The Castle was mostly empty. Few guards were scattered throughout the halls
but mostly everyone was in the ballroom. Diamond walked the long hallway to
the large doors at the end. Paintings of several different people and
places lined the hallway. In the center of the hallway, the two walls
rounded out. In each of the indents were massive paintings. To the left was
a figure in green with a glowing sword standing on a hill with a lake in
the background. On the right was a picture of a large shadow swarming
across the land with dark clouds following it. Diamond observed the
paintings and continued down the hall.
He reached the door on the other side of the hallway and could hear the sounds of music and people talking coming from inside. He pushed open one of the huge doors to enter the room. People were dancing across the ballroom floor, several men were getting drunk off wine in the corner, and the Royal Family sat at a long table at the far left side of the room.
Diamond walked over to the long table to see a number of people. The King, Jewels, Onyx, and what appeared to be the King's niece and her fiancé.
"Ah Diamond." The King said as he sat up. "Glad you could make it. I'd like you to meet my niece, Sarah."
"Hello Sarah." Diamond said as he waved to the young woman.
"And this is Ferris, her fiancé." The King continued. "Ferris, Sarah. This is Diamond Keya from Nohansen Lake.
"Hello Ferris." Diamond said. "I hear you're from Elsewhere."
"Yes I am." Ferris replied. "It's a beautiful city."
"That's what I've heard." Diamond said. "How are you today Commander?"
"What?" Onyx asked.
"Nothing." Diamond answered. "I just noticed that you've been staring at me ever since I walked in the room."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Onyx said frustratingly. "If you'll excuse me sire, I must go check the perimeter of the castle. Those desert folk have been threatening us again." He said as he walked through the room and exited through the main door.
"So." Diamond said. "How was your day everybody?"
"Very good thank you." Sarah answered.
"Not too bad." Jewels answered.
"I'm just glad we have the whole wedding squared away." Ferris said. "That's a lot of work."
"I'll bet." Diamond said. "When are you two getting married and such?"
"Next month." Sarah answered.
"Very nice." Diamond said. "If I've got all my chores done by then, maybe I'll drop by."
Onyx walked down the hallway and entered the soldiers' briefing room. A large gathering of soldiers waited for the Commander.
"So. Are we good?" Onyx asked.
"Yes sir." A soldier said. "There isn't a person on the outside of the castle that we can't see. No one can get in or out without us knowing."
"Very good." Onyx said. "Secure the roof."
"But why the roof sir?" The soldier asked.
"Because I don't want to take any chances." Onyx said. "I'm going to check the bedrooms. I want at least ten men on the roof in the next ten minutes."
"Yes sir." The soldier said as Onyx exited the room.
"Do you think they'll find us?" A figure said.
"Not a chance." Another said. "Besides. There's five of us and with these Shadow Cloaks on, they wont be able to see us in shadows of anything."
The five invisible figures laughed as they stood above a dome window that was above the ballroom.
"Would you care for some wine Diamond?" The King asked.
"Sure why not." Diamond said as he took a wine glass and a nearby servant filled it up for him. "Thanks." He said as the servant gave a short bow and walked onto the ballroom floor to offer some more people the wine.
"So Diamond." The King said. "Where are you off to next."
"I think I'm gonna go check out that Underground Palace next." Diamond answered as he sipped the wine.
"Why would you ever want to go there?" Ferris asked.
"Long story." Diamond said as he looked at the dome window at the top of the room and noticed it crack. His eyes shot wide open and he jamp out into the crowd. He landed in the center of the room and looked up at the window. "Get the hell out of the way!" He yelled to the people.
"What's going on Diamond?" The King asked.
"I have no idea." Diamond answered as the room went silent and stared up at the top of the dome themselves.
"It looks like he wants to fight." A figure said.
"Well let's give it to him." Another said as he slammed his fist hard into the window and shattered it.
The glass fell towards the ground with almost everyone in the room letting out a gasp. "Harmless Glare!" Diamond yelled as he flashed his eyes and all the glass shards disappeared before they fell halfway down the room. "How about whatever is up there comes down right now and fights with courage?" He said as he unsheathed both of his swords.
