Authors Note: Here's your next chapter.

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Disclaimer: I do not own Zelda.

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Chapter 14

Link spent about twenty minutes sneaking around the areas without guards, searching for any clues as to where Cyrus was. Finding none, Link reluctantly went back to his room. He wasn't near as exhausted as he thought he would be. The Fairy Savior that healed him also restored his energy. Without having to walk all the way back to town, Link had plenty of energy to spare.

The young hero spent the majority of his time thinking about his plans that was to be set in motion. Tomorrow night he would release Crystal from the prison, and Cyrus if possible. There were too many problems that could arise. Link would have to be on his best guard tonight.

A few hours later, morning came, and the sun was soon shining brightly through Link's window. Link decided he'd stay in his room for another hour or so before exiting his room again. As it turned out, he really had no choice in the matter...

A light knock sounded at his door. Link sighed, jumped off his bed, and walked over to open it. When his hand reached the doorknob, he hesitated.

There were a few people that Link didn't exactly want to talk to, and he wasn't sure if it was one of them that was on the other side of his door. He took a step back, and waited for a moment. Either the person would open the door themselves, or leave.

After a few seconds passed, the knocking sounded again, followed by someone calling Link's name.

"Shia..." thought Link. He sighed, then walked forward and opened the door.

Shia's eyes went wide as she saw Link. "You're okay!" she exclaimed, jumping forward to hug Link.

Link's arms ended up being pinned to his side, and he stiffened. "H-hey Shia," he said, with a surprised tone of voice.

"Why'd you come back?? Now you've got to fight Tifa's dad! Shia said, releasing Link and stepping back.

"Oh...well, I-"

"What happened there?" Shia interrupted, pointing to Link's wound on his head.

"Nothing really..." said Link. He moved his hair around to cover it up. "I just fell... I cleaned it up last night."

Shia nodded. "Good... Hey...did you find the entrance to the Shrine?"

Link nodded, then shuddered slightly, remembering how he had died falling through the hole.

"That's good. What about your fairy friend? Did the fairies tell you anything about her?"

"The fairies? You mean the-" Link started to say, then caught himself. He remembered just in time that the Fairy Savior's existance wans't known to Shia. "Er...yeah... They told me a few things...most of it I'm still trying to figure out."

"Oh?" was all Shia said.

"Yeah... Well, anyway, today I was thinking that maybe I should speak with the King. I have a few questions that I need to ask him," Link stated.

"Ah..." said Shia, her expression growing sad. "I was hoping we could do something today."

"Like what?"

"Well... I was thinking we could go out and walk around the town. We could find something fun to do maybe."

At that moment, a guard walked past them. Link stared hard at him, not moving until he was out of earshot.

"Am I even allowed out of the castle?" Link questioned.

Shia just shrugged.

"Godoro said I had to stay in the living quarters... So I'm guessing it's a no..."

Shia sighed. "Yeah...guess so..."

"At least during the day, anyhow..." mentioned Link.

Shia smiled slightly, saying, "I think I'll be sleeping all night tonight as it is. The trip back was tiring. In fact, the only reason I'm not asleep now is because I wanted to see if you were okay."

"Well, I can't say that it was fun...but I got back in one piece..." said Link. "Well...unless you count the cut on my head."

Shia was about to say something, but a guard appeared at the end of the hallway, a different guard than the one that walked past them before.

"Hey, you! Green clothes kid! Come with me, the King wants to speak with you!" the young guard shouted.

Link shifted his eyes from the guard to Shia. "Well...ah...looks like I have to go now... Uh...tell Tifa I said hello... I guess I'll see you when I get back," he managed to say.

Shia nodded, quickly hugged Link, then walked off towards her room. Link watched her as she left. After the guard yelled at him again, he shut his door behind him, and walked off to join the guard.

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The King's throne room looked identical to when Link had saw it the other day. Everything to the very last detail was the same...except one thing. Cyrus was standing before the King, with a guard standing at attention a foot behind him.

"Welcome, welcome!" bellowed the King when he saw Link.

Cyrus turned sharply to see who had just entered. This action caused the guard behind him to kick Cyrus in the back.

"No moving!" the guard shouted at Cyrus, who was on his hands and knees now, wincing in pain.

"Link! Come forward!" said the King, pointing to where he wanted Link to stand.

The guard beside Link pushed him forward a bit, forcing Link to walk.

"Excellent! Yes, very good!" Godoro exclaimed when Link had stopped at his destination. "I'm sure you're wondering why you're here, am I correct?"

Link nodded, saying nothing.

"Well, as you know, I love sport. And me being a reasonable guy, I thought I'd make winning your horse back a little easier," the King stated.

Link glanced over at Cyrus, wondering what he had to do with all of this. Cyrus himself was on his hands and knees still, breathing hard as he struggled to stay conscious. He appeared to have been beat half to death. Ripped clothing, bruises, and a black eye were evidence of this.

"You see... Cyrus here is none other than Kain's son. You remember Kain, right? He's the reason you were captured in the first place," said the King.

"That's a lie!" shouted Cyrus, looking up at the King with fire in his eyes.

"Nonsense!" laughed the King, "We mistook Link for one of your father's crew members! If Kain weren't in existance, then Link probably wouldn't be here now!"

Link could tell that Cyrus wanted to kill the king then and there. However, in Cyrus' case, that would be hard with four guards in the room, and not being able to stand up properly.

"Yes, well, back to business. Now Link, I know you must be at least a little scared to fight Commander Bronzen in that little duel we have planned, so I'm giving you a second option," said Godoro.

Link felt the King's words sink in. He knew what was coming. He didn't want to hear it...

"I'll allow you to fight Cyrus in Bronzen's place. The terms stay the same as well. You win, you recieve your horse back and your items. You lose, I get your horse," boomed the King.

Link's eyes met with Cyrus'. Link couldn't fight Cyrus...it wouldn't be right. Cyrus had an ill sister he had to take care of.

"I...I can't fight him..." said Link, breaking eye contact with Cyrus.

"Oh? And why not? Don't you want your horse back?"

"Yes! I do! It's just... Cyrus hasn't done anything wrong to me. I have no reason for fighting him. I choose to fight Bronzen still.." responded Link.

The King stared hard at Link. "I see...well, in truth it makes no difference to me. I guess Cyrus will just have to fight Commander Bronzen as well! Two duels in one day.... that would make an excellent show."

Cyrus closed his eyes, and put his head down. Link looked between him and the King.

"Wait, what? Cyrus...has to fight also?" questioned Link.

"Well, yes. He is an enemy after all. He's bound to be put to death one way or another. He chose to participate in a duel rather than give the location of his father away. So yes, of course he has to," said the King, resting his head back against his chair. "You're dismissed. Guard's, put Link in his room and return Cyrus to the jailhouse."

"Good," thought Link. "I'll help release Cyrus tonight."

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JokersSpecter: There you go. Review please. I'll update within the next week or so. And since you've been such good readers, I'll give you a quick idea of upcoming chapters. Keep in mind though, that some of these things may be VERY far away.

(In no particular order)

1)Kain's forces fight the King's forces.

2)Bronzen and Link's "duel"

3)Adult Link.

JokersSpecter@hotmail.com - E-mail me for whatever... Or add me to MSN Messanger if you wish to talk to me about anything.

Review!