Chapter Nine

The water chilled Zelda and Malon to the bone. The strong current pulled them under the water every so often; it seemed more of a good thing since the guards noticed nothing under the river.

It was extremely hard to fight the water and bring Malon's head up over the water, since she didn't have a lot of expertise on swimming. However each of them managed to make it past the many guards that patrolled the area, almost bored at the fact that nothing had happened ever since they were posted there.

However, the girls found it easier when the last small waterfall came, easing the current, and Malon began to realize she was outside Zora's River and back into Hyrule Field. She looked in front of her to see that Zelda was alive and well, although coughing a bit of water, just like Malon had. The two girls out of the entire group had managed to escape.

Malon became horrified, remembering how Ganondorf hurried as fast as he could to take all of his armor off and dive into the water. She knew because she and Zelda helped him with it. However, Malon could only do so much, not knowing the articulate ways of Gerudo armor. However, strangely enough, Zelda seemed quite knowledgeable and quick thinking in such a state of affairs.

Now that she thought about it. Zelda seemed to know a lot about different things such as taking off armor to easily swimming through the strong current. She knew how to sword fight, though not as good as Sheik or Link-

Malon frowned once more and checked behind her for any other survivors. They were the only two that had escaped Serenity's clutches. By now, Malon wondered if Sheik and the two Gerudos that she happily called her good friends had survived. Perhaps they escaped another way? Maybe they were good enough sword fighters to kill off the guards. She only saw two that had managed to nab Ganondorf from their grasp.

They had passed a small cave, and Malon realized they were nearing Kakariko Village. She saw Zelda stop and cling onto the bridge that connected the dirt path from Hyrule Castle to Kakariko Village. Malon caught up to her and did the same as they awkwardly climbed onto dry ground.

The two girls wheezed for fresh air and shivered through their soaking wet clothes. Zelda looked over to Malon.

"Come on," Zelda said, weakly standing up and holding out her hand for the farm girl. "We have to move or else we'll get caught."

"How would we get caught now?" Malon asked. "All the guards know is that we're two Hylians who accidentally tripped and fell into the moat."

"They also know," Zelda stated as she fixed her collar, covering up the band around her neck that revealed the Triforce of Wisdom. "That you have helped a dozen Gerudos and was caught with the Gerudo King. Many of the guards won't recognize you, but we have to watch out for the ones that do."

Malon nodded. Zelda made a very good point. She smiled internally. After all that Zelda had done, it was quite obvious that she was apart of the Royal Family.

They both tiredly made their way up to the stairs that led to Kakariko Village. Malon was about to reach for the stairs when she felt a figure come up behind her. She went to whip around for a back fist, but the attack was swiftly blocked.

"Malon, you're definitely much stronger than I had perceived," Link complimented with a smile. She widened her eyes and hugged him instantly.

"Don't scare me like that!" she said, stifling the tears that threatened to pour out. "Dark Link said that you were attacked. We almost thought you had died!"

Link sighed and looked at the very relieved Zelda. "No, Serenity knocked me out. I tried to delay her but she caught word of my plans. She knows that I'm a traitor."

Zelda nodded. "We tried to escape. They got here too fast. Sheik and Nabooru were left behind to try and block the guards. Most likely they're dead now," she winced as she said that, her voice cracking at those words. Link stiffened as Malon began to silently cry.

"They've got Ganondorf," Malon sobbed. "I tried to get him, but they grabbed him in the water. I didn't have enough air. I-"

"It's okay Malon," Link said soothingly. Zelda grinded her teeth.

"Serenity will keep Ganondorf alive, but she doesn't have the power to take the Triforce from him," Zelda explained. "No doubt, she'll try and torture it out of him."

Dark Link popped out of the shadows, cursing Serenity to no end.

"We have to stop her," Link's shadow said. "We can't let her break the man and end up giving her what she wants."

"Ganondorf is very strong," Zelda said. "But Dark is right. We should do this as soon as possible."

They all agreed and set off for the castle through the moat once more, to both Zelda and Malon's dismay. However Link pointed out that they should also scale the walls in case the guards catch them. Zelda snappishly pointed out that he had no idea how cold the water was. Link responded with rolling his eyes.

