CHAPTER 7 The Long And Winding Road
As the sun colored the sky bright red as it began to set, Prince Andrew was smiling quite broadly, as he had been throughout the day. "Stay and observe that building until she has returned!" He said giddily when he learned where Amber lived.
Lenard looked on with a stone face that hid his true emotions. I really hope he gets over this girl quickly. It is making him more annoying than he already is! Maybe I should just kill him right now and be over with it… He thought as his eyes began to glow.
Andrew turned around to look at Lenard and his eyes returned to normal. Seemingly satisfied he continued talking aloud. "I can't trust those men anymore with my life. At least I can trust you, although you are only an advisor and have no special skills to protect me…."
Lenard bowed slightly and took his leave. "No special powers indeed!" He muttered under his breath as he walked to his room. "I'll show that brat special powers." Lenard smirked evilly as he sat down at his desk to an open book with ornate wording and yellowed pages. "I should have known that Ganon would mess everything up. He always did, even from the beginning." He shook his head tiredly. "I guess if you want something done you have to do it yourself." He chuckled eerily as a thought came to his evil mind.
***
Amber winced as a sharp pain shot up her body from her leg as she stepped from the car. It had taken her the whole day to get that mystical blade, not to mention about three years of her life from the demon she fought. She sighed. She never wanted any of this, to loose half her body to cybernetics, to lose her aunt and uncle to Ganon, to have such a burden of protecting Hyrule, from what she didn't even know. That was what made her the maddest, to be given such a responsibility and not even know why. It made her want to scream as she looked at the Master Sword lying up against the passenger side seat. All this because she wanted to know who The Trezen was…..She began to wonder if it was even worth leaving Kakariko in the first place. She berated herself as soon as that thought ended. If she hadn't have come, she would have never met and fallen in love with Carl at all. She would still be a lonely teenager living with her aunt and uncle. Carl had given her a new life, a new hope. To live like a real person. She began to feel tears well up in her eyes. Dummy, don't cry. She told herself as Carl flooded her mind again as she gripped the cool steal of the Master Sword and began walking stiffly into the house.
Softly opening the door, she made her way through the kitchen, the Master Sword up against her shoulder, leaving a small impression in her skin. Looking around, she saw no-one and shrugged. She didn't care, at least she wouldn't get disturbed. As she began walking down the wooden stairs to the basement where her bed was, she started hearing tings and clanks of metal clanging together. "Oh, so they started building huh?" She asked aloud to herself. "Think I'll go and take a peek." She giggled as she turned and started to walk to Carl's room and down into the Pit.
***
Down in the Pit there was there was much activity. Engineers welding, and technicians setting up the software, others still bringing things down. And at the center of it were three Catalians. Darien was looking at the contents of a box as Jilleana was contemplating some numbers on a clipboard. Meanwhile, Mahrea was taking it all in. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the Pit elevator open up and a very ragged looking Amber step out.
"Hey Amber!" Mahrea called over all the noise, waving her hand in the air to the girl in the elevator. Amber let out a weak wave as she made her way over to the trio, narrowly missing a lab worker backing up with a sheet of glass.
"You know you should be more careful down here now Amber." Darien said with a slight frown. "There is a lot more expensive stuff down here now than before."
Amber looked over at the twins. "He knows about the Trezen armor too?"
"Aye," Darien nodded. "But don't worry, none of these workers will talk about where they are at. They gave me their word of honor."
"I have a better way of making sure they don't talk." Amber said flashing the Master Sword in front of them.
"Oh! Is that the Master Sword!?" Mahrea's eyes lit up.
Amber nodded. "Yep, came with a price though." She said pointing to her stitches on her leg and arm through her tattered clothing.
Jilleana let out a wince. "But a sword won't be much of an effective weapon in this day and age." Darien said with a skeptical look.
"This is no ordinary sword!" The twins shot back in unison with surprised faces from Darien's comment. "This is the legendary sword that saved Hyrule from evils untold of for centuries!" They continued in a nearly trance-like state. And it will be the savior of Hyrule once again in this child's hand."
Everyone around them stopped their activity and stared in silent awe. "Umm, are you two alright?" Amber asked cautiously as she took a step back from them.
Jilleana was the first to respond. "Yea what makes you ask?"
"You mean you don't remember what you just said?" Darien asked.
"Said about what?" Mahrea responded.
"About the Master Sword and Amber wielding-oh never mind." He rubbed his forehead wearily.
As Amber was looking around, she saw a few people setting a large metallic object over the lift of Thera and rushed over swinging her blade above her head and yelling at them to get the "Piece of metallic crap off of there before she beheaded them!" And, seeing a very angry woman swinging a very sharp sword at them they quickly complied. Amber watched them with a scowl as they lifted it up and placed it elsewhere in the Pit.
"And just why did you go into such a tirade at my colleagues?" Darien asked half laughing at their faces as Amber charged at them and half at anger for actually doing so.
"Eh?" Amber turned from watching the two move the box with a surprised look.
"Why did you go into such a tirade about them putting the box there?" Darien repeated strained.
"Oh! Uh, no reason, really…" Amber said as she paled a tad. "Looks like you are doing well down here." She continued quickly changing the subject from herself.
"Yep," Jilleana smiled at the thought of Carl coming back.
"I hope this works, I can't wait to see Carl again!" Mahrea said happily.
"It has to, for everyone's sake." Amber said darkly.
***
Late that night, after Darien and his workers have left Carl's compound, four black luxury sedans parked across the street. Moving swiftly across the street, they quickly picked the lock on the door. Stealthily, the men moved through the house searching their prey out. The blackness of the house helped them conceal themselves, but it also led them straight to her. Drawing out their firearms, the men began storming down the stairs into the basement workshop to find three very surprised teenaged girls.
"What the hell is this?!" Jilleana shouted as a barrel was pointed at her face.
"You better leave before we get angry!" Mahrea said pulling out Ether. She grit her teeth as one caught her off guard and slammed her onto the ground with the gun pressed against her forehead.
"Get of my sister you ass!" Jilleana rushed to her sister's aid and was put in a restraining hold by one of the other men.
"You are lucky that we are not using the authorized force allotted to us, for you would have been dead." The one with an assault rifle said as it was put in Amber's deadpan face.
"You have it all wrong." Amber said as she felt her body coiling up in preparation for action. "Now unhand my friends before you all get hurt."
"Not until you are safely with u-uung!!" Amber sprung forward like a cat and punched the man in the jaw. Amber leaped and grabbed onto the man's shoulders and used them as a catapult to launch herself feet first into the man behind him sending him sprawling to the floor. By this time, the two that were holding the twins started to rise and begin to make their way to Amber. She ducked under one's kick and grabbed onto his ankle and punched up, shattering his knee. As he rolled on the ground in pain, the other swung at her as hard as he could at Amber's face. Amber spun away from the strike and kicked the man in between the shoulder blades. The other five remaining where quickly dispatched by her as well.
As the assaulters lay on the ground, Amber calmly walked over to the Master Sword and picked it up. "I told you so." She frowned and pointed the blade against the neck of the man with the rifle. "Don't worry I didn't kill any of your men. Even though it is well with in my power which I'm sure you are well aware of, since you are Prince Andrew's men." The twins let out sounds of shock. "So," Amber pulled the blade away. "Shouldn't we be going now?"
"But Amber! you don't have to!" Jilleana said as the defeated men where starting to wake from their beatings.
"Well, technically I do, I am Sheikan after all." Amber winked as the men surrounded her and began to take her upstairs. "I can walk myself thank you!" Amber shouted as she shook off the grasp of one of them.
"Did you know that?" Mahrea asked her sister as the group left the basement.
"Nope. I doubt that anyone else did either." Jilleana said shaking her head.
***
The car ride was silent on the way back to the castle. Aside from the moaning of the man who had his kneecap shattered. "Stop complaining about it." Amber said testily. "It's your own fault. I told you to let go of them." The car stopped in front of the castle and the doors opened. The crippled guard was assisted out first and probably led away into another car that was heading for the nearest hospital.
Amber was led from a distance because the remaining guards were too frightened by her, until they reached a room and the door closed behind them. "We wait here."
