A/N- Hello! So, looks like Layla has nothing to worry about, now that her born child is a baby girl! What will Cameron do, now that he's LOSING!
...Oh, you know me, badguys just don't disappear like that.
Oh, oh, you guys! Before I start into TFIHE again, I have to tell you a TRUE story. Oh my God, you won't believe it, but it's true. Okay so this guy my dad works with has a wife that works in the school system, like registering kids for the school. All right so, one day, a lady come in and wants to register her two sons:
Orangelo (Oh-RAHN-jel-oh) and Lemonjelo (Leh-MOHN-jel-oh) ...A little spelling adjustment and Voila!
Orange Jello and Lemon Jello. I swear to you guys, that she named her sons after orange and lemon flavored wiggly treats! WHAT THE HELL?
Can somebody say HILLBILLY?
...And It's a hundred percent true. That is, if daddy isn't lying oo.
Enough. Here I go.
Layla sat on her bed in her room, holding her baby. It had been at least a week since she was released from the infirmary and at least two since Link and Nathaniel were exiled. She and Zara would get together on days when they both felt especially depressed, and talk about their lovers. What they were doing, wondering if they thought of them, hoping nobody was trying any moves on their men. (XD Too late!)
And Layla, when no Zara was available, would secretly write things. Not just things however, not even stories or poems, just a very long letter that would never get sent. It was for Link, and it said exactly what she felt, even if it wasn't exactly hard to compose. Today, it was quiet, Zamayla was asleep, and Layla stared at the cracks in the wall where Link used to stay, imagining blue yes, blonde bangs, and leather covered fingers poking through one crack, calling "Layla, I love you."
She sighed. She set Zamayla down next to her on her large bed and flipped over reaching under the bed for the slowly growing stack of paper and reached for the inkwell and pen that she owned, grabbing a blank sheet of paper and setting her pen to the page. And she wrote.
Cameron stomped through the Hyrule Market, avoiding the redeads and walking right over the well, that was currently covered, (Like in The Ring! shiver) and towards Ganondorf's Castle.
He entered the destroyed grounds of the castle and walked towards the front of the castle. A plaque lay at the edge of the cliff where it dropped down to lava to serve as a moat for the castle. Cameron leaned down and looked at the plaque, that read:
"Only one with a heart truly evil may enter." Above a hand print. Cameron laid his hand in the mold and the drawbridge lowered, and Cameron walked inside.
He was greeted with a red carpet and two beamos, which he had to run past. He entered the first door, and was met with a Dragons head surrounded by an evil aura. A man walked out of the dragon's mouth, looking of Gerudo descent.
"Ah, hello. Who might you be? I believe we may get along, since you managed to enter the castle, anyway." Ganondorf said.
"I am Prince Cameron," the blonde snarled, and looked up. "I want Link DEAD, along with a certain Gerudo." (A/N- I just realized how SEXY a name Link is. Man, I'm gonna name my kid Link! XD Like some sort of crazy Hippy-from-the-90's/2000's.)
"Ah, things sound to my liking. Come, walk with me." He laid an arm across Cameron's broad shoulders and led him towards the dragon's head, dissipating the evil aura. "We can go places, Cameron."
(A/N-...I lost the feeling in my butt. (gets up and pokes it) Yep. Completely numb...)
Ganondorf tapped his fingers on the table as Cameron ranted on and on about he would supposedly kill Link and Layla. Now, we all hate them both, but we must admit that Ganondorf is most likely an evil genius and Cameron is an evil incompetent prince who just wants a perfect life and a son to heir his throne.
"Nope, nope, nope, this just won't do." Said Ganondorf, stopping Cameron in his pacing across the room. He stood up and motioned for Cameron to sit down. "Your approach is way too forward. When it comes to eve plan making, stealth is what it's all about. You see? You can't just run in, kill Link, run out, run to Layla and then kill her! Knowing Link, even though I haven't seen the boy since he was just a little tyke, he'll probably try some stupid heroic rescue thing and bring along a few friends to help him in the struggle. And I DO mean struggle, because suppose I gave you some powers? Then you would be utterly powerful and therefore be sitting pretty until Link tries anything. Once he DOES, you can defeat him, there will be nothing to stop us, and the two of us can rule together!"
