Disclaimer: Read the earlier chapters to see what I put.
Author's note: thanks for those who review my story. I've also added a new character. Enjoy.
Chapter Nine
Kaige sighed, placing a hand on Link's shoulder, "Let her be alone for a little while, she needs it." He turned to Fridge, "You my friend, with the help of Chris, will help us find Rachel and Ryo."
Chris nodded, "Yeah, I'll help for sure. I wouldn't leave you guys hanging." He transformed into his wolf form, "Those two have a weird scent, that makes it easy to follow them."
Link nodded, "Lets go, I don't want them to be hurt." He turned to Jordan, "I'm sorry my friend, I'll get Rachel back for you, I promise."
~**~
Rachel was thrown into a cell. She ran at the closing door, "My cousin will come for me!"
A man's voice was heard for the other side of the closed door, "That's what I want, guardian. . . The key is walking straight into my trap! I'll soon have control of the triforce!"
"She's smarter than she looks! She won't fall for any tricks that you try!" Rachel banged on the door.
"No tricks, just your life for hers, I think she'll hand herself in willingly. She seems to try to keep you safe at every turn. I'll enjoy watching you suffer until then. . ." The man laughed, "Telan, Josh. . . I give you permission to do whatever you would like to her until the key trades her life for this girl's."
Rachel heard Josh's voice, "Thank you my lord, we'll have fun. We'll make sure she is tortured to long stakes."
"I'll prove hard to torture! I've gone through it before!" Rachel yelled. She kicked the door and grabbed her foot, "Geez, that smarts!" She looked out the window that was on the far side of the wall, "Ryo, please come and get me, just not trade in your life. I hate being kidnapped!"
~**~
Roeticus smiled at Ivy, "Five hundred rupees, as I promised you. . ." He then smiled bigger, "If you fetch me the key before she comes here, I'll give you five hundred more. . ."
Ivy jumped at the sound of all the money she could earn, "Don't worry my lord, you'll have the key very soon. . ."
Roeticus laughed, "They don't call you the chief thief for nothing. Any prospect of money and you jump at the challenge." He waved his hand, "You may leave now."
~**~
Ryo dismounted from Ghost's back, surveying the land around her, "Kalinoc, are you sure this is the way that they went?" Kalinoc nodded his head as he growled. Ryo smiled, "I wasn't doubting you, it's just that this part of Hyrule isn't in the game, I'm very unfamiliar with it."
Ghost snorted at the dead grass around them. Ryo nodded, "I agree Ghost, this place needs some work, it's like a wasteland." She heard a rock fall from a mound of them in front of them. She unsheathed her sword, "Who's there?" She took a deep breath to calm her whizzing mind, "I just need to relax, I can take care of myself."
"Can you?" A voice laughed wickedly. Ryo spun around to be faced with Ivy. She smiled, "Looks like you can only tell yourself that, you seem to be shocked. . ."
Ryo shook her head to clear her surprise, "Where is my cousin?"
"She is with lord Roeticus. It's now your turn to go see him. . ." Ivy yelled as she lunged at Ryo.
Ryo's instincts took control of her body, causing her to dodge out of the way. She then lunged at Ivy herself, bringing her sword up above her head. Ivy stumbled backwards, loosing her balance. Ryo came down on her, her sword coming down form over her head. Ivy smiled as she threw a Deku nut at Ryo's face. It exploded in her face, blinding her. Ryo slammed into the ground on her arms, breaking the full blast of the fall. She blinked her eyes, trying to clear them. Ivy fell over laughing at her. After getting over the sight, Ivy ran off in the direction of the rock pile.
Kalinoc roared as he ran after her. He skidded to a halt as he heard Ryo's desperate calls, "Kalinoc, please no, come back. . . I can't see!" Kalinoc quickly ran over to her, nuzzling her face, trying to calm her down. Ghost whinnied softly as he nibbled on her fingers. Ryo started to cry as she still couldn't see.
"You shouldn't cry, it doesn't help. . ." Ryo heard a familiar voice.
"Kaige?" Ryo asked. She felt around with her hands, finally finding his, "Where is Link and the others?"
"They are off in another part of the wasteland trying to find you. You really shouldn't run off by yourself, you could be hurt."
"Yeah, I know. . ." Ryo sighed, rubbing her eyes, white blotches appearing in her blackened sight, "I was temporarily blinded." She felt Kaige's hands on her cheeks.
Kaige looked into her eyes, the pupils becoming small again, "You're alright, your pupils are returning to their regular size."
Ryo blinked again, and then saw the outline of Kaige. She sighed, "This is getting to be an interesting camping trip!" She shook her head, and her sight returned to normal, "I have to find Rachel, she hates being kidnapped."
"You two have been kidnapped before?" Kaige asked, helping Ryo off the ground. Fridge growled at her.
Ryo turned her head away from him, "It's something I don't talk about usually. . . It was when my parents died. We were at a loss for where to go, and my dad's associates kidnapped us, not realizing that we had total control over our powers." Ryo quickly wiped a tear away from her eye, trying not to make it noticeable, "We fought against them, finally getting the chance to get out, but I didn't get out. . . I got stuck with them. I'm not going to relive all that, and I don't want Rachel to live what I had to."
~**~
Link and Chris sat down in another part of the wasteland. Link sighed, "We're never going to find my love this way. . . We don't have Kalinoc."
Chris took a drink of water from his water flask, "Lets just hope we find her soon, this place seems evil." He looked down at his feet, "I'm sorry that I can't smell their scent anymore, we got here, and I lost it. The scent just seems to stop."
Link opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut as he saw Telan and Josh appear behind Chris. Before Link could say anything, Telan shot a ball of darkness at Chris. Chris screamed in pain as the ball collided with his back.
Josh smiled as Chris's screaming ended, "You're now one of us. . ."
Chris's eyes were darker than normal as he glared at Link. Telan laughed, "We'll leave you two to sort this out, we have to get back to lord Roeticus."
Link took a step backwards, "Chris, what's wrong?" He dodged as Chris lunged at him, "Chris! Fight It! You are too strong to be taken control of by. . ." He stopped as a force of water slammed into him. He coughed as the water disappeared.
Josh looked at Telan, "I think we should stay and see what happens. We can then bring both of them to lord Roeticus. . ."
Telan nodded, "I have a better idea. . ." He sent a force of darkness to swallow Link up, "Lets just take him back to our lord unconscious. This one, "He pointed to Chris, "We'll show to lord Roeticus."
Link was swallowed by the force, and Chris looked at Josh and Telan. Telan nodded, and Josh picked up the unconscious Link. All four disappeared into thin air.
~**~
Kaige helped Ryo make a fire, "Miss Ryo, are you sure you feel alright?"
Ryo stared into the fire, a dark feeling creeping into her heart, "I don't know, I feel a little sick." Kalinoc yowled quietly beside her, laying down.
Kaige looked at Ryo's eyes, and saw the pain in them. He looked at her with a kind face, "Get some sleep, maybe you'll feel better." He watched as Ryo laid down and closed her eyes, snuggling close to Kalinoc. "I hope Link and Chris are alright, she is really worried about them. She doesn't need to worry even more than she already is."
Ghost watched him intently, trying to understand what he was talking about. Kaige turned to him, "Hey boy, I'm sorry I've been ignoring you." Ghost's ears pricked forward as he knew Kaige was talking to him. He snorted and then pranced over to where Ryo was asleep. When he laid down, Kaige just smiled. "I guess I should follow their example and get some rest." He then shook his head, "I can't, I have to watch over her. . . I made a promise to Link that if I found her I would keep an eye on her."
Ryo mumbled in her sleep, ". . . Father. . ."
~**~
Rachel shook Link with a hard force, "Hey, get up! I need your smart brain for this!" Rachel then smacked Link's face, causing him to whip open his eyes.
Link shook his head as he sat up, "Where am I?"
Rachel let out a huge sigh, "You're in the cell of mine. It's owned by someone named Roeticus. He wants Ryo so he can have the triforce. He is going to trade my life for hers, and knowing her, she'll do it!"
Link jumped to his feet, "Well then, we have to get out of here now!"
"I don't think that is possible. . ." Rachel sighed.
Both heard a laughter, "That's right, not while I'm guarding you two!"
"Chris?" Link asked, wincing as his head started to pound.
"You guessed it!" Chris laughed.
Link shook his head, "You wouldn't be doing this under your own will, they've got you under their control! Snap out of it!"
Rachel grabbed Link's shoulder, "I've already been trying for three hours, it's no good, I just can't get through to the Chris we know." She shook her head, "Don't worry about him right now, we have to worry about Ryo coming to save us. She will trade in her life for ours, and we have to stop her before she does it!"
