The Destiny Stone

by Snowsilver

A sequel to 'An Act to Follow.' What if the Heroes of Time were forgotten? New Chapter - A long awaited battle, the return of Evil's Bane - and a foreshadowing of tragedy.

28. Chapter 27: The Return of Evil's Bane

"The Destiny Stone"

Disclaimer: I don't own Zelda or any characters, places, or events thereof, so there! Of the original characters, I came up with Timbre, Kat, Aka, Benz, Vulcan and some various bit characters here and there. Sond owns the rest. Thanks Sond! Rej is © FogFrontier!

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Hey. Long time no see, eh? Yeah, just what I was thinking. I know, I need to update more. I need to finish this story. I need to graduate college. I need to do a lot of things. But I hope that you at least want to read more. I'm very surprised at the very kind reviews I have received about this story, and I thank you all most sincerely for your kind words of support, encouragement, and evaluation. It really means a lot to me, thanks.

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"The Destiny Stone" — Chapter 27: The Return of Evil's Bane

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Vulcan placed his work upon the table, let out a huge sigh, and swayed, as if ready to collapse. He turned and looked meaningfully at Benz, but the Deku was already scrambling up with a simple stool. The blacksmith lowered himself down with a groan, his shoulders bowing as if a great weight had been lifted from them.

Benz shuffled awkwardly, not exactly sure what to say. He hadn't seen the smith this exhausted, even after days of continuous work. But now, it seemed Vulcan had reached some sort of limit.

The Hylian nodded towards the table. "What'd you think?"

The Deku Scrub blinked. "You seem quite -squeak- tired, sir."

Vulcan's eyes remained closed, but now a smile played across his lips. "I meant about the sword, but that will do. I am tired. But I am also finished with my work, which at the moment is more important than how I feel. What do you think of it?"

Benz's eyes roved over towards the table, where the sword now lay. Benz examined it, and would have whistled through his teeth had he been physically able. He could see himself clearly reflected in the handsome blade, now polished to a deadly sheen. The blue curved handle had also been reworked onto the reforged weapon, which despite having been remade from shards, looked as if it were brand-new.

The edges of the sword were so sharp, they seemed to taper off into a singularity. Benz mused inwardly that if the weilder wanted to the sword could probably cut even the darkness itself.

"It's…wonderful," Benz finally stammered, not daring to touch it. This was the Master Sword he'd once heard of, though he'd long forgotten where. The Blade of Evil's Bane…

"Thank you," the smith breathed, sounding like he meant it. "Evil's Bane is now complete, except for one thing."

Alarmed, the Deku tore his gaze away from the Master Sword to look over towards his friend, and most recently, tutor. "What's that?"

"Now," Vulcan said, "we need to find the one to wield it."

The Hylian awoke, feeling remarkably refreshed, though very thirsty. Then again, since his ordeal in the desert, he hadn't exactly gotten a restful sleep in a while. For some reason, despite his current position, Link felt as if something were suddenly right with the world. Nick and Kafei remained fast asleep, lending to the peaceful atmosphere.

There was a slight glow emanating between the bars of their prison's door — it was one of those cell door types that had a tiny barred window at the top — and the striped lights trailed down across the ground for several meters, like luminescent tic marks.

Link's right hand had stopped throbbing, though the pain had now replaced itself with a nearly impenetrable itch, which was what had actually woken him up. The Hylian idly scratched his glowing hand, wondering to himself what was making it do that. He'd become slowly accustomed to the constant call of the Master Sword. He wasn't sure if it was just him, but it seemed like the call had become…stronger.

The Hylian squirmed slightly, feeling all four walls of the prison pressing in on him. He had to get back, and soon.

Must be a way out of here, he suddenly thought to himself. I don't want to be stuck here for long. There was no knowing how soon Tatl would find help, or if she would manage to find help in the first place. Link had never been one to sit back and wait for something to happen. If he was going to escape, it was most definitely going to be without hope for help.

Chewing on the side of a fingernail, Link leaned against the dungeon wall, mentally trying out escape plans like one might try on clothing. But nothing seemed to fit. He was somewhat sure the Gerudo wouldn't kill him for escaping, but he was definately sure that there would be other consequences that he didn't like if he were caught.

