A/N: In the last update, there were three new chapters but no new material; I broke chapters three, four and five in half cuz they were too long, and just moved everything else up. See the '09 revision note in chapter three for more details. Yes. (randomly starts dancing) Anyway, CHAPTER 14 ALREADY!?

Niagra: This story's growing up so fast! (sob)

Link: But you just split the chapters, that's why. o.O

A/N: (ignores; looks at reader) Ya'll ready for the mountains!? Yay! But with snow, comes sadness... coughdramacough. (cue sad music) Soap opera time. WITb style! HIT IT, RYO!

Ryo: (a-HErrmmMM!)

-:: Last time ::-

"Hi we're very tired adventurers and we wanna sleep for a little bit and we know no one's here in the daytime so can we use it all right thanks a bunch!" she said in one breath. By the time the two juggler twins looked up, the six had settled in their individual bunks and had knocked out. Tatl slept in another random bunk and Nicole hugged Crash like a pillow. They shrugged and continued playing cards...

... But the blue-clad twin had to glance at the blond in the corner. "Ooh. Just my type..."

Nicole shot up from her bed. "DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT."

Crash bared his fangs at him, eyes glowing red and foam pouring out of its mouth. Blue-clad guy 'eep!'-ed and scooted away.

In the corner, Link just shuddered.

Soon the eight were fast asleep, just as the rooster crowed at the dawn of the Final Day...

–

` Stock Pot Inn :: The Final Day + 11:18am `

–

It was a beeaauuutiful, shining morning!

Kind of.

"Maybe the Snowhead rep is Brian," Link said offhandedly as he dipped some bread in his soup. He and Nicole were sitting on the counter in the Stock Pot Inn's kitchen, eating breakfast soup with bread rolls as they made small talk. "Cuz you know. Brian's cold and tough. Like ice!"

Nicole tilted her head. "Maaaybe, maaaaybe not..." A pause. She eyed his other bread roll. "You gonna eat that."

The blond sweatdropped, already handing it to her. She cheered and munched on it. "You know Nic, if you keep eating like this you're gonna gain weight and it'll be hard to fight."

"Heh, no worries! I have a fast metabolism."

"For now."

"Yeah, probably when I'm thirty I'll blow up. MWAHAHAAHA!"

Meanwhile Anju stirred the soup pot by the stove, smiling as she eavesdropped on their odd conversation. These random kids burst into her inn at six in the morning and took over the Circus Troupe's room, but for some reason she didn't mind. To be honest, it felt like she already met them, already knew them, and even already fed them. So when the brunette and blond came bounding up to her asking for food she didn't decline and gave them some breakfast happily.

It was an odd feeling; this sense of déjà vu whenever they were around.

But it wasn't the creepy déjà vu. More like the reassuring type.

"Hey Anju! Thanks for breakfast!"

The redhead looked, seeing the kids coming over. They handed over their already-washed bowls. "Your soup's awesome, as always!" Link grinned. "Next time can you make meat pie?"

Anju blushed at the compliment. "Thank you... and, sure! Just let me know!"

Nicole cheered. "Yaaaay! Anju's meat pie! I always wanted to taste it ever since she mentioned it in chapter seven..." Link nodded in agreement. Then the Asian girl looked at the clock on the wall. "Hey, it's only 11:30. I think I'll go back to sleep!"

"What? But we just ate..."

"But I'm sweeeeppyyy..."

"Fine. Don't blame me when you get too heavy to fight..."

"... Haha, Link. Be thankful I'm Nicole and not Ines or Hayarpi, cuz you so would've been slapped by now."

The woman watched as the two teens sauntered down the hall and back upstairs to the Circus Troupe room. She laughed a bit at their dialogue, going to put the bowls away in the cabinet.

But then Anju froze.

~ "Your soup is awesome, as always!" Link grinned.

"As always"? But, she never gave them her soup until today...

~ Nicole cheered. "Yaaaay! Anju's meat pie!"

... And how did they know Anju could make meat pie?!

–

` Snowhead Mountain :: Dawn of The First Day + 8:00am `

–

Three days later—err, before, after finishing their nap at the inn and taking care of other needs, the team was back in the north. They braved the perilous Snowhead Pass and now stood at the end of it, determined eyes gazing up at the white temple in the distance. A violent snowstorm raged around them but they kept their footing firm. Floating by their side was a pale yellow fairy, scouting the area, and on the floor a White Boe, prepared to attack any surprise enemies.

Then a snowflake collided into Nicole's eye.

"AAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHH!! I'm BLIIIIIIIND!" she fell to the floor and convulsed.

At that everyone stopped their epic-posing and slouched. Crash turned off its guard-dog mode and started bouncing.

Brian crossed his arms. "Why are we just standing here?! Let's go in the temple already!"