Forty five minutes later, Amber was nearly falling asleep waiting for Andrew to make an appearance. As her eyes closed for the dozenth time the door opened once more and Prince Andrew stepped through. "Ah! How wonderful to see you again Amber." He said cordially. Amber looked up at him with tired eyes. "Well from the looks of things, I guess I shouldn't ask you how you are doing."
"I'm here, aren't I?"
"Yes, well. I am glad that you are here."
"Not that I had a choice…"
Prince Andrew continued with out paying her quip any heed. "I hope you know that I'm doing this for the betterment of our kingdom. Get some sleep, you will receive all your equipment tomorrow. Goodnight Amber." He winked before turning around and leaving the room. "Show the good lady to her new room."
A moment after Andrew left, Amber was led into a small room with a bed, computer, television, and closet. "Pretty basic, you think that I would get something a little better if I'm gonna be protecting the ruler of Hyrule, neh?" She asked to one of the royal guardsmen who escorted her to the room. He frowned and left, leaving Amber alone with her thoughts. But Amber never is really alone.
"So, now that we are here, what's next?" Kathy asked in her ear.
Amber flopped down on the bed with her arms outstretched. "I don't know. I guess just go with the flow."
"And what if the flow is something Andrew wants and not you?" Kathy replied. "If you slap him or shove him off there will be security personnel on you in less then a second."
"And I'll just beat them to a pulp." Amber said simply, drifting off into sleep.
***
Mahrea and Jilleana stood dumbstruck at the leaving group. "Ummm, what just happened?" Mahrea asked.
"Corrupted power." Jilleana sneered. "Andrew just had to have her I guess."
Kathy's image flashed on a nearby monitor. "She'll be fine." She smirked. "Although we have yet to see if poor Andrew will be able to handle her."
"Oh yes that should be very entertaining!" Mahrea laughed. "I can just see him sniffing that he isn't gonna get any from her."
"Real mature Mia." Marhea stuck out her tongue at her sister and was quickly pinched between Jilleana's fingers. "Ouch! Hey leth tho!" Mahrea said crossly.
"Only if you behave." Jilleana said as she led Mahrea about the room by her tongue.
"Othay, othay! I will! Juth let tho!" She said in pain.
Jilleana nodded and let go Mahrea wiggled her tongue to make sure it was still in working order. "Its late, lets go to bed." Jilleana said as she shook her head at her sister.
***
Amber awoke in her new bed the next morning in her new bed and laid there staring at the ceiling waiting for someone to come and get her. And waited. And waited. And waited. It wasn't until after Eleven o'clock when a palace guard banged on the door.
"Well, I guess that means that the All Mighty Prince has decided to take time out of his busy day to come for me." Amber said sarcastically. The guard banged on the door again. "Yea, yea I'm coming!" She shouted sitting up slowly and yawn. Opening the door, she was greeted by two dower looking men. "Can I help you?" Amber said as sickenly sweet as possible.
"Come with us." One said monotone. They began to walk. "And you can drop that sweet attitude, we know how you really are."
"I'm flattered." Amber responded taking on a deadpan face. "We're we goin'?" She looked up at the one on her left, the Master Sword softly patting against her hip.
"To the gardens." He answered. "You are to work out your working arrangements with the Prince. Naturally, they will be whatever he deems them to be." Amber gave a snort and the man looked down at her with eyes cold enough to freeze hell. "They will be whatever he deems them to be." He repeated.
Amber scowled at him, but kept her mouth shut. She wasn't going to roll over for Andrew, and she half expect him to know this already, so she might be-able to get what she wanted. And she wanted a lot.
They arrived at the gardens a short time later to find Andrew talking to Lenard along side a greening bronze statue of men with long swords held at the ready. She then noticed along with Tanya, three other women. They did not appear to be attendants of any kind, which got Amber thinking. Before she could come up with an answer, she was before Prince Andrew.
"Ah, good morning Miss. Hailee, how are you this morning?" Amber could see an evil smile come across Tanya's mouth.
"Quite fine." Amber said strained. "And you?" 'Ung, I hate doing this.' She thought to herself.
"The same." He smiled flirtingly. "Well, enough of the pleasantries, and down to business." Andrew said as he sat down on a marble bench in front of the statue. "You will live here in the castle, your room will be next to mine, your pay will be one hundred thousand rupees a year. Your other typical other benefits; dental, health,"
"Tune-ups." Tanya put in snidely.
Amber growled loudly and wished she had her thermal blade with her. "Tanya, silence." Lenard frowned and glanced over at Amber. His breath caught in his throat and his face bleached. Die VorlagencKlinge! He thought as his eyes rested on the Master Sword. Lenard took a step back and grit his teeth hard from shock and fear. "Wha-wha-what are you doing with that?!"
Everyone looked from Lenard to Amber in confusion. "What is your problem, Lenard?" Andrew asked, his eyebrow cocked.
Lenard quickly composed himself. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I do not know what came over me."
"Very well." Andrew turned back around to Amber. "As I was speaking before, you will also get a room right beside mine, fully furnished with everything you need."
Amber thought for a moment. "Sounds all well and good, but I have a few ideas of my own."
The guard that brought her to the Prince made a motion to take her away, but Andrew bid him back. "Very well, if I approve of them, then yes."
"First, I want hundred forty thousand rupees instead of one hundred; second, I want a month of vacation per year."
Andrew nodded. "I think we can work with that-"
"I'm not finished yet." Amber frowned. "I will be allowed to return to my house to visit my friends whenever I wish. Plus, I will have my own choice of armaments." She let her hand rest on the pommel of the Master Sword to emphasize her choice.
"Yes, yes, yes." Andrew said happily, whatever it took to keep his 'Saving Angel' here at the castle with him for as long as he wished. She might not be to receptive to him now, but that will change he said to himself.
"Amber, I'm starting to pick up energy readings." Kathy said in her ear. "There are ten in number and are all around."
"I don't see anything." Amber mouthed as she held the pen to the contract, quickly eyeing what she could with her head down. Her hand moved mindlessly across the paper as she signed her name. She blinked as she placed the golden pen down and stood back up. "I guess this makes me an employee of the Hyrulian Monarchy?"
Andrew nodded with a pleasant smile. "And you will need a uniform with your new job." Andrew motioned for one of the women to come forward. She nodded and stepped forward, carrying a garment bag which she opened revealing a black, skimpy leather outfit.
Lenard, Tonya, the two guards, and Amber's faces showed a mixture of surprise, question, and embarrassment. "I am not going to wear that!" Amber exclaimed with her face a very deep shade of red. Well, maybe for Carl, but that's it! She thought with a devilish grin.
"Amber, I've analyzed the energy signatures; they are the same as the stealth mobiles in Ganon Corp. Tower!"
Amber stiffened. "I thought that you couldn't sense them before." She mouthed just barely enough so the words could form.
"I couldn't before, they didn't register on my sensors, but now that they are in my memory banks, I can pick them up." Kathy said, annoyed.
Well, regardless of that, I think I better get Andrew out of here. Amber thought Not that I really care what happens to this horny idiot. She glanced at Andrew. But I have to keep this up until Carl comes back. "Could we continue this inside? The morning air is starting get show the signs of the on-coming fall."
"I couldn't agree more." Andrew replied. "It wasn't my idea to have it out here in the first place." He nodded over to Lenard. Amber could see him stiffening up in insult. "Why he wanted it, I'll never know."
As they began to walk back into the castle, Lenard interrupted them. "One moment, Your Majesty. Should we not drink on this occasion? After all, you won't have to worry about your life any longer now that she is here."
"Ah, the first good idea you have had this day, Lenard." Andrew said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Surely you can stand the crisp air for a few more minutes Amber?"
"I think you better get inside Amber," Kathy cautioned her in her ear. "The signatures have stopped moving."
Lenard poured four cups of warm wine and raised his to the Prince. "To the continued health for our leader." As he drank gun fire rang out in the calm morning, bullets piercing the guards' bodies, leaving them a mass of lead and flesh before they could even move. Amber grabbed the Prince by the collar and yanked him down to the ground as the bullets continued to fire. On the ground, Amber withdrew the Master Sword and looked frantically around. Andrew, enraged tried to stand up but was quickly yanked down again,
"What in the hell is wrong with you?!" Amber hissed angrily as Kathy transmitted coordinates of the stealth mobiles in her ear. They were getting closer. Great, how am I supposed to fight what I can't see?