"Two things...I already have powers."
"Okay, that doesn't mean you can have more, right?"
"Right, sorry, and...I don't want to rule Hyrule. I want to rule my own kingdom. I have one, you know. All I want is an heir to my throne."
"I see. Well, who's providing the son?"
"NOBODY, because Layla gave birth to a girl. Not like I expected." Cameron grumbled. Ganondorf stared.
"Oh, oh please tell me you're kidding."
"No.she really gave birth to a girl, because Gerudos only give birth to a male every 500 years—"
"I KNOW that, fool! I'M the male! Please tell me that you're kidding about not knowing this till just now."
"Uh, well, no."
"...You are a fool, Cameron. You are an idiot, you are incompetent. But I'm willing to fix all that." Said Ganondorf.
"Very well. Go on."
"Come."
Kunti bounced up and across the town of Kakariko, landing gracefully on the tops of houses, and then bouncing back up again to fly through the air. She finally landed on top Link and Nathaniel's residence, and entered the vent that she normally came through. She slid down, removed the grate, and looked trough, to see nobody upstairs, but a lot of ruckus coming from downstairs. She hopped out and hung over the edge of the catwalk, to find Link and Nathaniel fighting over some food.
"IT'S THE LAST ONE WE HAVE!"
"WHICH IS WHY I SHOULD HAVE IT TO SAVE LAYLA!"
"NO, WHICH IS WHY I SHOULD HAVE IT CAUSE I NEED THE STRENGTH TO GO OUT AND DO THE SHOPPING!"
"NATE!"
"LINK!"
"NATE!"
"DO I HAVE TO BITE YOUR EAR AGAIN?" the prince screamed.
"Eep!" Link flung his hands to his ears and shook his head vigorously, thus letting go of the food, and suddenly realizing what he had just done, cursed as Nathaniel stuffed the last of it into his mouth.
"Now, I'll go do the shopping and when I get back, you can have some food, alright? I'll make a nice big dinner for everybody."
"Everybody?" Link inquired
"Everybody?" Kunti wondered.
"Eh?" Both men looked up to see Kunti, hanging from the catwalk.
"Oh, hey guys!"
"Ehm, hi." Said Nathaniel, getting up and flinching as Kunti did a backflip off of the landing and missed him by an inch, landing perfectly.
"So who's everybody?" she inquired.
"Well, it was going to be me, Grasshopper, Link and Nesira, but I guess since you're here it will be for you too."
"Whoopee!" the smiley Gerudo girl cried.
"I'll be back. You tell link of anything you've found."
"Alright! Byeeee!" the girl waved as he left.
"Well then? How is everybody?"
"Oh! Layla is great! She had her baby, and she's out of the infirmary. Ooh, her baby is soooo cute!" Kunti cooed.
"So Cameron?"
"He's SO pissed! It's a girl and like he DIDNT know it was gonna happen! Hee hee!" Kunti was giddy.
"She cute?"
"Despite what she got from Cameron, yeah!" She thought for a moment. "...When you and Layla fuck your daughter's gonna be way prettier."
"Whoa! Hey! Waaait a second." Link backed up against the wall. "Thanks but NO THANKS! I don't want to know your insight on our relationship...really. That's information I could do WITHOUT. And besides its not like we're horny dogs. We LOVE eachother. Geez." Link said. "And did you have to say FUCK?"
"...Kinda."
"Kunti...honestly."
"Anyway! She's cute but your kid's gonna be cuter, and...Zara's looking well."
"That's good."
"She looked like she was sun-deprived after she came back from the king's castle. She was your color!" Link looked at his hand. Wait a minute. He had gotten really tan from being the fortress. But, yeah he was still a lot paler than the Gerudos.
