Aria: Anri! Why didn't you tell me you had a little brother? If I had
known, I wouldn't be keeping you here so long!
Anri: It's alright, Lady Aria. I'm sure he'll be okay until I see him
again.
Aria: Well . . .if you say so. But, you have my full permission to visit
him whenever you like! Consider it my reward for being such a big help!
Tiana: Ooh! You're so lucky, Anri!
Twister: What's a little brother? *tilts head*
Aria: Twister is . . .a little naïve.
Farore: I'll bet that Anri's brother isn't anything like your brothers,
Aria.
Aria: *moans* Farore! Do you HAVE to remind me of how annoying they are?
Do you guys realize I can't even log on to fanfiction.net without one of
them asking, "Can I see?"? Be very glad you don't have to deal with that!
Farore: Sorry.
Aria: It's okay. Moving on, I am so thrilled about the fact that I now
have eighty-nine reviews for my story! Yay! I'm so glad all of you like
it so much!
Nayru: She's especially happy because she's been working on it for hours
today.
Tiana: *giggles* I like chapter forty-four. Zelda embarrasses Link and he
embarrasses her, but in a good way; if you know what I mean. *winks*
Aria: Don't give THAT away! It's so sweet!
Tiana: *giggles* Sorry.
Twister: Aria! Can I wake Kaepora up now?
Aria: Yes, Twister, you can.
Twister: Whee! I can practice my flying some more! *hovers off the ground
and starts flying to Kaepora's tree* HEY! KAEPORA! WAKE UP!
Kaepora: *wakes up with a jolt and falls out of the tree*
Aria, Tiana, and Farore: That had to hurt.
Twister: It's time for the story to start, sleepy-head! You gotta do the
disclaimers!
Kaepora: Somebody get this mad, winged feline away from me!
Farore: I'll do it! *goes over and scoops Twister into her arms*
Kaepora: *ruffles his feathers* The Way the Winds of Time Blow is written
and owned by Aria Zephyr. However, Miss Zephyr does not own the Legend of
Zelda games, their characters, and such related to them.
Aria: This one's kinda short, so the next chapter's going with it. Enjoy!

Chapter 35: Penetrating the Defenses of the Fortress

The wind rushed past Zelda's ears with a soft whisper. She hadn't wanted
to look at the ground as she fell, but, heeding the princess' suggestion,
Zelda looked at the ground and planned when to use Farore's wind. About
one foot before she would have broken many bones from the fall, Zelda used
Farore's wind and it pulled her high up again. The wind set her down on
the ground without harm and she surveyed the land around her.

The ground was barren, without any vegetation, and it had many cracks.
Beyond the fortress, smoke trickled out of a mountain. There were many
monsters running around the barren plain, none of them noticing the
intruder. The fortress still rose as menacingly as ever, straight ahead.

"Now, we must cease all verbal communication. We cannot risk one of those
monsters hearing us," the princess whispered. "But, how will I be able to
ask you things when I don't know what to do?" Zelda hissed. "Hopefully,
you won't. But, I want you to stay right here for now. I'm going to
search for a less conspicuous entrance into the fortress. Don't let that
shield down for even a second and don't make any sounds. I'll be back as
soon as possible," the princess said. With that, she whipped away, unseen,
far above the unsuspecting heads of the many Moblins, Stalfoses, Darknuts,
and Bokoblins.

Zelda backed up against the rock wall and waited for her to return.
Something started to weigh down in her hair and when she touched it, it was
the trailing ends of the vines. 'I guess they're still growing,' Zelda
thought with an amused smile. Though it may only have been twenty or
thirty minutes, when the princess finally returned, Zelda felt as if it had
been many hours.

"I found a window into one of the corridors with its bars rusted away.
I'll show you where it is and you can use Farore's wind to reach it," she
said, just as softly as before. "But, you must remember to not . . ." she
began. "I know, I know; I can't make any noise. You told me already.
Let's go," Zelda said. The princess nodded and turned to lead her to the
fortress.

Though it may sound easy enough, but avoiding at least three dozen of each
type of monster isn't as easy as it seems. Especially, when the dark
circles of the Floor Masters were lurking around every corner. Zelda
nearly gave herself away when a Moblin nearly walked into her and she
tripped over a Floor Master's hand trying to avoid it. The Moblin looked
in the direction of the dust she'd unsettled, but, not being able to see
her, it walked right on by. The Floor Master wasn't so uncaring and if
Zelda hadn't moved quickly away, it would have caught her in its fist.

When she and the princess finally reached the fortress, Zelda stopped to
take a breath. "That was too close," she panted, resting a hand on the
cold exterior of the fortress. "It's a good thing they can't see you, or
they would have caught you," the princess said.

"Are you very sure that you're all right?" she asked. "I'm okay. Now,
where's that window you were talking about?" Zelda asked, taking a deep
breath. "It's this way. Follow me," the princess said, indicating the
direction she meant. Zelda followed her to one of the side walls and when
she looked up, a small rectangle was cut in the wall.

"That's not much of a window," Zelda said, staring at it. "It's the only
unguarded way into the fortress. All the doors are sealed by magic and the
windows all have bars. Except this one of course," the princess said. "I
don't know. This seems a little too easy, don't you think?" Zelda asked.
"Even so, this is the only way we'll ever get in without all of those
monsters noticing," the princess said. "Oh well. I guess I don't have
much of a choice, do I?" Zelda said, shaking her head. "Not really," the
princess admitted. "I might as well just use Farore's wind already," Zelda
said, looking up at the window.

Within seconds, she was clinging to the windowsill. She pulled herself up
and slid through the window opening. She must have pushed a little too
hard when she slid through, because she had a hard landing on the floor. A
cloud of dust blew up and Zelda couldn't help but cough.

Tiana: You kinda have a thing for cliffhangers, don't you, Aria?
Aria: I know. It's a curse.
Anri: It's not like that really unnerving one in chapters thirty-seven
through thirty-nine, is it, Lady Aria?
Aria: Heavens no! If it was that, I wouldn't be talking to you all. Don't
frighten me like that, will you? The fact that I made up such a
frightening thing even scares me and I'm the authoress!
Anri: I'll do my best.
Aria: Okay. Um, what should I do now?
Din: *walks into area* Has anyone seen my orange peeler?
Tiana: You left it on one of the clouds.
Din: *shoulders slump* Oh great. That doesn't help much. This place is
full of clouds!
Tiana: Sorry. Do you want me to help you look for it?
Din: Might as well. Come on. *she and Tiana go off*
Aria: Are you sure she's not addicted to those things, Anri? I'm actually
beginning to worry.
Anri: Should I watch Din for you?
Aria: Yes, please.
Anri: As you wish. *flies away*
Aria: Okay! Getting back to things! How'd you like chapter thirty-five?
I already said that I'd be posting the next one with it, but I'll repeat
myself. Chapter thirty-six is on the way too! See ya in a bit!