"I am going to get that traitor!" Andrew frowned. More bullets flew in the air, cutting off the screams of the fleeing servant girls in death. Andrew had a second thought. "You are my body guard, you do something!" He commanded.
Amber narrowed her eyes as she heard Lenard laugh evilly as the guns became silent again. "Shit." She cursed as a bullet ricocheted off the marble fountain they were hiding behind. Her metallic arm suddenly flew out behind them and struck a metal object, her hand clasping onto wires and crushed circuit boards in her hand. The mobile suddenly materialized and fell lifeless to the ground.
"You're welcome." Kathy stated in her ear.
"You see what we are against here?!" Amber whispered to Andrew as numerous bullets hit the marble around them.
"But, you saved me before…" Andrew said as if he was a thousand miles away.
"Amber! They have surrounded you!" Kathy panicked in her ear. Amber looked around madly at the surrounding area, her heart pounding nearly out of her chest, but saw nothing. She looked on in terror as she heard the safeties on the guns release. I'm sorry Carl, I couldn't see you again. She thought helplessly as Andrew whimpered in fear at his impending death. As Amber closed her eyes awaiting to be struck down so young, brilliant flashes erupted all about, making Amber shield her clenched eyes from the brilliance. Blinking the tears from her eyes, she saw a number of men and women in purple and white garbs. Sheikah!! She thought amazed. How did?- Her thought was interrupted by a pair of intense violet eyes gazing at her.
"Brise!?" Amber said in amazement.
"No time to talk now, young one, we must get you out of here before the mobiles' sight has recovered!" She took her by the hand as two male Sheikah with veiled faces took hold of Andrew.
"Sheikah!!" Lenard screamed in surprise as he and Tonya were quickly surrounded by the masked warriors. He quickly regained his composure and frowned. Waving his hand with glowing eyes, the line of Sheikah melted into skeletons in a line of purple death.
Brise let out a Sheikan curse and quickly took out a hand full of deku nuts. "Ruckzug!! (Retreat)" She called out as she slammed the nuts down onto the ground setting off a wave of white light. Amber could hear the sound of an ocarina playing and felt herself being swept away through the air.
As Lenard worked the flash from his eyes, a large contingent of Royal Guardsman rushed into the gardens with automatic rifles pointed at him and Tonya. "Where is the Prince?!" The commander demanded after looking around for a moment.
Lenard laughed under his breath. "He is not here, for I am in charge now."
"You dare try and overthrow the Royal Family?!" The commander yelled. "Men, arrest Lenard and Tonya!" The Guardsman came forward and where cut down in a hail of gun fire from the invisible mobiles.
"Nice show, dear." Tonya said smirking at the numerous corpses feeding the grass with their congealing blood.
"Not bad for a morning's work." He said pouring a cup of wine for himself and Tanya. He gave it to her. "To the new Queen of Hyrule."
"To the new King of Hyrule."
***
As the twins and Darien were working down in the Pit, Amber's voice came statically in over the speakers by the monitors. "Hello……hello is anybody down there?!"
"Amber, is that you?!" Jilleana called back as she rushed over. "We can barely make you out! Where are you?"
"I'm safe now. I'm up in the Death…..Range with the Prince and…... Lenard, he…..with stealth mobiles and killed…. I think he's…over… I don't think…..safe there now, either seal off the…or head over to Emily's…………."
"Amber?, Amber?!" Jilleana repeated loudly at the blank monitors. "Damn it." Frustrated, she slammed her fist against the glass keyboard and shattered it, shards of glass slicing though her hand. She winced as she pulled it out, her sister coming over to her side.
"You and your temper!" Mahrea scolded wrapping her hand in a towel. "I bet that cost Carl a lot of money! That medallion of yours has made your temper worse you know that?"
"You girls better take a look at this!" Darien called, watching a monitor that received television waves.
"This is a channel five urgent news break. We have just received word from the castle that Prince Andrew has been killed. The Princess' advisor put out this rushed statement: 'The Prince was killed by the fugitive Ambrosia Hailee-who had been hired on as the Princes' personal guard after saving his life-at around eleven thirty this morning. Palace guards attempted to stop her but here killed by the fleeing Hailee. It is believed that Hailee was last spotted with these to women; Jilleana and Mahrea Delphei." Amber's mug shot from when she was arrested and pictures of the twins flashed on the screen with their vitals beneath. "All three should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. If you see any of these three contact the police department immediately."
"Ooooh, damn." Mahrea cursed horrified. "They are making us out as monsters!"
"We need to get out of here." Jilleana said as she watched Mahrea tend to her gash.
"I don't think that is an option now." Darien said with furrowed eyebrows. "I'm almost positive that they have police and military on their way here as we speak." He grabbed them both by the hands. "We have to get all the food and supplies down here as quick as we can." He explained as the elevator took them to Carl's room. "And don't forget any of your personal stuff! Purses, laptops, any mention that you are actually here right now needs to be hidden." Back and forth the trio ran from the kitchen to the lift to the Pit, carrying bags full of food. Mahrea grabbed all the laptops and her's and her sister's purses and bags and groaned in exertion from the weight of it all as she let the contents crash over the food.
"Don't drop things like that!" Jilleana scolded her from behind as she nudged her way in to the crowded elevator
"You try and carry all of this crap!" Mahrea pouted. You have the luxury of having handles on the bags, what do I get? Nothing!"
"Now, now you two," Darien said patting Jilleana on the top of her head. "Let's not be fighting now, ok?"
"Yes, Dad." Jilleana said, sticking out her tongue. As the doors closed and the lift started to descend into the ground beneath the gray structure, Jilleana looked down at the floor with a frown. She soon felt Darien's arm around her in an embrace.
"Don't worry Jill, everything will be okay." He said softly.
Jilleana shrugged. "I don't know, maybe." Darien looked down at her sadly as the elevator stopped.
Andrew looked out over the mountains with a deep frown. He still couldn't believe that his most trusted assistant had betrayed him so. The fire of his temper smothered the freezing mountain air that blew through him, for the most part. He shivered and wished it was summer again, not that it would have made much of a difference this high up. With a sigh he turned around and back into the entrance to the living quarters of the Sheikah. Going down a corridor he made his way to his temporary room. He called it that because it was only going to be a very short time until he got his throne and kingdom back. At least that is what he hoped. Of course it would be. His family had ruled the Kingdom of Hyrule for well over five thousand years and for at least the next five thousand he assured himself with a nod.
"I do not think that is a good idea Amber." Andrew heard Brise say as he walked past an intersecting hall. He quickly stepped back around the corner. "If Andrew found that out-" She stopped abruptly and looked in Andrew's direction. "We will continue this conversation later." She eyed where the Prince was again and turned around with Amber and started walking away. "How is your wound?"
"Better now that that doctor of yours sewed it up, again." Amber said with a barely noticeable limp as she pushed away the pain.
"How was he to know that you were going to pull that stuff you did at the castle?" They entered Brise's room and she shut the door. Andrew stood in the middle of the corridor with a scowl on his face.
"I still think that we should tell him." Amber said after the door shut.
"Mm mm." Brise replied with a shake of her head. "We tell him that, it will probably insult him to no end and try to get out of here and fall off one of the many cliffs. When the time is right, we will send him back down to Hyrule Castle Town and show everyone that he is still alive. That will cause enough of a stir to slip in and kill Lenard. If all goes to plan. Of course we need your friend alive once again. So we lie in wait, and hope that that twit out in the hall doesn't mess up the plan."
"He was listening?"
"Yes, which proves that you need training in your ancestor's ways instead of relying on technology alone." Brise tapped the small terminal in Amber's right ear.
"I beg your pardon!" Kathy said angrily in her ear, causing a wince from Amber.
"Come, you need to rest now. In a few days you shall learn what being a Sheikah really is."