Unfortunately.

It must have been quite far into the morning, by Link's thoughts, when his prison was abruptly paid a visit. The only warning he and his companions received was a harsh clanging, such as the sound of a blade against a door bolt. Then the light stripes on the floor were interrupted, throwing them into near-total darkness.

All three of the men shot upright at the sound.

"What do you want?" Link snapped, still half-asleep.

"Food," said a female voice from the other side.

"Sorry, we fres' ou'," the Volcanian snided. "Mebee you shoul' che' th' p'ntry."

There was a slight pause, then the voice returned, a little harsher. "Nabooru has decreed that you all be fed. Feel fortunate, male."

Link's stomach suddenly growled, though what he really wanted was water.

There was a creak, and suddenly more light flooded into the prison chamber as a small hatchway opened near the bottom of their prison door. It wasn't that large at all, lore like an enlarged slot than anything, but it appeared to allow for the passage of objects. Something was pushed through, and then the slot slammed shut.

In this case, the delivery was two large, flat bowls. One was filled with what Link thought was bread, the other with some soupy and warm substance, from which small curling wafts of steam could be seen in the meager light.

"There's no water here," Link said in confusion.

"Eat the potatoes," came the stout reply. "You get plenty of water from those."

Potatoes? I thought that was bread. "Oh."

"Nabooru shall be visiting soon. I hope your attitude has sweetened slightly, unless you want to be treated to another sleep down here tonight."

"Sorry, but it hasn't," Link shrugged noncommittally.

"Hey, wha' is this glop?" Nick was investigating the second bowl, but from the tone of his voice he sounded a little disgusted.

"Rabbit," came the voice. "I'd get used to it, unless your friend decides to stop being foolish."

"Eeugh! I can' ea' this!" Nick muttered again.

"It doesn't seem that bad," Kafei spoke for the first time. He was chewing already. "I've had worse-"

"Bu'," Nick said startlingly, "I dun…eat tha'… muc'…meat."

"Eat up," suggested the woman behind the door. "I didn't kill that poor beast for nothing." There were footsteps, which quickly faded. They were alone again, for the moment.

Link sat down with a huff. "Didn't give us spoons or anything, I suspect."

"Right. The stew's in big pieces though, so it's not too much of a bother," said the shadow Hylian. "You going to be alright, Nick?"

"Mmm? Ya…" the Volcanian reached for a potato, and bit into it like he would an apple, with a similar crunch. "Ye two c'n 'ave all th' stew," he offered. "I dun' like tha' kind of thing, m'self…"

"But…isn't it just like that chili you used to make?"

There was a snort. "Hardly! M'chili w' vastly superior t'this!"

"Yeah, but wasn't' there…meat in it?"

Nick looked thoughtful. "On'ly a teeny bi' put in there f'thickener…fat's good a' tha…an' I never tasted it, so t'was ok…" There was another crunch of potato. "Nah, bes' leave th' shre'ed flesh t' th' lobos an' th' Gerudos, I say. I'll 'ave no part in it…"

Link tried some of the rabbit. It actually wasn't too bad, though the meat itself was tougher than most, and it was rather bland. Gerudos didn't give their prisoners seasoned food, it seemed. Or maybe they themselves ate it unseasoned, as well.

Between mouthfuls, Link spoke. "'Ow we all holding up?"

"I'm okay," Kafei murmured, "But I'd like to get out of here. Isn't exactly what I would call pleasant."

Nick was on his fourth potato. "M'yah, females breathin' in on y'at all ang'es…starin' at yer like y'was some kinda…attrac'ion." Then he smirked. "F'it weren' for th' imprisonmen', mig' be diff'rent, though, eh?"

Link didn't comment, and decided to change the subject. "Oh yeah, I've also been, er…thinking."

Kafei cut off Nick's next comment with a stare. "I think I know what you're going to say, but I'd be careful about talking."

Confused, Link looked on. "Why for?"

"Hsst, ixnay," Kafei suddenly murmured.

Link swallowed. "Eh?"

"We've got a…fourth. Over there." Kafei gestured towards the door, then towards his ear.

Somebody's listening in, eh? Link turned his head in the door's direction and called out loudly, "It isn't polite to snoop, y'know."