The door opened to emit Telan in, "Its time for you to shut up. . ." He kicked Rachel in the stomach, causing her to double over in pain, "That is nothing compared to what we could do to you. . ."
Link growled and lunged at Telan, head butting him in the chest. Telan had forgotten about Link, all his concentration on Rachel. Link stood in front of the doubled over Rachel, "Stay away from her, or you'll have to deal with me!"
An invisible force slammed into him, causing Link to slam to his knees. Josh came walking in, a smug smile plastered on his face, "You harm my brother again, and I'll make sure you don't survive another blast!"
~**~
Jordan sighed as he looked at the wasteland around him, "This is hopeless!" He held his arm out, "Lightning Strike, return to me!" Lightning Strike landed on his outstretched arm, screeching. Jordan sighed, "I know, I think this is never going to work!"
He walked over a pile of rocks that was ahead of him and smiled, "Well well, looks like I've found part of the search part!" He yelled to the group below, "Kaige, any luck?"
Kaige turned to see who had yelled to him and laughed, "Actually yes, I've found the runaway Ryo!"
Jordan ran down to meet him, Lightning Strike screeching the whole way. On arriving down to the fire, he saw Ryo sleeping, "How did you find her?"
"I heard her crying and came to investigate," Kaige smiled. He nodded his head, "Did you see Chris and Link by any chance?"
Jordan shook his head, "No, why?"
Kaige's eyes held a sadness, "Maybe she can feel something we can't. Ryo said she felt a little sick, and I haven't seen Link or Chris since we got here. We were supposed to meet three hours ago right here." Fridge growled at his feet, and Kaige nodded, "Fridge has been acting a little weird lately. He seems a little sluggish."
~**~
Rachel bit her lip in pain, "I will not cry out for your pleasure!" She looked at Link to see an anger in his eyes that made her cringe. She tried to talk to him, "Link. . ."
Link held his hand up, a feat that he couldn't do a while ago, "Not know Rachel!" He pushed off the ground, trying to get to his knees, "You will regret ever messing with me!"
Chris sent a force of water at the two. It swallowed both of them, and then disappeared. He laughed, "Will we? I think not!"
Josh smiled as he sent another force at Link, causing Link to slam into the ground even harder, "I guess you don't have any manners. . . We'll just have to teach you about them!"
Rachel watched in wonder as Link once again got to his knees, "You will not keep me on the floor! I'll soon have enough strength to stand up completely!"
Rachel then understood, "Ryo!" Link nodded, and Rachel nodded back, "She is supplying you with energy!"
"Yes Rachel, as long as she has the will, I will have the strength I need!" Link growled as another force slammed into him.
"But how?" Rachel asked. She then smiled, "I now get it, she has given her life to you! She wishes to be yours and wishes to give you whatever you need to survive!" At Link's nod, Rachel clenched her fist, "Well then, I think its time now to bust out of here!" She slammed the ground with her clenched fist, and ice shot at the two, "I need to get you out of here!"
The ice stopped five feet from the two, and changed its course. It then headed straight for Link. Rachel screamed a warning, but just a couple seconds late. The ice slammed into Link's chest, causing him to go sprawling across the cell. Josh laughed, "Did you forget about that? You have just caused him more pain than you can imagine!"
Rachel ran to Link's side, "Link, I'm sorry, I didn't realize. . ."
Link sat up, coughing, "Forget about it, it wasn't your fault. I'm fine, no need to worry about it!" He stood up, "They will not get to me! I will not let them get to you either!"
Rachel watched in horror as once again Link was slammed into the ground. Her horror didn't last long as she fell to her knees as well. She gasped for breath as the force seemed to take all her breath. "Link. . ."
Link turned his head sharply to see what was wrong with Rachel. He gasped at the sight, "Rachel!"
Josh looked at her, "I didn't put as much force behind hers as yours, what's wrong with her?"
"I can't breath, Link!" Rachel gasped.
Link pushed himself up onto his knees and ran over to Rachel, "Just hold on! I bet Jordan will be here soon!" He lowered his head, "Ryo's energy gave me the strength to. . ."
"Take this!" Josh yelled as he sent another force at Link. Link slammed into the ground with a force stronger than before. Josh laughed, "Where's your strength now?"
~**~
Ryo shot up from her sleeping position, her whole body hurting like unimagined. She also felt drained of energy. She shook, "Link. . . Rachel. . . Please hold on, I'll be there soon!"
Kaige jumped from where he was sitting, "Ryo?"
Jordan clenched his fist, "I can't take this! What's going on?"
Ryo stood up, ignoring her pain, "We have to hurry! They're in trouble! I can feel. . ." She started to fall, but was caught by Kaige.
Kaige nodded, "Alright, Miss Ryo, I understand. We'll leave immediately." He helped her to mount Ghost, "Where are we heading?"
"I don't know, I'm just following the feeling in my heart." Ryo stated, waiting for the other two to get ready to leave. She shook her head, "I think something bad has happened to Link and Rachel. I also think Link has used a lot of my energy to help himself."
Kaige looked at her, "Relax, I'm sure it's just your imagination." He bit his tongue as he saw Ryo's eyes, "Alright, we'll hurry."
Jordan didn't need to look into Ryo's eyes; he was hurrying to get his stuff ready, "Lets go! We have to go get them back!"
Ryo half closed her tired eyes, "Yeah, I don't know how long I can last while Link is taking my energy. . ."
Kaige stared at her, "How can he use your energy. . . Unless you have given your life to him." Ryo nodded, and Kaige sighed, "Then we better hurry in our search."
Ryo sighed, "Please, I don't know how long they can last."
~**~
Link coughed up blood, standing up, "We will not let you take Ryo's life!" He turned to Rachel, "Rach, can you get up?"
Rachel sucked in a lung full of air, "Yeah, I think. . ." She stood up and was supported by Link. She then glared at Telan, "You think I'm going to lay down and let you walk all over us?"
Josh laughed, "That's the point of the torture. . . We know you won't, so we decided to teach you!"
Chris shook his head, and Link saw this, "Are you sure you can keep Chris under your control for long?" He nodded his head at Chris, who had returned to his normal self, "I was starting to worry. . ."
Chris looked at the scene before his eyes, not believing what he saw. He saw Link supporting a beat up Rachel, Link beat up even more. He then saw Telan and Josh laughing at the two. He acted quickly. Sending a force of water at Telan and Josh, He ran to Link's side, "Link, what has happened?"
"I'll tell you after we get out of here." Link stated, helping Rachel run to the door, Chris right beside them. Link looked at the hall around them, "Which way do we go?"
Rachel pointed to her left, ""This way leads to the throne room which leads to the front gate which leads to. . ."
"Freedom!" Link stated as he started down the left hallway. Chris ran along side him. Link coughed up blood, pausing a moment to clear his head. Taking a deep breath, Link winced, "How much farther until we reach the throne room?"
"Just around the corner. . ." Rachel stated as she saw the corner coming closer.
On rounding the corner, all three skidded to a halt. Link's face showed his sadness, "No, it can't be. . ."
What had caused him to act like that was seeing Kaige supporting Ryo as she looked at Roeticus. Ryo seemed almost dead, her skin was as white as snow. Ryo lowered her head, "Alright, you win, you can have my life for Rachel's, Link's, and Chris's lives."
"Ryo! No!" Link and Rachel yelled as they brought themselves to her attention.
Ryo almost collapsed in Kaige's grip, "Link, Rachel. . ." She then turned her attention back to Roeticus, "You said they were alright!"
"I didn't lie, they are still alive, aren't they?" He laughed at Ryo's shocked face, "Ivy, I think now would be a good time to take the key to her new cell. . ."
Kaige glared at Roeticus, "I will not give her up! She isn't going anywhere!"
"Will you let my friends leave unharmed?" Ryo asked, ignoring the looks she was given.
Roeticus laughed, "Of course, I wouldn't go back on my word. . . Your friends will be let free."
Ryo pushed Kaige away from her. He was surprised at how much strength she had left as he flew ten feet from her. She slammed hard to the floor, "I give my life to you if you keep your word."
Kaysa smiled big, "Finally father, we can have the triforce!"
Link let Rachel go, "No!"
Ryo glared at him, "Link don't get into this!" She bit her lip, not wanting to say what she was about to say. It occurred to her that the only way Link and them would leave is if Link believed she didn't want him anymore. "I've been stuck with you since I got here! Just leave me alone! I don't want anything to do with you or anyone else! All you guys were was a burden to me! Stopping me from my destiny!" She glanced at Rachel. Ryo's eyes were welling up with tears.