Gilbert shook his head. "We can't, there's a—"

"DON'T THINK YOU CAN TALK TO ME JUST CUZ WE RESET TIME."

Gilbert's eye twitched.

Despite this epic setting, the dynamics within the group weren't so cool. There were two couples in the party but at the moment they were separated. Literally; Brian and Ines stood far to the left, and Hayarpi and Gilbert to the right.

However this was changed when Gilbert marched over, getting all up in Brian's grill. "Gah! What the heck, man! You asked a question, so I freakin' answered! What's so wrong about that?!" Now Gilbert really didn't like conflict, but the guy could only take so much yelling at before he exploded too...

Brian scoffed at him. "Your answer's just empty space; for all I know it could be lies!"

"Why would I lie about why we can't go in the temple?!"

"Idiot, it's not about the temple!"

"I'm not an idiot, you're just short-tempered!"

"Go the hell!"

"After you!"

"GRR!"

"GRRRR!!"

The two boys dove at each other's necks, strangling and punching. Tatl gaped from beside them. "Wooow. Look at that! Gilbert's fighting. Gilbert, the guy who... well, doesn't fight."

Nicole sobbed. "It's heartbreaking, isn't it."

"Actually it's kinda fascinating. I didn't know the kid had it in him!"

To the right Ines and Hayarpi stood quietly, not facing each other.

Link's eye twitched at everything. Such drama! Sheesh! He looked at Nicole. "Niiic! I thought you said they'd get over it!"

"And they will!" Nicole sweatdropped. "You just... gotta give it time." she eyed the two fighting boys. "A lot more time..."

Link twitched again. Tatl flew up next to him. "Yeah, just let them squabble on their own. But as much as I want to watch bloodshed, you guys should hurry and figure out what we're gonna do about this storm! The wind'll blow us off that ledge before we can even get to the temple's entrance..." She looked over at the two boys. "AND WOULD YOU GUYS STOPPIT ALREADY?!"

Gilbert and Brian froze, grumbling as they let go of each others' necks.

And so everyone thought for a moment. Hayarpi took out her Lens of Truth and then gasped at what she saw. "Whoa, you guys... it's a gigantic Goron!"

Tatl raised an eyebrow. "Doing what?"

"Uh... blowing at us...?"

Everyone gave her a 'wtf' look but when they looked through their own lenses...

Gilbert put his lens down. "Now that I know what's actually happening, I feel kind of awkward."

"No wonder it smells funny here," Ines grumbled.

"Cuz his breath stinks?" Hayarpi sweatdropped.

Ines death-glared at her. Hayarpi scooted away nervously.

"Linkehh," Nicole sobbed as she sidled up to him.

Link eyed her. "What?"

"I'm craving pancakes..."

"What the—we just ate! Seriously, why are you always hungry lately!? Stop stuffing your face!"

"But... but...!"

And so Link started scolding her, Nicole burst out sobbing, Ines was still death-glaring, Hayarpi was scooching away, Brian was growling and Gilbert's eye twitched back at him madly.

Tatl flew over to a wall and banged her head repeatedly.

–

` Snowhead Temple `

–

Somehow the group had made it to the temple.

"Aw man, it's even more freezing in here," Tatl grumbled, shuddering. "I hate the c-c-cold!"

Nicole ignored her and cheered. "All riiight! Our second temple! Who's excited?!"

"I aaaaammm!" Link tried. He looked to the other four earthlings. They were looking in different directions. "... Fine. KJ people." He started walking forward but backed up again when some White Boes jumped out from behind the icicles. "Whoa!"

Immediately Crash jumped in front of him, baring its teeth at the other White Boes. The White Boes blinked, then backed down, going back behind their places. Link grinned. "Wow, thanks Crash! You sure are useful."

Crash ran away.

Link sweatdropped. "What'd I say?!"

Gilbert gasped as he tried chasing after it, but Crash had already disappeared into the snow. "What the... where'd it go?"

"Aww, your pet's gone," Tatl cackled. Gilbert pouted. "Don't worry, I have a feeling we'll see him later. Okaycomeonlet'sgo."

The six exchanged glances but sighed, nodding. A giant block and a white Wolfos later, they came upon a room with two levels, lava on the first and a bridge at the top. Everyone looked around...

"What's that?" Brian called, pointing. In the lower level was a stone structure that had a colorful bubble in it. Something looked trapped inside it too.

"Someone pop it," Hayarpi said.

"Why should we listen to you," Ines side-glared at her.

Hayarpi huffed, crossing her arms and turning away. Link's eye twitched at them, drawing out his bow. "Whatever, I'll pop it, sheesh!" He aimed, then fired.

He missed.

Everyone else fell over. "You suck! Lemme try!" Nicole took out her bow, then fired.

