~ Disclaimer ~ I don't own Zelda or the character relating to it.
Yes, I AM alive also!! Still the same thing just a different title and summary, as Veilius requested. *Bows politely to Veilius*
Okay, must defend this story. I don't know if Veilius will even read this one. She just plain doesn't like it, neh? Oh well. I can't and don't want to make everyone like this work. But am glad that there are people who do. ^_^ That's what really counts. Thus, without further ado, I'd like to make the dedications.
This chapter goes out to Omega Zero (No, Jaden, you can't kill Katie. I have plans for her.), MonoChronos (Yes, I know what you mean. And re-wrote means I wrote it once, didn't like it, erased it, then wrote it again from scratch. Glad you liked it.), Catrinastars (Thank you! You pretty much summed up all I wanted to say ^_^. Anyway, I can tell but it isn't too important. If you really want to know, say so in a review, kay?), Farmerboy (Hello again!! As for your questions . . . well . . . yeah. Can't say ^_^;), Angle1 (Yeah, I know very well what you'll do if I left you there. Here we are at a new chapter so you can't do anything bad to me!) Luna Yami mellon (I was going to get to you soon, Crys. Welcome to the review board anyway! =^_^=), Jelie36 (Thank you for your praise. As I said before, it truly does help. Sometimes, friends and kind reviews like you and yours are all I'm holding onto. ), Tailfeather (^_^; I don't know if you were being sarcastic or what but . . . *hands you a tissue*), and Shadow Knight (Me thinks you won that round of insanity . . .)
Rei: *drinks a glass of milk despite being changed back* Matt had better chill out. Shadow Girl, would you consider calling off this insanity thing?
Nope. Not this early in the game. *Glances at the other two characters*
Nisiko and Merrick: *also back to normal and plotting Matt's doom. Without another word, all three characters vanish*
Hmm . . . wonder what will happen now . . . Well, on with the chapter!!
~~~~~~~
~ De ja vu ~
The darkness still lingered. Voices all around and none made sense to her now. So familiar, yet she's never heard them before. Not much was making sense even as a bright sun shone down over her. Still she held onto familiar eyes. She didn't want to leave. Not yet.
Link took notice as Saria finally returned. In her hand she carried a small wooden bowl. In the bowl was strange, almost pink water with a few bright green leaves floating on the surface. Saria Took Crystal into a sitting position as the other Kokiri backed up another pace.
Link gave Saria a bit of room as well even as the Deku Tree Sprout was beginning to glow slightly. Crystal was made to drink the water and swallow the leaves as well. Only a few drops escaped her lips onto her vest. But when the water touched her, the few drops vanished instantly. Crystal's head rocked back as she gasped in both shock and breathlessness.
Crystal blinked as she felt another aura with her. A fairy? She looked further within herself and saw the small pink fairy. And then she remembered everything. "Navi!" The fairy didn't stir. It seemed she was still suffering the cursed poison's effect.
Slowly, the large, bright eyes opened to see Crystal. Crystal who she had barely met yet knew better than most others. So, she was all better. Navi tried to smile but the smile was contorted to a look of shock as another realization was made. Pain was still her captor.
She hugged herself in pain. Pain burned through her, tore her apart, and struck her down even as she writhed. Her mouth gaped in a silent scream of agony even as Crystal shouted her name in fear. Still, pain held the fairy in thrall. At one moment, it was a dull ache only to be fanned into a burning, thrashing beast that tore through the fairy's soul to die down to a dull ache once more only to rise again.
Yet, as clear as the realization that she wasn't alone came, the pain was soon also taken away. Crystal saw Navi go still and could only wonder why. More terrifying, she soon realized that Navi was fading from her. "Navi!!" She shrieked out into the darkness. She didn't want to be alone.
And yet, in the end, she was alone. Crystal felt a few choked words coming from her throat but they never came forth in even the softest of uttering. Yet even though she could no longer feel the spirit of Navi, she was made to realize that he was not alone. As the fairy faded, so did the shadows. She gasped lightly as she realized she was being pulled awake. Whatever kept her as she was, it was leaving with Navi.
She tried to reach back. She tried to grasp at the fairy's still form. But no. Whatever was pulling Crystal away did not pause before her thoughts of Navi was completely lost as though it was no more than a dream. She slowly opened her eyes to reality again.
When Saria had drained the bowl and made the small chant, Crystal's form began to glow a light, whitish color. Link was forced to stand by thought he might as well have hovered over Saria's shoulder, so close did he want to be to Crystal then.
He felt something tub on the hem of his tunic but tried to brush it off as he saw Crystal's eyes fluttering open. Again there was a tug followed by a mental voice {Link, calm down. I can feel it. Crystal is fine.} Link finally looked to the tiny fox as she released his clothing from her jaw. He felt his throat trying to close as though to stop from speaking another fear of his.
Forcing the words that came a bit too loudly and cracking through the air, "And what of Navi?! What of my best friend?!" Tarawen remained silent, lightly flinching at the young Hylian's words. In her silence, Link angrily choked back his fears and looked back to Crystal. In her eyes, he saw a dark blue, almost mistaken for black, once again. Yet as Crystal opened her eyes, the color was lightening in them. Soon, they were a deep blue as she glanced around.
Link barely held himself back as Saria was completing whatever healing powers she had used. When Saria stepped aside, laying Crystal down in the grass once more, Link took her place, holding her up again to his chest and whispering words of assurance.
Tarawen also took a place near Crystal. Something was different. A light was gone within the girl. A light of life and a bright one at that. Having never seen Crystal without Navi, Tarawen could not recognize the problem even as Crystal softly tried to whisper. Her body, spirit, mind, and soul were all exhausted.