***
Two days had passed since the take over of Lenard and Tanya of Hyrule. There was a national funeral for the 'deceased' ruler. It was closed casket of course, Lenard claiming that his face had been too disfigured from Amber's assassination to show to the public. As soon as the funeral had ended, Lenard sent word for the Chief of Police and informed him face to face that he and his police force were no longer needed.
"You can't be serious!" Chief Falle bellowed at Lenard as he faced the new Monarch of Hyrule. "Who will protect the city?!"
Lenard smiled, a smile that did not come to his eyes. "Why, the military, of course."
"The what?!" Falle shouted. "You're crazy!" He continued as he stormed out of the room. "Crazy! You will regret this Lenard!"
"I seriously doubt that." Lenard replied even toned as the doors closed.
Tanya chuckled as she stepped out from behind the chair. "My, he seemed distraught. What do you think that he meant by you will regret this?"
"Whatever he thinks, it won't go well for him."
During the two days, Jilleana had been working almost non stop on the device that would bring Carl back. Darien sighed at her from a distance as he finished welding a hinge onto the glass tank that would hold Carl's body until the regeneration was complete. He looked her over slowly as her shoulders slumped. He had been enamored by her from the beginning, but when they met she had been involved with Carl so he had to watch from afar. And now that Carl was gone she seemed even more intent on him. Even with Amber around all she thought about was Carl. Sure, he had tried to drop hints about his feelings for her, but she was so wrapped up in her work she hardly even noticed. If at all, he thought tiredly. The frantic pace that Jilleana had been working had taken a toll on him as well. Yes, he had been eating, but sleep was short and not very restful on hard metal floors, even with thick blankets to keep them off of the cold.
Time seemed to have stopped for Jilleana. Working so hard she had only eaten once after her, her sister, and Darien had taken refuge in the Pit. She rubbed her eyes as the figures on the screen became blurry. In truth the strain was starting to take its toll on her, no matter how hard she tried to fight it back. Maybe she should take a brake she thought as her shoulders slumped. It would only hinder her progress if she was too tired to do anything but look at the same line of figures over and over. Which she had been doing for some time now. Releasing another sigh she tossed the clipboard down on table, the corner of it pressing down a button. Jilleana turned as she heard her sister let out a yelp and saw her being raised off the ground. "Jump off it genius!" She yelled as a cross look appeared on her face.
Mahrea leapt from the raising metal at its half way point and turned her head, her eyes widening quickly. "Wh-what is that?" A suit of black armor rose and now stood lifelessly, supported by a lock that held onto it at its hips that was connected to the ground.
Jilleana stepped closer and narrowed her eyes. "Its missing it's left arm." She looked at her sister from the corner of her eye. "Who do we know that was missing an arm?"
Mahrea stared in awe at the armor for a moment before muttering out. "Amber….You mean it was her that took on that massive dinosaur thing?!"
"Hard to believe, but yes." Jilleana said, examining Thera closer. "Look at all the dings and dents. This has been in one helluva fight. Before the dinosaur."
"You think that she was there when Carl fought Ganon?"
"I'm certain of it. Kathy?"
Kathy's face winked to life on the monitors in the Pit. "Yes Jilleana."
"Do contact Amber. She has some explaining to do."
Kathy looked over at the powered armor. "Uh oh." She sweatdropped.
"Um, Amber." Kathy said in Amber's right ear.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Jill would like to speak to you."
"Uh, okay."
"Amber, can you hear me?"
"Yeah, what do you want? I'm right in the middle of something." She looked down at the bathwater which she was currently in.
"We found something down in the Pit."
"Oh? And what would that be?" Amber asked looking up at the ceiling.
"A black armor."
Amber's face bleached and her voice caught in her throat.
"With one arm."
It paled further.
"Any ideas on whose it could be?" Jilleana asked.
Amber could feel the smirk that played across Jilleana's face even though they were miles apart. "Uhh, uhh."
"You fought along with Carl didn't you? When he went against Ganon?"
Amber sighed. "Yea. I was there. Its how I lost my arm." She looked at the cold grey metal of her arm. "I tried to block Ganon's blade from coming down through Emily's body."
"And when were you planning on telling us this bit of information?"
Amber shrugged. "Never really crossed my mind."
Jilleana frowned and Mahrea snickered at her twin's reaction. "Can it get any colder up here?!"
Jilleana's eyebrow crooked. "Who was that?"
Amber rolled her eyes. "His 'Royal Highness'. I gotta go. I will contact you sometime soon." And with that she cut off communications to the Pit.
Amber dressed and left the bathroom and frowned at Prince Andrew. "Yes?"
Prince Andrew stood before her, rubbing his arms in an attempt to stay warmer. "Is there any place that is warmer here?! You seem to know these Sheikans, you must know a warmer place."
Amber's eyebrow twitched in aggravation. "I've only been here once before and that was only after getting this thing!" Amber said fingering the hilt of the Master Sword, wanting to see how easy it cuts through false royalty flesh but quickly shook those thoughts away.
Amber stiffened as she felt Brise's hand grasp her shoulder lightly. "Actually, we do have a place that will keep you warm enough for the time that you are with us Your Highness."
"Ah, finally, some cooperation!" Andrew said changing from brat to statesman faster than it took Amber to blink. "And where might this be, my gracious host?"
Brise led the pair down a long path covered in dirt and webs from lack of use. "We only use this during the harsh winter months." She explained as her torch burned away a spider web that hung a little to far from the stone ceiling. "But, since you are our ruler, I suppose we can let it slide."
"As well you should, with your Prince visiting you should make him as comfortable as possible." He looked over at Amber with a suggestive smile. Amber looked back at him with a frown and looked ahead at Brise. They came to a bright opening and stepped out into a beautiful valley.
A huge waterfall cascaded down into a lake surrounded by trees that set back against the valley with huge plumes of spray from the water crashing against the rocks below. The grass covered the entire ground with a blanket of emerald green, save for the paths of white rock that led to numerous small wooden houses. A windmill set motionless atop a hill that sat up behind the small village. Dozens of rope bridges crisscrossed the valley high above the floor. As Amber watched a pair of Shiekans walking across a near bridge she noticed that the sky shone not blue, but a golden color. "Is the sky golden from the color of the mountains?" Amber asked as they walked down a long flight of steps that alternated between rock and wood. Brise ignored her and kept walking. "Umm, helloooo." Amber said annoyed.
Brise turned and looked at her. Her face commanded Amber to still her mouth and she turned back around and stopped in front of the first house they came too. Opening the door yielded a plain room that continued around a corner and a ladder in front of them that went to the upstairs. The rough wooden floor had a long woven carpet that had faded to a pale and dirty green from years of use. The wall had a fire place with a large granite hearth surrounding it. "Around the corner is the kitchen." Brise said plainly. Your bed is up the ladder."
"There are certainly a lot of books in this house." Andrew commented running his finger along the binding of a row.
"This is my house. As the leader of the Shiekah, I must know all that I can to help my people continue to prosper."
"I am amazed that no-one has discovered this place before." Andrew said impressed. "With all the satellites and technology, this has remained undetected."
"It is our people's way not to be noticed, Your Highness." Brise bowed. "Amber and I will take our leave now."
"We will?" Amber questioned as Brise began exiting the house.
When the door shut, Brise began to walk again and turned toward the lake. "Why do you think I ignored you when you asked me about the sky?"
"Rudeness?" Amber replied.
Brise snorted. "Hardly. Surely you have heard of the legend where the Triforce sleeps?" They stepped to the shore of the small lake and the Sheikan ruler closed her violet eyes.
"In a Realm beyond sight,
The sky shines gold not blue.
There, the Triforce's might
Makes mortal dreams come true."
Amber stood by her for a moment in silence. "The sky, it's…." She looked up again. "It's golden."
"Correct." Brise nodded. "And also, did you not notice what the Prince said about not ever knowing of this place?"
"In a realm beyond sight…." As Amber finished those words, the Triforce on the back of her right hand began to glow. She let out a gasp of surprise as her gaze was drawn from her hand to a loud splashing sound.
As she looked up, a fountain of water began pushing up from the surface in the middle of the lake. Amber's eyes widened as she saw two golden triangles rotating slowly beside each other.