She missed too.

Nicole twitched. "What the heeeck! That was a perfect shot!"

Everyone pointed at her and laughed.

"Let's try getting closer." Hayarpi sweatdropped. She glared at Ines not to interrupt her. But Ines was looking elsewhere anyways. Hayarpi continued. "Here, I'll lead in this temple so Link can take a break."

Link nodded his thanks. Hayarpi led the group to the bridge, looking down it. "Aw... looks like there's a gap."

Tatl rang her bell. "At slippery places like this you can roll your away across as a Goron."

"Ooh, nice idea!" Everybody slapped on their Goron Masks and did as told. When they were at the other side Link shot at the bubble again and then at another under a platform. Nicole put on the Great Fairy's mask, screamed as the fairies flew towards her, stuffed them in a bag and the seven continued on.

–
–

"Aww, look!" Gilbert grinned as they saw this thing running around making odd 'koo-kee-kee-koo!' noises. "It's like a dog!"

"More like a giant rat," Brian mumbled.

"... With a bomb on its tail," Link sweatdropped.

Gilbert was approaching it anyway. "Awww, lookit yooouu! You precious thing!"

The giant rat squealed and started running towards him.

"Yaaaay! It likes me—"

BOOM!!

–
–

Link, Nicole and Tatl were cracking up as they exited the room, dungeon map and another stray fairy in hand.

"BAHAHAH! 'IT LIKES ME,' HE SAID!" Nicole cackled as she slapped her thigh.

Link snickered. "Hehe, now we know they're nothing like dogs, right Gil?"

Gilbert, who was covered in ashes, just pouted at him. He turned to his girlfriend for any kind of sympathy... but his heart fell when he saw Ines wasn't even looking at him. Her posture was sodden with indifference... and it hurt his heart more than he thought it would.

Upon seeing that Link and Nicole's laughter halted immediately. They exchanged glances.

Tatl stopped too, looking around. Even she had to admit; it was extremely weird seeing the group fighting. Like, seriously fighting. Not just squabbling and randomly hitting each other. Because the entire time she'd been with them, they were pretty much a bunch of happy kids that were silly and had a great time with each other.

But no, not this time.

This time it seemed serious.

She coughed to clear the air. "Uh, let's keep going. C'mon."

Link nodded, looking to Hayarpi. And the Armenian girl continued to lead the way.

–
–

"Whoooa! This is HUGE!"

Huge, indeed! The next room the seven found was a gigantic atrium with five levels and several pathways and doors.

However, Hayarpi shuddered. Nicole saw her weird expression from the corner of her eye. "Yo H, wussup?"

She shook her head. "Er, nothing..." But she glanced around. "There's just... something about this chamber..."

Nicole raised an eyebrow. Hayarpi shook her head again. "N-nevermind. Let's go in that room over there." She ran away hurriedly. The rest of the team looked confused but followed her in anyway.

Inside that room was a switch which they flipped, and a chest appeared on a nearby platform. "Ooh, nice," Hayarpi grinned. She looked at Brian, deciding to reach out too... "Hey, isn't that cool? Maybe... a fairy's in that chest?"

Brian looked at her, nodding slightly. But that's it. He walked back to everyone else.

Hayarpi frowned, just staring at the snow. But she continued to lead the way despite.

As the seven exited that room and continued through the temple, Nicole pulled Link back to walk beside her. The Hylian looked at her in question. "Linky-poo, my heart hurts," she mumbled.

Link eyed her in worry. "Why, what attacked you?"

She gestured at the four earthlings in front of them. Link's eyes softened as he realized what she meant... and he sighed, putting a hand her shoulder. "Me too."

Tatl stayed quiet as she listened.

–
–

After figuring out a puzzle that involved columns, Goron pounds and timers, which accidentally left Gilbert behind, ("Leave him there," Brian grumbled. Link and Nicole smacked him. "NO!"), the seven were led back to the five-level chamber. This time they were on the third level up.

"Look, two open doors," Brian said.

"Let's try that one!" Nicole pointed. So they went in that one.

–
–

"NOTHING WAS THERE!" Ines yelled as they exited.

Nicole shrank back, sweatdropping heavily. "YOU DUN HAFTA YELL AT ME, DAWG!"

Everyone else ignored them and went to the other door. Dramatic music started playing upon their entry so they unsheathed their swords. Then an old blue guy with a cane popped up. "Hello there, children!"

"Hiiiii!" they said back like elementary kids.

Then he cast an ice beam at them.

"AAHHHHH!" They froze over.

Tatl sweatdropped and flew up. "Finally, some action! He's an enemy!"

"DUH, TATL!"

"Kill heeeem!"

"OKAY!" everybody unfroze and flailed their swords madly as they ran forward. Then they were frozen again as the old blue guy cast another ice beam.