Rachel knew what was going on in her cousin's head. She grabbed Link's arm, "Lets go, Link. . . She has made her decision. She doesn't want anything to do with us. . ."
Kaige stood up and walked over to Link, "Come my friend, Jordan is waiting for us outside. . ."
Link's eyes grew dull, no life in them. He nearly nodded, "Yes. . ." He let Kaige steer him out of the throne room, Chris and Rachel behind them.
Rachel shot over her shoulder, "Ryo, I hope you know what you're doing. . ." She added quietly, "Please return to us. I think Link is nothing without you. . ."
Ryo let her tears fall, "Please watch over them Rachel. . ." She added softly so that no one could hear her, "I will die for you Link. . . Only by your side. I will return to you."
~**~
Link looked at the castle as they stood outside it, "Ryo. . . How could you. . ."
Kalinoc growled and sat down. Rachel saw Link's eyes were dull and tried to reassure him, "Relax Link, she will come back to us. . ."
Link shook his head, "No, she said that she didn't want to be with me. . ."
"She only said that because she wanted you to get out. Her eyes were welling up with tears as she said that. She knew that the only way to get us out was by making us feel that she didn't want to be with us!" Rachel yelled at Link.
Kaige nodded, "She is right Link, I saw it as well. She only wanted you safe. . ."
Link's eyes returned back to normal, but they had a fire inside them, "I will get her back! She is everything to me, and I will not just let her go!"
Rachel smiled, "There ya go! That's the attitude we need! All we need is a plan to get her back!"
Ghost pawed the ground and nudged Link. Link put his hand on Ghost's nose, "Don't worry my friend, I will get her back!"
~**~
Ryo was thrown into a cell by Josh, "Don't try anything!" He then slammed the door.
Ryo curled into a ball and cried, "I'm sorry Link, I only did it for your safety." She didn't uncurl as someone opened the door and walked in.
"You shouldn't curl up like that, you leave yourself un alert. . ." The person started.
Ryo grabbed the person's leg, scaring the person and causing them to fall on top of her. Ryo looked to see who the person was and gasped. She saw a short, thin girl with brown hair and hazel eyes. She wore black jeans, a light blue t-shirt, and white sneakers with blue stripes running down the side.
Ryo shook her head, "Who are you, why are you here, how old are you?"
The girl sighed as she got off of Ryo, "My name is Sara Giles, I am a slave for Roeticus. He killed my parents before making me a slave. . . I am fourteen years old."
Sara smiled at Ryo, "Don't worry, I've brought you some food. . ." She put down a plate that had bread, cheese, and meat on it.
Ryo sighed as she look at the food, "I don't want it. . ."
"But you have to eat!" Sara sternly stated.
Josh and Telan walked into the cell, smiles spread across their faces, "Now is the time to tell us what you know, key. . ."
Ryo frowned, "I will never tell you anything!"
Josh laughed, "Actually, we were hoping you would say that, now we get to torture you until you tell us!" He sent a force at Ryo.
Ryo pushed Sara out of the way just in time as the force slammed into her. Sara watched as Ryo slammed to her knees, thinking that that could be her as well. Ryo glared at the two of them, "I will never tell you anything! No matter what you do to me. . ."
"Oh, but what if we were to do it to someone else?" Telan laughed as he looked at Sara.
Josh got the picture, and sent a force at Sara. Ryo lunged and covered Sara with her body so the force slammed into her instead. Ryo closed her eyes to clear the pain from her head. She opened her eyes and looked down at Sara, "Are you ok?"
Sara nodded, not feeling any pain whatsoever, "Yes, I am. . . why did you save me?"
Ryo felt another force of Josh's slam into her. She didn't even flinch, "You are only here to give me food, not to be tortured! I will not allow innocent beings to be hurt for any cause!"
Telan laughed, "That's nice, but how long can you last this onslaught?" He turned to Josh, "Torture her slowly, brother. . ."
Josh's smile disappeared, "She is just like Link. . ."
"What about my love!?" Ryo yelled.
"She is getting strength from Link, we won't be able to hurt her now." Josh stated, "We must tell Lord Roeticus!"
The two of them walked out of the cell, slamming the door behind them. Ryo let Sara go, and she scooted a little away from Ryo. Ryo then slumped to the floor, breathing heavily but not trying to get up. Sara gasped as Ryo fell, "Are you alright?"
Ryo tried to hide the pain in her eyes, "I am fine, now that I know you are alright." She smiled at her, "You are a loner, aren't you? You don't trust anyone but yourself, am I right?"
Sara nodded, "Yes, how did you know?"
Ryo closed her eyes, "I'm like that too, except that I met Link and I learned that I could be with people to get rid of the feeling of sorrow I have bottled up inside me. See. . ." She opened her eyes, "My family was murdered while I wasn't around. I've heard Link talk to one of my gang, Jordan, and Jordan says that the people who murdered my parents came from Hyrule. I know how you feel, I've had to live without my parents as well."
Sara broke a piece of bread off of the loaf that was on the plate. She put Ryo into a sitting position and put the bread up to her mouth, "Here, eat this."
Ryo glanced at the piece of bread, "Is it poisoned, is it edible?"
Sara shook her head, "No, it isn't poisoned, its edible, I swear." Ryo ate it, wincing in pain from the effort it took her, but didn't cry out.
Ryo smiled at Sara, "Thank you, I think I'm going to rest now. I hope to see you again, Sara Giles. It was nice to talk to you."
Sara's hazel eyes showed her concern, "Are you sure you're going to be alright?"
Ryo nodded, "Yes, I'm fine. I'll just sleep until someone wakes me up." She smiled at Sara's face, "There's nothing else I really can do, is there?" She then laughed, "I guess I could practice controlling my powers. . ."
"What powers?" Sara asked, intrigued.
Ryo closed her hand, and then opened it. A little flame was in the middle of her hand, "I have the power of using fire at will." The fire died away , and Ryo gasped for breath, "Then again, maybe I shouldn't use my powers."
Sara nodded, "Alright, I'll come to give you dinner tonight. If you need help eating, I'll help you eat." She smiled, "Just be lucky Roeticus doesn't know about your powers, he would take all of your strength."
Ryo watched Sara leave and shut the door, locking it behind her. She then curled into her ball she was in previously. As sleep pulled at her eyelids, she didn't fight it and soon was in a light sleep.
~**~
Link shook his head as he looked at the castle in the distance, "Why did we have to go farther away from there, Ryo might need us soon. . ."
Kaige looked at Link with an understanding in his eyes, "If we didn't go farther away from the castle, they would have captured us and thrown us into a cell. We couldn't help Ryo then, now could we?"
Rachel sighed, "I feel really weird without Ryo here yelling at me." She then yelled, "I want Ryo back!"
Jordan shook his head, "I should have gone in with you guys, I shouldn't have stayed out and watched over the horses, Kalinoc, Fridge, and Lightning Strike!"
Kaige put a hand on Link's shoulder, "Lets rest until we have a plan to get Miss Ryo out of there."
Link sighed and nodded, "Alright, I'll take first watch. . ."
Kaige shook his head, "I don't think so! You're not taking any watch tonight." He sighed, "I'll take first watch, Rachel can take second, and Jordan will take third."
Link glared at them all as he laid down by Ghost and Epona, "I don't know why you don't trust me. . ."
~**~
Ryo heard the door open and didn't uncurl. As she heard footsteps coming closer to her, she lunged her hand out to grab the person's ankle. The person screamed, and Ryo gasped. "Sara, you should say who you are when you enter. . ."
Sara smiled at Ryo, "So, are you feeling better?" She watched Ryo uncurl and stretch, "I'll take that as a yes." She laughed at Ryo as she yawned, "I brought your dinner. . ."
Ryo nodded, taking the plate from Sara, "So, how did you come to be here? I know your parents were killed, but you just didn't hand yourself to him, did you?"
Sara shook her head, "No, they captured me. Lord Telan and Lord Josh, that is."
Ryo nodded once again, breaking off a piece of bread from her plate, "Yeah, well, I came willingly. . ."
Sara gasped, "But why? You saw how they treat you. Why would you just hand yourself in?"
Ryo lowered her head, "It was either hand myself in, or my love and my cousin would die. I didn't want anyone to die, so I just handed myself in." Ryo then smiled, "As long as they are safe, I will stay here willingly."
Sara shook her head, "How could you do that? I wouldn't trust anyone to begin with. . ."