Not wanting her to stress, Link tried to soothe her, trying to stop her from even whispering words as she blinked sleepily around. Finally, Crystal forced the words louder, forcing anyone in earshot to hear her. "Navi is gone. I tried, Link. But Navi faded away. She is gone. I tried to reach for her but she fell away. I couldn't . . ." Link tried to block the words but they reverberated through his skull. Thoughts and memories pulled together and sent his spirit in thrall. The small lump in his throat now choked him to the point that Link battled for breath even as he held Crystal all that much closer to him.
Even as her form went limp in his arms and against his chest in restful sleep, he held her words closer than anything. Even as Saria set a hand on his shoulder and helped guide him home, he knew that the home he once slept in would never be as it was, change time as a person might. Without his only family, the fairy known as Navi, what was it that made the tree house home? Nothing.
He held Crystal close to him as he absently walked, the entire Kokiri village behind him and Tarawen crestfallen by his side. With a small thought, Tarawen perked her ears sharply then darted back down the path they walked.
Ignoring the absence of the small Kitsune, though he never acknowledged it after she stopped tugging his tunic, Link ignored the possibility of taking Crystal to his own house. He had barely the strength left to continue walking. He took her to Saria's home even as the rest of the villagers were left outside and Saria was alone with Link and Crystal.
"Link . . . I'm so sorry." Link shook his head from Saria's softly spoken words. He felt it was not true, wanted it to be a nightmare, but he knew it was as true as the shuddering breaths he drew. Shaking his head a bit harder and no longer fighting back the tears, Link did not notice that he was perfectly well alone with Crystal.
~~~~~
The long boat lurched through the sea, a pounding of a drum determining it's pace. Katie held onto the oar but put no force at all into it. Often her eyes found themselves staring at the one beside her. The sweat of the labor making the working muscles all too well-defined over the amber tanned body even as he let the lightest of grunts for the effort.
She tried to find words to say but nothing came before another pound of the drum drove away her nerve to say anything. Finally, she looked away from him. If he wanted to be proud and noble enough to take the oar all for himself, then why not let him? Then she realized one very annoying fact. She still didn't know his name! She turned to him again. The sea soaked and tangled locks of hair spinning quickly enough to slap her face. A short chuckle from the familiar deep voice cut her off as she looked straight forward to the back of the head of another slave.
He had to admit to himself that she had spirit. One born of pride in herself, no doubt. But what exactly was she doing out here on a slave barge anyway? He had wanted an answer to that back on shore. Oh well. No worries, for soon, when land was once again in sight, he would make his move.
Grinning slightly, he looked at the young woman beside him again. Perhaps keeping her around wouldn't be too much of a hassle. There were mysteries about her, after all. It was obvious that she was too young to be a slave if she had parents. Thus she was an orphan or else simply living on her own. Either way, she looked to be very well off before being taken for a slave.
Katie felt his eyes on her. She tried to wring her wrists in their binds as they were in her lap, not on the oar. Finally, she returned his look with one of her own glares, "What are you looking at?!" The reprimand wasn't meant to be so loud but it caught the attention of one of the two guards besides the drummer.
Katie had only enough time to look up at the tall guard with another reprimand on her lips before a sharp, stinging slap silenced her and snapped her head to the side, a look of pure shock and pain in her eyes. She had been struck! No one dared to strike her in such a way! She controlled herself well and realized the guard was saying something.
"There will be no slackers from here on in. You may think you are higher than the others but now you are equal with them and the beasts. You will gain a master who will teach you this. That was only a taste of what you will earn with an attitude like that. Back to your business, all of you!" He stalked away as the turned heads went back to their oars, the air of authority all too visible about his stance. Katie tried to hold them back but by mix of the sharp words and the smart slap, tears spilled silently down her cheeks and each breath was labored to keep from being a sob.
Katie's partner was glaring hatefully at the guard and finally decided that the time of those men was drawing to a close quicker than he thought. Finally, he looked back to Katie as she busied herself with rowing as well, her hands clenching the oar with excess stress. He could see, as her arms were pulled down again and her face lifted, that the fair cheek nearest him held a red hand mark of a welt. Oddly, both pity and fury rose in him. Had he grown so attached to this girl?
Finally, land was spotted. It was time. He stopped rowing and made Katie stop as well. Following his lead, as the plan went, the other slaves also stopped. Katie controlled her tears and looked around at the other slaves as they refused to row any more. She swallowed her tears even as the guards grew beyond enraged. Snapping orders and roaring several vivid threats, they went up and down the lines. Finally, one revealed a black, leather braided whip.
The whip flew and several were struck till sharp screams flew through the air. Yet none rose. Couldn't as their legs were bound by a cleverly set long chain through loops and irons and ankle bonds. There was one problem that the leader of the slaves, Katie's partner, noticed before being caught. Only two chains, one on each side of the boat, was connected to a piece of wood that wasn't the hull. It could easily be snapped out of the old wood. And it was.
A loud crash brought the whip to be still. Then a second sounded. Amid the moans of pain and yelling of the first guard, the lead slave stood up from his seat with Katie to face the guard with the whip. Everyone, even the drummer and the other guard watched the peculiar showdown. One wrist bound man, though obviously muscled and well-experience, versus the guard, experienced at his job and now armed with a whip.
Before any could speak, the whip sang through the air, slapped the deck once then whistled, and grew invisible for it's speed. The leader ducked to the side but held the iron binds into the air. The end of the whip latched onto them, manages to scratch roughly at the man's forearms, then wrapped around the bind to become stuck. With a wild grin of the triumph, the leader planted his feet and pulled sharply against the guard before that man could possibly pull against him.
