Himmels: God dang! You'd think that we'd get time to write this story in between everything, but nooo!

Draculina: You're the one that took the job. Just think about what's going to happen in the future...-grimances- We are going to have school, work, horses, going between our mom's and our dad's house...

Himmels: Oh boy...Don't worry people! We'll still manage to update on this story! We promise!

Draculina: -nods-

Chapter 10

Partly Solved

This old world well
Don't it make you wanna think damn
This cold girl well
Don't she wanna make you scream, damn

What's the matter girl
Don't you think I'm good enough
This old heart's had a whole lot a breakin' down
She's got all these reasons in her head

--Matchbox 20

I took a deep breath and unraveled the tie that held the note to the door. I bent over to pick up the rose and then walked into the house. I sat down on the couch and stared at the note for a while before opening it. Behind me, Anope stuck his head in the window and watched me. He stretched his neck in to touch the rose I extended to him with his muzzle and then retreated back with a snort. I laughed and opened the note. I stared at it, surprised to see that there wasn't any rhyme or riddle to figure out, it just said:

Why are you still here?

She needs you

I blinked and answered, "Maybe because I can't figure out these riddles. And who is 'she'?

I thought about it then cringed, "Please, don't be Shema."

Who was I kidding? Of course it was probably Shema. Ivan admitted it himself before he left to go find Navi, he was worried about her. He most likely journeyed to wherever he thought Shema ventured too and either got lost or worst. I didn't want to think about the latter. I got up and grabbed all my roses and riddles from the table. Black, white, red, yellow, and blue…maybe the colors didn't signify anything. No, they had to signify something; I got a warning about the white rose. Ah, this is just so confusing! I picked up the first riddle I got: There used to be a graying tower alone on the sea.

I haven't seen any place in Hyrule that had a graying tower near the sea. Or is that the hint? I have to go somewhere with a graying tower, is that it? There are two different seas to search though and that would take way to long. There is one south east and another south west. My forest could access both of them if Shema and Ivan followed certain paths.

I'll search both, the closest one is south east, so I guess there would be best.

I lay back on the hay bales on the ranch. I've been waiting for my best friend Shema for a long time now. She has been gone too long for comfort. I suspect that she went into the unknown forest without me. Right now, I'm too worried about her to be angry. This is the exact reason why I wanted to go with her! If she got in trouble, I might be able to help her. Probably not much, because she is a Sheikah and all, but you know, just a little back up. She could have at least said 'good bye' and taken the horse she always uses. The grey mare, Laika, has been her favorite since the foal was born. I have always thought those too made a charming pair. They both have grey hair and they both look depress every now and then. Grey and depressed, but both are absolutely beautiful. When I was younger, before I truly met Shema, I was a little jealous of her beauty. I never thought I was exceptionally pretty until she convinced me otherwise.

She told my mother one day, "Maylei is not conceded and not convinced of her beauty."

Those were pretty strong words for a seven year old. That was the same day she was awarded with her Sheikah badge and was given a grey suite. When she finished and passed her course, she walked over to the ranch and introduced herself. I was a little snippy with her even though her beauty was now hidden beneath a cowl. She didn't seem to care though, whenever I snapped at her, she just smiled and gave me her soft black eyes. It was as if she was saying, "I forgive you", every time I messed up. When she decided that it was time for her too go she dug in her pocket and handed me a crafted piece of silver in the shape of a heart and said, "I'll be back."

She then walked over to my mother and said the words that stuck to me for 10 years. I keep the silver heart on a chain around my neck and I never take it off. After that day, Shema has always been the best friend a girl can ever get. When she came back the next day, she admitted to me that she has always wanted to make me a friend, but couldn't get close enough to me without me suddenly leaving as I approached. I still can't forgive myself for being that hateful towards her.

Now, we do everything together! You can hardly separate us. She even took me to the forest she and her family live in one time! I felt like I was going to cry. She trusted me enough to take her to her families' hide out. It was then I met her hotheaded brother Kheisho and her parents Sheik and Khema. I was completely star struck by all of them. When I met Impa and asked her if there were other Sheikahs, she told me some amazing stories about this family. Sheik and Khema were amazing. They were both so strong and practically perfect, but they were even a little bit vain about it. They didn't say one word about their accomplishments and they kept their lives pretty hidden, though that may be because they are Sheikah also. 'Sheikahs are secretive', I have heard that expression all my life. I have always thought that it was a stereotypical thing to say about them but…I think I believe it now. They don't seem too offended by it anyway. As I was saying, nigh inseparable we were and still are. But I can't feel, but a little hurt that she left without me. She probably has her reasons. I can't grudge over something as trivial as this.

"Maylei!" my mother called from the sable.