There was a derisive female snort from behind the door. "Feh, as if I'd be interested in what you had to say. I'm just keeping guard on you three. Nabooru's orders."

It sounded like the same Gerudo who had brought their food.

Link smirked, and it carried through his voice. "Heh, never knew Nabooru was one for idle male's gossip."

"Link," Nick gritted his teeth. "Dun' pester th'em, eh?"

"Huh," Link grumbled. "What? They're the ones who're being stubborn idiots, here."

"Yeah, and they're also the ones who have us captive, at the moment," Kafei pointed out. "It's probably not a good idea to get on their nerves too much, if you ever want to get out of here."

"Your friends have good sense," the Gerudo pointed out to Link. "Unlike you. Be quiet."

Link slouched. He knew he looked like he was pouting, but he didn't care. He couldn't help but make one more snide remark. "Feh. Stupid Gerudos."

"I said be quiet!" A pair of stormy blue eyes flashed at him from between the window bars of the prison door. Link swallowed, suddenly remembering the last time he'd met those eyes. His hand instinctively squeezed around his wounded-but-bandaged forearm, and his breath rattled in a quiet gasp. That's…her!

Before, he'd been too occupied with survival to fully think things through, about who he'd really met out there…about who had brought him out of the sandstorm. In his first delusion, he'd mistaken her for Timbre - but out of the influence of the Haunted Wasteland, Link was finally able to put two and two together. Of course. He smirked slightly at his captor.

"What're you smiling about?" The owner of the eyes snapped at him.

"You just reminded me of someone I met once," Link said, making himself sound cryptic. Then he wiped the smile off of his face. "But also I…I never did thank you for helping me out there, did I?"

"Oh." The blue eyes were framed by a woman's face, slightly covered up by the bars, but Link could clearly see that the Gerudo's hair wasn't red at all, but actually a shade of bluish-gray. Link found himself smirking again.

"Blue hair. Kind of funny color for a Gerudo, isn't it?"

The Gerudo's eyebrows knitted together, and she scowled. "You're rather rude, aren't you?"

"I tend to speak before I think," Link assured her, half-seriously. I do have to work on that.

"Hah. You? Think? Hardly." The Gerudo's face disappeared as she stepped away from the door. The absence of retreating footsteps told him that she hadn't gone far, though.

Link leaned and cracked his back, amid the confused stares of both his companions.

"What was that all about?" Kafei whispered.

"Never mind, I'll explain a bit later," Link whispered back, as he leaned backwards and closed his eyes, trying out new escape plans again.

Heh, won't Timbe be in for a surprise…

-----

Kat awoke slowly, feeling warm breath against the back of her right hand. Reflexively she stretched out her hand, only to feel it brush against something that tickled her. Confused out of the dreaming state, Kat slowly opened her eyes. The room that came into focus was familiar, her own room of ten years. She was lying in her own bed, and she had a rather spectacular headache, as well as feeling completely and utterly drained.

Ow…

The warm breath, she discovered, was from the wolf's head that currently was snoring away, chin rested on the right edge of her bed. With every exhale, the little whiskers lining either side of his muzzle were tickling at the back of her hand. Timbre's eyes were closed, and his ears were flattened sideways like they did when he was really tired. Kat had to smile slightly, realizing her friend's position.

He was half leaning on the bed while also halfway draped across a chair that he'd apparently pulled up alongside the bed. The ever-present trenchcoat was thrown across his back as a makeshift blanket. Apparently he'd fallen asleep sitting up, only to half-topple onto the bed. And he'd apparently changed forms in his sleep again, something he'd habitually done as a youth.

Kat giggled a little, then suddenly wondered why Timbre might have been watching her sleep, apparently all night. Absentmindedly, she lifted her right hand, and scratched behind one of the wolf's ears. She hadn't had the chance to yet, though she'd been sorely tempted before.

Timbre muttered in a happy fashion. He'd always gone to putty whenever someone managed to find his 'sweet spot.' Sond had been an expert at that in their youth. His head slowly leaned towards the side she was scratching. Something clinked from around his neck as he did so, and Kat noted the sparkle as the Destiny Stone suddenly glinted clear crystal at her.