The guard fell flat on his face to the deck. Before the other guard could react, the leader gave the order and four of the slaves came over the man, each beating the life out of him as his yells of pain rose across the waters. However, there was none to hear of the act. And none on the ship who would tell would be allowed to live.
The leader turned back on the other guard with a wicked grin on his face even as blood was seeping down to his elbow, his hand still held up and clutching the end of the whip. The guard began trying to draw his sword but the sound of the thick handle of the whip caught his attention just before the handle struck the side of his neck. He nearly fell but again the whip flew, this time with more slack on that end.
The thick end of it wrapped twice around the guard's neck and dragged him to the deck, pulling him across the wood and to the feat of the leader. The mad grin still on his face, the leader easily plucked the key from the disoriented guards' waist and freed himself from the bonds. After rubbing his rather sore wrists, he relieved the guard of the sword before picking him up by the back of his neck.
He made the guard look down at a rather pale Katie. "I believe you owe this young woman an apology." His voice was that of a murderer. The guard stammered, knowing full well that his life was about to come to a close. Held dangling from the strong man's grasp, he looked to Katie, his eyes wide with fear. Words would not issue from his throat. He closed his eyes, expecting to be killed right then. He hoped it would be quick. However, the death didn't come.
A light snort sounded as the leader regarded the situation again, the grin slipping to a look of thought. "So, you won't say anything? Guess we'll have to cut the words from your throat." He then drew the blade from the guard's sheathe and held it against the guard's throat, the sharpened end if it to the skin, cutting only a tiny bit into it.
Something didn't feel right. He thought of something to make this right then smiled kindly. Flipping the blade to hold the hilt to Katie, he indicated the guard's throat, a tiny line over the skin being her target.
Katie held the sword easily, her strength built by controlling the wolves by force when needed. Yet, she hesitated. Holding the blade almost uneasily, she saw the guard's eyes open again. He wasn't at all the man who slapped her. She saw now a man literally dangling at the end of his rope. Yet, there was still hope for him.
But did she want to give him the chance? Setting her features into a cold glare, she held the blade point against the man's throat. Setting her other hand against the end of the hilt to help push it, she waited. "What are you waiting for?" The leader asked as he curiously saw the tip of the blade resting on the guards sweating throat. Katie said simply, "His last words. He can at least say his last words, can't he?"
The leader's features hardened again, "His words toward you were his last words, since he refuses to apologize. Now, do it." Still, Katie's hands slightly trembled. She found the strength in her arms weakening. She was afraid.
Seeing this in her, the leader was beginning to reconsider his choice of having her by his side. Even as the thought passed through his head, he looked at her and seemed to see her for the first time. She was young. Incredibly young. About sixteen, maybe seventeen. He smiled kindly again as the other slaved gathered around, wanting to see the blood of the guard spilled.
"Hey, it's okay. He can't live now. And don't you want to pay him back for what he did to you? Claim that revenge. It is rightfully yours." His words were absorbed by Katie as water is absorbed by a sponge. Finally, Katie's arms gained their strength again. She held the blade a bit higher and closer into the throat, drawing new blood from it. A howl sounded in the back of her mind then, urging her onward. Finally, she pushed all her weight into the sword and the blade plunged into the guard's throat. The guard's eyes rolled back and he sagged again now onto the blade. Katie dropped the sword as it slid from the body, now heavily bloodied, to the deck again.
Dropping the guard's body, the leader moved to Katie's side. He smiled both kindly and cruelly down at her. His eyes still held the murderous gleam in them, a gleam that was soon reflected in Katie's eyes. Yes, she could do this and hold no regrets. She looked down at the guard and said to herself, "So shall all fall who dare to cross me."
The smile twisted to a cruel grin as the leader heard her words, saw the look in her eye. Indeed, she would be his partner. From that day forward. "Now, my young lady, what is your name?"
She looked back toward him, admiration and triumph shining in her eyes, "Katie. And your?"
"My name is Salvador." With the introductions said and done, he closed on her all at once and caught her in a rough, passionate kiss. A kiss to seal the partnership. He pulled away, leaving her breathless and whispered to her amid the shouts of glee and urgings from the other slaves, "Pleased to meet you, my young Katie." She smiled back at him even as he finally pulled away from her and ordered the strongest of the slaves to begin rowing again, aiming toward the nearest island. When they grew tired, they would switch with the others. Though progress was going slow, they were in no hurry. Only one thing mattered. They were free.
~~~~~
On the shores of Hyrule, Zolaris swore up and down that he would freeze completely before Kohachan returned. In the middle of a rant, he paused. There was something that caught hold of his attention completely. Something happened, a change. Whatever it was, it nearly stopped his heart and caused a shudder of something besides the cold to sweep through him.
He looked back out to the ocean, expecting to see what had chilled his blood worse than the ocean water mixed with the late fall air. Nothing came to his sight but in his mind he knew one person who could cause such a reaction even if she was out of sight.
The feeling was similar to when Katie had hurled the dagger at Crystal. Even though she missed then. He wondered what she had done this time. But then, she was in bondage. There was no way she could be on high so soon. No way at all. He tried to shrug it off as the feeling eventually died away and the intense cold came to attention once again. "Aiy kalahar, this little island dweller doesn't like the cold!!" He shouted to nothing in particular.
Toloran flinched from the shout but he had also acutely felt the change in the air. He went to Zolaris side from leaning against the cargo wagon, "She is still at her tricks. You know that, right, Zolaris?"
Zolaris went quiet from his protesting the cold. He kept looking out to sea then answered softly, "No, I don't think it was her who caused that. It had to be something that happened to her-" A slap to the back of the head silenced him.