As the sun colored the sky bright red as it began to set, Prince Andrew was smiling quite broadly, as he had been throughout the day. "Stay and observe that building until she has returned!" He said giddily when he learned where Amber lived.
Lenard looked on with a stone face that hid his true emotions. I really hope he gets over this girl quickly. It is making him more annoying than he already is! Maybe I should just kill him right now and be over with it… He thought as his eyes began to glow.
Andrew turned around to look at Lenard and his eyes returned to normal. Seemingly satisfied he continued talking aloud. "I can't trust those men anymore with my life. At least I can trust you, although you are only an advisor and have no special skills to protect me…."
Lenard bowed slightly and took his leave. "No special powers indeed!" He muttered under his breath as he walked to his room. "I'll show that brat special powers." Lenard smirked evilly as he sat down at his desk to an open book with ornate wording and yellowed pages. "I should have known that Ganon would mess everything up. He always did, even from the beginning." He shook his head tiredly. "I guess if you want something done you have to do it yourself." He chuckled eerily as a thought came to his evil mind.
***
Amber winced as a sharp pain shot up her body from her leg as she stepped from the car. It had taken her the whole day to get that mystical blade, not to mention about three years of her life from the demon she fought. She sighed. She never wanted any of this, to loose half her body to cybernetics, to lose her aunt and uncle to Ganon, to have such a burden of protecting Hyrule, from what she didn't even know. That was what made her the maddest, to be given such a responsibility and not even know why. It made her want to scream as she looked at the Master Sword lying up against the passenger side seat. All this because she wanted to know who The Trezen was…..She began to wonder if it was even worth leaving Kakariko in the first place. She berated herself as soon as that thought ended. If she hadn't have come, she would have never met and fallen in love with Carl at all. She would still be a lonely teenager living with her aunt and uncle. Carl had given her a new life, a new hope. To live like a real person. She began to feel tears well up in her eyes. Dummy, don't cry. She told herself as Carl flooded her mind again as she gripped the cool steal of the Master Sword and began walking stiffly into the house.
Softly opening the door, she made her way through the kitchen, the Master Sword up against her shoulder, leaving a small impression in her skin. Looking around, she saw no-one and shrugged. She didn't care, at least she wouldn't get disturbed. As she began walking down the wooden stairs to the basement where her bed was, she started hearing tings and clanks of metal clanging together. "Oh, so they started building huh?" She asked aloud to herself. "Think I'll go and take a peek." She giggled as she turned and started to walk to Carl's room and down into the Pit.
***
Down in the Pit there was there was much activity. Engineers welding, and technicians setting up the software, others still bringing things down. And at the center of it were three Catalians. Darien was looking at the contents of a box as Jilleana was contemplating some numbers on a clipboard. Meanwhile, Mahrea was taking it all in. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the Pit elevator open up and a very ragged looking Amber step out.
"Hey Amber!" Mahrea called over all the noise, waving her hand in the air to the girl in the elevator. Amber let out a weak wave as she made her way over to the trio, narrowly missing a lab worker backing up with a sheet of glass.
"You know you should be more careful down here now Amber." Darien said with a slight frown. "There is a lot more expensive stuff down here now than before."
Amber looked over at the twins. "He knows about the Trezen armor too?"
"Aye," Darien nodded. "But don't worry, none of these workers will talk about where they are at. They gave me their word of honor."
"I have a better way of making sure they don't talk." Amber said flashing the Master Sword in front of them.
"Oh! Is that the Master Sword!?" Mahrea's eyes lit up.
Amber nodded. "Yep, came with a price though." She said pointing to her stitches on her leg and arm through her tattered clothing.
Jilleana let out a wince. "But a sword won't be much of an effective weapon in this day and age." Darien said with a skeptical look.
"This is no ordinary sword!" The twins shot back in unison with surprised faces from Darien's comment. "This is the legendary sword that saved Hyrule from evils untold of for centuries!" They continued in a nearly trance-like state. And it will be the savior of Hyrule once again in this child's hand."
Everyone around them stopped their activity and stared in silent awe. "Umm, are you two alright?" Amber asked cautiously as she took a step back from them.
Jilleana was the first to respond. "Yea what makes you ask?"
"You mean you don't remember what you just said?" Darien asked.
"Said about what?" Mahrea responded.
"About the Master Sword and Amber wielding-oh never mind." He rubbed his forehead wearily.
As Amber was looking around, she saw a few people setting a large metallic object over the lift of Thera and rushed over swinging her blade above her head and yelling at them to get the "Piece of metallic crap off of there before she beheaded them!" And, seeing a very angry woman swinging a very sharp sword at them they quickly complied. Amber watched them with a scowl as they lifted it up and placed it elsewhere in the Pit.
"And just why did you go into such a tirade at my colleagues?" Darien asked half laughing at their faces as Amber charged at them and half at anger for actually doing so.
"Eh?" Amber turned from watching the two move the box with a surprised look.
"Why did you go into such a tirade about them putting the box there?" Darien repeated strained.
"Oh! Uh, no reason, really…" Amber said as she paled a tad. "Looks like you are doing well down here." She continued quickly changing the subject from herself.
"Yep," Jilleana smiled at the thought of Carl coming back.
"I hope this works, I can't wait to see Carl again!" Mahrea said happily.
"It has to, for everyone's sake." Amber said darkly.
***
Late that night, after Darien and his workers have left Carl's compound, four black luxury sedans parked across the street. Moving swiftly across the street, they quickly picked the lock on the door. Stealthily, the men moved through the house searching their prey out. The blackness of the house helped them conceal themselves, but it also led them straight to her. Drawing out their firearms, the men began storming down the stairs into the basement workshop to find three very surprised teenaged girls.
"What the hell is this?!" Jilleana shouted as a barrel was pointed at her face.
"You better leave before we get angry!" Mahrea said pulling out Ether. She grit her teeth as one caught her off guard and slammed her onto the ground with the gun pressed against her forehead.
"Get of my sister you ass!" Jilleana rushed to her sister's aid and was put in a restraining hold by one of the other men.
"You are lucky that we are not using the authorized force allotted to us, for you would have been dead." The one with an assault rifle said as it was put in Amber's deadpan face.
"You have it all wrong." Amber said as she felt her body coiling up in preparation for action. "Now unhand my friends before you all get hurt."
"Not until you are safely with u-uung!!" Amber sprung forward like a cat and punched the man in the jaw. Amber leaped and grabbed onto the man's shoulders and used them as a catapult to launch herself feet first into the man behind him sending him sprawling to the floor. By this time, the two that were holding the twins started to rise and begin to make their way to Amber. She ducked under one's kick and grabbed onto his ankle and punched up, shattering his knee. As he rolled on the ground in pain, the other swung at her as hard as he could at Amber's face. Amber spun away from the strike and kicked the man in between the shoulder blades. The other five remaining where quickly dispatched by her as well.
As the assaulters lay on the ground, Amber calmly walked over to the Master Sword and picked it up. "I told you so." She frowned and pointed the blade against the neck of the man with the rifle. "Don't worry I didn't kill any of your men. Even though it is well with in my power which I'm sure you are well aware of, since you are Prince Andrew's men." The twins let out sounds of shock. "So," Amber pulled the blade away. "Shouldn't we be going now?"
"But Amber! you don't have to!" Jilleana said as the defeated men where starting to wake from their beatings.
"Well, technically I do, I am Sheikan after all." Amber winked as the men surrounded her and began to take her upstairs. "I can walk myself thank you!" Amber shouted as she shook off the grasp of one of them.
"Did you know that?" Mahrea asked her sister as the group left the basement.
"Nope. I doubt that anyone else did either." Jilleana said shaking her head.
***
The car ride was silent on the way back to the castle. Aside from the moaning of the man who had his kneecap shattered. "Stop complaining about it." Amber said testily. "It's your own fault. I told you to let go of them." The car stopped in front of the castle and the doors opened. The crippled guard was assisted out first and probably led away into another car that was heading for the nearest hospital.
Amber was led from a distance because the remaining guards were too frightened by her, until they reached a room and the door closed behind them. "We wait here."