Forgetting the headache, Kat continued to let her fingers tangle in her friend's thick fur, watching the faceted jewel. This…this was what Tim had told her was the start of everything.

"Mm," she said. "Why such a little thing could cause such a large problem…"

The Stone rolled slightly, and at first Kat thought it was just because Timbre was slowly leaning into her hand, but then the words started, scrolling across the Stone until they seemed to leap out at her.

The Warrior lies in prison bound,

His quest proceeds his whim,

He cannot come here on his own,

So bring the Sword to him!

In the Desert lies a key

In resplendent fair,

But ware to one who enters free,

Lest he be captured there.

Lone the wolf will soon depart,

But lone he'll not return,

What seems an end is but a start,

When ice like fire burns.

As Kat continued to stare, Timbre's contentment brought him leaning completely into her right arm, leaving a trail of drool on her wrist. Kat grimaced, and the headache came back. The words vanished.

As if sensing this disgust, the wolf snorted and opened one eye. The trenchcoat suddenly slipped to the ground, and the wolf's sudden loss of counterbalance sent him spilling to the floor with a yelp of surprise.

"Oh geesh…I'm sorry, Tim…I didn't mean to make you fall-"

"Naw, naw, s'okay, s'okay," she heard him muffle from the floor. In a moment he was back on the chair in human form, self-consciously wiping at his chin. "I'm just glad you're awake. I was kind of worried."

Kat rubbed her head. "Did…you stay by me all night?"

Timbre laughed nervously. "I didn't mean to fall asleep, I guess I was more worn out than I thought…

Kat suddenly sobered. "…I did something dumb, didn't I?"

"If by 'dumb' you mean 'save the village,' then yes," Timbre said. "You do remember, right?"

It was coming back to her even as he spoke. The dragon, the frantic rush to the barrier, the casting of Nayru's Love-

"That dragon!" she suddenly exclaimed. "Was that-"

Timbre's nod said everything.

"Oh. Gee." Kat murmured. "For a second, I thought it was just me dreaming…I've been seeing lots of weird things lately."

Timbre looked slightly amused. "Am I counted among the 'weird things?'" He asked.

Kat snickered. "No, I meant that…and your Stone…I swore it started talking a while ago."

Surprisingly, Timbre didn't raise an eyebrow at this. "Really? What did it say?"

"Y'mean," Kat started, slightly surprised, "It's supposed to do that? I mean-"

"Don't worry, I questioned a lot of things that I don't bat an eye at now," Timbre reassured her. "It does that when it has something important to tell. What did it say?"

"A poem," Kat said sleepily. "Um…something about a Warrior…and a key, and ice burning like fire — it was very lyrical. What does 'resplendent' mean?"

Timbre chewed his lip. "Um…it means great beauty, I think. Something like that…I wasn't ever that much into lofty language. Did it say anything important, though?"

"Let me think about it for a while," Kat said. "It'll probably come back to me…I hope so." She suddenly shifted, and sat up fully. "How long have I been out?"

"All night, and all morning, too," came a short voice from the doorway. Sond busily pulled her hair back as she walked in. "It's past noon."

Kat jumped out of the bed rather quickly, leaving Tim to retrieve his fallen coat. He grimaced as he heard his stomach growl. "Hmm, guess you're right." He was a little nervous of Sond's mood, after the previous night, but she seemed calm enough.

"How are things going?" He ventured to ask his friend.

Sond gestured towards the door. "Vulcan finished the Master Sword last night," she said suddenly.

"W-wha? Really!"

Aka's floppy hat suddenly peered from around the doorjamb. "Oh good, you're both awake! You gotta see this thing! It's…incredible!" The Skull Kid's enthusiasm was clear from his voice.

Timbre sighed. "If only…" he trailed off.

Sond's eyes clouded over for a second, and Tim wished he hadn't said anything. It was bad enough that they'd all just had to watch one of their oldest friends be subjected to some kind of horrible spell last night, but add to that the fact Link had not yet returned-

Timbre suddenly found himself with his hand on Sond's shoulder. She looked up at him (he kept forgetting he was taller), and when he'd locked eyes with her, he said:

"If I have to, I'll go and find him myself, Sond."

