I got bored, so here's another short teaser chapter for the next part of More Than Just a Shield. This one, though, focuses on the enemies of our heroes...

Malty's red hair shined in the moonlight as she quickly made her way out of Melromarc's walls. She had just left an inn, where Motoyasu and the others in his party were staying for the night.

The bitterness of her public humiliation still angered her to this day, even though it had been several weeks since her trial and near-execution. Resentment and jealousy were all that she felt for Motoyasu now. "If Sir Motoyasu won't help me level the playing field with that damned Hylian, I'll just do it myself. I don't need him."

Malty's thought's turned to a certain one-armed Hylian. Aris. That pointy-eared, blond-haired wanderer from another universe had done nothing but serve as a thorn in her side ever since he had first shown his ugly face upon being summoned to Melromarc. "Why does everyone actually like him now?" Malty said to herself once again. "It's like he went from being Melromarc's public enemy number one to everyone's best friend!"

It was true that Aris had a lot of friends now, even outside his party. Thinking about them made Malty sick with anger, especially when she considered her younger sister, Melty. Melty did not deserve to inherit the throne, but it seemed that King Aultcray and Queen Mirellia had thought otherwise. I wasn't that problematic as a child, Malty thought, unknowingly lying to herself. So why was I basically disowned?

Suddenly, a voice called out to her. "You there!"

Malty looked up. Calling out to her from the forest was a person, seemingly an ordinary traveler. Malty approached him. "What are you doing out this late at night?"

"I could ask the same of you, miss," said the traveler. "But, there's another question on my mind."

"And what would that be?"

The traveler leaned a little closer, speaking in a low voice. "Do you know someone named Aris Atreides, by any chance?"

Malty hesitated. What was this traveler hiding? "That bastard is my worst enemy."

"Is he now?" the traveler smirked. "What'd he do to get on your bad side?"

"That damned Hylian brainwashes the innocent to do his bidding," Malty lied, not trusting this traveler just yet. "And he's in love with a filthy Demi-Human, of all things. And worst of all, he got away with it and completely humiliated me! He made me change my name to Bitch."

The traveler eyed her. "The brainwashing part is a lie, you know."

Malty was ready to burn this traveler to a crisp with her fire magic. The traveler continued. "Now, before you attack me, know that we share a common enemy in the form of that Hylian and anyone who supports him. But, I must ask, why lie about him brainwashing the innocent?"

Malty hesitated, but answered truthfully. "Because he has been nothing but a thorn in my side ever since he showed up in this universe. I was supposed to inherit the throne, and I intend to do as such. But with my sister Melty still in the picture, I can't do much. And Melty is a close friend of Aris's, so much so that the Hylian has become my number one enemy."

"Well, you're in luck, miss," said the traveler. "Because I know just the group of people to track down and exterminate him and all his supporters."

Malty was curious. "Could I speak with them sometime?"

"You can meet up with a few of us right now, in fact," the traveler replied. "Follow me. I will show you to our leader."

Malty allowed the traveler to lead her.

Malty followed the traveler into a small campsite with a few small tents and one much larger one. "Pardon me for a moment, Malty," said the traveler.

With a poof of dust, the traveler's outfit changed. He now wore a red and black jumpsuit, a white mask covering his face. The mask had two small slits for eye holes, and had the symbol of an inverted eye painted in red. Malty didn't question this sudden change in appearance.

Malty followed the traveler up to the entrance of the main tent, complying as the traveler signaled for her to wait outside. About 30 seconds later, the traveler leaned out and said, "Enter." Malty did so.

Inside the tent were several people in outfits identical to that of the traveler who had taken her here, and one person in a different outfit. This person was tall and muscular, and had a much more ornate outfit than his shorter counterparts. He still wore the same mask with the inverted eye. "So, you brought a potential new recruit?" said the muscular one.

Lord Arohga

Leader of the Inverted Eye

"Yes, Lord Arohga," said one of the others, presumably the traveler who had taken Malty here. "She harbors great resentment for...our enemy."

"A smart choice," said Lord Arohga, who Malty assumed was the leader of this group. Lord Arohga turned to her. "Malty, yes?"

Malty nodded. "That's my name, sir."

"A pleasure," said Lord Arohga, offering a handshake. Malty accepted.

"Tell me, Malty," said Lord Arohga. "Why is it that you harbor such hatred for that Hylian?"

"Aris?" Malty replied. "Well, it's a long story."

Malty then told Lord Arohga about Aris and his friends, and all the things they had done to get in her way.

"The one who brought me here told me that you all are a group who shares a hatred for him," Malty said once she was finished. "Why is that, sir?"

"Our hatred for Hyrule goes far back into the distant past, tens of thousands of years ago," Lord Arohga said. "That is why we exterminated all of Hyrule's population. Only Aris and his sister survived, it seems."

Malty was shocked. She was beginning to like this group. "And...you want me to join you?"

Lord Arohga nodded. "Yes. I am inclined to have you serve as my right-hand commander, because of your great hatred for the Hylian."

Malty smiled deviously. "Count me in, Lord Arohga."

The lower-ranking members present all knelt on one knee as Lord Arohga stood. "Rise, Malty."

Malty did so. Lord Arohga handed her a mask, one similar to his own. "Welcome," he said, "to the Yiga Clan."

So what'd ya think? I've had this idea in the works for about a week, and I liked it, so I figured I'd give it a try. Feel free to leave a review if you have any constructive criticism or otherwise.