AN: Okay, I know it's been reeeaally long since I updated. But, as with all things, life got in the way. PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! anyway, I will try to have a new chappie up every week or week and a half. Key word there is try. Anyway, sorry again for the long wait.. To any fans who I still have....



Chapter 9:



"No, Hope, you can't have the Light Arrows," Zelda said, in an all-too-motherly voice. She had heard the same tone when friends asked to borrow the car. But this was different. It was life or death!

"Look, I get it," Hope replied. "They belong to the Hero of Time. I don't want them forever. Just to kill this Daemon that might otherwise kill you."

"Let the Hero and Shiek take care of it," Zelda said, her voice rising. "I won't loose another-" She stopped herself just in time. "Another young person. Too many have died trying to take the Daemons on. Let the more experienced handle it!"

Hope bit back a retort. After all, Zelda was the queen. Maybe there was another way.

"My dear, perhaps she has a valid point," said Link, coming up behind her. "The Hero is not as young as he used to be. Besides, we would all be better served if the Hero could protect the Queen, and Hope could take out the Daemon." He pulled a quiver out of the pouch at his waist. Hope stared in wonder. She had seen magical pouches before, in almost every video game, but now, knowing it was real, it was that much more spectacular.

"Hope, use these wisely. You have magic?"

"Yes sir," she replied. "The Fairy of Life gave magic to me." She took the quiver and slung it over her shoulder. Then, she reached back and pulled out an arrow, willing it to be the light arrow. The arrow head was golden, shimmering with light. Hope smiled.

"I will save this Kingdom from the Daemons," she promised.

"I know you will. I have faith in you."



Hope put the arrow back in the quiver.

"I'll be back," she said. "I have something to do."

"Hope, here," Link called. He tossed her his bow. "May this bow be as lucky for you as it was for me." Hope smiled and slung the bow over her shoulder.

"Thank you." Then she trotted out, heading to her father's room.



She paused. Her father's room.... he had admitted he was not her father... that she had been found... Still, he had been her father for so long... he would always be her father... wouldn't he?

"Dad?" she called, knocking on his door. There was no answer. "Dad?"

"I'm not your father," he hissed, throwing the door open. "You are a foundling." Hope stared at him, stunned. "Get out!" he roared. "I do not wish to see you ever again!" Hope just stood there, unable to move.

"Daddy?" she whispered.

"I AM NOT YOUR FATHER!" he roared, coming at her. He drew his sword. Hope drew hers just in time to parry his strike. She leapt back. Why was he doing this? Sure, they sparred all the time in simulator games, but it was always friendly. Not like this. She parried again, narrowly escaping his blade.

"What's wrong with you?" she cried. He ignored her, attacking again.

"Do you not hear me?" he demanded. "I said GET OUT! Go back to your own world! Leave me be!" Hope ducked and drew back. Her own world? But she was in her own world. He knew that. And he would have gone with her....



"You're not my father!" she cried, springing forward. "What have you done with him, Daemon?" He laughed.

"He is my puppet," said a disembodied voice. Hope felt chills run down her spine. "The only way for you to stop him is to kill him. Kill him."

"I will not kill him," Hope replied, dancing back to avoid another strike. "Dad! Daddy! I know you are in there. I know you can hear me!"

"Of course he can," the voice replied with a chuckle. "But that means nothing. It is his hate that allows me to have him. Give into your hate, and I will release him. You body is much more useful."

"Never, I would die first!"

"Would you kill him first?" the voice asked.



Hope froze. Would she? Could she? No. She threw the sword at her feet.

"Dad, listen," she cried. "I don't want to hurt you. Fight it."

"He cannot. He has given himself over to hatred."

"I refuse to believe that," Hope cried. She looked at her father. "Dad, I love you. But if you truly don't love me anymore, then I'm not going to stop you." She held her hands forward, displaying her open palms. "If you really hate me, kill me."



The disembodied voice chuckled.

"You foolish, weak Hylian. You are letting me kill you."

"No. I am allowing my father, and only him, have the chance to kill me." She stared into her father's eyes. "Daddy, do what you have too. But I'll still love you." Something in his eyes changed in that moment. The sword slipped from his hands, clattering to the floor.

"Hope?" he whispered. Hope felt a wave of relief was over her. She ran to her father and hugged him.

"Dad!" she cried. "I love you."

"I love you too, baby."



The quiver began to shake on her back. Light exploded from within. A terrible howling noise filled the air, and out of her father rose a wispy figure. It solidified behind them, becoming a long red snake, it's eyes focussed on Hope.

"You will pay," it hissed, the voice the same as the disembodied voice. "You have interfered one too many times, Hope Larsk from beyond the mountains. Today I will feast on your bones!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it!" her father cried, grabbing his sword.

"Dad, no!" Hope cried. He lunged at the snake, stabbing at it wildly.

"Foolish man." The snake swished its tail, throwing her father against a wall.



Hope scrambled for her sword. The snake beat her to it, swallowing it whole. Hope backed up, standing in front of her father.

"You foolish little girl," it hissed. "You should have killed me when you had the chance."

"I will." She grabbed the bow off her back.

"Ha. You are stupider then I thought. That puny thing will not kill me." Hope ignored him. She pulled out a light arrow, releasing it almost immediately. The snake jumped back in surprise, revealing the gem on his abdomen. Hope wasted no time. She unleashed a second arrow. It slammed into the gem, cracking it. The snake beast let out another shriek, and it was enveloped in the light.



Hope blinked, finding herself back in the darkness. A little pink fairy flew up to her.

"I am the Fairy of Love," it said, its voice like bells. "Thank you for freeing me. And thank you for believing in love, Hope of Hyrule. It may save us all." She buzzed nearer, sprinkling dust on Hope. Hope felt her muscles relax, her wounds sealing over. "My gift to you, young one, is two fold. First, Nayru's Love. Use it to protect yourself and others. My second gift is the spin attack. Like the Hero of Time before you, it will give you the ability to charge energy and release it through your sword. Use it to protect those you care about."

"Wait, before you send me back, can you tell.... is it true that Link and Zelda are my... my parents?" Hope called. The fairy flew up to her, landing on her shoulder.

"Parents of the flesh, yes. But this man, Herold Larsk, he is your heart's father. Do not fret, little one. Just believe in love, and you shall see."



Hope blinked, and found herself back in the hall way. She bent at her father's side. The fairy was right. He was her father.

"Are you okay, Dad?" she asked softly. He opened his eyes, blinking at her.

"Hope, baby, you're okay. I was so worried." She threw her arms around him and cried.

"So was I," she whispered. "But we're going to be okay."