It was then that he realized Impa was standing beside them both.

"And so you shall, young wolf."

-----

Mayor Dotour winced as their front door was pounded again. The entire structure was slightly bowed in the center, though the wood grain had been of a good enough make to withstand the ramming so far.

"Dad, careful. Coming through." There was a squeal behind him, like that of shoved furniture. Big Kafei's head peered around the armoire that he was slowly pushing towards the door to make a better blockade.

Mayor Dotour lightly sidestepped. "Son, isn't that a bit much?"

Big Kafei kept at it, and his father edged away, closer to the window. "Not really," the son answered between grunts. "Isn't like we're gonna be using that door again anytime soon…"

All the windows had already been blockaded (after they'd unfortunately been smashed in), and there was a sizable block of firewood in the chimney, just to prevent creative invaders. Of course, some of the firewood had once been less desirable furniture — there hadn't been enough to create a block.

Mayor Dotour had volunteered his Official Chair to go first. He'd always disliked that thing anyway.

Both their wives were currently in the kitchen. It was spotlessly clean, partially due to the fact most of the furniture had been moved out, but also because both Anju and Madam Aroma had needed something to do besides worry. Kafei was secretly rather proud of his wife — despite everything, she still managed to look and sound optimistic.

He wished he could share that optimism.

It had been several days before word of the Goriya Leader's demise had reached the four Hylians, but by then, the leaderless rabble of Goriya had already become completely feral. Without any organizing force, they'd quickly decided to completely tear the town apart, without regard to life or property. When they ultimately tried to break through the Mayor's Residence, the Dotours had had no choice but to blockade themselves inside before they were swarmed.

The blizzard had been bad enough, Mayor Dotour thought, gazing mournfully through a space in the blockade. Clock Town had fallen. Outside, the world looked a desolate, slushed wasteland. The snow was starting to melt, but its sheer volume had kept it around, even days after the temperature had returned to normal. He wasn't even sure if there were anybody left alive.

Besides them and the monsters, of course.

More days had passed, and so the barricade had grown as every hour the Goriya tried new ways of breaking in. But the Mayor was secretly doubting how much longer they all would last. As the days passed, their food had grown less and less, and the Goriya had grown more and more persistent.

WHAM.

A huge cracking thud greeted this thought, stopping Big Kafei in the middle of his work.

"What're they doing, Dad?"

Mayor Dotour peered dimly outside. "It seems they've made a battering ram or something." He couldn't help the apathetic tone in his voice.

WHAM.

There was another splintering crack, and the entire barricade lurched. Big Kafei bit his lip, and with a last push, sent the armoire tipping over on its side. He kicked it several times, and braced it between the rest of the barricade and the front desk. The next time the ram collided with the door, the barricade held steady, though several wooden groans betrayed the strain being put on the entire structure.

"Should be glad that they haven't thought of using fire yet," Kafei remarked.

"We must be glad of the little things, though I'm running out of ideas," his father said seriously. "If we stay here much longer, we will either slowly starve, or be overwhelmed…"

"I'm not letting that happen to Mom or Anju," Big Kafei scowled. "We have got to find a way to get out of here. This barricade won't last for much longer. Maybe the windows upstairs — if we can get up to the roof-"

Mayor Dotour sighed. He'd heard the same suggestion many times in the past days — though in different incarnations. They were running out of ideas. "But…where would we go, son?"

Kafei looked devastated. "I…don't know. But it is more of a chance than we have here. I'm not going to lie down and die for nothing. If it comes to it, I'll go out and face them while you escape with them. If you go along the roofs, and you can make it to the eastern gate-"

"Son-"

"Dad, I'm serious! I don't want them to die like this…At this point I don't care what happens to me anymore, as long as they-"

WHAM. CRACK.

The barrier crackled ominously, and Kafei turned to look his father in the eye. He knew what Dotour didn't want — he didn't want to lose another son to the Goriya. He'd seen the heartbreak of both his parents when their youngest son had not returned — and worse yet, when they'd never found a body-

"Dad," he said. "Let me do this. If I can't defend even my own wife, I'll feel I have failed at being a good husband."

WHAM.