Tatl slapped her forehead. "Use your arrows!"

"Oaahhh!" the group oah-ed as they broke out. They whipped out their bows, firing an arrow at the old blue guy before he could ice beam them again. But soon he changed his strategy and started making copies of himself.

Everyone backed up into a circle in the middle, looking around. "Er, which one is the real one?" Hayarpi mumbled as a bunch of old blue guys ran around.

"You're the leader for this temple, aren't you?" Ines growled. "You tell us!"

Finally Hayarpi snapped too. She turned on Ines, eye twitching madly. "Dammit, I don't know everything! Stop assuming I do!"

"Then don't lead us!"

"You try leading, then!"

"No way, I already led in Woodfall!"

"Then don't criticize me!"

"I can criticize you if I want!"

"GRRR!"

"GRAAHHH!"

They jumped at each other.

So while they were doing that, the fight was still going on! Nicole shoved the girls in a corner then scrambled back to the boys. "Okay okay c'mon let's kill this guy quick! Which is the real one!?"

"ICE BEAM!" Tatl screamed. Link, Nicole, Gilbert, and Brian screamed like banshees and ran away.

"YOU LIAR! (punch)"

"YOU JERK! (slap)"

Link ignored the catfight, just trying to focus on the several old blue guys. He gasped as he noticed something. "Hey, one of the old guys isn't transparent!"

"THAT'S HIM! FIRRRREEE!!" Tatl screamed like they were in a war. The four fired their arrows relentlessly at him.

And it was a success! After doing that strategy for a little while, finally the old blue guy had enough.

"Darn you, you mangly ol' kids!" he grumbled like an old man—oh wait, he was! (heehee)—as he shook his fist at the group. "Don't think this is over... not yet! I'll be back! I swear! I'm gonna get you guys! I'm gonna show up in your dreams and shove stinky socks in your face and make you eat celery—"

"CELERY NOOOO!" Nicole shrieked, jumping in Brian's arms. He dropped her immediately. "OWW!" Gilbert felt bad and picked her back up. Link sweatdropped at them.

"—and make you wash the dishes, then do my laundry, and then—"

"WOULD YOU DIE ALREADY!?" Tatl snapped.

The old blue guy 'hmph!'-ed and poofed away.

The four cheered, high fiving. Brian was about to high five Gilbert but then he realized it was Gilbert, so he turned away at the last second and Gilbert fell over. Tatl sighed.

Meanwhile, Link was already opening the chest. He gasped as he held up their prize.

"Da da da daaaa!" Nicole sang beside him.

Gilbert danced. "You got... THE FIRE ARROW! SET THINGS ABLAZE AND MELT ICE USING C!"

"Melt ice?!" Link gasped. "Awesome! Now we can open all those stupid frozen doors!"

"Good idea, let's start from the beginning," Brian nodded. And so after shoving the seething girls apart, the group continued on with their quest, Hayarpi still leading despite Ines's complaints.

But Tatl gave a sigh. Link looked at her. "Why are you sighing over there?"

"Well... I know we've gotten this far even with all their drama," the fairy gestured at the four earthlings. "But still. I can't help but get this bad feeling..."

"Hm. Foreshadowing?"

She and Link looked at nagami-sama again.

(A/N: ... :D;; ...)

They sighed and turned back. Link had to shudder, though.

Sometimes... foreshadowing wasn't exactly a good thing.

–

` Night of The First Day + 7:30pm `

–

By the time the seven had defeated the Wizrobe (aka old blue guy) it had become evening. Brian looked up at hearing wolf's howl. "What? Already??"

"As long as it's not the final day," Tatl murmured.

Some ice-unfreezing, key-getting, stray fairy-attracting and torch-lighting later...

Everyone blinked at the Goron Pound switch in front of them. Beyond the switch was the five-floor atrium but a cage blocked it.

Link put on his Goron Mask. He started twitching madly. "GRAAAHHHHH! KILL KILL KIIIILL—ACK!"

"Okay we got him! Someone else pound the switch!" Gilbert sweatdropped as he and Brian, both Goron-fied too, held Link down.

Ines nodded, putting her own mask on and slamming the switch down. As she uncurled, everybody watched in amazement as beyond the cage, the center pillar rose all the way to the top of the room.

"Coolieee," Nicole murmured, looking up. "... Guess we gotta find a way up there?"

Hayarpi looked up too. "... I guess..."

–
–

And so, the search on how to get to the top of the pillar began!

The basement floor...

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" everyone screamed as Red Bubbles popped out and chased them.

–
–

The elevator room...

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!" only Gilbert screamed as the giant rat with a bomb on its tail chased him. The rest of the team slapped their foreheads.

–
–

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Tatl bonked Nicole. "WHY ARE YOU SCREAMING?! NOTHING IS IN THIS ROOM!"