Forty five minutes later, Amber was nearly falling asleep waiting for Andrew to make an appearance. As her eyes closed for the dozenth time the door opened once more and Prince Andrew stepped through. "Ah! How wonderful to see you again Amber." He said cordially. Amber looked up at him with tired eyes. "Well from the looks of things, I guess I shouldn't ask you how you are doing."
"I'm here, aren't I?"
"Yes, well. I am glad that you are here."
"Not that I had a choice…"
Prince Andrew continued with out paying her quip any heed. "I hope you know that I'm doing this for the betterment of our kingdom. Get some sleep, you will receive all your equipment tomorrow. Goodnight Amber." He winked before turning around and leaving the room. "Show the good lady to her new room."
A moment after Andrew left, Amber was led into a small room with a bed, computer, television, and closet. "Pretty basic, you think that I would get something a little better if I'm gonna be protecting the ruler of Hyrule, neh?" She asked to one of the royal guardsmen who escorted her to the room. He frowned and left, leaving Amber alone with her thoughts. But Amber never is really alone.
"So, now that we are here, what's next?" Kathy asked in her ear.
Amber flopped down on the bed with her arms outstretched. "I don't know. I guess just go with the flow."
"And what if the flow is something Andrew wants and not you?" Kathy replied. "If you slap him or shove him off there will be security personnel on you in less then a second."
"And I'll just beat them to a pulp." Amber said simply, drifting off into sleep.
***
Mahrea and Jilleana stood dumbstruck at the leaving group. "Ummm, what just happened?" Mahrea asked.
"Corrupted power." Jilleana sneered. "Andrew just had to have her I guess."
Kathy's image flashed on a nearby monitor. "She'll be fine." She smirked. "Although we have yet to see if poor Andrew will be able to handle her."
"Oh yes that should be very entertaining!" Mahrea laughed. "I can just see him sniffing that he isn't gonna get any from her."
"Real mature Mia." Marhea stuck out her tongue at her sister and was quickly pinched between Jilleana's fingers. "Ouch! Hey leth tho!" Mahrea said crossly.
"Only if you behave." Jilleana said as she led Mahrea about the room by her tongue.
"Othay, othay! I will! Juth let tho!" She said in pain.
Jilleana nodded and let go Mahrea wiggled her tongue to make sure it was still in working order. "Its late, lets go to bed." Jilleana said as she shook her head at her sister.
***
Amber awoke in her new bed the next morning in her new bed and laid there staring at the ceiling waiting for someone to come and get her. And waited. And waited. And waited. It wasn't until after Eleven o'clock when a palace guard banged on the door.
"Well, I guess that means that the All Mighty Prince has decided to take time out of his busy day to come for me." Amber said sarcastically. The guard banged on the door again. "Yea, yea I'm coming!" She shouted sitting up slowly and yawn. Opening the door, she was greeted by two dower looking men. "Can I help you?" Amber said as sickenly sweet as possible.
"Come with us." One said monotone. They began to walk. "And you can drop that sweet attitude, we know how you really are."
"I'm flattered." Amber responded taking on a deadpan face. "We're we goin'?" She looked up at the one on her left, the Master Sword softly patting against her hip.
"To the gardens." He answered. "You are to work out your working arrangements with the Prince. Naturally, they will be whatever he deems them to be." Amber gave a snort and the man looked down at her with eyes cold enough to freeze hell. "They will be whatever he deems them to be." He repeated.
Amber scowled at him, but kept her mouth shut. She wasn't going to roll over for Andrew, and she half expect him to know this already, so she might be-able to get what she wanted. And she wanted a lot.
They arrived at the gardens a short time later to find Andrew talking to Lenard along side a greening bronze statue of men with long swords held at the ready. She then noticed along with Tanya, three other women. They did not appear to be attendants of any kind, which got Amber thinking. Before she could come up with an answer, she was before Prince Andrew.
"Ah, good morning Miss. Hailee, how are you this morning?" Amber could see an evil smile come across Tanya's mouth.
"Quite fine." Amber said strained. "And you?" 'Ung, I hate doing this.' She thought to herself.
"The same." He smiled flirtingly. "Well, enough of the pleasantries, and down to business." Andrew said as he sat down on a marble bench in front of the statue. "You will live here in the castle, your room will be next to mine, your pay will be one hundred thousand rupees a year. Your other typical other benefits; dental, health,"
"Tune-ups." Tanya put in snidely.
Amber growled loudly and wished she had her thermal blade with her. "Tanya, silence." Lenard frowned and glanced over at Amber. His breath caught in his throat and his face bleached. Die VorlagencKlinge! He thought as his eyes rested on the Master Sword. Lenard took a step back and grit his teeth hard from shock and fear. "Wha-wha-what are you doing with that?!"
Everyone looked from Lenard to Amber in confusion. "What is your problem, Lenard?" Andrew asked, his eyebrow cocked.
Lenard quickly composed himself. "I'm sorry, Your Highness. I do not know what came over me."
"Very well." Andrew turned back around to Amber. "As I was speaking before, you will also get a room right beside mine, fully furnished with everything you need."
Amber thought for a moment. "Sounds all well and good, but I have a few ideas of my own."
The guard that brought her to the Prince made a motion to take her away, but Andrew bid him back. "Very well, if I approve of them, then yes."
"First, I want hundred forty thousand rupees instead of one hundred; second, I want a month of vacation per year."
Andrew nodded. "I think we can work with that-"
"I'm not finished yet." Amber frowned. "I will be allowed to return to my house to visit my friends whenever I wish. Plus, I will have my own choice of armaments." She let her hand rest on the pommel of the Master Sword to emphasize her choice.
"Yes, yes, yes." Andrew said happily, whatever it took to keep his 'Saving Angel' here at the castle with him for as long as he wished. She might not be to receptive to him now, but that will change he said to himself.
"Amber, I'm starting to pick up energy readings." Kathy said in her ear. "There are ten in number and are all around."
"I don't see anything." Amber mouthed as she held the pen to the contract, quickly eyeing what she could with her head down. Her hand moved mindlessly across the paper as she signed her name. She blinked as she placed the golden pen down and stood back up. "I guess this makes me an employee of the Hyrulian Monarchy?"
Andrew nodded with a pleasant smile. "And you will need a uniform with your new job." Andrew motioned for one of the women to come forward. She nodded and stepped forward, carrying a garment bag which she opened revealing a black, skimpy leather outfit.
Lenard, Tonya, the two guards, and Amber's faces showed a mixture of surprise, question, and embarrassment. "I am not going to wear that!" Amber exclaimed with her face a very deep shade of red. Well, maybe for Carl, but that's it! She thought with a devilish grin.
"Amber, I've analyzed the energy signatures; they are the same as the stealth mobiles in Ganon Corp. Tower!"
Amber stiffened. "I thought that you couldn't sense them before." She mouthed just barely enough so the words could form.
"I couldn't before, they didn't register on my sensors, but now that they are in my memory banks, I can pick them up." Kathy said, annoyed.
Well, regardless of that, I think I better get Andrew out of here. Amber thought Not that I really care what happens to this horny idiot. She glanced at Andrew. But I have to keep this up until Carl comes back. "Could we continue this inside? The morning air is starting get show the signs of the on-coming fall."
"I couldn't agree more." Andrew replied. "It wasn't my idea to have it out here in the first place." He nodded over to Lenard. Amber could see him stiffening up in insult. "Why he wanted it, I'll never know."
As they began to walk back into the castle, Lenard interrupted them. "One moment, Your Majesty. Should we not drink on this occasion? After all, you won't have to worry about your life any longer now that she is here."
"Ah, the first good idea you have had this day, Lenard." Andrew said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Surely you can stand the crisp air for a few more minutes Amber?"
"I think you better get inside Amber," Kathy cautioned her in her ear. "The signatures have stopped moving."
Lenard poured four cups of warm wine and raised his to the Prince. "To the continued health for our leader." As he drank gun fire rang out in the calm morning, bullets piercing the guards' bodies, leaving them a mass of lead and flesh before they could even move. Amber grabbed the Prince by the collar and yanked him down to the ground as the bullets continued to fire. On the ground, Amber withdrew the Master Sword and looked frantically around. Andrew, enraged tried to stand up but was quickly yanked down again,
"What in the hell is wrong with you?!" Amber hissed angrily as Kathy transmitted coordinates of the stealth mobiles in her ear. They were getting closer. Great, how am I supposed to fight what I can't see?