Mayor Dotour swallowed. Ever since his son had encountered Ganondorf and been subjected to his humiliation, he'd become a son possessed. Dotour himself knew that at times his own frail ego was frayed and worn enough to be pushed around, even by his wife. But Kafei had overnight vowed to never let that humiliation happen to him again. Realizing this, Dotour couldn't find any argument left. "It…it is always important to protect those we care about," he answered. "If…if that is your wish, then I must honor it." He bowed his head.

Kafei stood as a statue, watching the barrier slowly erode away. "Go to the kitchen, help Anju and Mom pack anything you might need, and get upstairs. I'll shout the moment the barrier starts to fall…then, you'll have to run for it. I'm sorry I couldn't do more. I should have been a better son."

Mayor Dotour started toward the kitchen, unable to look his son in the eyes. "You've done enough, son. We are proud of you."

--

WHAM.

Less than fifteen minutes later, the Mayor, his wife, and his daughter-in-law perched miserably near the upstairs window that had once belonged to their youngest son. Parting Anju from her husband had been a heartbreaking and painful experience, and Dotour could see that separation etched like claw-marks into the innkeeper's young face. She'd not wanted to leave her husband, and only the murmuring of Kafei's gentle voice had somehow finally convinced her to leave.

Dotour's wife was stone-faced, her perpetual frown also creased by her brows. In her prime, she'd been a powerful woman — a good second to Dotour's often quailing form — but the long siege of Clock Town had worn on her. But even that trial didn't stop her grip from being as iron-clad as ever, both of her hands curled like claws about the meager bundle in her possession.

Three days' worth of food, wrapped about scant bundles of clothing — the best they'd been able to scrounge in such notice. Mayor Dotour was still unsure as to how far his aged body would take him in this situation.

But he had no other choice.

His only fleeting hope had been the slight evidence to survivors of Ganondorf's takeover — that peculiar fellow who had visited before the blizzard with news of his grandson — he'd hinted at the presence of a larger resistance. Maybe — with some hope, they were still out there, somewhere.

And if Anju could see her little boy again-

CRACK!

Moments after the splintering cacophony rose Kafei's voice.

"GO!"

Without a second thought, Mayor Dotour kicked out with both spindly legs at the window. The cracked glass had been merely shorn up with several planks that had once been shelving, and quickly caved in from the blows.

Madame Aroma gently pulled her husband aside, and pulling out some of the shoring, backed out onto the roof. Years ago, she might have scolded her younger son for doing the same, but now the game was in deadly earnest.

Mayor Dotour allowed Anju to go next, and only chanced once look back before he too exited, trying hard not to listen to the screeches and growls that were the Goriya downstairs. His throat was too choked to do anything but swallow.

I never wanted to lose both my children this way…

One of their distinct disadvantages was that their escape was occurring in broad daylight — making them somewhat painfully obvious unless they moved at the very gable of the roofing, where it was the most steeply angled. At this angle, the going was very, very slow.

The three of them edged carefully along the thatched rooftop, made slightly slippery and reckless by the blizzard's snow. Mayor Dotour struggled behind both the wives, having armed himself with a half-splintered plank in case the Goriya noticed their escape.

Madame Aroma looked back at her husband, concerned for his progress. "Please be careful, dear!"

The Mayor merely nodded. "K-keep going…" He didn't want to admit it aloud, but he was suffering a good deal of vertigo at the moment. This was something his wife had clearly picked up on. Edging along the rooftops, however, was their only course of survival. "I-I'll be f-fine…"

It was at that unfortunate moment that one of the Mayor's legs slipped, sending him onto the snowy roof with a wet squelch. Unable to grasp anything or stop himself in time, Dotour found himself quickly sliding feet-first towards the edge, the wet snow speeding his descent. "Yaah!"

Anju clapped a hand over her mouth, horrified, as Dotour vanished over the edge of the roof with a loud yelp. Madame Aroma shrieked aloud her husband's name.

The sound of an impact never reached either of their ears, however. Instead, a much different sound rose from the street. A voice.

"You'm might wanna be more careful up there, goro."

--

Big Kafei had discovered the family sword, clearly meant for ornament, which had once been hung proudly over the fireplace. Although he knew the weapon was probably dull and not fit for true combat, he'd drawn it as the barrier began to fall.