"That's how I was before I came to Hyrule. I didn't trust anyone, I knew no place was safe to stay. I didn't really even trust my cousin, I just watched over her to pay a debt to my dead parents. Then I met Link, and he watched over me and made sure I was safe. He trusted me to watch his back, even after I had tried to kill him when I had first met him."
"Link, he is the Hero of Time. . ." Sara gasped, "You were part of his group?"
Ryo nodded, blushing slightly, "Yes, he was my love and still is." She smiled, "He always was afraid of something like this to happen. He said no matter what that he would get me back. . ."
Sara nodded, "You never told me your name. . ."
Ryo's smile broadened, "My name is Ryo. Somehow I am the key to the triforce. . . at least that's what everyone else says."
Sara gasped, "That's why Roeticus isn't killing you like he has done to people in the past." She then smiled, "I am honored to meet you. . ."
Ryo laughed, "Oh, so you now trust me?" She shook her head, "No, that can't be, you probably think that I could save you and get you out of here."
Sara lowered her head, "Well, now that you say it, it does sound ridiculous, doesn't it?" She blushed as Ryo's laugh continued, "That's what I thought. . ."
Ryo calmed her laughter, "No, I think I could save you, it's just that to hear myself saying stuff like that in front of someone that's supposed to be my jailer sounds funny to me." Ryo took in a deep breath, "Now the thing is how are we going to get out of here without Telan or Josh seeing us."
As she said this, the door slammed open to let Josh come striding in. He smiled at the face of disgust on Ryo's face, "What's the matter key? I thought you would be glad to see me. . ."
"Why would I be glad to see your face? That is the last thing I want to see when I wake up!" Ryo yelled. She looked at Sara, "Get out of here before I hurt you as well!" Sara took one last glance at Ryo before running out. Ryo glared at Josh, "Where is the other one? Was he too afraid to come and see me?"
Ryo stopped dead as darkness surrounded her. Ryo shook her head to clear it as the darkness faded away. Telan stood at the door, his arm outstretched, "I was just talking to Lord Roeticus about what we should do about you." He smiled at Josh, "The lord wants to see her in his throne room now."
Ryo was grabbed by Josh and shoved out of the cell into the hallway. Telan smiled and grabbed her arm, "Don't try anything foolish." He pulled her along with him as he walked to the throne room. Throwing Ryo down in front of Roeticus, he smirked, "The key my lord."
Roeticus leaned forward in his chair, "She still seems to have a will of her own. You haven't been torturing her enough. . ." He stared into her eyes, trying to take over her mind, "You will succumb to me!"
Ryo grabbed her head and screamed, not wanting to give up, "Never!" She closed her eyes in concentration to make him back out of her mind, "You will never tame me!"
Sara watched from the hallway, her eyes starting to well up with tears, "This is horrible!"
Ryo shook her head in a final attempt to make him back down, "Leave me alone!"
Roeticus yelled in anger and pain as an image appeared in front of him. A man with brown hair and gold eyes was standing in front of the form of Ryo, "You will never fully understand her! You will never control her!" The man held up his hand, showing a scar in the shape of the triforce, "As long as she is my daughter, she will never fail!" He knelt down by Ryo, "Ryo. . ."
Another image appeared beside it, this time a woman with long black hair and piercing purple eyes. The woman glared at Roeticus, "You may have killed our physical forms, but you will never kill our spirit! As long as you try to take control of the triforce, we will stop you!"
Roeticus shook his head, backing down. He then slumped back in his chair, the images disappearing. Ryo breathed deep from her place on the floor, silent tears running down her face. Roeticus regained his posture, "Take her back to her cell!"
Ryo didn't retaliate as Josh and Telan threw her back into her cell. After they had left, Ryo let herself stare off into space, trying to figure out what had just happened. She then looked at her scar on her left hand, "Dad. . ." She formed a little flame in her hand, watching as the light of it danced off the walls.
As the door opened, Ryo turned and threw the flame at the person walking in. On seeing it was Sara, Ryo slammed both her hands together. Right before the flame contacted with Sara's face, it disappeared. Ryo sighed heavily, trying to forget what she saw in the throne room.
Sara wiped the sweat from her face, "Those were your parents?"
Ryo let a tear fall down her face, "I don't know. . . I thought they were dead. I had seen their dead bodies. Why would they come back?"
"They were their spirits they said. They also stated that as long as Roeticus tried to take over the triforce, they would stop him." Sara smiled at Ryo, "Your parents must have loved you so much. . ."
Ryo's eyes lit up with recognition, "Wait a minute. . . Why would my parents be in Hyrule? We aren't from here. . ." Ryo looked out of her widow, "Oh, I didn't even notice it turning dark." She turned to Sara, "You better go to your own room and get some sleep."
She watched Sara leave, shut the door, and lock it. She then went over to the window and whistled out of it.
~**~
Ghost's ears pricked forward as he heard the whistle. He stood up from where he was, ignoring the protest of Link as his head slammed against the ground. Ghost snorted and pawed the ground. Link yawned, but stopped as he heard the whistle. He smiled, "Its Ryo!"
Rachel shot up from where she was, "What, where?" She then also heard the whistle. She nodded her head, listening intently, "Uh huh, so you're in a cell, you've found someone else to join us, Roeticus has already tried to take over your mind, and. . . WHAT!" Rachel growled, "They're torturing you to no extent during the day!"
"But how could you get that out of a whistle?" Kaige asked, waking up Chris and Jordan.
"It's simple. . . We have a code with our whistling. It's the greatest thing. Nobody can break the code, all it is to them is just whistling." Rachel smiled. Her face then got serious, "Does anyone have a plan yet? Ryo seemed weak when she sent that code. I don't know how long she has. It was hard enough when Link and I were there."
Chris yawned, "Why don't we combine all our powers to get her back?"
Kaige smiled, "That could actually work."
Link wasted no time, "Alright, lets go!" Kalinoc growled at his feet, trying to hurry him up.
~**~
Sara knocked on Ryo's cell door before opening it, "Ryo, I came to see if you're alright. . ." She opened the door, and stood face to shoulders with Ryo.
Ryo smiled down at her, "So, are you ready to get away from here?" She answered Sara's questioning look, "Fairly soon we'll make a break for it. My friends are going to break me out, and you're going to come with us."
Sara smiled, "Are you serious?" Ryo nodded, and Sara hugged her, "I don't know how I will ever repay you."
Ryo laughed, "Join my group so we can defeat Roeticus and rid Hyrule of evil. I need someone like you to keep yourself if anything happens to me. You'll have to calm Link down if that ever happens."
Sara nodded, "Yes, anything!"
Ryo held her hand up as she heard a returning whistle. She nodded, "Yes, yes. . . You, Link, Kaige, Chris, Jordan, Lightning Strike, Kalinoc, and Fridge are going to bombard the castle with your combined strength while the horses cause a ruckus and run into the castle. As the horses cause chaos, you're going to come and get me. All I have to do is make sure that when you get here I'm ready to go. . . What a cinch!"
"You got all that out of a whistle?" Sara asked.
Ryo laughed, "Yes, I'll explain my code to you later, after we are safely away from this castle!" She then put a little flame in her hand, "All I have to do is show them which cell I'm in. . ." She put the flame on the windowsill and watched as it grew larger. She then whistled back.
~**~
Rachel heard Ryo's whistle back as they headed to the castle. She smiled and looked at the many windows, finally seeing the flame. She laughed, "Once we get inside the castle, follow me, I know which cell she is in." She pointed to the window that had the flame on it, "There is where she is!"
Ghost snorted as he galloped. Link nodded, "I agree, lets get this over with quickly. I want to get Ryo away from this place as soon as I can!"
Kaige smiled, "Kalinoc and Fridge better go ahead and start with the plan. You two Lightning Strike. We'll be there in a couple minutes." The three raced ahead, leaving everyone else behind.
Chris growled in his wolf form, "I will not give up this fight!"
Link smiled, "Lets go get Ryo!" He raced ahead with Ghost behind him. Kaige smiled and then urged Shala forward, trying to catch up to Link. Rachel urged Demon forward, and Jordan urged Wild Wind forward.
~**~
Don't ya just love me? I leave a cliff- hanger in a crucial moment. Well, if you want to know if Ryo and Sara get out, review. I still need new characters, good or bad, so send your profiles to me any way you want to. I also need to know what you guys think about Ryo and Rachel going back to Earth. Tell me what you guys want to happen at the end, I was thinking about a twist. If you want to know what the twist might be, send me your email with your review. I'll email my thanks to you so I can thank you for your ideas and tell you what the twist is at the end if you want to know.
Well, until the next chapter. . . Light Dragon is roaming out.