She blinked. "Oh yeaaahh!"

"You call us nothing?"

The group looked up. From behind the pillars came Dinofols, the humanoid lizards that wielded weapons. And not just one or two... but a whole pack of them! Twenty-two, to be exact!

"TWENTY-TWO!?" everyone screamed, backing up in a circle again.

"nagami IS trying to kill us!" Gilbert sobbed.

Nahh, you guys can handle it!

Their eyes twitched at the narrator aka Ryo aka me. Then they gulped as the Dinofols advanced. The six unsheathed their swords, preparing for battle...

–
–

Link gasped for air as he opened the door. He looked around; finally they were at the giant room's fifth and highest level. He saw the top of the pillar in front of him and dragged himself to the center before collapsing. Brian followed after, basically crawling to the pillar too and falling face down on the ground.

Soon everyone else followed suit, clothes ripped and torn from the battle beforehand. Gilbert sighed as he held his head. "Man, too intense... too much intenseness...!"

"Wow, you guys!" Tatl cackled, completely fine. "That was like a war! The swords clanging, arrows flying... but sheesh, why'd you bring your swords out if you were going to use fire arrows..."

Ines rolled her eyes. "Instead of assessing, why don't you heal us or something."

"I'm not a healing fairy. Can't help ya there."

Ines sat up. "Gahh! Why are you so useless?!"

Tatl gasped. "I am not useless! You should be grateful I even tell you guys what I know!"

Hayarpi eyed Ines from the corner of her eye. "Seriously. Without Tatl's help, who knows if we'd even get this far..."

At that the Hispanic girl glared at her. "I wasn't asking for your opinion, okay."

"I can talk if I want to..."

"Don't be an ass."

Hayarpi stood up. "Well you stop being a jerk!"

So Ines stood too. "Only if you stop being a liar!"

"I'm not a liar!"

"Then what was that outside the shrine, huh?! You couldn't even talk then!"

"That... that has nothing to do with this—"

"It has EVERYTHING to do with this!—"

"Hey, quit it!" Link growled, shoving the two girls apart. They stopped but kept glaring at each other. The Hylian gestured one direction. "Look, there's an unfrozen door over there. We should go through it—"

Link was cut off by the sound of a bell; Clock Town's bell, to be exact. It was chiming in the beginning of another day.

He sighed heavily. "See, we took so long looking for this fifth level that it's already the second day. If we don't get moving..."

Ines and Hayarpi looked at him. Then they both huffed, 'hmph!'-ing and looking in opposite directions. Brian and Gilbert stayed quiet. Nicole was wringing her hands nervously and Tatl was silent.

Link looked to everyone else. "Maybe there's a healing fairy in the next room. C'mon."

Nodding, the rest got up from their positions and advanced.

–
–

"Ohh, 'maybe there's a healing fairy in the next room,' blahblahblah!" Brian yelled/mocked as the old blue guy from before chased him around.

Link twitched at him. "SHADDAAAAP!"

"AH TOLDJA I'D BE BACK!" the old blue guy cackled madly, sending ice beams everywhere.

"NOOOO!"

"Fools, use the same strategy from before!" Tatl snapped as they all ran around screaming. "Just cuz the room's bigger doesn't mean anything!"

Gilbert gasped as the old blue guy appeared next to him. "Whoa, okay! I got him!"

Brian shoved him aside. "No, I got him!"

"What the—I saw him first!"

"Whatever, you'll probably miss!"

"Why you—!"

But then the old blue guy disappeared. Tatl's eye twitched insanely. "GAHH! YOU BOTH FAIL!"

The boys looked at the space where the guy was, then looked at each other, growling. "See! Cuz of you he moved!"

"If you hadn't shoved me I could've got him!"

Tatl screamed in frustration, just falling to the floor and banging her head on the ground. Nicole sweatdropped and went to her, trying to get her to stop.

Eventually the six applied the same strategy from before and were finally able to kill the old blue guy once and for all. A door appeared, leading them to the boss key. Then beyond the door was the giant atrium again, still at the highest level.

"Duuude." A hefty sigh escaped Nicole's lips as she sat down on the pillar again. "Two big battles in a row. Let's rest, yeah?"

"Yeah, good idea," Link sat down beside her. He lied back, closing his eyes.

"Yanno, if Brian hadn't shoved me I bet we could've beat Wizrobe faster," Gilbert mumbled, glaring at the other boy as he rubbed his arm.

"Don't blame me!" Brian glared back, then looked away. "Trying to make up for your lack of skill..."

Of course Gilbert heard him though. "What 'lack of skill'!? I'm just as skilled as you at anything you do!"

"You wish!"

"Don't you think so, Ines?!" Gilbert said, trying to reach out to his girlfriend again. But Ines just looked at him, then turned away.

