" Blue asked, raising an eyebrow. "Red, come on, I know you were close to her, but-"

"We have to understand our limits-"

"It's probably best if we regroup and speak with the nomads-"

"Guys, you're supposed to believe me!" Red interrupted the three loudly, startling the others into silence and surprising even himself with his sudden boldness. "You didn't believe me about my dream and the monster, did you?" he protested. "And I was right! I know you guys are strong and smart, but… Whatever happened to listening to what your heart tells you?"

The others, humbled by Red's words of truth, and shamed by their previous actions, looked away.

"So, what do you suggest?" Vio asked after a small pause, looking lightly back up at Red.

Looking back down on his harp, Red gripped it determinedly and nodded. "There's a song… I don't know how I know it, but I can feel it. I can play it, and it'll lead us to Malon. I just know it will."

The others were silent for a moment- and then Blue stepped up, giving a determined smile as he drew his sword. "Then I believe you, Red," he said with a grin. "Lead the way to the butt-kicking!"

Vio sighed and closed his eyes as he tilted his chin down. "This goes against all logic, but…" He smiled and looked back up at Red. "If you believe it to be true, then I'll follow you as well."

Green smiled as he looked from the other two back to Red. Sheathing his sword, he nodded. "Ready when you are, Red," he said, flashing a thumbs-up.

"You… you guys…" Red whimpered, his eyes welling up in tears at the emotional acceptance of his friends. Cheering loudly, he threw up his arms, half-jumping into the air as he held the harp triumphantly in front of him. "Yeah! Let's go!" he cried as he ran a few steps towards the open desert. Holding the harp in one hand, and clenching his fist determinedly in the other, he shouted out to the open skies, "We're coming for you, Malon! Wait for us…!"

The sands had been surprisingly cooperative to the trek of the four heroes thus far since setting out from the caravan- but as the winds began to pick up, each Link knew that this good weather would not last.

Before long, the sands were once more swirling around them, beating them down into the sands as they tried to bury them in its million-particle mass.

"We… we must be close," Green gasped through the storm as he trailed next to the others, leaning against the strong winds. "I'll bet it was that beast conjuring all these crazy storms in the first place! But… what the heck does it want with us?"

"Red, what do we do now?" Blue yelled as he looked over to the other, his shield raised as he struggled to keep hold of it, the winds blowing both against and around him.

Terrified, but trying his best to hide his fear, Red gulped and looked at his harp. He closed his eyes shut, trying to mentally block the panic that was rising. Everyone… everyone was relying on him! He had to do something!

As the sandstorm swarmed furiously around him, Red sought advice in his memories… and his eyes snapped open as he recalled the illusion. The sound of the harp had driven off the sandstorm… he had to play it!

Standing as best he could against the wind, the young hero held out the harp and leaned it against his chest. Briefly, a twinge of fear shot through his heart- would he be able to remember the song? Or would he just stand there looking stupid with his fingers on the strings, leaving him and the others to be buried alive by the sands?

"Red!"

Terrified, the boy looked over to see Vio, kneeling against the sands, but looking determinedly up at him.

"You can do it, Red," the other Link assured him solidly, protecting himself from the winds with his hand. Vio nodded sternly. "You wanted us all to believe in you… now it's your turn to believe in yourself!"

Red's eyes widened as he took Vio's words to heart, looking down at the harp. Yeah… he couldn't… he HAD to believe in himself. Taking a deep breath, and ignoring the swirling sands around him, the hero closed his eyes and let his fingers take over as he began to strum the strings of his instrument.

Instantly, the soothing, melodious sounds of the harp took over the monstrous, roaring sounds of the sandstorm, overpowering them despite the harp's seemingly soft volume. As the other three Links gathered together, they watched with wide eyes as the sands around them began to swirl in a tight circle, expanding until it enclosed the four. Looking back at Red as he stood and peacefully played his harp, the others began to realize what was happening.