"GO!" he roared upstairs, and faintly heard the sounds of splintering wood. His family would escape. Good.

The relief turned to grim determination as the first Goriya arrived, somewhat jammed up in the pile of barricade debris. The battering ram had completely stowed in the front door, which now splintered more as the red creature forced its way indoors. Two more squeezed through, and by the piping sounds outside, Kafei could tell more were coming.

But three was enough for now.

Boomerangs were apparently of little use to the little monsters indoors, and so Kafei found all three Goriya leaping at him with bared teeth and stubby claws scratching.

He swung the sword with a yell, and caught the first one across the chest. It was as he'd feared, the weapon was terribly dull. The Goriya was still knocked to the floor however, raggy tunic torn and an ugly wound tracing its way across its furry shoulder.

The other two monsters kept coming, and Big Kafei kicked one in the chest only to feel several sets of claws bury itself into his leg. Another set of fiery pinpricks sprouted from his sword arm as the other Goriya set its toothed muzzle into his wrist.

Big Kafei shook his right arm, trying to dislodge the little red monster, but it clung on gamely. They weren't very powerful on their own, but they had a serious advantage if they were allowed to overwhelm. Unwilling to let go of his sword, Kafei beat relentlessly at the monster's face with his free hand. "Get…off!"

The Goriya gurgled, flinching from the angry blows, and Kafei realized that it was chuckling at him. The teeth punctured harder, even as his repeated blows became heavy and damaging.

The one attached to his leg then suddenly bit down on his kneecap, spurning fresh bleeding and causing his leg to crumple uselessly.

Pathetic. I'd never really been a fighter, Kafei thought disconnectedly as he fell roughly to the floor, jarring his back and slamming his head against the armoire. He'd always left the combat to his younger brother, though even Little Kafei hadn't seemed to really enjoy self-defense. Maybe he should have.

The first Goriya was picking itself up, snarling angrily at him as it ran a hand over the wound he'd given it. It leered at him, mocking him for his lack of skill in the art of war. It drew something that gleamed from its belt. A dagger. It grinned, mimicking a slicing motion across its throat. It wanted him to know exactly what it intended to do to him.

Kafei didn't answer. He vowed not to even scream. There was no way he was going to allow the monster the satisfaction.

The knife-Goriya chirruped something to its comrades, and the one that had crippled his leg released its grip on him long enough to mutter a response. They were holding him down for a reason.

His eyes darted towards the door, wondering when the rest would arrive. There were harsh Goriya screams echoing from outside. They sounded like they were in some sort of frenzy, though Kafei had never been too distinct on their cries.

Resigned to an angry and humiliating fate, Big Kafei set his face into a snarl as the knife-Goriya approached. He'd wanted to hold them back longer, but it seemed he couldn't even hold back three. Even now he could hear the splinters as they worked at shoving in the window. In moments the swarm would pour inside. Images of his family swam through his head as he felt the inevitability of death descend upon him. Kafei prayed to the Goddesses that his ending would be swift, as the Goriya brandished the knife-

-and slumped oddly, wobbling as if suddenly struck with drunkenness. The knife fell from nerveless claws, landing with a clatter in a speckled pool of Kafei's sticky red blood. The monster exhaled, then collapsed onto Kafei's chest, a dart lodged deep in the base of its skull.

The other Goriya squalled with confusion, letting their painful grips on him loosen as they both turned toward the window, only to be frozen in their wide-eyed poses as two carefully aimed Deku nuts exploded directly in their faces. Big Kafei peered at the silhouettes burned against the daytime sky-

A brown-haired woman reloading a blowgun deftly stepped across the boundary of the window, skirt nearly catching on splintered wood. She was closely followed by a young man in a red bandanna. A third stumpy figure — a Deku — soon joined them. Big Kafei just stared as the girl winked cheekily at him.

"You do look just like him! Young Kafei sends his love!"

-----

Chiron had borne witness to Ganondorf's flamboyant arrival, and although he didn't want to admit it, he'd been feeling extremely nervous since. He would have been more worried if his Grandmother had accompanied the King, but as it was, his nerves were quite shot.