Brian had to scoff. "See. Your own girlfriend doesn't believe in you."

Gilbert shut up, feeling his heart drowning again. His hands clenched into fists, shaking at his sides. And Hayarpi stood beside him, patting his shoulder, trying to calm him...

Ines eyed them both. "Comforting your boyfriend?"

"M... my boyfriend!?" Hayarpi stared at her incredulously. She stomped up to Ines and put her hands on her hips. "Look, Gilbert isn't my boyfriend, he's yours! What kind of girlfriend are you anyway; he looks to you for reassurance yet you put him down!?"

"Look who's talking," Ines yelled back, getting up in her face too. "At least I stay faithful!"

"I am faithful!"

"Stop it," Brian finally said, stepping up beside Ines. But he wasn't telling the girls to stop fighting; in truth he was looking at Hayarpi when he spoke. "Stop lying already, Hayarpi. We wouldn't be in this mess if you and Gilbert just told us the truth!"

"T... There isn't anything to tell you guys," Hayarpi murmured, just backing away.

Both Brian and Ines noticed. Ines growled, moving closer to grab her collar — until Gilbert stepped in the way.

Nicole covered her face. "Ohmygosh," she cringed. Beside her Link just watched worriedly. This fight was getting way out of hand! But what could they do...?

Ines's eyes widened at him. "Gilbert, why are you..."

"Don't hurt her," Gilbert pleaded softly. "Come on, Ines. Hayarpi's your friend, isn't she?"

"What kind of friend goes around lying anyway?! And you're defending her!"

"I don't want to see anyone get hurt..."

"Don't you realize it's too late for that? Move!"

"No!"

"Move Gilbert, I can take care of myself..."

Gilbert looked, seeing Hayarpi's hand appear on his shoulder. She pushed him aside and sighed heavily as her eyes made contact with Ines's. "Look, I'm sorry... you can hit me if you want..." and Hayarpi closed her eyes, preparing for a blow.

Ines's fists shook intensely at her sides.

She felt so angry, so upset, betrayed, and disappointed, all at the same time...!

Thus, Ines raised her hand.

"Wait!" Link finally called, getting up. Nicole got up too, but before they could reach them Ines swung her fist...

... And ended up hitting Brian instead, who had stepped in front of Hayarpi at the last second. The force of the punch knocked him to the ground and he just lied there, hands cradling the side of his face.

Ines gasped, drawing her fist back to her chest. Hayarpi screamed as she saw him take the blow and dropped down beside him. "Brian! W-why did you...!"

"You're still my girlfriend, aren't you?" he managed, drawing one hand away from his face to look at it. It was stained in blood from his nose and mouth.

Hayarpi's heart tightened. She took out a handkerchief from her pocket and held it out. "Here..."

However he just stood, ignoring her offer. "Don't think too much of it though." Then he wiped the blood with the collar of his shirt and turned away. "C'mon. Let's get a move on..."

At that Hayarpi's heart fell once again. He still held such indifference for her. Brian had taken a punch for her, so Hayarpi thought...

Brian started walking but Gilbert grabbed his arm, yanking him back around. Before the former knew it another fist came flying towards him and he was knocked down again.

"This time, that one was meant for you," Gilbert growled. Behind them the other five's eyes widened in shock, not anticipating that at all!

"Agh!" Brian clutched his face again. It was the same side Ines hit... he glared up at him. "The hell was that for!?"

"What's wrong with you!? How could you treat your own girlfriend like that—raising her hopes, crushing them, and doing it over and over! She tries to help, but you ignore her... and she doesn't even defend herself!"

Immediately Brian got up, shoving the other boy. "Then you be her boyfriend! Who the hell are you to criticize what I do!? Like you're any different, lying to Ines!"

Gilbert shoved him back. "Don't touch me!"

Another shove. "Screw you!"

"Guys, please! Stop!" Nicole finally ran in behind Gilbert, grabbing him around the waist as she tried pulling them apart. "I can't stand this anymore; quit fighting already!!"

But despite that, they continued to push each other. As they did that, the two got closer and closer to the edge of the large pillar...

"You guys, watch out!" Tatl called.

Link started running towards them. "Stop pushing—the edge!"

This time Brian used extra strength, trying to shove Gilbert farther away. But they didn't realize what was behind them; Gilbert fell back, causing Nicole to fall back too. The force caused her to roll, and she screamed as she teetered off the verge of the five-story pillar...

"NO!" Link dove forward.

"LINK!!"

His hand brushed over her's, but that was it before he saw her face disappear over the edge.

–
–

Behind him the other four had quieted instantly, just staring in complete disbelief. Link had frozen, staring at the edge a few inches away.

Her face... she was right there! Yet, he couldn't catch her...?

