A/N: HEY YOU GUYS! 8D
Link: Snore…
Hey, wake up! (baps him)
Link: Snort, eh? Whazzat?
Hey, Link. Been a while, huh?
Link: I'll say. (looks around) Hey, where's SSG?
Gone to a better place…
Link: O.O
… where she can post her Good Charlotte fics.
Link: …oh… hehe… Anyways… shouldn't you get back to the fic? All your readers are waiting.
(looks at you impatient readers) OH! Right, then! Here's the 10th chappie at last!
Rise of the Heroine of Time: Chapter 10: Entering Enemy Territory
After alerting the soldiers of their quest, the three approached Gerudo Valley carefully, only to encounter a problem.
"The bridge is down," said Sheik. "How do we get across?"
Link sighed morbidly. "Florence would be able to get us across using Farore's Wind…"
"So can I." Kili piped up.
Link blinked up at the fairy. "You can?"
Kili nodded. "I know all kinds of magic now. The gap looks pretty big, but I'll be able to carry you two across."
"And what about when we get to the fortress?" asked Sheik. "Florence told us before she was gone that it was being heavily guarded."
Kili instantly answered, "I can make you two temporarily transparent!" She grinned.
Link smiled. "You are quite useful, little one."
Kili's face beamed.
"Let us hurry!" Sheik persisted. "There isn't much time!"
Link and Sheik stood on the edge of where the bridge should've been, and Kili hovered between them, concentrating. A magical aura surrounded them, and then, tuned to Kili's will, the two were lifted off the ground and became lighter than a feather. As they hovered across the gap, they looked down at the roaring and crushing river below in wonder. Link felt a little sick then, as his old fear of great heights began to trigger off, even after so long.
Though they felt lighter, to Kili they were large and heavy being to lift, and she strained her power to carry them safely across. It was the task she was given, to bring Florence's parents unharmed, and she was determined not to fail.
When their feet touched the red soil on the other side, Kili let go of the magic and nearly fell out of the air as she caught her breath.
"Are you alright?" Link asked in concern, understanding.
"I'm… fine…" Kili wheezed. "Just give me a minute… pant… to recover…"
Link nodded and used a hand gesture to persuade her to perch on his shoulder, which she did. After catching her breath, she instructed the couple to hold hands, as the connection had to be complete for it to work for both of them.
Kili concentrated once more, and from feet up, they began to evaporate to their naked eye. It was only when they fully disappeared when they saw each other again, mere outlines of their former selves.
"No one will be able to see of hear us," Kili explained. "Just don't make contact with anyone, or they'll know."
Link and Sheik nodded, and they proceeded to enter the enemy's territory. The brick fortress blended in to the red cliffs and rocks perfectly. Stalfos, Moblins, and Lizardfos were positioned at every entrance, guarding them faithfully from any intruders. Wolfos stalked the upper areas, sniffing for unfamiliar and threatening smells.
Link took a deep breath and whispered, "Let's go."
They spotted an entrance high up on the fifth level with only a single, bored Moblin. It would be easy to get past it. Link quickly devised the quickest, but most painstakingly route to that doorway, and carefully led the way.
They climbed walls and slinked past the guards with ease. It was the stalking Wolfos that created the problem.
"Can they pick up our scent, Kili?" Sheik asked as they stood a fair distance from the Wolfos.
"I-I'm not sure…" Kili answered uncertainly.
"Doesn't matter," Link said bluntly, raising his bow and releasing an arrow. It lodged into the Wolfos' skull, and it howled and collapsed.
Sheik and Kili looked at Link in surprise.
"It's a good thing they don't keep better track of their scouts," he stated. "But it will be replaced soon, so let's keep moving."
They agreed and kept going. Slipping past the bored Moblin, they entered the fortress unnoticed, quite amazed at how easy it was.
Don't fret, Florence,- Link sent in assurance. -We're coming for you!-
Florence gasped lightly, hearing the soft send in her safe hiding place.
"What is it?" asked Jurich, who had decided to return to Florence's side after reporting to Ganondorf, telling the Evil King that he was unable to locate her. Enraged, he sent Jurich off again to keep searching, and what better place to hide than with his recognized one? Besides, he was so drawn to her, as what recognition tends to do a lad and maiden.
"I heard a send from my father! They're here!"
"In that case, I'll go meet up with them." He approached the fake wall and looked back at her. -I'll be back, Kalm.-
Florence nodded, and he leaped into the open. Using his magic skill, he transformed into what he called Phase Jurich, or becoming totally transparent. With this sly transformation, Jurich rushed through the fortress, searching. In this form, Jurich had brand-new senses, seeing and hearing things that the naked senses could never detect, like a permanent Eye of Truth.