"When will you see her for what she is, boy? Zolaris, Katie is true evil, you do know that." Zolaris turned roughly away from Toloran's words, though they rang true in his heart. Still the voice of his leader followed him, "You try to avoid that because you are comparing yourself to her, aren't you? You are different from her, my young friend. Unlike Katie, you can still choose to be who you want to be. Katie has chosen a long time ago. You have to stop making excuses for her and stop seeing her as an innocent victim."
"An innocent victim is what she is. Whatever evil is in her, it has taken her soul in bondage and simply won't let her go. She is a slave, as am I." He muttered to himself, his breath visible in the air. "Perhaps we will meet again. And perhaps when she frees herself, I can also be freed. But how?" He went to the cargo and slumped his back against it, letting his chin to his chest even as a clatter of hooves was heard nearby.
Looking up, each saw Kohachan mounted on a large black stallion of obvious strength. Yet, he was not only dry but now wrapped in a new cloak for warmth, one of Hylian making.
Toloran came up to him before he could dismount and spoke roughly to him in Sheikahn to where the captain couldn't understand him, "What do you think you're doing? You can't have a mount like this pulling a wagon. Not only is this breed of horse not meant for such labor, this one in particular would best be left unseen. We are going through the field to-" Kohachan silenced him, though he was in the wrong to do so.
"Toloran, I know very well where we are going. This is only my mount. I brought what you want, though the mare and her master were left a bit behind in the forest." With that, he wheeled the horse around and called for the young girl again.
From the trees, brighter orange/red hair flashed under the sun as the young girl along with a rather large man came through the forestry and onto the shore. "Toloran, I would like you to meet the owners of Lon Lon Ranch who agreed to let us borrow two of their fine horses. This young lady is Malon and her father here is Talon."
Greetings were exchanged even as Malon found it hard to speak to the three men. She stayed near her father through the introductions. Finally, Talon caught sight of the Morning Star sitting mostly on the sand of the shore. He glanced around at the boat only shortly before finding the captain. "Ole' man, is that you?" Talon shouted.
The captain quickly stood up straight then turned back to see who was calling him such. True enough, it was his very old friend, the owner of the famous Lon Lon Ranch, Talon. He grinned broadly through his beard as the smile was reflected in his eyes. He easily leapt to the shore away from the water then half ran to first shake hands with then hug his old friend even as Malon slightly backed away from the captain.
Zolaris lightly laughed, forgetting about the cold, as she backed into him and pulled away with fear. He ran a hand over his head to smooth back his hair then in a rather sad tone asked her, "You aren't afraid of us, are you, Malon?" She shook her head but her eyes shown the truth. She was terrified.
He sighed deeply then went to the mare that was to pull the wagon and led her only by his voice to the front of the wagon. He began calmly setting the straps and harness over and around the mare, making sure everything was okay to be pulled as Malon watched in wonder. Zolaris looked back at her as she began to speak up excitedly, "How did you do that? Lilly listened to you! But, she doesn't even know you so how is it that she listened?" He laughed lightly again but for her excitement. A laugh echoed by Kohachan and Toloran.
"Young one, we listen to them so they listen to us and do what we ask if we ask it nicely of them." Toloran began.
Kohachan cut in easily, patting the neck and shoulder of his own mount with affection and pride, "Force is one thing we do not use in training. It is more of a partnership than anything else. A deal made as a rider and mount becomes a team."
"Lastly," Zolaris added, "Force is not needed if what you want the animal to do is nothing they are afraid of or aren't ready for."
Malon took in their words and smiled brightly under the sun. She told them of her wish to become a great trainer. She wasn't one to break a horse but to teach them they could trust people. Each of the Sheikah appreciated her ideas and soon all four were caught up in a conversation as Malon told them each of her techniques and they told her some of their own.
Many of them were the same, much to Malon's surprise, until Toloran explained, "Teaching and training are pretty much one and the same. If you teach a horse as you would teach a child, then the horse will learn to trust you and will know what you want of it. To earn your gratitude, the animal will do just about anything, so long as it is not something beyond it's capability."
Zolaris added before he could stop himself, "Even wolves could learn that way. They would do anything to earn the love of the one they trust and even protect." He was once again thinking of Katie. Why?! He mentally slapped himself and walked over to Lilly, trying to gather his wayward thoughts away from Katie's situation. Kohachan shrugged lightly as he stood by his dark mount and Talon returned. "Time to go, Malon. We'll be taking the cargo but our friends and the captain here said they would stay with the ship." Zolaris nearly broke out with a sharp argument but he managed to get a hold of himself at last.
Toloran broke in as Talon took his place to lead Lilly, "Actually, I would be more than pleased to accompany you on this journey. My companions would agree with me, I'm sure." Zolaris nodded as Kohachan also agreed. Finally, the captain waved them off, "Go ahead but I expect at least you, Talon, my friend, to get back here with the agreed amount of supplies."
"Of course. You don't think I would sleep on the job, do you?" He tried to ignore the stern glances from both his daughter and friend even as Kohachan laughed a bit. Toloran shrugged as it seemed he and Zolaris were lost to the inside joke.
~~~~~~~
Yep . . . Katie is evil. Yet what is this? Have we finally found a greater evil? Not only does Salvador go ahead and kill whoever is in his way, he doesn't even hesitate to do so! What happened to Navi?! And what is with our buddy, Zolaris? He is certainly having problems getting a grip on the fact that Katie is evil through and through.
Well, I hope this update wasn't too late in coming. Heh, no killing the authoress just because she is slow in writing. Well, if you think this took too long for an update, please tell me and I'll see if the next one will be sooner. Over this weekend (Dec. 19-21) I'll be gone. So, if there should be another chapter before then, tell me!