I shot out of my musings and stood from the hay bale. I ran to the barn and looked for my mother. I was surprised to see her standing and chatting lightly with Shema's brother, Kheisho. He turned and grinned. I could tell he was grinning even though he had a red cowl coving himself. His eyes always squinted when he smiled, but not like you know I'm-staring-into-the-sun type of squint.

My mother laughed at whatever joke or witty saying he just told and said, "Maylei's here. Bye Kheisho."

"Bye, Mrs. Malon!" he said cheerfully.

"I told you not to call me that." She answered and then left.

Before I could say anything he turned to me and said confidently, "I know, you are completely fascinated about why, the dead sexy Kheisho, is visiting you but hold back on the 'squees' and attempted kisses."

I shook my head and replied, "Shut up, you vain idiot."

He put his hand to his heart and teased, "Maylei…you kill me. Why do you treat me, so?"

"Because you are a vain idiot."

Though I would never admit this to anyone, especially Shema, I have always had a little crush on Kheisho. But I knew that it wouldn't work out between us and he was my best friend's older brother, by two minuets. Two minuets are two years in the friendship world. I wouldn't do that to Shema. She would probably rip my head off anyway. I wasn't going to take the chance.

"Do you need something?" I ask him.

He got down on one knee and cried, "I need you, Maylei!"

We do this all the time, it didn't mean anything. Kheisho had his eyes on someone else right now. So did I actually, but my crush on him will never fully fade, I guess.

"As do I!" I played along, "We should run away together and leave everything behind!"

He fake gasped and put his hands to his cheeks, "You would do that Maylei? You would leave everything behind and run away with me."

"Yes, Kheisho," I started and prepared for a completely random rant, "We should runaway together! We should steal a couple of turtles and ride them to the ocean and then hop a ship to another land. There, we will skip hand in hand to a lime green castle covered in pineapples and tangerines! Then we will hire a leprechaun as a maid and ride a giraffe to the towns every Wednesday morning!"

Kheisho grinned and got up, "You do realize I'm going to hold you too that."

I laughed and said, "Seriously now, do you need something?"

He nodded and got a little more serious, he wasn't capable of loosing the permanent grin, "Yeah, I was wondering if Shema sent any word to you."

"No, she hasn't. Do you think something has…?"

"I bet she is fine, but you know me," he says shrugging, "I'm always concerned for my little sis. You do know she is never dating and never getting married right?"

I rolled my eyes, "What does she have to say about that?"

"She doesn't have any say in that matter!" Kheisho said defiantly.

I laughed.

"Ha! You think I'm kidding! Well, that is all I needed. See ya later, Maylei!" he said as he hopped through one of the windows and ran back towards his home.

"See ya, Kheisho." I said quietly with a smile.

I would kill to have a brother like that.

Dameglück scanned us once more; letting us one by one out of our cages. Big mistake on her part…well…at least I thought it was until she closed the window. Navi and I both groaned and waited for our turns to be freed.

"Are you ready to go out my handsome Teufel?" Dameglück asked, "And you, my lovely Engel, are your ready?"

We both acted as if we were really excited and then darted out the cage to pretend to play with the other fairies. She laughed happily at the sight of us and stroked us once on both of our heads. I had an urge to poke her with some of my fairy magic, but I held back. She checked off her other creatures as well before she went to the back room. Once she was gone Navi and I immediately stopped our feigned joy and flew frantically around the room. With no windows, it was hard to escape. We froze when we heard a pecking at the window to the right. We both looked over and saw the raven that helped Navi find the tower. We both shot to him and stood on the sill.

"Can I offer you a hand, little fairy?" the raven asked Navi.

"Please!" she answered.

"Fly to the other end of the room and wait."

We did as we were told and waited, until we heard a tapping noise on the wall. The raven quickly pecked a hole through one of the weak spots in the wooden wall.

"Alright, my lass, hurry now." He called to Navi.

"Thank you, so much!" she cried and we squeezed through the hole.

I flew quickly to the roof and sighed. Navi and the raven followed and we all sat there.

After a silence the raven said with his accent, "Are you both alright?"

We nodded and thanked him. He just shook his head and waved away our thanks and asked, "Are you going to leave this time?"

Again we nodded, "We have to send word to some people to come and rescue Shema."

"Yes…I was wondering…If you two didn't mind…I would like to…go with…" he broke off.

"Do you want to travel with us?" I asked a little surprised.

"Uh, yes, if you don't mind some extra company."

Navi smiled, "Of course you can come. You'll like it in Hyrule."

"Vielen Dank." He replied with a bow of his head, "Ich verdanke dich viel."

Mine and Navi's eyes narrowed, "Uh…yeah."

The raven laughed and said, "My name is Krähe. May I know the names of whom I am traveling with?"

"My name is Navi," she answered.

"I'm Ivan." I said in turn.

Krähe nodded and said, "So where are we headed first? It seems we have to get going soon, before the woman finds out that you two escaped."