Author's note: thanks for those who review my story. I've also added a new character. Enjoy.
Chapter Nine
Kaige sighed, placing a hand on Link's shoulder, "Let her be alone for a little while, she needs it." He turned to Fridge, "You my friend, with the help of Chris, will help us find Rachel and Ryo."
Chris nodded, "Yeah, I'll help for sure. I wouldn't leave you guys hanging." He transformed into his wolf form, "Those two have a weird scent, that makes it easy to follow them."
Link nodded, "Lets go, I don't want them to be hurt." He turned to Jordan, "I'm sorry my friend, I'll get Rachel back for you, I promise."
~**~
Rachel was thrown into a cell. She ran at the closing door, "My cousin will come for me!"
A man's voice was heard for the other side of the closed door, "That's what I want, guardian. . . The key is walking straight into my trap! I'll soon have control of the triforce!"
"She's smarter than she looks! She won't fall for any tricks that you try!" Rachel banged on the door.
"No tricks, just your life for hers, I think she'll hand herself in willingly. She seems to try to keep you safe at every turn. I'll enjoy watching you suffer until then. . ." The man laughed, "Telan, Josh. . . I give you permission to do whatever you would like to her until the key trades her life for this girl's."
Rachel heard Josh's voice, "Thank you my lord, we'll have fun. We'll make sure she is tortured to long stakes."
"I'll prove hard to torture! I've gone through it before!" Rachel yelled. She kicked the door and grabbed her foot, "Geez, that smarts!" She looked out the window that was on the far side of the wall, "Ryo, please come and get me, just not trade in your life. I hate being kidnapped!"
~**~
Roeticus smiled at Ivy, "Five hundred rupees, as I promised you. . ." He then smiled bigger, "If you fetch me the key before she comes here, I'll give you five hundred more. . ."
Ivy jumped at the sound of all the money she could earn, "Don't worry my lord, you'll have the key very soon. . ."
Roeticus laughed, "They don't call you the chief thief for nothing. Any prospect of money and you jump at the challenge." He waved his hand, "You may leave now."
~**~
Ryo dismounted from Ghost's back, surveying the land around her, "Kalinoc, are you sure this is the way that they went?" Kalinoc nodded his head as he growled. Ryo smiled, "I wasn't doubting you, it's just that this part of Hyrule isn't in the game, I'm very unfamiliar with it."
Ghost snorted at the dead grass around them. Ryo nodded, "I agree Ghost, this place needs some work, it's like a wasteland." She heard a rock fall from a mound of them in front of them. She unsheathed her sword, "Who's there?" She took a deep breath to calm her whizzing mind, "I just need to relax, I can take care of myself."
"Can you?" A voice laughed wickedly. Ryo spun around to be faced with Ivy. She smiled, "Looks like you can only tell yourself that, you seem to be shocked. . ."
Ryo shook her head to clear her surprise, "Where is my cousin?"
"She is with lord Roeticus. It's now your turn to go see him. . ." Ivy yelled as she lunged at Ryo.
Ryo's instincts took control of her body, causing her to dodge out of the way. She then lunged at Ivy herself, bringing her sword up above her head. Ivy stumbled backwards, loosing her balance. Ryo came down on her, her sword coming down form over her head. Ivy smiled as she threw a Deku nut at Ryo's face. It exploded in her face, blinding her. Ryo slammed into the ground on her arms, breaking the full blast of the fall. She blinked her eyes, trying to clear them. Ivy fell over laughing at her. After getting over the sight, Ivy ran off in the direction of the rock pile.
Kalinoc roared as he ran after her. He skidded to a halt as he heard Ryo's desperate calls, "Kalinoc, please no, come back. . . I can't see!" Kalinoc quickly ran over to her, nuzzling her face, trying to calm her down. Ghost whinnied softly as he nibbled on her fingers. Ryo started to cry as she still couldn't see.
"You shouldn't cry, it doesn't help. . ." Ryo heard a familiar voice.
"Kaige?" Ryo asked. She felt around with her hands, finally finding his, "Where is Link and the others?"
"They are off in another part of the wasteland trying to find you. You really shouldn't run off by yourself, you could be hurt."
"Yeah, I know. . ." Ryo sighed, rubbing her eyes, white blotches appearing in her blackened sight, "I was temporarily blinded." She felt Kaige's hands on her cheeks.
Kaige looked into her eyes, the pupils becoming small again, "You're alright, your pupils are returning to their regular size."
Ryo blinked again, and then saw the outline of Kaige. She sighed, "This is getting to be an interesting camping trip!" She shook her head, and her sight returned to normal, "I have to find Rachel, she hates being kidnapped."
"You two have been kidnapped before?" Kaige asked, helping Ryo off the ground. Fridge growled at her.
Ryo turned her head away from him, "It's something I don't talk about usually. . . It was when my parents died. We were at a loss for where to go, and my dad's associates kidnapped us, not realizing that we had total control over our powers." Ryo quickly wiped a tear away from her eye, trying not to make it noticeable, "We fought against them, finally getting the chance to get out, but I didn't get out. . . I got stuck with them. I'm not going to relive all that, and I don't want Rachel to live what I had to."
~**~
Link and Chris sat down in another part of the wasteland. Link sighed, "We're never going to find my love this way. . . We don't have Kalinoc."
Chris took a drink of water from his water flask, "Lets just hope we find her soon, this place seems evil." He looked down at his feet, "I'm sorry that I can't smell their scent anymore, we got here, and I lost it. The scent just seems to stop."
Link opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut as he saw Telan and Josh appear behind Chris. Before Link could say anything, Telan shot a ball of darkness at Chris. Chris screamed in pain as the ball collided with his back.
Josh smiled as Chris's screaming ended, "You're now one of us. . ."
Chris's eyes were darker than normal as he glared at Link. Telan laughed, "We'll leave you two to sort this out, we have to get back to lord Roeticus."
Link took a step backwards, "Chris, what's wrong?" He dodged as Chris lunged at him, "Chris! Fight It! You are too strong to be taken control of by. . ." He stopped as a force of water slammed into him. He coughed as the water disappeared.
Josh looked at Telan, "I think we should stay and see what happens. We can then bring both of them to lord Roeticus. . ."
Telan nodded, "I have a better idea. . ." He sent a force of darkness to swallow Link up, "Lets just take him back to our lord unconscious. This one, "He pointed to Chris, "We'll show to lord Roeticus."
Link was swallowed by the force, and Chris looked at Josh and Telan. Telan nodded, and Josh picked up the unconscious Link. All four disappeared into thin air.
~**~
Kaige helped Ryo make a fire, "Miss Ryo, are you sure you feel alright?"
Ryo stared into the fire, a dark feeling creeping into her heart, "I don't know, I feel a little sick." Kalinoc yowled quietly beside her, laying down.
Kaige looked at Ryo's eyes, and saw the pain in them. He looked at her with a kind face, "Get some sleep, maybe you'll feel better." He watched as Ryo laid down and closed her eyes, snuggling close to Kalinoc. "I hope Link and Chris are alright, she is really worried about them. She doesn't need to worry even more than she already is."
Ghost watched him intently, trying to understand what he was talking about. Kaige turned to him, "Hey boy, I'm sorry I've been ignoring you." Ghost's ears pricked forward as he knew Kaige was talking to him. He snorted and then pranced over to where Ryo was asleep. When he laid down, Kaige just smiled. "I guess I should follow their example and get some rest." He then shook his head, "I can't, I have to watch over her. . . I made a promise to Link that if I found her I would keep an eye on her."
Ryo mumbled in her sleep, ". . . Father. . ."
~**~
Rachel shook Link with a hard force, "Hey, get up! I need your smart brain for this!" Rachel then smacked Link's face, causing him to whip open his eyes.
Link shook his head as he sat up, "Where am I?"
Rachel let out a huge sigh, "You're in the cell of mine. It's owned by someone named Roeticus. He wants Ryo so he can have the triforce. He is going to trade my life for hers, and knowing her, she'll do it!"
Link jumped to his feet, "Well then, we have to get out of here now!"
"I don't think that is possible. . ." Rachel sighed.
Both heard a laughter, "That's right, not while I'm guarding you two!"
"Chris?" Link asked, wincing as his head started to pound.
"You guessed it!" Chris laughed.
Link shook his head, "You wouldn't be doing this under your own will, they've got you under their control! Snap out of it!"
Rachel grabbed Link's shoulder, "I've already been trying for three hours, it's no good, I just can't get through to the Chris we know." She shook her head, "Don't worry about him right now, we have to worry about Ryo coming to save us. She will trade in her life for ours, and we have to stop her before she does it!"