Relieved of the pain of the pelting sands, Vio slowly got to his feet and calmly looked around them. "Red's song…" he muttered curiously… "It's creating a barrier around us."

Indeed, while the sandstorm roared and pelted at the boys from every side, desperately trying to engulf them in its rage, it fell short against the clear circle around the boys, trying with each of its million grains of sands to penetrate the barrier, but each of them failing.

As the others marveled at the protective, invisible shield the harp created as it pushed the harmful sands away from them, Red continued to play his harp, seemingly lost in the delicate notes of the music… and slowly, as if he was unaware of it himself, began to walk across the sands.

"C'mon, guys, follow Red," Green told the others with a wave of his arm, the three walking close to Red through the now blinding sands. Blue, Green and Vio looked around themselves in awe as they walked through the maze of sand- neither of them knew where they were going, or in which direction was front or back. But as Red played the song, a soft smile began to creep across his face, his head bowed as his eyes lightly opened, examining the strings of the harp as they moved, almost breathing with the delicate rhythm of his song.

"I wonder how he knows where he's going," Blue muttered under his breath as the trio followed their friend.

Green turned his head towards Blue, smiling. "You know…" he started off, "There are a lot of things we can't really explain… But if I were to guess, I'd say he was following his heart."

The minutes passed as the three quietly followed Red, until slowly, his feet came to a stop. His eyes opened as he began to study his fingers playing the harp, a mixture of fear and confusion coming over him as they started to stutter, unusual breaks coming in his notes as his songs began to fall apart.

"Wh… what's happening?" Red suddenly whined as his eyes widened, his hands suddenly at a loss for the notes. It was as if he had completely forgotten the magical combination to the song, and already, the sounds of the harp were dying away. No, no, no! He can't forget the notes! Not now!

"Uh… Red…?" Blue began to ask slowly as his eyes frantically darted around the four. The song dying down, their protective barrier was slowly beginning to fade… already, he was lifting his arm to shield his eyes as swiftly-moving particles of sand were beginning to pelt them from all sides once more.

"I… I can't," Red gasped as the song finally stopped and he looked at the harp in fear. "I… I forgot… I don't know what happened…!"

Once more, the memories of Red's dream flashed back against his eyes. When the melody had stopped and the blinding sands had returned… he had appeared…

Gasping sharply as the realization slugged him in the chest like a hammer, Red backed up against the three. "Guys, get ready!" he shouted at them, his eyes wide in fear. The barrier now completely gone, he struggled to keep his eyes open against the furious sandstorm. "I think… I think the monster is-"

Cut off before he could even finish his sentence, Red suddenly cried out as he found himself flung to the ground, the ground beneath him having heaved upwards and tossed him to the side where he landed on his back, the breath knocked out of him, several feet away.

"Red!" the others cried as they turned to look at him, drawing their swords as they scanned the area around them, frantically searching for the source of their friend's attacker.

Grunting, Red forced his eyes open as he brought his elbows beneath him, lifting his chest and head up to look in front of him…

His eyes went wide.

"G-Guys!" he cried out, sweat beading down his neck in panic. "BEHIND YOU!"

The three Links looked behind them- but were far too late to react to the monstrosity which overwhelmed them.

Bursting from the sands, sending the desert ground high into the air under its wake, the large sand-beast which had attacked the caravan earlier flung its arms above it, rearing back as its jaws opened wide to release a deafening, thundering roar. Slamming its palms down on the sands, fully in control of the mass of blinding storms which surrounded the four heroes, the beast lunged its skull forward, letting out a massive roar at the Links.

As Vio and Green instinctively reached for their shields, ducking behind them as the creature let out its roar, Blue gritted his teeth and slashed at his sword.

"What, you think I'ma 'fraid of a little growl?" Blue roared as he leapt forward, slashing his sword straight down against the skull's bony teeth.

"Blue! Don't!" Red cried as he struggled to get to his feet, his palms slipping against the sliding sands beneath him. Why- why couldn't he get up?