"Nicole..." Link snapped out of it, crawling to the edge. He dreaded as he looked over.

But...

... Nothing was there.

Nothing on the paths below them, nothing on the snow, nothing on the first floor of the atrium...

Link's eyes widened. He looked around the chamber wildly. "W-what the..."

Hayarpi ran over when she saw his expression, looking down as well. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Where'd she go??"

Suddenly a familiar squeaking resounded. Everyone looked; bouncing madly in front of a passageway was Crash. He had returned and was squeaking in alarm. They watched the White Boe bounce frantically as it backed up, as if gesturing, beckoning... then it about faced and bolted through the threshold.

Everyone stared.

Link got up immediately, not even giving the other four a passing glance as he sprinted after Crash.

And the rest quickly followed.

–
–

"Hey... are you all right?"

That voice.

Somehow, it was familiar.

But Nicole shook her head, clenching her eyes tighter as her hands flew to her face. "Leave me alooone! I'm busy waiting to fall to my death!"

"If you haven't noticed, you aren't falling anymore."

Nicole lowered her hands. She looked around, finally noticing how she wasn't in the air anymore and instead, seeing a room with pools of lava... she gasped.

This was the first floor of the giant atrium!

So she wasn't falling anymore! He was right!

... Wait a sec.

Who was 'he'?

Then Nicole noticed her position; her legs were on the ground but her back was supported by someone's knee... she looked down first, seeing brown boots and dark pants. Her eyes traveled upwards; a black turtleneck shirt, beige collared jacket and a darker beige mantle, like a cloak, draped over his shoulders. And finally her eyes reached his face, seeing a handsome boy maybe a little older than her, with a white headband under blood red hair and deep amethyst eyes...

(A/N: PICTURE? YES I HAS ONE!:


http://i30(DOT)tinypic(DOT)com(SLASH)15i6lb9(DOT)jpg
Don't forget to replace the stuff in the parentheses. ;D)

Her hands flew up to cover her face again, this time to hide the creeping blush on her cheeks. But Nicole stared wide-eyed at him anyway. "Um... did you save me?"

He just nodded.

Nicole breathed a gigantic sigh of relief, draping her arms around him. "LIKE OHMYGOSH! THANK YOU! YAAAY!"

He sweatdropped. "You're welcome..."

She let go of him. "Wait! But, why do I feel like I've talked to you before? Who are you?"

"Well, I'm—" He quieted when he heard steps coming down the nearby stairway. A White Boe came flying through the threshold, followed by a panicked-looking green figure.

The red-haired boy got to his feet, helping Nicole do the same. She gasped as she saw Link. "Yo, Linkehh!"

"What—" Link looked to the voice, gasping hugely as he saw her. "AHH! NICOOOLE!" He sobbed like an idiot, practically tackling the girl down. "GODDESSES, I WAS SO SCARED! I THOUGHT YOU DIED AGAIN!"

"Again?" Tatl 'wtf'-ed as she appeared in the entrance too. Hayarpi, Brian, Gilbert and Ines ran past her and they screamed in relief too when they saw the raven-haired girl, embracing her tightly.

"NICOOOLE!" Gilbert, Brian, Ines, and Hayarpi sobbed.

"GILBERT, BRIAN, INES, AND HAYARPIIII!" Nicole cackled back. "Okpeoplecan'tbreathe..."

They sweatdropped and let go. But as soon as they did, Link latched on again.

"GAHH, I WAS SO SCAAAARED!"

She sweatdropped, rubbing his back. "Aw Linky, it's okay! I liiiiive! And it's thanks to this guy..." Nicole gestured at the quiet redhead behind them. The other six looked, finally noticing him as well.

"Whoa. Hottiiieee," Ines had to murmur, suppressing a giggle. Hayarpi just nodded in agreement, gaping.

Tatl bonked them. This was not the time to be squealing over guys!

Brian and Gilbert just eyed the new guy in interest and Link turned to him. "So you saved Nicole? How?"

"I caught her," the boy explained.

Tatl raised an eyebrow. "What? Nicole was falling five stories, how'd you catch her and then land safely on the first floor??"

"Maybe he's like Sheik," Gilbert threw out.

"Actually, my name is Seth," the boy, or Seth, finally revealed. He bowed slightly to everyone else. "Pleased to finally make your acquaintance, Heroes and Heroines of Time."

"What the—! And how do you know their ostentatious titles?!" Tatl demanded.

But everyone ignored her. Link just turned to him, bowing slightly back. "I can't express how thankful we are, Seth... thanks for saving Nicole!"

"Thank you!" Brian and Hayarpi bowed slightly also.

"We owe you one!" Gilbert and Ines added, doing the same. Nicole bowed slightly too.