The door opened to emit Telan in, "Its time for you to shut up. . ." He kicked Rachel in the stomach, causing her to double over in pain, "That is nothing compared to what we could do to you. . ."
Link growled and lunged at Telan, head butting him in the chest. Telan had forgotten about Link, all his concentration on Rachel. Link stood in front of the doubled over Rachel, "Stay away from her, or you'll have to deal with me!"
An invisible force slammed into him, causing Link to slam to his knees. Josh came walking in, a smug smile plastered on his face, "You harm my brother again, and I'll make sure you don't survive another blast!"
~**~
Jordan sighed as he looked at the wasteland around him, "This is hopeless!" He held his arm out, "Lightning Strike, return to me!" Lightning Strike landed on his outstretched arm, screeching. Jordan sighed, "I know, I think this is never going to work!"
He walked over a pile of rocks that was ahead of him and smiled, "Well well, looks like I've found part of the search part!" He yelled to the group below, "Kaige, any luck?"
Kaige turned to see who had yelled to him and laughed, "Actually yes, I've found the runaway Ryo!"
Jordan ran down to meet him, Lightning Strike screeching the whole way. On arriving down to the fire, he saw Ryo sleeping, "How did you find her?"
"I heard her crying and came to investigate," Kaige smiled. He nodded his head, "Did you see Chris and Link by any chance?"
Jordan shook his head, "No, why?"
Kaige's eyes held a sadness, "Maybe she can feel something we can't. Ryo said she felt a little sick, and I haven't seen Link or Chris since we got here. We were supposed to meet three hours ago right here." Fridge growled at his feet, and Kaige nodded, "Fridge has been acting a little weird lately. He seems a little sluggish."
~**~
Rachel bit her lip in pain, "I will not cry out for your pleasure!" She looked at Link to see an anger in his eyes that made her cringe. She tried to talk to him, "Link. . ."
Link held his hand up, a feat that he couldn't do a while ago, "Not know Rachel!" He pushed off the ground, trying to get to his knees, "You will regret ever messing with me!"
Chris sent a force of water at the two. It swallowed both of them, and then disappeared. He laughed, "Will we? I think not!"
Josh smiled as he sent another force at Link, causing Link to slam into the ground even harder, "I guess you don't have any manners. . . We'll just have to teach you about them!"
Rachel watched in wonder as Link once again got to his knees, "You will not keep me on the floor! I'll soon have enough strength to stand up completely!"
Rachel then understood, "Ryo!" Link nodded, and Rachel nodded back, "She is supplying you with energy!"
"Yes Rachel, as long as she has the will, I will have the strength I need!" Link growled as another force slammed into him.
"But how?" Rachel asked. She then smiled, "I now get it, she has given her life to you! She wishes to be yours and wishes to give you whatever you need to survive!" At Link's nod, Rachel clenched her fist, "Well then, I think its time now to bust out of here!" She slammed the ground with her clenched fist, and ice shot at the two, "I need to get you out of here!"
The ice stopped five feet from the two, and changed its course. It then headed straight for Link. Rachel screamed a warning, but just a couple seconds late. The ice slammed into Link's chest, causing him to go sprawling across the cell. Josh laughed, "Did you forget about that? You have just caused him more pain than you can imagine!"
Rachel ran to Link's side, "Link, I'm sorry, I didn't realize. . ."
Link sat up, coughing, "Forget about it, it wasn't your fault. I'm fine, no need to worry about it!" He stood up, "They will not get to me! I will not let them get to you either!"
Rachel watched in horror as once again Link was slammed into the ground. Her horror didn't last long as she fell to her knees as well. She gasped for breath as the force seemed to take all her breath. "Link. . ."
Link turned his head sharply to see what was wrong with Rachel. He gasped at the sight, "Rachel!"
Josh looked at her, "I didn't put as much force behind hers as yours, what's wrong with her?"
"I can't breath, Link!" Rachel gasped.
Link pushed himself up onto his knees and ran over to Rachel, "Just hold on! I bet Jordan will be here soon!" He lowered his head, "Ryo's energy gave me the strength to. . ."
"Take this!" Josh yelled as he sent another force at Link. Link slammed into the ground with a force stronger than before. Josh laughed, "Where's your strength now?"
~**~
Ryo shot up from her sleeping position, her whole body hurting like unimagined. She also felt drained of energy. She shook, "Link. . . Rachel. . . Please hold on, I'll be there soon!"
Kaige jumped from where he was sitting, "Ryo?"
Jordan clenched his fist, "I can't take this! What's going on?"
Ryo stood up, ignoring her pain, "We have to hurry! They're in trouble! I can feel. . ." She started to fall, but was caught by Kaige.
Kaige nodded, "Alright, Miss Ryo, I understand. We'll leave immediately." He helped her to mount Ghost, "Where are we heading?"
"I don't know, I'm just following the feeling in my heart." Ryo stated, waiting for the other two to get ready to leave. She shook her head, "I think something bad has happened to Link and Rachel. I also think Link has used a lot of my energy to help himself."
Kaige looked at her, "Relax, I'm sure it's just your imagination." He bit his tongue as he saw Ryo's eyes, "Alright, we'll hurry."
Jordan didn't need to look into Ryo's eyes; he was hurrying to get his stuff ready, "Lets go! We have to go get them back!"
Ryo half closed her tired eyes, "Yeah, I don't know how long I can last while Link is taking my energy. . ."
Kaige stared at her, "How can he use your energy. . . Unless you have given your life to him." Ryo nodded, and Kaige sighed, "Then we better hurry in our search."
Ryo sighed, "Please, I don't know how long they can last."
~**~
Link coughed up blood, standing up, "We will not let you take Ryo's life!" He turned to Rachel, "Rach, can you get up?"
Rachel sucked in a lung full of air, "Yeah, I think. . ." She stood up and was supported by Link. She then glared at Telan, "You think I'm going to lay down and let you walk all over us?"
Josh laughed, "That's the point of the torture. . . We know you won't, so we decided to teach you!"
Chris shook his head, and Link saw this, "Are you sure you can keep Chris under your control for long?" He nodded his head at Chris, who had returned to his normal self, "I was starting to worry. . ."
Chris looked at the scene before his eyes, not believing what he saw. He saw Link supporting a beat up Rachel, Link beat up even more. He then saw Telan and Josh laughing at the two. He acted quickly. Sending a force of water at Telan and Josh, He ran to Link's side, "Link, what has happened?"
"I'll tell you after we get out of here." Link stated, helping Rachel run to the door, Chris right beside them. Link looked at the hall around them, "Which way do we go?"
Rachel pointed to her left, ""This way leads to the throne room which leads to the front gate which leads to. . ."
"Freedom!" Link stated as he started down the left hallway. Chris ran along side him. Link coughed up blood, pausing a moment to clear his head. Taking a deep breath, Link winced, "How much farther until we reach the throne room?"
"Just around the corner. . ." Rachel stated as she saw the corner coming closer.
On rounding the corner, all three skidded to a halt. Link's face showed his sadness, "No, it can't be. . ."
What had caused him to act like that was seeing Kaige supporting Ryo as she looked at Roeticus. Ryo seemed almost dead, her skin was as white as snow. Ryo lowered her head, "Alright, you win, you can have my life for Rachel's, Link's, and Chris's lives."
"Ryo! No!" Link and Rachel yelled as they brought themselves to her attention.
Ryo almost collapsed in Kaige's grip, "Link, Rachel. . ." She then turned her attention back to Roeticus, "You said they were alright!"
"I didn't lie, they are still alive, aren't they?" He laughed at Ryo's shocked face, "Ivy, I think now would be a good time to take the key to her new cell. . ."
Kaige glared at Roeticus, "I will not give her up! She isn't going anywhere!"
"Will you let my friends leave unharmed?" Ryo asked, ignoring the looks she was given.
Roeticus laughed, "Of course, I wouldn't go back on my word. . . Your friends will be let free."
Ryo pushed Kaige away from her. He was surprised at how much strength she had left as he flew ten feet from her. She slammed hard to the floor, "I give my life to you if you keep your word."
Kaysa smiled big, "Finally father, we can have the triforce!"
Link let Rachel go, "No!"
Ryo glared at him, "Link don't get into this!" She bit her lip, not wanting to say what she was about to say. It occurred to her that the only way Link and them would leave is if Link believed she didn't want him anymore. "I've been stuck with you since I got here! Just leave me alone! I don't want anything to do with you or anyone else! All you guys were was a burden to me! Stopping me from my destiny!" She glanced at Rachel. Ryo's eyes were welling up with tears.