"You've got it kid." One of the figures said as he removed his Shadow Cloak and jamp into the room. He landed on the ground and the people backed up some more.
"Desert Assassins!" A soldier yelled.
"So. Your one of those desert people." Diamond said.
"Yes I am. The name is Sirus." He replied.
"Well Sirus. I hear you people are suppose to be lightning fast and deadly with that sword you have there." Diamond said.
"You've done your homework." Sirus said. "But does that do you any good in the heat of battle?" Sirus charged at Diamond and threw a downward slash, which was blocked by Diamond's Elemental Sword.
"You'd be surprised." Diamond said as he threw his own downward slash.
The two exchanged shots and easily blocked each one. Sirus threw slash after slash after slash and pushed Diamond back to the royal table. Diamond pushed Sirus back and jamp over him. He landed and turned around to deliver some slashes of his own. The two clashed swords and suddenly got into a battle of force.
"You know what your doing kid. I'll give you that. But what happens when I do this." Sirus said as he thundered off and appeared behind Diamond. He threw a horizontal slash at Diamond's back only to be blocked by Diamond's swords.
"You'd be surprised how many times I've fought a person that could do something like that." Diamond said. "Luckily for me, I've gotten used to it." Diamond back kicked Sirus into the long table and threw his plain sword like a dart. The sword nailed Sirus to the table through his gut. "I'll be taking this thank you." Diamond said as he pulled his sword from the table and Sirus' abdomen.
Sirus bled profusely from the wound as he held it. "You got me kid. Good show. But there will be a next time for us. An when that time comes, you will know the true power of the sands." Sirus said as he jamp to the opening in the ceiling. "Until then, you can have fun with my four other friends up here." Sirus put on his Shadow Cloak and disappeared into the night while the other four assassins dropped from the hole.
"Great." Diamond said. "More fun for me."
"Die you fool!" The first Assassin yelled as he began to clash swords with Diamond.
"Take this worm!" The second said as he attacked from the other side.
Diamond blocked both attacks, swerved the swords around and belted the two in the face with the sides of his swords. As the first two fell back the other to charged at Diamond from different directions. One threw a horizontal slash and the other threw a vertical. Diamond backflipped out of the way as the two swords clashed together Diamond sheathed his elemental sword, leaving his right hand free.
"Devastator Punch!" Diamond yelled as he threw his bright yellow punch and blew a hole in one of the Assassin's chest area. The Assassin fell to the ground and the other three stood there in shock for a second. They turned back to Diamond and charged him with their swords raised.
Diamond rolled to the left and slashed at the far left Assassin's knee. The knee slid off like a clear-cut stab to the gut and the assassin fell to the ground. The final two Assassins skidded on the floor as they came to an abrupt stop. They ran at Diamond again. Diamond shot up from the ground and stabbed one of the two in the shoulder. The Assassin fell to the ground to hold his wound as the other stood there. The final assassin looked up at Diamond who had unsheathed his Elemental Sword.
"Come get it buddy." Diamond said as he got into a stance. The final Assassin replied with a stance of his own but immediately ran out of the room. "Dammit." Diamond said as he ran after the Assassin.
The Assassin ran up numerous stairways and finally came to a hallway with two doors in it. He tried the door on the right, but it was locked. He tried the door on the left and opened it with ease. The Assassin suddenly found himself in Jewels' room. He pushed through the big red curtains and got up on the balcony railing where he took a deep breath. He looked down at the courtyard to see Diamond pointing at him with a glowing Elemental Sword.
"You know what I hate. Party Crashers." Diamond said as he fired a Blade Gun shot from his Elemental Sword that hit the Assassin in the chest and he flew up to and smack hard against the wall above the balcony entrance. The Assassin fell from the wall and smacked hard on the balcony floor. Soldiers suddenly burst through the curtain and examined the unconscious Assassin. After putting him in shackles, they dragged him off.