The beast roared as the blade struck true against its fangs, slightly wincing from the blow. But it appeared unfazed by the attack, not even a scratch left where Blue's mighty weapon had been sliced. It tilted its head as it started at the three clustered heroes through those wide, empty eye sockets- through which glowing slits of eyes burned down its gaze.

"Foolish heroes…" the beast roared with a sneer, its voice as crackling and harsh as the sands and stones which protected it. Lifting its rock-encrusted hand, it wasted not a moment in swiping its hooked fingers at the four, wrapping them in his grasp and lifting them up to his sights.

"Agh!" The Links cried out against the beast, each struggling against the hold of the beast.

"RED!"

Gasping, the boy left on the ground struggled against the sands, ignoring the fierce sandstorm whipping at him from all sides as he rose to his feet. His friends… they needed his help! But… what could he do?

His eyes closed together fiercely as his thoughts berated him. Useless! You're useless! You're always too scared to do anything! Some 'hero' you turned out to be!

The skull-headed monster looked through its slit eyes at the heroes, grinning wickedly with its bone teeth. "So these are the legendary Four Sword heroes, eh?" he cackled, his voice sounding like grinding stones as he turned them over to look at them as if they were mere toys in his hands. "Pitiful. My Lord will be… most pleased… to hear of your defeat at my hands!"

Red suddenly found himself breathing slowly, his very actions slowed down as well as he looked around him, and up at the beast, as it was slowly raising its hand towards its open maw, ready to devour the three children held tightly in its grasp…

A light flashed from the beast's head, and Red found himself stumbling backwards, his eyes wide in shock. He remembered!

Dropping his harp in the sand, Red, gritting his teeth and narrowing his eyes in an expression quite unlike his usual demeanor, reached behind his back. He took a deep breath- this was it. He couldn't be scared now, he knew what he had to do- and only he could do it. Briefly, he remembered how he had cowered behind, and away from, the others when the Poe had infected his thoughts back in the woods. No… not anymore.

"HEY! SKULL-FOR-BRAINS!"

Hesitating, the sand beast looked down as it brought its claws briefly away from its open mouth, its slits eyeing the source of the cries.

Red, panting heavily and holding his shield and sword in hand, stood in front of the skull, his mouth open from having shouted.

"Why, you little…" the skull started to growl, leaning slowly in…

Gritting his teeth, and grasping hard his shield, Red let out a wild cry as he spun around in a tight circle- and, at the right instant- let go of his shield.

The sturdy piece of medal, its aim true, flew sharply upwards at the monster, clanging against the side of its eyes and bouncing off, the monster flinching at its strike.

"Come and get ME!" Red shouted at the demon.

Screeching in annoyance, his fury and hate fully focused on the red-clothed child, the beast released his grip on the others and savagely advanced upon the lone hero.

The three Links, dropped to the ground, struggled to get up, but from the shock of their fall, were powerless to move and instead could only watch as the monster swiftly shot towards their friend.

"Red! Watch out!" Vio cried, his eyes wide in panic.

The young hero, most often frightened and helpless, looked solidly at the approaching monster, whose jaws were wide open and hands outstretched to crush him, and gripped the sword tightly in his hands.

And at the last moment, wielding his sword in both hands as he held it behind him, the boy ran forward, charging the monster- and leapt.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as Red felt himself flying over the skull's jaw, passing its eyes, his sword outstretched in his hands as he waited… waited…

And then, the glowing circle atop the skull's head grew as it approached the leaping hero. The circle of light which he had seen in his dream, if only faintly… which he knew, without a doubt, to be the only way to defeat the monstrous foe.

With a loud cry, Red grit his teeth and closed his eyes as he swung down his Four Sword, plunging the tip deep into the middle of the glowing, radiating circle of light.

...What? HOW could I end it here?

Well, I did, so... HA. :D

Keep reading for tomorrow's chapter, Chapter Eleven: Interlude!