A bird tapped on the window outside a room where Diamond slept. He slowly became irritated by the constant pecking of the small bird. He rose from the bed and knocked once on the window, making the bird fly off. Diamond let out a big yawn and got dressed. After grabbing his things he exited the building he was in.

"I hope you slept well." Daruka said while leaning on the wall adjacent to the window. "You snore louder than my uncle."

"Heh. Sorry about that." Diamond said as he scratched the back of his head.

"Well I hope you boys are ready." Forge said as he rode up on a mule. "We cross the desert today."

"Wait a minute." Diamond said. "Why do you get to ride across the desert?"

"Why not." Forge said as he lifted up his foot. "Do you really think these sandals are fit for walking through the desert?"

"Whatever." Daruka said. "Lets go already."

"You're impatient aren't you?" Diamond asked.

"Yeah." Daruka replied.

"Ok then." Diamond said. "Shall we go then?"

"After you." Forge replied as the trio headed for the desert that stood on the border of the village they stayed at.

They walked deep into the golden sands and time passed as if it was nothing. Small oasis's were scattered here and there. Vultures roamed the skies looking for the fallen that could not make it across.

"Damn it's hot." Diamond said as he carried his trench coat under his arm.

"I've been through hotter days." Daruka said.

"So where are you from anyways?" Diamond asked. "We are traveling with each other after all and I don't know you all that well."

"I'd rather not say where I'm from." Daruka answered.

"Bad subject?" Diamond asked.

"You haven't the slightest idea." Daruka replied.

"Sorry." Diamond said as he turned back to the desert.

"Crap." Daruka said as he stopped.

"What is it?" Forge asked.

"A sandstorm." Daruka said as he looked off to the North.

Diamond looked in the same direction to see a large brown cloud coming toward them. It swirled and howled as it got closer and closer.

"Quickly." Forge said as he slapped the reigns of the mule down, making it quicken it's pace.

Diamond and Daruka followed as fast as they could, but the softness of the sand held them back. The sandstorm drew closer and closer as they tried to out run it. However they were not quick enough. The wall of sand and violent wind slammed right in their side. The veil of sand clouded their vision enough that they couldn't see very far in front of them. After it subsided a little the wind stopped all they needed was the dust to clear.

"What' that." Diamond said as he looked ahead.

He saw five figures running towards them, all screaming and howling.

"Looks like we have a fight on our hands." Forge said.

"Are they Desert Assassins?" Diamond asked.

"No." Daruka answered. "Desert Assassins make a habit of not making there presence known. I say they're Bandits."

"Bandits huh?" Diamond said as he unsheathed his normal sword. "Sounds like fun."

"Hey! There's three of them boss!" One of the bandits yelled.

"And it looks like they're warriors too!" Another yelled.

"Good! Kill them and strip their weapons!" The leader shouted.

"Sounds like they want our stuff." Forge said.

"No. They want to sit around and talk of days past." Daruka sarcastically said as he drew the sword from his back.

The five bandits ran down the sand hill and Diamond and Daruka Spilt in opposite directions. Two bandits ran at Diamond while two ran at Daruka, the leader then strolled down towards Forge.

"Give us your weapons warrior!" One of the bandits said as he ran down towards Daruka.

"Alright." Daruka said as he jamp up and stabbed the bandit in the back. "Don't like it? I'll just take it back then." He said before twisting the sword and pulling it from the bandits back.

"You bastard! Your dead!" The second bandit said as he watched his friend fall.

The bandit drew a dagger and tried to stab Daruka with it repeated times, but the Moblin Slayer sidestepped each attack. Daruka raised his sword and stabbed the bandit in the hand, making him drop the dagger. The bandit screamed in pain as he tried to hit Daruka with his other hand. Daruka caught one of the punches and pulled down hard on the bandits arm, dislocating his arm in the process. The bandit let out a final yelp before passing out from the pain.

"Dumbass." Daruka said before looking off to where Diamond was.

Diamond was engaged in a sword battle with both the bandits, fending off both bandits with just his one sword.

"You can't win!" One bandit said as he clashed swords with Diamond and started a battle of force with him.

"Yeah I can." Diamond said as he kneed the bandit in the gut and pushed him back.

Diamond then swung his sword across once and turned to the other bandit. He had cut the first clear across the knees sending him to the ground. The last bandit swung is sword downward at Diamond numerous times, only to be blocked each time. Diamond spun around and grabbed a handful of sand. He threw the sand in the bandit's face and caused him to drop his sword. Diamond jamp up and spin kicked the bandit in the side of his head while he tended to his eyes. The bandit fell down unconscious.

"Huh. Looks like he's a lot better than I thought." Daruka said.

"Alright old man." The leader said as he approached Forge. "To rent a steed like that you must have a pocket full of rupees. Hand them over."

"Oh please, kind bandit. Find it in your heart to leave an old man alone." Forge sarcastically said as the sand cleared completely.

"I said now!" The bandit yelled before he stopped dead in his tracks. He could feel the cold steel of two swords brushing along his throat.

"I wouldn't be doing that if I were you." Diamond said from the bandit's side.

"Common thievery is a life wasting hobby." Daruka said. "Why don't you just leave right now?"

"Or do we have to do to you what we did to your friends." Diamond continued.

"Alright boys. You win. I'll leave." The bandit said as he backed away from Diamond and Daruka.

The stare continued between the bandit and the duo as he continued to step back. Just then a loud screech rang through they're ears. Diamond looked over his shoulder to see a massive bird flying towards them. The bird appeared to be made of solid gold with emerald eyes.

"Great goddess." The bandit stuttered before he was swept up by the monstrous bird. The bandit screamed as the bird carried him off toward Crisis.

"What the hell was that?" Diamond asked.

"I have no idea." Daruka said.

The two turned around to see Forge unconscious on the ground. They ran over to the old man and picked him up.

"What happened to him?" Diamond asked.

"Looks like he was hit on the head." Daruka answered as he observed a large red mark on Forge's forehead.

Just then the two were caught from behind as a duo of men smacked them over the back of the heads with their sword handles.

Diamond would awake several hours later, chained to the wall.

"Welcome to the party." Daruka said from across the room. He was chained to the wall as well.

"Where's the old man at?" Diamond asked.

"Over here." Forge said from the other wall. "And I told you not to call me 'old man'. I have a name."

"Alright scum." A guard said. "Time to meet the prince!"

"The prince?" Diamond asked as they were guided down the hall. "Where the hell are we anyway's?"

The guards pushed open two large stone doors and entered a large room full of golden objects. Diamond, Daruka, and Forge looked up at a throne where a man sat.

"Well if it isn't Mr. Hero." Sirus said from his chair. "Welcome to Crisis."