Diamond walked back into the ballroom to be greeted with a massive applause.
"Wow." Diamond said. "This is new."
"Ha ha. Very good Diamond, a job well done." The King said as he walked up to Diamond and shook his hand. "I see your perfect for this collecting mission, no wonder the Deku Tree picked you."
"You know I think I'm getting used to this hero thing." Diamond said.
"Well you're going to be a bigger hero than this one day Diamond, so get used to it." The King said as he walked with Diamond back to the long table.
Two men walked the path to the Nohansen Lake Shore Village. One was unarmed and the other had large steel gloves on his hands. They approached the large black tree over the hill and entered it.
The center room of the tower was all stone. In large chair on the other side of the room, with two adjacent staircases, sat Ganondorf. The old and withered sorcerer breathed heavily and held his head with his right hand.
"Master Ganon." Xorac said as he approached the wizard. "I've found it."
"The Fountain." Ganondorf quickly replied.
"Unfortunately not sire. However I have found the tonic." Xorac said as he handed over a bottle to Ganondorf.
Ganondorf quickly drank to gulps of the tonic and put the lid on the bottle. "Very good. The Revitalization Tonic is true to its name. Well done, Xorac. Now. When you return to me, I want the location of the Fountain with you."
"Yes Master Ganon." Xorac said with a bow. "I shall not let you down." He said as he teleported from the building.
"Jameson." Ganondorf said to the other man. "It's been a while."
"Yes it has sir." Jameson said with a smile.
"I hope you've wreaked some havoc over the past year." Ganondorf said.
"I more than you asked for." Jameson said.
"Good. Good." Ganondorf said. "Follow me. I have one more thing I'd like you to do before I send you on your way with your next mission."
"Yes sir." Jameson said as he followed his leader.
Ganondorf led Jameson to the top of the hill that separated his residence from the Village. "You see that Jameson." Ganondorf said as he pointed out to the village.
"Beautiful sir." Jameson said.
"Crush it." Ganondorf instructed. "But leave that big talking tree alive. I want the name Jameson Stalkwell to ring in his big wooden ears for a good long while."
"Yes sir." Jameson said as he turned around and looked at a massive group of over fifty Moblins. "Lets have some fun boys!"
He reached the door on the other side of the hallway and could hear the sounds of music and people talking coming from inside. He pushed open one of the huge doors to enter the room. People were dancing across the ballroom floor, several men were getting drunk off wine in the corner, and the Royal Family sat at a long table at the far left side of the room.
Diamond walked over to the long table to see a number of people. The King, Jewels, Onyx, and what appeared to be the King's niece and her fiancé.
"Ah Diamond." The King said as he sat up. "Glad you could make it. I'd like you to meet my niece, Sarah."
"Hello Sarah." Diamond said as he waved to the young woman.
"And this is Ferris, her fiancé." The King continued. "Ferris, Sarah. This is Diamond Keya from Nohansen Lake.
"Hello Ferris." Diamond said. "I hear you're from Elsewhere."
"Yes I am." Ferris replied. "It's a beautiful city."
"That's what I've heard." Diamond said. "How are you today Commander?"
"What?" Onyx asked.
"Nothing." Diamond answered. "I just noticed that you've been staring at me ever since I walked in the room."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Onyx said frustratingly. "If you'll excuse me sire, I must go check the perimeter of the castle. Those desert folk have been threatening us again." He said as he walked through the room and exited through the main door.
"So." Diamond said. "How was your day everybody?"
"Very good thank you." Sarah answered.
"Not too bad." Jewels answered.
"I'm just glad we have the whole wedding squared away." Ferris said. "That's a lot of work."
"I'll bet." Diamond said. "When are you two getting married and such?"
"Next month." Sarah answered.
"Very nice." Diamond said. "If I've got all my chores done by then, maybe I'll drop by."
Onyx walked down the hallway and entered the soldiers' briefing room. A large gathering of soldiers waited for the Commander.
"So. Are we good?" Onyx asked.