He'd wanted to take care of the whole village problem before any of his superiors came to 'scold' him for taking so long. But something — something about the entire spectacle was making him hesitate, and question everything. He was just thankful that he had escaped Ganondorf's notice, for the present. The King had not yet appeared since his arrival at Death Mountain the night before.

Chiron knew that Kakariko Village was slowly starving. But not slowly enough, he thought bitterly. His spies had so far had little to offer save the tantalizing tidbit here and there — the villagers, or at least someone in the village was currently engaged in something that would spell trouble for his side. News of the Master Sword — news which he'd hung with bated breath to hear — had been painfully thin, though Chiron knew that somehow, Evil's Bane was returning in the heart of the siege. That thought did not comfort him in the slightest.

The young Gerudo crouched on a sturdy bough, hanging a good 10 feet above the ground. The tree itself was strong enough to support his weight, and safe enough to hide his presence to all but the keenest of observers.

"Boss! BOSS!"

Chiron rolled his eyes at the high-pitched whine that was the orange fairy Pedro. Part of his isolation had been to distance himself from pestering, though Chiron found there were few places he could go that the fairy would not eventually discover.

"Boss! News! Quick! Where are you?!"

News? It's about time…

Without a second thought, the Gerudo leaned backwards, twisted acrobatically, and landed with a soft thud on the grassy ground. There were still green leaves strewn about everywhere in Hyrule Field, victims from the cyclonic windstorm brought about by that dragon.

"Boss!!" A flaring orange spark hurtled through the sky at him, stopping inches away from Chiron's nose. "Boss! There you are!"

Chiron tried not to let his eyes cross as Pedro hovered too close. "What is it?"

"News!" squeaked the fairy, sounding very excited. "Well, two things! Rej! Come on out!"

The renegade Poe materialized next to Chiron, and bowed shortly, looking slightly uncomfortable in the daytime. "Newest report. It is finished."

Biting his lip until it stung, the Gerudo swallowed. "So, Evil's Bane. It is there."

"But that's not all!" piped in Pedro, who bobbed up and down with as much high-spirited enthusiasm as he could muster.

Chiron scowled. What was Pedro so happy about? "Then what is it?" Chiron gritted, trying not to sound like he was annoyed and worried.

"Well, it's like this, boss. I was scoutin' around, y'know, doing my duty, jus' like you told me to, though I wasn't getting much from the villagers, s'like they keep their lips buttoned tight lately, and some've them don't do anything but gossip an' worry about dumb things-"

Pedro trailed off as Chiron's brow furrowed in clear annoyance. "Brevity, Pedro."

The orange fairy got the hint. "R-right boss, sorry 'bout that. Anyhow, it just so happened that I ran into this other fairy, see-"

Chiron massaged his temples.

"And and…well…" Pedro grinned. "She thought I was just a random wanderer, and I got her trust, silly thing. A right tired mess she was, looked like she'd taken a bit of a harsh journey. Either way, she had a rather loose tongue. She told us some very interesting news, right before I got Rej here to take her prisoner so she wouldn't escape. News about what that Sword's doin' down in that village, among other things. Rej?"

The ghost nodded, and held forth his gleaming lantern, which seemed to be glowing unusually bright, considering the time of day. The Poe indicated that Chiron should look at the lantern more closely. Chiron did so.

Inside the casing, a golden-yellow fairy was madly thrumming her tiny fists against the glass, her mouth opened in a perfect horrified circle. Tiny gossamer wings beat helplessly like feathers against the smooth glass walls. By her actions, it was clear to see that she was screaming as loudly and frantically as she could, though no sound escaped from the swinging lantern.

"She knew it all, boss. About the Master Sword, where it was, and most importantly, about the person who is to wield it."

Chiron slowly allowed himself to smile. It seemed his luck was finally turning around.

-----

Whew. Seems like everyone's in a whole load of trouble. Things will definitely start picking up. How many more chapters of this story will there be? That…is a secret! giggles immaturely Well, I want to thank everyone for putting up with my long update times. I really do want to finish this story, but as you've heard from me billions of times before, a lot of work gets in the way. Until next time, stay cool! Oh, and this new edit feature before uploading = very cool. Remember, if you want to see random update news, you can go to for information!