Until next time!
Yes, I AM alive also!! Still the same thing just a different title and summary, as Veilius requested. *Bows politely to Veilius*
Okay, must defend this story. I don't know if Veilius will even read this one. She just plain doesn't like it, neh? Oh well. I can't and don't want to make everyone like this work. But am glad that there are people who do. ^_^ That's what really counts. Thus, without further ado, I'd like to make the dedications.
This chapter goes out to Omega Zero (No, Jaden, you can't kill Katie. I have plans for her.), MonoChronos (Yes, I know what you mean. And re-wrote means I wrote it once, didn't like it, erased it, then wrote it again from scratch. Glad you liked it.), Catrinastars (Thank you! You pretty much summed up all I wanted to say ^_^. Anyway, I can tell but it isn't too important. If you really want to know, say so in a review, kay?), Farmerboy (Hello again!! As for your questions . . . well . . . yeah. Can't say ^_^;), Angle1 (Yeah, I know very well what you'll do if I left you there. Here we are at a new chapter so you can't do anything bad to me!) Luna Yami mellon (I was going to get to you soon, Crys. Welcome to the review board anyway! =^_^=), Jelie36 (Thank you for your praise. As I said before, it truly does help. Sometimes, friends and kind reviews like you and yours are all I'm holding onto. ), Tailfeather (^_^; I don't know if you were being sarcastic or what but . . . *hands you a tissue*), and Shadow Knight (Me thinks you won that round of insanity . . .)
Rei: *drinks a glass of milk despite being changed back* Matt had better chill out. Shadow Girl, would you consider calling off this insanity thing?
Nope. Not this early in the game. *Glances at the other two characters*
Nisiko and Merrick: *also back to normal and plotting Matt's doom. Without another word, all three characters vanish*
Hmm . . . wonder what will happen now . . . Well, on with the chapter!!
~~~~~~~
~ De ja vu ~
The darkness still lingered. Voices all around and none made sense to her now. So familiar, yet she's never heard them before. Not much was making sense even as a bright sun shone down over her. Still she held onto familiar eyes. She didn't want to leave. Not yet.
Link took notice as Saria finally returned. In her hand she carried a small wooden bowl. In the bowl was strange, almost pink water with a few bright green leaves floating on the surface. Saria Took Crystal into a sitting position as the other Kokiri backed up another pace.
Link gave Saria a bit of room as well even as the Deku Tree Sprout was beginning to glow slightly. Crystal was made to drink the water and swallow the leaves as well. Only a few drops escaped her lips onto her vest. But when the water touched her, the few drops vanished instantly. Crystal's head rocked back as she gasped in both shock and breathlessness.
Crystal blinked as she felt another aura with her. A fairy? She looked further within herself and saw the small pink fairy. And then she remembered everything. "Navi!" The fairy didn't stir. It seemed she was still suffering the cursed poison's effect.
Slowly, the large, bright eyes opened to see Crystal. Crystal who she had barely met yet knew better than most others. So, she was all better. Navi tried to smile but the smile was contorted to a look of shock as another realization was made. Pain was still her captor.
She hugged herself in pain. Pain burned through her, tore her apart, and struck her down even as she writhed. Her mouth gaped in a silent scream of agony even as Crystal shouted her name in fear. Still, pain held the fairy in thrall. At one moment, it was a dull ache only to be fanned into a burning, thrashing beast that tore through the fairy's soul to die down to a dull ache once more only to rise again.
Yet, as clear as the realization that she wasn't alone came, the pain was soon also taken away. Crystal saw Navi go still and could only wonder why. More terrifying, she soon realized that Navi was fading from her. "Navi!!" She shrieked out into the darkness. She didn't want to be alone.
And yet, in the end, she was alone. Crystal felt a few choked words coming from her throat but they never came forth in even the softest of uttering. Yet even though she could no longer feel the spirit of Navi, she was made to realize that he was not alone. As the fairy faded, so did the shadows. She gasped lightly as she realized she was being pulled awake. Whatever kept her as she was, it was leaving with Navi.
She tried to reach back. She tried to grasp at the fairy's still form. But no. Whatever was pulling Crystal away did not pause before her thoughts of Navi was completely lost as though it was no more than a dream. She slowly opened her eyes to reality again.
When Saria had drained the bowl and made the small chant, Crystal's form began to glow a light, whitish color. Link was forced to stand by thought he might as well have hovered over Saria's shoulder, so close did he want to be to Crystal then.
He felt something tub on the hem of his tunic but tried to brush it off as he saw Crystal's eyes fluttering open. Again there was a tug followed by a mental voice {Link, calm down. I can feel it. Crystal is fine.} Link finally looked to the tiny fox as she released his clothing from her jaw. He felt his throat trying to close as though to stop from speaking another fear of his.
Forcing the words that came a bit too loudly and cracking through the air, "And what of Navi?! What of my best friend?!" Tarawen remained silent, lightly flinching at the young Hylian's words. In her silence, Link angrily choked back his fears and looked back to Crystal. In her eyes, he saw a dark blue, almost mistaken for black, once again. Yet as Crystal opened her eyes, the color was lightening in them. Soon, they were a deep blue as she glanced around.
Link barely held himself back as Saria was completing whatever healing powers she had used. When Saria stepped aside, laying Crystal down in the grass once more, Link took her place, holding her up again to his chest and whispering words of assurance.
Tarawen also took a place near Crystal. Something was different. A light was gone within the girl. A light of life and a bright one at that. Having never seen Crystal without Navi, Tarawen could not recognize the problem even as Crystal softly tried to whisper. Her body, spirit, mind, and soul were all exhausted.