"I am going to get that traitor!" Andrew frowned. More bullets flew in the air, cutting off the screams of the fleeing servant girls in death. Andrew had a second thought. "You are my body guard, you do something!" He commanded.
Amber narrowed her eyes as she heard Lenard laugh evilly as the guns became silent again. "Shit." She cursed as a bullet ricocheted off the marble fountain they were hiding behind. Her metallic arm suddenly flew out behind them and struck a metal object, her hand clasping onto wires and crushed circuit boards in her hand. The mobile suddenly materialized and fell lifeless to the ground.
"You're welcome." Kathy stated in her ear.
"You see what we are against here?!" Amber whispered to Andrew as numerous bullets hit the marble around them.
"But, you saved me before…" Andrew said as if he was a thousand miles away.
"Amber! They have surrounded you!" Kathy panicked in her ear. Amber looked around madly at the surrounding area, her heart pounding nearly out of her chest, but saw nothing. She looked on in terror as she heard the safeties on the guns release. I'm sorry Carl, I couldn't see you again. She thought helplessly as Andrew whimpered in fear at his impending death. As Amber closed her eyes awaiting to be struck down so young, brilliant flashes erupted all about, making Amber shield her clenched eyes from the brilliance. Blinking the tears from her eyes, she saw a number of men and women in purple and white garbs. Sheikah!! She thought amazed. How did?- Her thought was interrupted by a pair of intense violet eyes gazing at her.
"Brise!?" Amber said in amazement.
"No time to talk now, young one, we must get you out of here before the mobiles' sight has recovered!" She took her by the hand as two male Sheikah with veiled faces took hold of Andrew.
"Sheikah!!" Lenard screamed in surprise as he and Tonya were quickly surrounded by the masked warriors. He quickly regained his composure and frowned. Waving his hand with glowing eyes, the line of Sheikah melted into skeletons in a line of purple death.
Brise let out a Sheikan curse and quickly took out a hand full of deku nuts. "Ruckzug!! (Retreat)" She called out as she slammed the nuts down onto the ground setting off a wave of white light. Amber could hear the sound of an ocarina playing and felt herself being swept away through the air.
As Lenard worked the flash from his eyes, a large contingent of Royal Guardsman rushed into the gardens with automatic rifles pointed at him and Tonya. "Where is the Prince?!" The commander demanded after looking around for a moment.
Lenard laughed under his breath. "He is not here, for I am in charge now."
"You dare try and overthrow the Royal Family?!" The commander yelled. "Men, arrest Lenard and Tonya!" The Guardsman came forward and where cut down in a hail of gun fire from the invisible mobiles.
"Nice show, dear." Tonya said smirking at the numerous corpses feeding the grass with their congealing blood.
"Not bad for a morning's work." He said pouring a cup of wine for himself and Tanya. He gave it to her. "To the new Queen of Hyrule."
"To the new King of Hyrule."
***
As the twins and Darien were working down in the Pit, Amber's voice came statically in over the speakers by the monitors. "Hello……hello is anybody down there?!"
"Amber, is that you?!" Jilleana called back as she rushed over. "We can barely make you out! Where are you?"
"I'm safe now. I'm up in the Death…..Range with the Prince and…... Lenard, he…..with stealth mobiles and killed…. I think he's…over… I don't think…..safe there now, either seal off the…or head over to Emily's…………."
"Amber?, Amber?!" Jilleana repeated loudly at the blank monitors. "Damn it." Frustrated, she slammed her fist against the glass keyboard and shattered it, shards of glass slicing though her hand. She winced as she pulled it out, her sister coming over to her side.
"You and your temper!" Mahrea scolded wrapping her hand in a towel. "I bet that cost Carl a lot of money! That medallion of yours has made your temper worse you know that?"
"You girls better take a look at this!" Darien called, watching a monitor that received television waves.
"This is a channel five urgent news break. We have just received word from the castle that Prince Andrew has been killed. The Princess' advisor put out this rushed statement: 'The Prince was killed by the fugitive Ambrosia Hailee-who had been hired on as the Princes' personal guard after saving his life-at around eleven thirty this morning. Palace guards attempted to stop her but here killed by the fleeing Hailee. It is believed that Hailee was last spotted with these to women; Jilleana and Mahrea Delphei." Amber's mug shot from when she was arrested and pictures of the twins flashed on the screen with their vitals beneath. "All three should be considered armed and extremely dangerous. If you see any of these three contact the police department immediately."
"Ooooh, damn." Mahrea cursed horrified. "They are making us out as monsters!"
"We need to get out of here." Jilleana said as she watched Mahrea tend to her gash.
"I don't think that is an option now." Darien said with furrowed eyebrows. "I'm almost positive that they have police and military on their way here as we speak." He grabbed them both by the hands. "We have to get all the food and supplies down here as quick as we can." He explained as the elevator took them to Carl's room. "And don't forget any of your personal stuff! Purses, laptops, any mention that you are actually here right now needs to be hidden." Back and forth the trio ran from the kitchen to the lift to the Pit, carrying bags full of food. Mahrea grabbed all the laptops and her's and her sister's purses and bags and groaned in exertion from the weight of it all as she let the contents crash over the food.
"Don't drop things like that!" Jilleana scolded her from behind as she nudged her way in to the crowded elevator
"You try and carry all of this crap!" Mahrea pouted. You have the luxury of having handles on the bags, what do I get? Nothing!"
"Now, now you two," Darien said patting Jilleana on the top of her head. "Let's not be fighting now, ok?"
"Yes, Dad." Jilleana said, sticking out her tongue. As the doors closed and the lift started to descend into the ground beneath the gray structure, Jilleana looked down at the floor with a frown. She soon felt Darien's arm around her in an embrace.
"Don't worry Jill, everything will be okay." He said softly.
Jilleana shrugged. "I don't know, maybe." Darien looked down at her sadly as the elevator stopped.
Andrew looked out over the mountains with a deep frown. He still couldn't believe that his most trusted assistant had betrayed him so. The fire of his temper smothered the freezing mountain air that blew through him, for the most part. He shivered and wished it was summer again, not that it would have made much of a difference this high up. With a sigh he turned around and back into the entrance to the living quarters of the Sheikah. Going down a corridor he made his way to his temporary room. He called it that because it was only going to be a very short time until he got his throne and kingdom back. At least that is what he hoped. Of course it would be. His family had ruled the Kingdom of Hyrule for well over five thousand years and for at least the next five thousand he assured himself with a nod.
"I do not think that is a good idea Amber." Andrew heard Brise say as he walked past an intersecting hall. He quickly stepped back around the corner. "If Andrew found that out-" She stopped abruptly and looked in Andrew's direction. "We will continue this conversation later." She eyed where the Prince was again and turned around with Amber and started walking away. "How is your wound?"
"Better now that that doctor of yours sewed it up, again." Amber said with a barely noticeable limp as she pushed away the pain.
"How was he to know that you were going to pull that stuff you did at the castle?" They entered Brise's room and she shut the door. Andrew stood in the middle of the corridor with a scowl on his face.
"I still think that we should tell him." Amber said after the door shut.
"Mm mm." Brise replied with a shake of her head. "We tell him that, it will probably insult him to no end and try to get out of here and fall off one of the many cliffs. When the time is right, we will send him back down to Hyrule Castle Town and show everyone that he is still alive. That will cause enough of a stir to slip in and kill Lenard. If all goes to plan. Of course we need your friend alive once again. So we lie in wait, and hope that that twit out in the hall doesn't mess up the plan."
"He was listening?"
"Yes, which proves that you need training in your ancestor's ways instead of relying on technology alone." Brise tapped the small terminal in Amber's right ear.
"I beg your pardon!" Kathy said angrily in her ear, causing a wince from Amber.
"Come, you need to rest now. In a few days you shall learn what being a Sheikah really is."