"Yes sir." A soldier said. "There isn't a person on the outside of the castle that we can't see. No one can get in or out without us knowing."
"Very good." Onyx said. "Secure the roof."
"But why the roof sir?" The soldier asked.
"Because I don't want to take any chances." Onyx said. "I'm going to check the bedrooms. I want at least ten men on the roof in the next ten minutes."
"Yes sir." The soldier said as Onyx exited the room.
"Do you think they'll find us?" A figure said.
"Not a chance." Another said. "Besides. There's five of us and with these Shadow Cloaks on, they wont be able to see us in shadows of anything."
The five invisible figures laughed as they stood above a dome window that was above the ballroom.
"Would you care for some wine Diamond?" The King asked.
"Sure why not." Diamond said as he took a wine glass and a nearby servant filled it up for him. "Thanks." He said as the servant gave a short bow and walked onto the ballroom floor to offer some more people the wine.
"So Diamond." The King said. "Where are you off to next."
"I think I'm gonna go check out that Underground Palace next." Diamond answered as he sipped the wine.
"Why would you ever want to go there?" Ferris asked.
"Long story." Diamond said as he looked at the dome window at the top of the room and noticed it crack. His eyes shot wide open and he jamp out into the crowd. He landed in the center of the room and looked up at the window. "Get the hell out of the way!" He yelled to the people.
"What's going on Diamond?" The King asked.
"I have no idea." Diamond answered as the room went silent and stared up at the top of the dome themselves.
"It looks like he wants to fight." A figure said.
"Well let's give it to him." Another said as he slammed his fist hard into the window and shattered it.
The glass fell towards the ground with almost everyone in the room letting out a gasp. "Harmless Glare!" Diamond yelled as he flashed his eyes and all the glass shards disappeared before they fell halfway down the room. "How about whatever is up there comes down right now and fights with courage?" He said as he unsheathed both of his swords.
"You've got it kid." One of the figures said as he removed his Shadow Cloak and jamp into the room. He landed on the ground and the people backed up some more.
"Desert Assassins!" A soldier yelled.
"So. Your one of those desert people." Diamond said.
"Yes I am. The name is Sirus." He replied.
"Well Sirus. I hear you people are suppose to be lightning fast and deadly with that sword you have there." Diamond said.
"You've done your homework." Sirus said. "But does that do you any good in the heat of battle?" Sirus charged at Diamond and threw a downward slash, which was blocked by Diamond's Elemental Sword.
"You'd be surprised." Diamond said as he threw his own downward slash.
The two exchanged shots and easily blocked each one. Sirus threw slash after slash after slash and pushed Diamond back to the royal table. Diamond pushed Sirus back and jamp over him. He landed and turned around to deliver some slashes of his own. The two clashed swords and suddenly got into a battle of force.
"You know what your doing kid. I'll give you that. But what happens when I do this." Sirus said as he thundered off and appeared behind Diamond. He threw a horizontal slash at Diamond's back only to be blocked by Diamond's swords.
"You'd be surprised how many times I've fought a person that could do something like that." Diamond said. "Luckily for me, I've gotten used to it." Diamond back kicked Sirus into the long table and threw his plain sword like a dart. The sword nailed Sirus to the table through his gut. "I'll be taking this thank you." Diamond said as he pulled his sword from the table and Sirus' abdomen.
Sirus bled profusely from the wound as he held it. "You got me kid. Good show. But there will be a next time for us. An when that time comes, you will know the true power of the sands." Sirus said as he jamp to the opening in the ceiling. "Until then, you can have fun with my four other friends up here." Sirus put on his Shadow Cloak and disappeared into the night while the other four assassins dropped from the hole.
"Great." Diamond said. "More fun for me."
"Die you fool!" The first Assassin yelled as he began to clash swords with Diamond.
"Take this worm!" The second said as he attacked from the other side.