Not wanting her to stress, Link tried to soothe her, trying to stop her from even whispering words as she blinked sleepily around. Finally, Crystal forced the words louder, forcing anyone in earshot to hear her. "Navi is gone. I tried, Link. But Navi faded away. She is gone. I tried to reach for her but she fell away. I couldn't . . ." Link tried to block the words but they reverberated through his skull. Thoughts and memories pulled together and sent his spirit in thrall. The small lump in his throat now choked him to the point that Link battled for breath even as he held Crystal all that much closer to him.
Even as her form went limp in his arms and against his chest in restful sleep, he held her words closer than anything. Even as Saria set a hand on his shoulder and helped guide him home, he knew that the home he once slept in would never be as it was, change time as a person might. Without his only family, the fairy known as Navi, what was it that made the tree house home? Nothing.
He held Crystal close to him as he absently walked, the entire Kokiri village behind him and Tarawen crestfallen by his side. With a small thought, Tarawen perked her ears sharply then darted back down the path they walked.
Ignoring the absence of the small Kitsune, though he never acknowledged it after she stopped tugging his tunic, Link ignored the possibility of taking Crystal to his own house. He had barely the strength left to continue walking. He took her to Saria's home even as the rest of the villagers were left outside and Saria was alone with Link and Crystal.
"Link . . . I'm so sorry." Link shook his head from Saria's softly spoken words. He felt it was not true, wanted it to be a nightmare, but he knew it was as true as the shuddering breaths he drew. Shaking his head a bit harder and no longer fighting back the tears, Link did not notice that he was perfectly well alone with Crystal.
~~~~~
The long boat lurched through the sea, a pounding of a drum determining it's pace. Katie held onto the oar but put no force at all into it. Often her eyes found themselves staring at the one beside her. The sweat of the labor making the working muscles all too well-defined over the amber tanned body even as he let the lightest of grunts for the effort.
She tried to find words to say but nothing came before another pound of the drum drove away her nerve to say anything. Finally, she looked away from him. If he wanted to be proud and noble enough to take the oar all for himself, then why not let him? Then she realized one very annoying fact. She still didn't know his name! She turned to him again. The sea soaked and tangled locks of hair spinning quickly enough to slap her face. A short chuckle from the familiar deep voice cut her off as she looked straight forward to the back of the head of another slave.
He had to admit to himself that she had spirit. One born of pride in herself, no doubt. But what exactly was she doing out here on a slave barge anyway? He had wanted an answer to that back on shore. Oh well. No worries, for soon, when land was once again in sight, he would make his move.
Grinning slightly, he looked at the young woman beside him again. Perhaps keeping her around wouldn't be too much of a hassle. There were mysteries about her, after all. It was obvious that she was too young to be a slave if she had parents. Thus she was an orphan or else simply living on her own. Either way, she looked to be very well off before being taken for a slave.
Katie felt his eyes on her. She tried to wring her wrists in their binds as they were in her lap, not on the oar. Finally, she returned his look with one of her own glares, "What are you looking at?!" The reprimand wasn't meant to be so loud but it caught the attention of one of the two guards besides the drummer.
Katie had only enough time to look up at the tall guard with another reprimand on her lips before a sharp, stinging slap silenced her and snapped her head to the side, a look of pure shock and pain in her eyes. She had been struck! No one dared to strike her in such a way! She controlled herself well and realized the guard was saying something.
"There will be no slackers from here on in. You may think you are higher than the others but now you are equal with them and the beasts. You will gain a master who will teach you this. That was only a taste of what you will earn with an attitude like that. Back to your business, all of you!" He stalked away as the turned heads went back to their oars, the air of authority all too visible about his stance. Katie tried to hold them back but by mix of the sharp words and the smart slap, tears spilled silently down her cheeks and each breath was labored to keep from being a sob.
Katie's partner was glaring hatefully at the guard and finally decided that the time of those men was drawing to a close quicker than he thought. Finally, he looked back to Katie as she busied herself with rowing as well, her hands clenching the oar with excess stress. He could see, as her arms were pulled down again and her face lifted, that the fair cheek nearest him held a red hand mark of a welt. Oddly, both pity and fury rose in him. Had he grown so attached to this girl?
Finally, land was spotted. It was time. He stopped rowing and made Katie stop as well. Following his lead, as the plan went, the other slaves also stopped. Katie controlled her tears and looked around at the other slaves as they refused to row any more. She swallowed her tears even as the guards grew beyond enraged. Snapping orders and roaring several vivid threats, they went up and down the lines. Finally, one revealed a black, leather braided whip.
The whip flew and several were struck till sharp screams flew through the air. Yet none rose. Couldn't as their legs were bound by a cleverly set long chain through loops and irons and ankle bonds. There was one problem that the leader of the slaves, Katie's partner, noticed before being caught. Only two chains, one on each side of the boat, was connected to a piece of wood that wasn't the hull. It could easily be snapped out of the old wood. And it was.
A loud crash brought the whip to be still. Then a second sounded. Amid the moans of pain and yelling of the first guard, the lead slave stood up from his seat with Katie to face the guard with the whip. Everyone, even the drummer and the other guard watched the peculiar showdown. One wrist bound man, though obviously muscled and well-experience, versus the guard, experienced at his job and now armed with a whip.
Before any could speak, the whip sang through the air, slapped the deck once then whistled, and grew invisible for it's speed. The leader ducked to the side but held the iron binds into the air. The end of the whip latched onto them, manages to scratch roughly at the man's forearms, then wrapped around the bind to become stuck. With a wild grin of the triumph, the leader planted his feet and pulled sharply against the guard before that man could possibly pull against him.