Rachel knew what was going on in her cousin's head. She grabbed Link's arm, "Lets go, Link. . . She has made her decision. She doesn't want anything to do with us. . ."
Kaige stood up and walked over to Link, "Come my friend, Jordan is waiting for us outside. . ."
Link's eyes grew dull, no life in them. He nearly nodded, "Yes. . ." He let Kaige steer him out of the throne room, Chris and Rachel behind them.
Rachel shot over her shoulder, "Ryo, I hope you know what you're doing. . ." She added quietly, "Please return to us. I think Link is nothing without you. . ."
Ryo let her tears fall, "Please watch over them Rachel. . ." She added softly so that no one could hear her, "I will die for you Link. . . Only by your side. I will return to you."
~**~
Link looked at the castle as they stood outside it, "Ryo. . . How could you. . ."
Kalinoc growled and sat down. Rachel saw Link's eyes were dull and tried to reassure him, "Relax Link, she will come back to us. . ."
Link shook his head, "No, she said that she didn't want to be with me. . ."
"She only said that because she wanted you to get out. Her eyes were welling up with tears as she said that. She knew that the only way to get us out was by making us feel that she didn't want to be with us!" Rachel yelled at Link.
Kaige nodded, "She is right Link, I saw it as well. She only wanted you safe. . ."
Link's eyes returned back to normal, but they had a fire inside them, "I will get her back! She is everything to me, and I will not just let her go!"
Rachel smiled, "There ya go! That's the attitude we need! All we need is a plan to get her back!"
Ghost pawed the ground and nudged Link. Link put his hand on Ghost's nose, "Don't worry my friend, I will get her back!"
~**~
Ryo was thrown into a cell by Josh, "Don't try anything!" He then slammed the door.
Ryo curled into a ball and cried, "I'm sorry Link, I only did it for your safety." She didn't uncurl as someone opened the door and walked in.
"You shouldn't curl up like that, you leave yourself un alert. . ." The person started.
Ryo grabbed the person's leg, scaring the person and causing them to fall on top of her. Ryo looked to see who the person was and gasped. She saw a short, thin girl with brown hair and hazel eyes. She wore black jeans, a light blue t-shirt, and white sneakers with blue stripes running down the side.
Ryo shook her head, "Who are you, why are you here, how old are you?"
The girl sighed as she got off of Ryo, "My name is Sara Giles, I am a slave for Roeticus. He killed my parents before making me a slave. . . I am fourteen years old."
Sara smiled at Ryo, "Don't worry, I've brought you some food. . ." She put down a plate that had bread, cheese, and meat on it.
Ryo sighed as she look at the food, "I don't want it. . ."
"But you have to eat!" Sara sternly stated.
Josh and Telan walked into the cell, smiles spread across their faces, "Now is the time to tell us what you know, key. . ."
Ryo frowned, "I will never tell you anything!"
Josh laughed, "Actually, we were hoping you would say that, now we get to torture you until you tell us!" He sent a force at Ryo.
Ryo pushed Sara out of the way just in time as the force slammed into her. Sara watched as Ryo slammed to her knees, thinking that that could be her as well. Ryo glared at the two of them, "I will never tell you anything! No matter what you do to me. . ."
"Oh, but what if we were to do it to someone else?" Telan laughed as he looked at Sara.
Josh got the picture, and sent a force at Sara. Ryo lunged and covered Sara with her body so the force slammed into her instead. Ryo closed her eyes to clear the pain from her head. She opened her eyes and looked down at Sara, "Are you ok?"
Sara nodded, not feeling any pain whatsoever, "Yes, I am. . . why did you save me?"
Ryo felt another force of Josh's slam into her. She didn't even flinch, "You are only here to give me food, not to be tortured! I will not allow innocent beings to be hurt for any cause!"
Telan laughed, "That's nice, but how long can you last this onslaught?" He turned to Josh, "Torture her slowly, brother. . ."
Josh's smile disappeared, "She is just like Link. . ."
"What about my love!?" Ryo yelled.
"She is getting strength from Link, we won't be able to hurt her now." Josh stated, "We must tell Lord Roeticus!"
The two of them walked out of the cell, slamming the door behind them. Ryo let Sara go, and she scooted a little away from Ryo. Ryo then slumped to the floor, breathing heavily but not trying to get up. Sara gasped as Ryo fell, "Are you alright?"
Ryo tried to hide the pain in her eyes, "I am fine, now that I know you are alright." She smiled at her, "You are a loner, aren't you? You don't trust anyone but yourself, am I right?"
Sara nodded, "Yes, how did you know?"
Ryo closed her eyes, "I'm like that too, except that I met Link and I learned that I could be with people to get rid of the feeling of sorrow I have bottled up inside me. See. . ." She opened her eyes, "My family was murdered while I wasn't around. I've heard Link talk to one of my gang, Jordan, and Jordan says that the people who murdered my parents came from Hyrule. I know how you feel, I've had to live without my parents as well."
Sara broke a piece of bread off of the loaf that was on the plate. She put Ryo into a sitting position and put the bread up to her mouth, "Here, eat this."
Ryo glanced at the piece of bread, "Is it poisoned, is it edible?"
Sara shook her head, "No, it isn't poisoned, its edible, I swear." Ryo ate it, wincing in pain from the effort it took her, but didn't cry out.
Ryo smiled at Sara, "Thank you, I think I'm going to rest now. I hope to see you again, Sara Giles. It was nice to talk to you."
Sara's hazel eyes showed her concern, "Are you sure you're going to be alright?"
Ryo nodded, "Yes, I'm fine. I'll just sleep until someone wakes me up." She smiled at Sara's face, "There's nothing else I really can do, is there?" She then laughed, "I guess I could practice controlling my powers. . ."
"What powers?" Sara asked, intrigued.
Ryo closed her hand, and then opened it. A little flame was in the middle of her hand, "I have the power of using fire at will." The fire died away , and Ryo gasped for breath, "Then again, maybe I shouldn't use my powers."
Sara nodded, "Alright, I'll come to give you dinner tonight. If you need help eating, I'll help you eat." She smiled, "Just be lucky Roeticus doesn't know about your powers, he would take all of your strength."
Ryo watched Sara leave and shut the door, locking it behind her. She then curled into her ball she was in previously. As sleep pulled at her eyelids, she didn't fight it and soon was in a light sleep.
~**~
Link shook his head as he looked at the castle in the distance, "Why did we have to go farther away from there, Ryo might need us soon. . ."
Kaige looked at Link with an understanding in his eyes, "If we didn't go farther away from the castle, they would have captured us and thrown us into a cell. We couldn't help Ryo then, now could we?"
Rachel sighed, "I feel really weird without Ryo here yelling at me." She then yelled, "I want Ryo back!"
Jordan shook his head, "I should have gone in with you guys, I shouldn't have stayed out and watched over the horses, Kalinoc, Fridge, and Lightning Strike!"
Kaige put a hand on Link's shoulder, "Lets rest until we have a plan to get Miss Ryo out of there."
Link sighed and nodded, "Alright, I'll take first watch. . ."
Kaige shook his head, "I don't think so! You're not taking any watch tonight." He sighed, "I'll take first watch, Rachel can take second, and Jordan will take third."
Link glared at them all as he laid down by Ghost and Epona, "I don't know why you don't trust me. . ."
~**~
Ryo heard the door open and didn't uncurl. As she heard footsteps coming closer to her, she lunged her hand out to grab the person's ankle. The person screamed, and Ryo gasped. "Sara, you should say who you are when you enter. . ."
Sara smiled at Ryo, "So, are you feeling better?" She watched Ryo uncurl and stretch, "I'll take that as a yes." She laughed at Ryo as she yawned, "I brought your dinner. . ."
Ryo nodded, taking the plate from Sara, "So, how did you come to be here? I know your parents were killed, but you just didn't hand yourself to him, did you?"
Sara shook her head, "No, they captured me. Lord Telan and Lord Josh, that is."
Ryo nodded once again, breaking off a piece of bread from her plate, "Yeah, well, I came willingly. . ."
Sara gasped, "But why? You saw how they treat you. Why would you just hand yourself in?"
Ryo lowered her head, "It was either hand myself in, or my love and my cousin would die. I didn't want anyone to die, so I just handed myself in." Ryo then smiled, "As long as they are safe, I will stay here willingly."
Sara shook her head, "How could you do that? I wouldn't trust anyone to begin with. . ."
