Disclaimer: Don't own


Juli Trudged up the stars to the highest cell hold with vigor. Curiosity controlled her movements as soon as she had heard. It had been a very eventful week. First the four Carpenters and now this wanna-be hero from yesterday. How could so many men break in, in so little time?

She pushed the worn-out wooden door in slightly, and peered though the crack. The Prisoner lay on his side, chained hand and foot, and tied to the far wall. She looked back just in case someone might have been watching her. Seeing no one nearby She pushed the door in further, and snuck in.

She could tell right away that the captive was Hyrulian from his token ears. Walking closer, Juli saw he was asleep.

She sat on her calves and cocked her head in puzzlement.

"How on earth can you sleep like that?" she asked, knowing he couldn't hear her.

She reached out and moved his long bangs out of his face, and smiled.

"Too bad you were caught. You're kinda cute."

His eyes shot open, revealing emerald green irises. Startled, Juli fumbled back and let out a short gasp.

"Don't. You dare. Scream."

"I won't…"

The prisoner rolled up into a sitting position.

"Ugh. Why is everyone so uptight?"

"What do you… everyone's 'uptight' because you infiltrated our fortress! On top of that, you released our prisoners!"

"Oh please, what would you have done with prisoners like that? Did Ganon tell you to hold captive every poor dumb sap that wandered in here?"

His voice was surly; groggy even.

"What business is it of yours how we run our own village, Hyrulian! How dare you insinuate that I'd be taking orders from that monster! And it's Ganondorf for your information!"

"Hyru--- ?! Oh yeah…."

"…Hey, didn't you have blue eyes before?"

He didn't answer. His attention was directed at the door. Footsteps were heard just outside.

He threw himself onto the ground and told her to look like she was tightening his binds.

She did so immediately.

The door was slammed open only a minute or two later.

"Eh…um, don't bother trying to escape boy!"

(Smooth)

"That won't be necessary, Juli. He'll be helping us look for Nabooru."

He and Juli looked up at her in surprise.

"Well? Get moving! We only have so much daylight here!!"

"…I'm kind of tied up at the moment." He chuckled at the timing of the joke.

"(Snort) Untie the smart ass."

Hours later, four Gerudos, including Juli, escorted him through the haunted wasteland. By now, the winds picked up, kicking up the loose sand and making it incredibly hard to see more than a few inches away from your face.

"Third in command! This is too dangerous to walk through! We need to stop and rest!!"

Juli screamed over the howling storm.

"Alright! Everyone down!" She yelled. "Juli! Make sure our 'guide' doesn't get away!"

"Yes Maim!"

While the rest of the group hunkered down and waited for the storm to pass, Juli ran for the captive guide.

"Hey, will you kill Ganondorf? You hate him too right?"

"Uh… yeah I do more than you can ever imagine!"

She seemed to struggle with something before finally coming out with it.

"Well… we're still serious about finding Lady Nabooru. Normally she would report to us how she was doing. It's been seven years and we haven't heard from her yet. …If I let you go, will you go to the spirit temple to find her? And get rid of Ganon too?"

He smiled mischievously. "I'd be my pleasure kiddo."

She fumed "I'm not a kid! I'm fourteen thank you very much!"

"Sorry. Those terms are more than agreeable."

Her eyes lit up. In her excitement, she rushed up and kissed him flat on the lips.

"Really?! That's great!"

"Juli! What's happ….ver there?!"

She looked back, nervously. "Their never going to let you get far if… I need your sword quickly!" She pulled the blade out and lightly held it against her torso.

"What are you doing?!"

"I'm setting up the scene." Juli pressed down, causing the blade to cut through her, but not seriously injure. She did the same with her arms and legs.

"Ok, when I cut the rope around your wrists, run for it! Here, take your sword back."

He was too stunned to disagree. Who was this person? They just met, and she was willing to injure herself so he could get away?"

"Just come back later ok?"

"Juli!! Answer! What's going on?"

"Get going!"

He sprinted off into the dessert just as confused as ever.

"AAAAAAGHH!! IT'S HORRIBLE!!! THAT MAN'S INSANE!! AAAGH!"

"What happened! Where is he?!"

"HE ATTACKED ME THEN RAN AWAY!!"

"What! Which way did he go!"

"I- I didn't see … the storm… ugh, I-I'm sorry Third in command, I f-failed you. .I- oh… it hurts!"

The Third in Command stared off in to the swallowing sands, growling softly.

"No, don't feel bad, Juli, you were inexperienced was all. Not to worry. He'll die out there eventually. After the storm clears, we can continue our search. She smiled viciously as she said the last bit.

Juli now began if she did the right thing, sending him off like that.

Miles away, Badge, laid down near a dune, as the wind-blown grains of sand, grazed his skin.

"Errgh! Link! Snap out of it! I can't keep this up forever!"

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Night fell, and along with it, the temperature. What was once a blisteringly hot climate was now a freezing landscape. His time in the fortress felt ages old and far behind him.

He wandered through the dessert, unfazed.

"Link?"

("…What?")

"Why aren't you out here? What's wrong with you?"

("Zelda… I really want to see her. I don't know….")

"Don't know what? If you'll ever see her again? Don't give me that! Of course you'll see her! The shadow-lady said she was alive and well didn't she?"

("Yes...")

"Don't tell me you plan on dieing before seeing her after hearing that! So long as there's the smallest chance, why would you ever choose to give up?"

Link didn't say anything in response. He couldn't. But badge knew he had heard every word. Instead of any intelligible words, he heard a soft sobbing.

"…. I'll get us there, if you promise to take over when we get in the temple, alright?"

("…alright")