The guard fell flat on his face to the deck. Before the other guard could react, the leader gave the order and four of the slaves came over the man, each beating the life out of him as his yells of pain rose across the waters. However, there was none to hear of the act. And none on the ship who would tell would be allowed to live.
The leader turned back on the other guard with a wicked grin on his face even as blood was seeping down to his elbow, his hand still held up and clutching the end of the whip. The guard began trying to draw his sword but the sound of the thick handle of the whip caught his attention just before the handle struck the side of his neck. He nearly fell but again the whip flew, this time with more slack on that end.
The thick end of it wrapped twice around the guard's neck and dragged him to the deck, pulling him across the wood and to the feat of the leader. The mad grin still on his face, the leader easily plucked the key from the disoriented guards' waist and freed himself from the bonds. After rubbing his rather sore wrists, he relieved the guard of the sword before picking him up by the back of his neck.
He made the guard look down at a rather pale Katie. "I believe you owe this young woman an apology." His voice was that of a murderer. The guard stammered, knowing full well that his life was about to come to a close. Held dangling from the strong man's grasp, he looked to Katie, his eyes wide with fear. Words would not issue from his throat. He closed his eyes, expecting to be killed right then. He hoped it would be quick. However, the death didn't come.
A light snort sounded as the leader regarded the situation again, the grin slipping to a look of thought. "So, you won't say anything? Guess we'll have to cut the words from your throat." He then drew the blade from the guard's sheathe and held it against the guard's throat, the sharpened end if it to the skin, cutting only a tiny bit into it.
Something didn't feel right. He thought of something to make this right then smiled kindly. Flipping the blade to hold the hilt to Katie, he indicated the guard's throat, a tiny line over the skin being her target.
Katie held the sword easily, her strength built by controlling the wolves by force when needed. Yet, she hesitated. Holding the blade almost uneasily, she saw the guard's eyes open again. He wasn't at all the man who slapped her. She saw now a man literally dangling at the end of his rope. Yet, there was still hope for him.
But did she want to give him the chance? Setting her features into a cold glare, she held the blade point against the man's throat. Setting her other hand against the end of the hilt to help push it, she waited. "What are you waiting for?" The leader asked as he curiously saw the tip of the blade resting on the guards sweating throat. Katie said simply, "His last words. He can at least say his last words, can't he?"
The leader's features hardened again, "His words toward you were his last words, since he refuses to apologize. Now, do it." Still, Katie's hands slightly trembled. She found the strength in her arms weakening. She was afraid.
Seeing this in her, the leader was beginning to reconsider his choice of having her by his side. Even as the thought passed through his head, he looked at her and seemed to see her for the first time. She was young. Incredibly young. About sixteen, maybe seventeen. He smiled kindly again as the other slaved gathered around, wanting to see the blood of the guard spilled.
"Hey, it's okay. He can't live now. And don't you want to pay him back for what he did to you? Claim that revenge. It is rightfully yours." His words were absorbed by Katie as water is absorbed by a sponge. Finally, Katie's arms gained their strength again. She held the blade a bit higher and closer into the throat, drawing new blood from it. A howl sounded in the back of her mind then, urging her onward. Finally, she pushed all her weight into the sword and the blade plunged into the guard's throat. The guard's eyes rolled back and he sagged again now onto the blade. Katie dropped the sword as it slid from the body, now heavily bloodied, to the deck again.
Dropping the guard's body, the leader moved to Katie's side. He smiled both kindly and cruelly down at her. His eyes still held the murderous gleam in them, a gleam that was soon reflected in Katie's eyes. Yes, she could do this and hold no regrets. She looked down at the guard and said to herself, "So shall all fall who dare to cross me."
The smile twisted to a cruel grin as the leader heard her words, saw the look in her eye. Indeed, she would be his partner. From that day forward. "Now, my young lady, what is your name?"
She looked back toward him, admiration and triumph shining in her eyes, "Katie. And your?"
"My name is Salvador." With the introductions said and done, he closed on her all at once and caught her in a rough, passionate kiss. A kiss to seal the partnership. He pulled away, leaving her breathless and whispered to her amid the shouts of glee and urgings from the other slaves, "Pleased to meet you, my young Katie." She smiled back at him even as he finally pulled away from her and ordered the strongest of the slaves to begin rowing again, aiming toward the nearest island. When they grew tired, they would switch with the others. Though progress was going slow, they were in no hurry. Only one thing mattered. They were free.
~~~~~
On the shores of Hyrule, Zolaris swore up and down that he would freeze completely before Kohachan returned. In the middle of a rant, he paused. There was something that caught hold of his attention completely. Something happened, a change. Whatever it was, it nearly stopped his heart and caused a shudder of something besides the cold to sweep through him.
He looked back out to the ocean, expecting to see what had chilled his blood worse than the ocean water mixed with the late fall air. Nothing came to his sight but in his mind he knew one person who could cause such a reaction even if she was out of sight.
The feeling was similar to when Katie had hurled the dagger at Crystal. Even though she missed then. He wondered what she had done this time. But then, she was in bondage. There was no way she could be on high so soon. No way at all. He tried to shrug it off as the feeling eventually died away and the intense cold came to attention once again. "Aiy kalahar, this little island dweller doesn't like the cold!!" He shouted to nothing in particular.
Toloran flinched from the shout but he had also acutely felt the change in the air. He went to Zolaris side from leaning against the cargo wagon, "She is still at her tricks. You know that, right, Zolaris?"
Zolaris went quiet from his protesting the cold. He kept looking out to sea then answered softly, "No, I don't think it was her who caused that. It had to be something that happened to her-" A slap to the back of the head silenced him.