"That's how I was before I came to Hyrule. I didn't trust anyone, I knew no place was safe to stay. I didn't really even trust my cousin, I just watched over her to pay a debt to my dead parents. Then I met Link, and he watched over me and made sure I was safe. He trusted me to watch his back, even after I had tried to kill him when I had first met him."
"Link, he is the Hero of Time. . ." Sara gasped, "You were part of his group?"
Ryo nodded, blushing slightly, "Yes, he was my love and still is." She smiled, "He always was afraid of something like this to happen. He said no matter what that he would get me back. . ."
Sara nodded, "You never told me your name. . ."
Ryo's smile broadened, "My name is Ryo. Somehow I am the key to the triforce. . . at least that's what everyone else says."
Sara gasped, "That's why Roeticus isn't killing you like he has done to people in the past." She then smiled, "I am honored to meet you. . ."
Ryo laughed, "Oh, so you now trust me?" She shook her head, "No, that can't be, you probably think that I could save you and get you out of here."
Sara lowered her head, "Well, now that you say it, it does sound ridiculous, doesn't it?" She blushed as Ryo's laugh continued, "That's what I thought. . ."
Ryo calmed her laughter, "No, I think I could save you, it's just that to hear myself saying stuff like that in front of someone that's supposed to be my jailer sounds funny to me." Ryo took in a deep breath, "Now the thing is how are we going to get out of here without Telan or Josh seeing us."
As she said this, the door slammed open to let Josh come striding in. He smiled at the face of disgust on Ryo's face, "What's the matter key? I thought you would be glad to see me. . ."
"Why would I be glad to see your face? That is the last thing I want to see when I wake up!" Ryo yelled. She looked at Sara, "Get out of here before I hurt you as well!" Sara took one last glance at Ryo before running out. Ryo glared at Josh, "Where is the other one? Was he too afraid to come and see me?"
Ryo stopped dead as darkness surrounded her. Ryo shook her head to clear it as the darkness faded away. Telan stood at the door, his arm outstretched, "I was just talking to Lord Roeticus about what we should do about you." He smiled at Josh, "The lord wants to see her in his throne room now."
Ryo was grabbed by Josh and shoved out of the cell into the hallway. Telan smiled and grabbed her arm, "Don't try anything foolish." He pulled her along with him as he walked to the throne room. Throwing Ryo down in front of Roeticus, he smirked, "The key my lord."
Roeticus leaned forward in his chair, "She still seems to have a will of her own. You haven't been torturing her enough. . ." He stared into her eyes, trying to take over her mind, "You will succumb to me!"
Ryo grabbed her head and screamed, not wanting to give up, "Never!" She closed her eyes in concentration to make him back out of her mind, "You will never tame me!"
Sara watched from the hallway, her eyes starting to well up with tears, "This is horrible!"
Ryo shook her head in a final attempt to make him back down, "Leave me alone!"
Roeticus yelled in anger and pain as an image appeared in front of him. A man with brown hair and gold eyes was standing in front of the form of Ryo, "You will never fully understand her! You will never control her!" The man held up his hand, showing a scar in the shape of the triforce, "As long as she is my daughter, she will never fail!" He knelt down by Ryo, "Ryo. . ."
Another image appeared beside it, this time a woman with long black hair and piercing purple eyes. The woman glared at Roeticus, "You may have killed our physical forms, but you will never kill our spirit! As long as you try to take control of the triforce, we will stop you!"
Roeticus shook his head, backing down. He then slumped back in his chair, the images disappearing. Ryo breathed deep from her place on the floor, silent tears running down her face. Roeticus regained his posture, "Take her back to her cell!"
Ryo didn't retaliate as Josh and Telan threw her back into her cell. After they had left, Ryo let herself stare off into space, trying to figure out what had just happened. She then looked at her scar on her left hand, "Dad. . ." She formed a little flame in her hand, watching as the light of it danced off the walls.
As the door opened, Ryo turned and threw the flame at the person walking in. On seeing it was Sara, Ryo slammed both her hands together. Right before the flame contacted with Sara's face, it disappeared. Ryo sighed heavily, trying to forget what she saw in the throne room.
Sara wiped the sweat from her face, "Those were your parents?"
Ryo let a tear fall down her face, "I don't know. . . I thought they were dead. I had seen their dead bodies. Why would they come back?"
"They were their spirits they said. They also stated that as long as Roeticus tried to take over the triforce, they would stop him." Sara smiled at Ryo, "Your parents must have loved you so much. . ."
Ryo's eyes lit up with recognition, "Wait a minute. . . Why would my parents be in Hyrule? We aren't from here. . ." Ryo looked out of her widow, "Oh, I didn't even notice it turning dark." She turned to Sara, "You better go to your own room and get some sleep."
She watched Sara leave, shut the door, and lock it. She then went over to the window and whistled out of it.
~**~
Ghost's ears pricked forward as he heard the whistle. He stood up from where he was, ignoring the protest of Link as his head slammed against the ground. Ghost snorted and pawed the ground. Link yawned, but stopped as he heard the whistle. He smiled, "Its Ryo!"
Rachel shot up from where she was, "What, where?" She then also heard the whistle. She nodded her head, listening intently, "Uh huh, so you're in a cell, you've found someone else to join us, Roeticus has already tried to take over your mind, and. . . WHAT!" Rachel growled, "They're torturing you to no extent during the day!"
"But how could you get that out of a whistle?" Kaige asked, waking up Chris and Jordan.
"It's simple. . . We have a code with our whistling. It's the greatest thing. Nobody can break the code, all it is to them is just whistling." Rachel smiled. Her face then got serious, "Does anyone have a plan yet? Ryo seemed weak when she sent that code. I don't know how long she has. It was hard enough when Link and I were there."
Chris yawned, "Why don't we combine all our powers to get her back?"
Kaige smiled, "That could actually work."
Link wasted no time, "Alright, lets go!" Kalinoc growled at his feet, trying to hurry him up.
~**~
Sara knocked on Ryo's cell door before opening it, "Ryo, I came to see if you're alright. . ." She opened the door, and stood face to shoulders with Ryo.
Ryo smiled down at her, "So, are you ready to get away from here?" She answered Sara's questioning look, "Fairly soon we'll make a break for it. My friends are going to break me out, and you're going to come with us."
Sara smiled, "Are you serious?" Ryo nodded, and Sara hugged her, "I don't know how I will ever repay you."
Ryo laughed, "Join my group so we can defeat Roeticus and rid Hyrule of evil. I need someone like you to keep yourself if anything happens to me. You'll have to calm Link down if that ever happens."
Sara nodded, "Yes, anything!"
Ryo held her hand up as she heard a returning whistle. She nodded, "Yes, yes. . . You, Link, Kaige, Chris, Jordan, Lightning Strike, Kalinoc, and Fridge are going to bombard the castle with your combined strength while the horses cause a ruckus and run into the castle. As the horses cause chaos, you're going to come and get me. All I have to do is make sure that when you get here I'm ready to go. . . What a cinch!"
"You got all that out of a whistle?" Sara asked.
Ryo laughed, "Yes, I'll explain my code to you later, after we are safely away from this castle!" She then put a little flame in her hand, "All I have to do is show them which cell I'm in. . ." She put the flame on the windowsill and watched as it grew larger. She then whistled back.
~**~
Rachel heard Ryo's whistle back as they headed to the castle. She smiled and looked at the many windows, finally seeing the flame. She laughed, "Once we get inside the castle, follow me, I know which cell she is in." She pointed to the window that had the flame on it, "There is where she is!"
Ghost snorted as he galloped. Link nodded, "I agree, lets get this over with quickly. I want to get Ryo away from this place as soon as I can!"
Kaige smiled, "Kalinoc and Fridge better go ahead and start with the plan. You two Lightning Strike. We'll be there in a couple minutes." The three raced ahead, leaving everyone else behind.
Chris growled in his wolf form, "I will not give up this fight!"
Link smiled, "Lets go get Ryo!" He raced ahead with Ghost behind him. Kaige smiled and then urged Shala forward, trying to catch up to Link. Rachel urged Demon forward, and Jordan urged Wild Wind forward.
~**~
Don't ya just love me? I leave a cliff- hanger in a crucial moment. Well, if you want to know if Ryo and Sara get out, review. I still need new characters, good or bad, so send your profiles to me any way you want to. I also need to know what you guys think about Ryo and Rachel going back to Earth. Tell me what you guys want to happen at the end, I was thinking about a twist. If you want to know what the twist might be, send me your email with your review. I'll email my thanks to you so I can thank you for your ideas and tell you what the twist is at the end if you want to know.
Well, until the next chapter. . . Light Dragon is roaming out.