Suddenly, he heard a few voices unfamiliar to him, and he hid behind the wall. Peering down the hall, he saw the transparent forms of Kili and two Hylians. Must've been the King and Queen.
As they got closer, he stepped out in their way, knowing they'd spot him in their form. Their run screeched to a halt as they noticed him, and faced him uncertainly.
"Ah, you're here at last," he stated calmly.
Sheik took a step back. "H-how can you see us?"
"We are both invisible, therefore we can still detect each other."
Though he could see right through this stranger, his features were all too familiar to Link, who glared him down and drew his sword. "You! You're Ganondorf's accomplice!"
"Y-yes…" Jurich admitted. "And while I'm at it, I will also admit that I was the one who took your daughter from the battlefield."
He looked up and saw a piercing glare from Link that instantly made him regret admitting. In his anger, Link attempted to rush in and tackle the half-Gerudo.
"No, wait, Link, he's…!" Kili tried to stop him, but the Hylian King was beyond hearing as he released Sheik's hand. The connection was broken, and Link became visible again, falling through an invisible Jurich and landing on the floor. Kili released her magic, as well as Jurich, and everyone was visible once more. Link quickly stood and faced Jurich once more with a dark scowl.
"Listen," Jurich breathed hastily, growing a little intimidated by this man's anger. "If you could just let me explain…"
But Link did not listen. Filled with anger, he tackled Jurich to the ground, holding the Master Sword to his throat. The only thing holding him back was a blast of Black-sending from Jurich.
"Stop!" Jurich shouted in his struggle. "I don't want to hurt you!"
"You took away our daughter!" Link growled. "Haven't you hurt us enough?"
"We have to stop those two!" Kili cried, watching them in fear along with Sheik. "They'll kill each other!"
Knowing this, Sheik cautiously approached Link from behind, placing his soft fingers on his shoulders, attempting to calm him down with the use of his soothing magic.
Wait, Link! The pain is blinding you!- he sent hastily, soothing his pain with his healing embrace. -Remember the Trial of Farore? Remember how you saved Ian's life? Why did you do it? Remember!-
Briefly shielded by Sheik's magic, Link recalled that thought from over twenty years ago…
Ever since Ganondorf's plague… No one must die! Even if he is my enemy!
Realizing this, Link slowly removed the cold blade from Jurich's neck, and slowly stood as Sheik kept his hands on Link's shoulders, soothing the pain and anger from his body. Jurich got to his feet slowly, looking over the Hylian couple with Kili hovering beside him.
"…The Sheikah is Queen Zelda in her alter ego form Sheik," Kili explained, as if expecting that question to be asked.
"I know," Jurich responded off-handedly. "I can see through her disguise."
Sheik sent to Link softly. -Set your anger aside. Kili said Florence had a rescuer; this young man may be the one. Let us listen to his story.-
Link sighed and nodded. The two faced Jurich, a sign telling him they were willing to listen. He straightened up and sighed.
"My name is Jurich. I am Ganondorf's magically-created son, inheriting my father's magic traits. However, I was raised up by Nabooru to use my powers against him instead of for him like he intended. In short, I am on your side, and I'll do anything to help."
This news made things a little more clear to Link. He knew Nabooru had a secret for a long time, and the whole time it was raising Ganondorf's son to aid Hyrule when needed. Link made a mental note to thank her later, but something else was on his mind at the moment.
"If you are on our side," Link started slowly. "Why did you capture our daughter?"
"I was instructed to capture you, Your Majesty," Jurich answered, surprising the two Hylians. "I knew you were the Hero of Time as well as the King of Hyrule, and that Ganondorf would make no hesitation to torture you as soon as he got you in his grasp."
Sheik caught on. "So that Black-send on the battlefield was you. You used it to track him down, not knowing there were other beings with the ability to send out there."
"Yes," Jurich nodded. "I grabbed Florence by mistake, but I did get her out of a deadly situation with Ganondorf and got her to a place of safety where no one can find her but me."
"So she is safe?" Link asked sternly.
"She is fine." He began a quick walk. "And if you are willing to follow, I shall lead you to her. Do you trust me?"
Link looked to both Sheik and Kili, who nodded. Link was convinced; anyone who would take them to his precious daughter was worth the risk to be trusted.
"Alright," he sighed, mostly in relief. "Lead the way, Jurich."
A/N: So, how's THAT for an update?
Link: Pretty sucky.
Hush you! If you be nasty, I'll send in another insane authoress!
Link: O.O (hushes)
Good Link. (gives him a doggie biscuit)
Link: (eats it) Yum!
(pats him) Review, please!