***
Two days had passed since the take over of Lenard and Tanya of Hyrule. There was a national funeral for the 'deceased' ruler. It was closed casket of course, Lenard claiming that his face had been too disfigured from Amber's assassination to show to the public. As soon as the funeral had ended, Lenard sent word for the Chief of Police and informed him face to face that he and his police force were no longer needed.
"You can't be serious!" Chief Falle bellowed at Lenard as he faced the new Monarch of Hyrule. "Who will protect the city?!"
Lenard smiled, a smile that did not come to his eyes. "Why, the military, of course."
"The what?!" Falle shouted. "You're crazy!" He continued as he stormed out of the room. "Crazy! You will regret this Lenard!"
"I seriously doubt that." Lenard replied even toned as the doors closed.
Tanya chuckled as she stepped out from behind the chair. "My, he seemed distraught. What do you think that he meant by you will regret this?"
"Whatever he thinks, it won't go well for him."
During the two days, Jilleana had been working almost non stop on the device that would bring Carl back. Darien sighed at her from a distance as he finished welding a hinge onto the glass tank that would hold Carl's body until the regeneration was complete. He looked her over slowly as her shoulders slumped. He had been enamored by her from the beginning, but when they met she had been involved with Carl so he had to watch from afar. And now that Carl was gone she seemed even more intent on him. Even with Amber around all she thought about was Carl. Sure, he had tried to drop hints about his feelings for her, but she was so wrapped up in her work she hardly even noticed. If at all, he thought tiredly. The frantic pace that Jilleana had been working had taken a toll on him as well. Yes, he had been eating, but sleep was short and not very restful on hard metal floors, even with thick blankets to keep them off of the cold.
Time seemed to have stopped for Jilleana. Working so hard she had only eaten once after her, her sister, and Darien had taken refuge in the Pit. She rubbed her eyes as the figures on the screen became blurry. In truth the strain was starting to take its toll on her, no matter how hard she tried to fight it back. Maybe she should take a brake she thought as her shoulders slumped. It would only hinder her progress if she was too tired to do anything but look at the same line of figures over and over. Which she had been doing for some time now. Releasing another sigh she tossed the clipboard down on table, the corner of it pressing down a button. Jilleana turned as she heard her sister let out a yelp and saw her being raised off the ground. "Jump off it genius!" She yelled as a cross look appeared on her face.
Mahrea leapt from the raising metal at its half way point and turned her head, her eyes widening quickly. "Wh-what is that?" A suit of black armor rose and now stood lifelessly, supported by a lock that held onto it at its hips that was connected to the ground.
Jilleana stepped closer and narrowed her eyes. "Its missing it's left arm." She looked at her sister from the corner of her eye. "Who do we know that was missing an arm?"
Mahrea stared in awe at the armor for a moment before muttering out. "Amber….You mean it was her that took on that massive dinosaur thing?!"
"Hard to believe, but yes." Jilleana said, examining Thera closer. "Look at all the dings and dents. This has been in one helluva fight. Before the dinosaur."
"You think that she was there when Carl fought Ganon?"
"I'm certain of it. Kathy?"
Kathy's face winked to life on the monitors in the Pit. "Yes Jilleana."
"Do contact Amber. She has some explaining to do."
Kathy looked over at the powered armor. "Uh oh." She sweatdropped.
"Um, Amber." Kathy said in Amber's right ear.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Jill would like to speak to you."
"Uh, okay."
"Amber, can you hear me?"
"Yeah, what do you want? I'm right in the middle of something." She looked down at the bathwater which she was currently in.
"We found something down in the Pit."
"Oh? And what would that be?" Amber asked looking up at the ceiling.
"A black armor."
Amber's face bleached and her voice caught in her throat.
"With one arm."
It paled further.
"Any ideas on whose it could be?" Jilleana asked.
Amber could feel the smirk that played across Jilleana's face even though they were miles apart. "Uhh, uhh."
"You fought along with Carl didn't you? When he went against Ganon?"
Amber sighed. "Yea. I was there. Its how I lost my arm." She looked at the cold grey metal of her arm. "I tried to block Ganon's blade from coming down through Emily's body."
"And when were you planning on telling us this bit of information?"
Amber shrugged. "Never really crossed my mind."
Jilleana frowned and Mahrea snickered at her twin's reaction. "Can it get any colder up here?!"
Jilleana's eyebrow crooked. "Who was that?"
Amber rolled her eyes. "His 'Royal Highness'. I gotta go. I will contact you sometime soon." And with that she cut off communications to the Pit.
Amber dressed and left the bathroom and frowned at Prince Andrew. "Yes?"
Prince Andrew stood before her, rubbing his arms in an attempt to stay warmer. "Is there any place that is warmer here?! You seem to know these Sheikans, you must know a warmer place."
Amber's eyebrow twitched in aggravation. "I've only been here once before and that was only after getting this thing!" Amber said fingering the hilt of the Master Sword, wanting to see how easy it cuts through false royalty flesh but quickly shook those thoughts away.
Amber stiffened as she felt Brise's hand grasp her shoulder lightly. "Actually, we do have a place that will keep you warm enough for the time that you are with us Your Highness."
"Ah, finally, some cooperation!" Andrew said changing from brat to statesman faster than it took Amber to blink. "And where might this be, my gracious host?"
Brise led the pair down a long path covered in dirt and webs from lack of use. "We only use this during the harsh winter months." She explained as her torch burned away a spider web that hung a little to far from the stone ceiling. "But, since you are our ruler, I suppose we can let it slide."
"As well you should, with your Prince visiting you should make him as comfortable as possible." He looked over at Amber with a suggestive smile. Amber looked back at him with a frown and looked ahead at Brise. They came to a bright opening and stepped out into a beautiful valley.
A huge waterfall cascaded down into a lake surrounded by trees that set back against the valley with huge plumes of spray from the water crashing against the rocks below. The grass covered the entire ground with a blanket of emerald green, save for the paths of white rock that led to numerous small wooden houses. A windmill set motionless atop a hill that sat up behind the small village. Dozens of rope bridges crisscrossed the valley high above the floor. As Amber watched a pair of Shiekans walking across a near bridge she noticed that the sky shone not blue, but a golden color. "Is the sky golden from the color of the mountains?" Amber asked as they walked down a long flight of steps that alternated between rock and wood. Brise ignored her and kept walking. "Umm, helloooo." Amber said annoyed.
Brise turned and looked at her. Her face commanded Amber to still her mouth and she turned back around and stopped in front of the first house they came too. Opening the door yielded a plain room that continued around a corner and a ladder in front of them that went to the upstairs. The rough wooden floor had a long woven carpet that had faded to a pale and dirty green from years of use. The wall had a fire place with a large granite hearth surrounding it. "Around the corner is the kitchen." Brise said plainly. Your bed is up the ladder."
"There are certainly a lot of books in this house." Andrew commented running his finger along the binding of a row.
"This is my house. As the leader of the Shiekah, I must know all that I can to help my people continue to prosper."
"I am amazed that no-one has discovered this place before." Andrew said impressed. "With all the satellites and technology, this has remained undetected."
"It is our people's way not to be noticed, Your Highness." Brise bowed. "Amber and I will take our leave now."
"We will?" Amber questioned as Brise began exiting the house.
When the door shut, Brise began to walk again and turned toward the lake. "Why do you think I ignored you when you asked me about the sky?"
"Rudeness?" Amber replied.
Brise snorted. "Hardly. Surely you have heard of the legend where the Triforce sleeps?" They stepped to the shore of the small lake and the Sheikan ruler closed her violet eyes.
"In a Realm beyond sight,
The sky shines gold not blue.
There, the Triforce's might
Makes mortal dreams come true."
Amber stood by her for a moment in silence. "The sky, it's…." She looked up again. "It's golden."
"Correct." Brise nodded. "And also, did you not notice what the Prince said about not ever knowing of this place?"
"In a realm beyond sight…." As Amber finished those words, the Triforce on the back of her right hand began to glow. She let out a gasp of surprise as her gaze was drawn from her hand to a loud splashing sound.
As she looked up, a fountain of water began pushing up from the surface in the middle of the lake. Amber's eyes widened as she saw two golden triangles rotating slowly beside each other.