"Fine, get caught by the guards, get sent back in jail again, and foil all our plans," Link said angrily. He was angry. He was rather ticked after Serenity had swung him over the top of the head with a candlestick and then went off and killed and captured his best friends.

"Children!" Malon instantly said separating the fuming two. "This is not the time to argue!"

Zelda silently agreed and kept her mouth shut, but shot daggers at Link, who only sent them towards her. All Link's duty of protection was wiped clean from his mind. However, a little argument didn't count as breaking the promise of guardianship.

The hookshot was strong enough to carry Link and the two light weighted girls. When they got to the other side, the Hylians dashed through the empty streets, and thankfully, it had turned to night again.

Instead of taking the stealthy way in, like Zelda suggested, Link waved it off and knocked the first guard out, and taking the master keys with him. He then turned to his shadow.

"You're going to go with Malon and distract the guards," Link explained. "Zelda and I will get Ganondorf out of prison."

"What if Serenity is there," Dark Link asked.

Link's eyes flashed. "That's why I'm going." Dark understood completely, as did the two girls.

They split off, as Malon and Dark headed for the sound of voices echoing faintly through the halls, while Link and Zelda scoured through the cells as people begged for mercy to be set free from their ghastly prison.

Zelda's eyes raised in shock as she saw a mere child of twelve sitting in a cell for fully-grown men. Her anger instantly rose for Serenity.

"Why is a child sitting in a cell for murderers?" Zelda whispered to Link. He turned over to the boy. The small dark hared child looked up with red eyes. Link frowned.

"He's a Sheikah," Link explained. "Serenity wanted all the Sheikah captured or killed."

Zelda pulled the keys from Link's grasp and instantly opened the cell. Link's eyes widened.

"What are you doing!" Link whispered angrily back. He was about to take the keys back when the woman opened the cell for the child. The boy's blood red eyes lit with joy as he slowly walked up to Zelda.

"Thank you," he said. Zelda made a nod back.

"What's your name?" she asked calmly and quietly, as if she was having a normal conversation with the boy.

"Regen," he said simply. "I know who you are, Princess of the Royal Family. I thank you greatly for removing me from this prison."

"You said that already," Zelda said with a smile. Regen rubbed his back hair embarrassingly.

"Interesting," Zelda began. "You must be of the Sheikah. Regen means rain, if I'm correct," the boy nodded in agreement.

"Don't get caught now okay?" she finished. The boy nodded and leapt out the window gracefully into the night.

Link glared at her. "We can't afford time just because you pity some of the people. The more time we waste, the less time we have to free Ganondorf."

Zelda nodded. "I know, but Serenity captured the Sheikah to get to me. I can't help but feel that their death and imprisoning is my fault."

Link's eyes softened at that. He knew she wasn't doing it to waste time, but he couldn't help but feel for Zelda. He couldn't tell her that she was completely wrong.

"It is Serenity who captured them. It is Serenity who killed them, do not blame yourself for something someone else had done," he stated. Zelda didn't respond to that, but it sounded like she took the words to heart.

And soon after that, with a mental cry of joy, the two blonde Hylians found the large Gerudo. He was alone. There was no Serenity there. However, it looked as if she had already gotten to him.

His entire set of armor was removed, leaving him in his thin brown clothes, which were torn open from various cuts, bruises and welts. Link widened his eyes.

"Ganondorf," Link said in shock. "What did they-"

He stopped, already knowing that Serenity had him threatened, beaten and whipped. However, when Ganondorf looked up to meet their eyes, his eye patch still on his head, he grinned his usual grin.

"All right," Ganondorf smirked. "The food was good. I hadn't had salted meat in a long time."

If Link weren't under serious circumstances such as this, he would've laughed. Instead, he and Zelda rushed forward to open the door and release the cheerful man. Serenity hadn't broken the tough Gerudo just yet.

It appeared that nothing was broken when the Gerudo walked out of the jail cell. The only wince he got came from the bleeding welt on his side.

"Are you all right," Zelda said, concern in her voice. "They really hurt you."

Ganondorf smirked. "What do you expect? It's Serenity. She's not going to give me flowers."