"When will you see her for what she is, boy? Zolaris, Katie is true evil, you do know that." Zolaris turned roughly away from Toloran's words, though they rang true in his heart. Still the voice of his leader followed him, "You try to avoid that because you are comparing yourself to her, aren't you? You are different from her, my young friend. Unlike Katie, you can still choose to be who you want to be. Katie has chosen a long time ago. You have to stop making excuses for her and stop seeing her as an innocent victim."
"An innocent victim is what she is. Whatever evil is in her, it has taken her soul in bondage and simply won't let her go. She is a slave, as am I." He muttered to himself, his breath visible in the air. "Perhaps we will meet again. And perhaps when she frees herself, I can also be freed. But how?" He went to the cargo and slumped his back against it, letting his chin to his chest even as a clatter of hooves was heard nearby.
Looking up, each saw Kohachan mounted on a large black stallion of obvious strength. Yet, he was not only dry but now wrapped in a new cloak for warmth, one of Hylian making.
Toloran came up to him before he could dismount and spoke roughly to him in Sheikahn to where the captain couldn't understand him, "What do you think you're doing? You can't have a mount like this pulling a wagon. Not only is this breed of horse not meant for such labor, this one in particular would best be left unseen. We are going through the field to-" Kohachan silenced him, though he was in the wrong to do so.
"Toloran, I know very well where we are going. This is only my mount. I brought what you want, though the mare and her master were left a bit behind in the forest." With that, he wheeled the horse around and called for the young girl again.
From the trees, brighter orange/red hair flashed under the sun as the young girl along with a rather large man came through the forestry and onto the shore. "Toloran, I would like you to meet the owners of Lon Lon Ranch who agreed to let us borrow two of their fine horses. This young lady is Malon and her father here is Talon."
Greetings were exchanged even as Malon found it hard to speak to the three men. She stayed near her father through the introductions. Finally, Talon caught sight of the Morning Star sitting mostly on the sand of the shore. He glanced around at the boat only shortly before finding the captain. "Ole' man, is that you?" Talon shouted.
The captain quickly stood up straight then turned back to see who was calling him such. True enough, it was his very old friend, the owner of the famous Lon Lon Ranch, Talon. He grinned broadly through his beard as the smile was reflected in his eyes. He easily leapt to the shore away from the water then half ran to first shake hands with then hug his old friend even as Malon slightly backed away from the captain.
Zolaris lightly laughed, forgetting about the cold, as she backed into him and pulled away with fear. He ran a hand over his head to smooth back his hair then in a rather sad tone asked her, "You aren't afraid of us, are you, Malon?" She shook her head but her eyes shown the truth. She was terrified.
He sighed deeply then went to the mare that was to pull the wagon and led her only by his voice to the front of the wagon. He began calmly setting the straps and harness over and around the mare, making sure everything was okay to be pulled as Malon watched in wonder. Zolaris looked back at her as she began to speak up excitedly, "How did you do that? Lilly listened to you! But, she doesn't even know you so how is it that she listened?" He laughed lightly again but for her excitement. A laugh echoed by Kohachan and Toloran.
"Young one, we listen to them so they listen to us and do what we ask if we ask it nicely of them." Toloran began.
Kohachan cut in easily, patting the neck and shoulder of his own mount with affection and pride, "Force is one thing we do not use in training. It is more of a partnership than anything else. A deal made as a rider and mount becomes a team."
"Lastly," Zolaris added, "Force is not needed if what you want the animal to do is nothing they are afraid of or aren't ready for."
Malon took in their words and smiled brightly under the sun. She told them of her wish to become a great trainer. She wasn't one to break a horse but to teach them they could trust people. Each of the Sheikah appreciated her ideas and soon all four were caught up in a conversation as Malon told them each of her techniques and they told her some of their own.
Many of them were the same, much to Malon's surprise, until Toloran explained, "Teaching and training are pretty much one and the same. If you teach a horse as you would teach a child, then the horse will learn to trust you and will know what you want of it. To earn your gratitude, the animal will do just about anything, so long as it is not something beyond it's capability."
Zolaris added before he could stop himself, "Even wolves could learn that way. They would do anything to earn the love of the one they trust and even protect." He was once again thinking of Katie. Why?! He mentally slapped himself and walked over to Lilly, trying to gather his wayward thoughts away from Katie's situation. Kohachan shrugged lightly as he stood by his dark mount and Talon returned. "Time to go, Malon. We'll be taking the cargo but our friends and the captain here said they would stay with the ship." Zolaris nearly broke out with a sharp argument but he managed to get a hold of himself at last.
Toloran broke in as Talon took his place to lead Lilly, "Actually, I would be more than pleased to accompany you on this journey. My companions would agree with me, I'm sure." Zolaris nodded as Kohachan also agreed. Finally, the captain waved them off, "Go ahead but I expect at least you, Talon, my friend, to get back here with the agreed amount of supplies."
"Of course. You don't think I would sleep on the job, do you?" He tried to ignore the stern glances from both his daughter and friend even as Kohachan laughed a bit. Toloran shrugged as it seemed he and Zolaris were lost to the inside joke.
~~~~~~~
Yep . . . Katie is evil. Yet what is this? Have we finally found a greater evil? Not only does Salvador go ahead and kill whoever is in his way, he doesn't even hesitate to do so! What happened to Navi?! And what is with our buddy, Zolaris? He is certainly having problems getting a grip on the fact that Katie is evil through and through.
Well, I hope this update wasn't too late in coming. Heh, no killing the authoress just because she is slow in writing. Well, if you think this took too long for an update, please tell me and I'll see if the next one will be sooner. Over this weekend (Dec. 19-21) I'll be gone. So, if there should be another chapter before then, tell me!
Until next time!