Seth laughed a bit and nodded. "No problem. However..." he tilted his head at the giant pillar next to them. "If I were you guys, I'd be more careful in choosing where to argue. A five-story pillar isn't the ideal place..."

Hearing that jogged Link's memory.

He remembered why they were here; why he was thanking Seth, why Nicole had fallen...

Link turned to the other four earthlings, fire in his eyes. "You guys...!"

Tatl 'eep'-ed. She flitted to Nicole and Seth's side. "Ooh, they're gonna get it good!"

"DO YOU GUYS REALIZE WHAT YOU DID?!" Link exploded at the four, his frustration from hearing them argue all day finally bursting. "It was cuz you guys were fighting, the entire time, throughout this damn temple! We tried to bear it, but you guys wouldn't quit it, so when we finally stepped in to do something about it your fight almost killed Nicole! She'd be dead right now if it weren't for Seth! I thought we were all friends—how could you guys do this?! How could you be so selfish—how could you keep arguing even when we begged and pleaded for you guys to STOP?!"

Hayarpi, Ines, Gilbert and Brian shrank back, but didn't retort. Their gazes stayed on the floor.

Nicole had her arms crossed, a hand to her mouth. Beside her Seth just quietly observed.

"I... I...!" The Hylian looked up at the four. "I am SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED IN ALL OF YOU!" Link yelled like he was their mom. He turned around, stomping through a random door.

The four just looked down in shame.

Silence.

Tatl held back a sheepish laugh. "W... wow, guys. Link's real mad, huh? You took it too far this time."

The four twitched. "WE KNOW, OKAY?!"

Tatl cackled, avoiding a swat at her. She flittered around them. "But in all seriousness... you guys should go and apologize." she gestured at the door Link went through. "And get Link so we can finish Snowhead. Since it's afternoon of the second day and all."

Seth nodded in agreement. "Tatl's right. It'd be best if you came to a truce as soon as possible; don't forget the fate of Termina rests on your teamwork."

Everyone looked at him.

How exactly did this Seth guy know that they were on a mission to save Termina?

... But then again, they were in Snowhead Temple for a reason.

... But still.

Brian sighed, being the first to speak. "Y... yeah. Okay." He looked at Nicole, regret all over his features. "Listen Nic, we're so sorry... we really should've listened to you guys. And I didn't mean to almost kill you, I promise..." The other three nodded in agreement. "Forgive us?"

Nicole eyed them a bit. "Weeell..."

"Pleeeeaaassse?" They all gave her puppy-dog looks.

"... AWWW, FINE!" she giggled, scooping them up into a hug. They cheered. But then Nicole let go. "However! Like Tatl and Seth said, you guys 'oughta get Link now since he's the mad and explode-y one."

"Okay. We will." Brian looked to the other three. Hayarpi, Ines and Gilbert nodded. Deciding to drop their drama, the four went to the room Link went into together.

Nicole sighed heavily. Though from the corner of her eye she could see Seth eyeing her. She eyed him back, grinning. "What, something on my face?"

He gestured at the room. "Aren't you going too?"

"Why should I? I wasn't the one fighting... unless they're gonna have that make-up talk in there. I wanna be present for that!"

Seth gave her a look.

Nicole blinked. "... Really, is there something on my face?"

Tatl rang her bell. "Idiot, they are gonna have that make-up talk! Get in there!"

"Okay, okay!" she ran to the door. But then Nicole stopped, turning around and eyeing the amethyst-eyed boy. "Um... are, you are, I mean..." she shook her head. "... Are you still gonna be here when we're done?"

Seth smiled. "If you want, sure. I'll be here."

This time Nicole couldn't hold back her blush. She turned around, literally slapping herself before turning around again. "Uh, um, g-good! Yeah! Cuz uh, I'm not done talking to you! And stuff! Okay?!"

"Okay."

"Yeah! You stay there!"

"All right."

"Don't move!"

"Sure."

"... Seriously!"

Tatl bonked the girl, finally forcing her through the doorway.

Meanwhile Seth stayed behind just like he said he would. Crash jumped into his arms, purring contently at his master as a soft smile played on the redhead's lips...

A/N: (EXPLODES) LIKE, YAAAAAY!

Link/Niagra/Ryo: X__x!!

A/N: Seth finally appears! Dudes and dudettes, I've been waiting to write this chapter for YEARS! YEAAHH! (does a jig) I hope the drama wasn't too bad.

Niagra: Yo, this chapter was INTENSE!

A/N: YEAH IT KINDA WAS, HUH?! But hey they come to a resolution in the next chappy, w00t w00t! (turns to reader) Thank you sooo much for reading my story up to this point; I hope you keep reading 'til the end! But 'til then...

Ryo/Link: Review, yo! (points at review button)

A/N: :Db

- nagami c.