No one made a comment about that. "I've dealt with worse," Ganondorf finished, waving off his injuries. And by doing so, when he was released from his prison, he gave a very goron-like bone-crushing hug to Link. It nearly knocked out all the air in him.

And then, before they could smile and cheer any longer, they all heard the click of the gun as Serenity appeared with a smirk on her face. The gun she held was pointed directly at Zelda, making both Link and Ganondorf frown and glare at the woman.

Serenity smirked. "Don't celebrate just yet."

Link looked from Serenity and back to Zelda, who held her ground when facing the barrel of the gun.

"You're not going to kill her," Link stated. "If you do, you lose the Triforce."

"On the contrary," Serenity spat an evil grin on her face and murderous intent in her flashing blue eyes. "If I kill this offspring of the damned Royal Family. There will be no 'destined' leader of Hyrule. You know that Link. You know that your entire plan fails if this girl is dead."

She kept the gun to Zelda's head. "I don't want that Triforce. An-" she thought for a moment for the best word. "An acquaintance wants it. My part of the deal is to rule Hyrule forever."

She looked over at Link, as her evil grin disappeared with a more serious one. "Don't you understand? My dream is and always was to become Queen."

She shot a deadly glare at Zelda with bared teeth. "I could never do that because this little common girl is the damned 'chosen one'!"

Zelda stayed calm and serious throughout her whole explanation. "All you want is the power to control everything. You've been doing so by using nothing but lies and images. You're not leader of the people of Hyrule. The people of Hyrule are controlling you. They need a strong and truthful leader. Not one who has to convince their people that they are the epitome of a goddess."

"And you're saying that you can do all that little miss perfect," Serenity mocked her in a high-pitched voice. Zelda didn't sink to her level though.

"I don't know. But I know you're not fit for the job," Zelda finished bluntly and cruelly. That seemed to hurt Serenity more than Serenity's mocking words hurt her.

Serenity ignored her instead and walked up, the barrel touched Zelda's head, as Link growled at the woman's threat.

"I am going to pull this trigger," she said sadistically, her evil smirk returning to her face. "And I'm going to Watch. You. Die."

They were strong and evil words, but Zelda still kept strong, a simple look on her face as if she pitied the evil and insane woman pointing the gun at her forehead.

Suddenly, they began to hear footsteps, and Link almost laughed at the stupid thing that Serenity had done at that moment.

It was a moment that Malon had arrived. She held a guard's sword in her hand, and was ready to attack Serenity at that moment. However, stealth was not her greatest talent as Serenity swung her gun over and went to pull the trigger.

"No!" Link shouted and out of instincts, ran forward and body slammed into Serenity. Her hand went upwards as she pulled the trigger and managed to hit Malon straight in the heart.

"Malon!" Zelda cried and rushed to her fallen body.

Link, in a rage, removed the gun from Serenity's disposal and grabbed her shoulders in anger and shock.

"You stupid bitch!" he roared in anger, slamming her against the floor. "Why the fuck did you have to shoot-"

Link caught himself before he could do something drastic to the smirking woman, who was satisfied by the raging Hylian's reaction. He looked up to see Zelda beside Malon, who appeared completely dead.

Ganondorf was also at her side, patting Zelda and looking over to Link. He shook his head with a frown.

"She didn't make it," he managed to say in a cracked voice, as Zelda mourned for her friend. Link's throat tightened and shock overtook him. He could barely breathe by the fact that his very first friend outside of the forest was gone and dead by the woman he had fallen in love with and had betrayed him.


So I killed half the characters in this fic... So what? A little character death suddenly so bad?

Perhaps, but that's your opinion. Feel free to give it to me anyway... I like reviews... I don't get many but I appreciate the ones that I do get.

Like Anacalyptic. I totally agree with you. I fell in love with Sheik, and excluding Link, he's my super favorite character. I was so sad to have him die, seeing as his personality is based on a very good friend of mine.

Anyway, that's my chapter. Review if you like it, and review if you think this story is as crappy and unoriginal as a Zelink romance... joking, joking. I'm kidding I swear. Don't flame me because I made that comment, or else I will bash your head into my slow computer for being so overly offended by something so silly.