A/N: I'm BAAAAACK!!!!

Link: Oh great...

SSG: (baps me) WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?

Ouch! At school!

SSG: ...Oh... XD

Yeah, sorry for the dry spell. But anyways, here's chappie seven! YAY!!

Rise of the Heroine of Time: Chapter 7: Comforts and Escape

And that was the end of the Battle of Peace. Hyrule had won, but no one seemed to care, for what's it worth when the princess was held captive in the enemy territory? Any rescue party sent in to save her never came back. There was nothing anyone could do but hope Florence would be safe.

Both parents were deeply depressed by the grim outlook of things. Zelda sought counsel in her old attendant, Impa, but Link left the castle grounds to seek comfort in older friends. In a quiet part of the forest, near a gently flowing creek, he sat with Saria, Malon, and her younger daughter, Lalon, who was the very image of the ranch woman's childhood.

"Link, I'm so sorry about this..." Saria sighed. "You must feel terrible..."

Link deeply sighed, staring at the smooth water broken by only a few lily pads. "I-I want to go in there and save her so badly... But..." He stopped as he couldn't continue through the tears. Malon wrapped her arm over his shoulder in comfort as the tears silently ran down his cheeks.

Lalon looked up at him from her laid-down position on the grass. Shyly, she piped up, "Um... Excuse me, Your Majes..."

Malon smiled down at her. "Oh, Lalon, you don't need to do that. Link is a friend."

Lalon looked up at Link timidly before she softly spoke. "I heard... that Epona... had died..."

Link lowered his head and closed his eyes in sadness. "...Yes, she did... She fell bravely... She was a good horse... I'll miss her..."

Malon looked up and smiled warmly. "Link, do you know the Legend of the Goddesses' Steeds?"

Link slowly lifted his gaze, then shook his head.

Malon smiled and shifted in the soft grass. "They say while the Three Goddesses were still living, they each had a majestic steed, more powerful than any normal horses, right, Lalon?"

"Yeah!" Lalon sat up. "They were the Goddesses' most trusted companions! Din's horse was named Hope, Nayru's horse is Bliss, and Farore's is Faith!"

"Hope, Bliss, and Faith..." Link softly repeated.

"That's right," Malon continued. "When the Goddesses departed for the heavens, so did their horses. Now, when our horses pass on, they say their spirits roam free with the Goddesses' Steeds."

"So..." Link looked up into the misty sky. "Epona's up there... with them?"

"Yes, indeed," Malon nodded. "And she's perfectly happy, too."

Link slightly smiled at Malon. "Thank you, Malon."

"I never knew that Legend before," Saria commented. "How interesting..."

"It's really only known among us ranchers, but it's all true." Malon answered.

Sighing, Link got to his feet. "Thank you all for your time. I need to head back to the castle now before Zelda begins to worry." And with that, he left in the direction of Hyrule Castle.

Saria watched him go ruefully. "Your comforts helped somewhat, Malon. The grief from Epona's death has softened..."

"...But Link won't ever be the same until he is reunited with his daughter."

"Florence..." Saria sighed, staring into the sky. "With a will as strong as her sword... I wonder how she's faring in that snake pit..."

----------

"ARGH!!! THIS IS NOT THE KING!!!" Ganondorf threw Florence carelessly to the floor. She cringed as the impact hurt her already bruised body. Her armor had been tossed aside callously by an enraged Ganondorf, who now stood above her, flanked by many monsters in the throne room of the Gerudo Fortress. Leaving the battered Hylian princess on the ground, Ganondorf turned his anger to Jurich, who stood nearby, hiding his pity for the girl.

"YOU IDIOT!!! HOW COULD YOU MISTAKE THIS FILTH FOR THE KING!?!?" he shouted in fury.

"I-I'm sorry..." Jurich stuttered. "Her armor was royal-looking, I couldn't tell through the helmet..."

Ganondorf leered down at Florence, the wheels turning in his dark mind. Finally, he ordered, "Stand her up!"

"Yes, sir," Jurich grabbed her wrists and carefully stood her up, making her face Ganondorf. Recalling this girl from that day in the market, Ganondorf's eyes flashed with hatred.

"You..." he spoke heavily. "You're the one who planted that Light Arrow in me..." He leaned forward in his throne, locking Florence with his steely glare. "Who are you and what are you trying to protect!?"

Florence didn't answer as she returned the glare.

"ANSWER ME, YOU UGLY PINK CARRION!!!!"

Florence still did not answer, unaffected by the harsh insult.

Ganondorf's eyes narrowed into silts. "You know, elf, I learned a lot from my imprisonment. I learned to give no mercy to those who oppose me. I could easily kill you in a matter of seconds for defying me, but why make your death quick? Unless you cooperate, I could make your death long and painful!"

Tight-lipped, Florence continued to glare at the Evil King.

Ganondorf sat back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Still silent? Careful. I'll ask just once more. Who are you, and what reasons have you to protect the Royal Family!?"

No answer.

Ganondorf shot up from his chair. "ANSWER, DAUGHTER OF MAGGOTS!!!"

Jurich could tell his half-father was getting angry, and he knew the results of his outburst of rage would be quite painful for the woman. He would've sent a plea to this innocent stranger to give in, but he didn't have to, as she nearly jumped out of his grip in anger.

"I'M THE DAUGHTER OF THE KING AND QUEEN OF HYRULE, PRINCESS FLORENCE!!! AND IF YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST INSULT THE ROYAL FAMILY, YOU'RE IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING!!!!"

After hearing this, Ganondorf sat back down and surprisingly calmed down slightly. Looking at this girl with new interest, a smirk began to form an his face.

"So... the Princess of Hyrule is in my clutches..." He brought a hand to his chin in thought, the evil grin of his only growing. "I could just keep you as a hostage, but why bother? I know you are full of war secrets, and with the right persuasion, I can strike the Royal Family through their land!" With that, he leaned forward again, addressing Florence with a spiteful hiss. "Now, where have you hidden your people, and what is your plan of attack!? ANSWER!!"

"Why should I, to the likes of you!?" she bellowed.

Becoming irritated, Ganondorf growled, "Choose, princess- die quick or painfully slow!! CHOOSE!!!"

Florence began to tremble in both anger and fear. She didn't want to die, but more so, she didn't want to die badly. Would she break and betray her country?

-He gives you two choices...- a send whispered to her, and she knew it was the man who held her from behind. -But here is a third.-

And then she felt the hilt of Northern Star brush up against her fingertips. She was hesitant in taking it, not wanting to trust this stranger.

-Take it. It's the only chance you'll get!-

Knowing the stranger was right, Florence took a solid grip on the sword. And the second he let go of her, she leaped up at Ganondorf, waving the sword threateningly.

"ARGH!!!" Ganondorf cried as she cut him with the suddenly bright and shining sword. As the monstrous soldiers surrounded her, she flung herself through a Stalfos, shattering it. She then found an opening and rushed out of the throne room.

"GET HER!! DON'T LET HER GET AWAY!!!"

Annoyed, Ganondorf's retainers began the chase after their captive. Jurich followed with thoughts of his own.

A/N: Okay, I'm officially stuck in writer's block, so I'm probably not gonna update this for a while. But I'll still leave it on, unlike SOME people!

SSG: What...?

Link: So what're you gonna do in the meantime? Besides school, I mean?

Well, I might post up another story while I try and vanquish the evil writer's block. Anyway...

SSG: R&R!

Link: And stay tuned!

Hey, that's my line! :'(