Navi suddenly was grinning, "Yes…you two go ahead without me."

"WHAT?!" I screamed.

"I have a plan, just go." She said waving us away.

"But-

"Go!"

"You-

"Go get Dark Link and the others! For me?"

I knew my red glow just got a little brighter before I nodded and turned to Krähe, "We're going fast now."

"Nothing I can't handle." He said with a hint of pride in his voice.

"Be careful," I said to her, "If anything happens to y-

"Ivan…quick," She said quietly.

I swallowed and took off without another word with Krähe following behind.

I threw Katze over my shoulder when I caught her and started to walk back to the farm house. I reached there at daybreak and started across the pasture. I could hear Freundlich and Dankbar calling her name and I could see their shadows moving from window to window. When I reached the porch and climbed up the steps, the door burst open. They obviously suspected that the footsteps were hers, for there were relieved smiled on their faces. When they saw me with Katze on my shoulder, the happy faces disappeared. Dankbar bowed his head and backed away from me. He knew better then to look me in the eye; I think I beat that bad habit out of him when I first caught the little runt. I walked in the house without an invitation and threw Katze unto the couch.

"What happened?" asked Freundlich staring down at her.

"It looks like we got a little escaper." I replied with a grin.

I couldn't help the grin. I knew that soon enough, I'll have Katze all to myself.

"She…tried to run away? What did I do?" he said sadly.

I shook my head in fake sympathy, "Probably nothing. She just isn't ready to be bought yet."

I waited patiently for Freundlich to finish his thinking.

"Maybe you are right…" he says kneeling down and stroking her hair, "She just seemed so happy."

I said nothing.

Freundlich abruptly stopped petting my girl and stood. His sudden movement caused me to look and see her eyes slowly opening lethargically. She looked up at Freundlich a little surprised, but when her attention turned to my direction, she gasped a little and recoiled away from me. She soon recovered from her shock and snarled at me.

"Katze…" Freundlich said quietly putting his hand on hers. Her evil face disappeared as she jerked her hand slightly at the sudden touch, "Are you really that unhappy here?"

She looked confused for a second, before realization flooded her eyes that seemed to have foreseen dread in her future.

Before she could get the courage to speak I quickly said, "So what is your decision?"

"I guess…you are right Übel." He said pulling his hand away from hers.

I pulled out the chains that I always kept on me just in case and watched her beautiful face fill with distress. Oh, how I love the way she reacted to things. She started to scramble away from me, but I caught her slender wrists and managed to lock them behind her. She was face down on the couch with wide eyes staring up at Freundlich for help. He isn't going to help you, sweetie.

"I see you have gotten back in your original outfit." Freundlich said looking down at her, "You are all ready then."

"Time to go back, Katze," I say tightening her chains on her wrists, causing her to wince. She silenced and tensed when I snuck a touch.

I made her stand and she walked quietly with me until we climbed down the steps of the porch. When we reached the bottom she automatically started to struggle. She turned so she faced me and started to back up. She managed to pull most of the chains out of my hand, but I twisted it around my arm and with all my strength I tugged back towards me and caught her in my arms. She cried out and writhed, but I shoved her down and slammed her head to the ground she groaned and stopped momentarily. Before she separated her thoughts to struggle again I hit her full force on the side of the head. Behind me I heard both Freundlich and Dankbar gasp and heard small footsteps run forward, but was stopped. I knew without turning around that Freundlich had grabbed a hold on Dankbar to save him from my beating that he would have got if he dared to interfere.

Katze was noticeably dazed. Her eyes at one point started to roll to the back of her head. I slapped her lightly on the cheek so she wouldn't pass out. She may be very skinny, but after a few miles, even the skinniest person was kind of a hassle. I grabbed her by the collar and lifted her to her feet. She swayed a little and almost fell, but I caught her around the waist just in time. I put my arm around her waist and started to lead her away. I turned to see the two on the porch one last time before I left and almost laughed at Dankbar's pained face. Freundlich was in front of him and was leaning down whispering in his ear with his hand on the back of his neck. He was calming him down and trying to get him not to run to her. Finally, Dankbar apparently gave up because Freundlich straightened and stroked his head a little before luring him back inside. I scoffed and shook my head; Freundlich is way too nice to his slaves. They needed to be treated with strict discipline and make them know that they are lower then their masters. I just hope that the fool didn't ruin my kitten even more then she was already. Even if she is…I can fix that.

Kheisho: I'm finally in the story!

Draculina: Happy now?

Kheisho: Damn straight!

Himmels: Glad to hear it...

Sheik and Khema: Yeah, good for you, Kheisho. Now its our turn.

Himmels and Draculina: Oh, come ooooon! -head and desk-

German Meanings

Vielen Dank: Thank you very much

Ich verdanke dich viel: I owe you much

Krähe: Crow