Diamond blocked both attacks, swerved the swords around and belted the two in the face with the sides of his swords. As the first two fell back the other to charged at Diamond from different directions. One threw a horizontal slash and the other threw a vertical. Diamond backflipped out of the way as the two swords clashed together Diamond sheathed his elemental sword, leaving his right hand free.
"Devastator Punch!" Diamond yelled as he threw his bright yellow punch and blew a hole in one of the Assassin's chest area. The Assassin fell to the ground and the other three stood there in shock for a second. They turned back to Diamond and charged him with their swords raised.
Diamond rolled to the left and slashed at the far left Assassin's knee. The knee slid off like a clear-cut stab to the gut and the assassin fell to the ground. The final two Assassins skidded on the floor as they came to an abrupt stop. They ran at Diamond again. Diamond shot up from the ground and stabbed one of the two in the shoulder. The Assassin fell to the ground to hold his wound as the other stood there. The final assassin looked up at Diamond who had unsheathed his Elemental Sword.
"Come get it buddy." Diamond said as he got into a stance. The final Assassin replied with a stance of his own but immediately ran out of the room. "Dammit." Diamond said as he ran after the Assassin.
The Assassin ran up numerous stairways and finally came to a hallway with two doors in it. He tried the door on the right, but it was locked. He tried the door on the left and opened it with ease. The Assassin suddenly found himself in Jewels' room. He pushed through the big red curtains and got up on the balcony railing where he took a deep breath. He looked down at the courtyard to see Diamond pointing at him with a glowing Elemental Sword.
"You know what I hate. Party Crashers." Diamond said as he fired a Blade Gun shot from his Elemental Sword that hit the Assassin in the chest and he flew up to and smack hard against the wall above the balcony entrance. The Assassin fell from the wall and smacked hard on the balcony floor. Soldiers suddenly burst through the curtain and examined the unconscious Assassin. After putting him in shackles, they dragged him off.
Diamond walked back into the ballroom to be greeted with a massive applause.
"Wow." Diamond said. "This is new."
"Ha ha. Very good Diamond, a job well done." The King said as he walked up to Diamond and shook his hand. "I see your perfect for this collecting mission, no wonder the Deku Tree picked you."
"You know I think I'm getting used to this hero thing." Diamond said.
"Well you're going to be a bigger hero than this one day Diamond, so get used to it." The King said as he walked with Diamond back to the long table.
Two men walked the path to the Nohansen Lake Shore Village. One was unarmed and the other had large steel gloves on his hands. They approached the large black tree over the hill and entered it.
The center room of the tower was all stone. In large chair on the other side of the room, with two adjacent staircases, sat Ganondorf. The old and withered sorcerer breathed heavily and held his head with his right hand.
"Master Ganon." Xorac said as he approached the wizard. "I've found it."
"The Fountain." Ganondorf quickly replied.
"Unfortunately not sire. However I have found the tonic." Xorac said as he handed over a bottle to Ganondorf.
Ganondorf quickly drank to gulps of the tonic and put the lid on the bottle. "Very good. The Revitalization Tonic is true to its name. Well done, Xorac. Now. When you return to me, I want the location of the Fountain with you."
"Yes Master Ganon." Xorac said with a bow. "I shall not let you down." He said as he teleported from the building.
"Jameson." Ganondorf said to the other man. "It's been a while."
"Yes it has sir." Jameson said with a smile.
"I hope you've wreaked some havoc over the past year." Ganondorf said.
"I more than you asked for." Jameson said.
"Good. Good." Ganondorf said. "Follow me. I have one more thing I'd like you to do before I send you on your way with your next mission."
"Yes sir." Jameson said as he followed his leader.
Ganondorf led Jameson to the top of the hill that separated his residence from the Village. "You see that Jameson." Ganondorf said as he pointed out to the village.
"Beautiful sir." Jameson said.
"Crush it." Ganondorf instructed. "But leave that big talking tree alive. I want the name Jameson Stalkwell to ring in his big wooden ears for a good long while."
"Yes sir." Jameson said as he turned around and looked at a massive group of over fifty Moblins. "Lets have some fun boys!"