"I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK!" Nathaniel called.
"FOOD!" Kunti sqealed. She sobered when the two other people walked in.
"Grasshopper! Hey man how's it going?" Link gave Grasshopper a high five and Nesira sat down. She kept giving Kunti glances.
"Eh, same old same old. Me and Nesira have been looking for a place to stay, we found some houses that rent us in. It's cool."
"I see. Life out here isn't easy ever since Ganondorf took over the Hyrule market."
"Yeah. It's crowded in Kakariko Village now."
"Yeah."
"Anyway dinner's going to be ready soon, so make yourselves at home!" Nathaniel said. "Loosen up Nesira, you look like you're sickened to be here."
Nesira shot him a "shut the hell up" look and got up. She walked over to Kunti.
"Hey."
"Hi..."
"You from the fortress around here?"
"Yeah."
"You know Nika?"
"Uh huh."
"How's she doing?"
"She's fine. Second in command with Nabooru."
"Mm. How are they getting along these days?"
"I'm pretty sure they still love eachother but they're on the rocks."
"Really?"
"They have opposite views about Link and Nathaniel. It's a long story."
"Uh huh. Who got thier way?"
"Nabooru."
"Of course." Nesira snorted.
"How do you know Nika?" Kunti asked meekly.
"Ah, I'm her sister."
"Oh! You mean- YOU'RE THAT NESIRA?" Kunti exclaimed, jumping back with a hand on her mouth. Grasshopper glanced over towards Nesira and smirked. He knew all about this. Kunti continued. "You're the girl who was born of taboo from Nika's mom being with two men! And so...you came out all weird cuz you're only half gerudo and then you disappeared!"
"SHUT UP! IM NOT WEIRD! AT LEAST I HAVE A BOYFRIEND! GRASSHOPPER RATHER LIKES MY GREEN HAIR, THANKS!" Nesira exploded, red in the face. Kunti shrunk back.
"Sorry, I just repeat what I hear. ...Nika really misses you, you know."
"Yeah..." Nesira kicked the wooden floor. "I know."
"You should visit her!"
"Dinner!"
Everyone sat down.
"No way! I can't! It would be awkward!"
"What's this?" Nathaniel asked.
"Nesira is the half-sister of Nika and basically she's kind of a heretic there because of her mother and her disappearing."
"Will you shut up, Grasshopper?" Nesira growled. Grasshopper cowered.
"Yeah, Nika and Link and I are in a pickle because Nabooru thinks we're the traitors."
"In a pickle?" Nesira snorted.
"Traitors?" Grasshopper inquired.
"Yep. See, basically, Link and Layla met by the hand of battle and then Layla, being the proud Gerudo she is, was very upset about being beaten by a man. Link, of course, was a very worthy opponent, so she had no reason to be shamed, but anyway...so she ran off into the desert, and then Link and she met up again and they went in the Spirit Temple and by the legend they fell in love, but neither of them was willing to admit it, and-"
"Nate, PLEASE." Link spread his hands flat on the table, hunched his shoulders, and looked over at the prince through narrowed blue eyes. Nathaniel was obviously ignoring the blonde hero and getting enjoyment out of spilling.
"After they had beaten the boss of the temple, Link told me that Layla's shirt ripped, and he got the most awesome view of her-"
"Must we really get into THAT, Nate?" Link hissed.
"...eh...yeah and so then they went back and got in a fight and then Layla ran away and Link felt," Nathaniel put his hands on his chest and made a dramatic face and voice,"SO GUILTY! And then you know, he went out there and apoligized and kissed her, and they, you know, made out a couple times, and then he spent the night with her and then they had arrangements and everything and they spent a few gleeful days together in love until my brother came along. My brother is Prince Cameron, he's an EVIL, SADISTIC, CHEAUVANISTIC bastard who really only wants Layla for childbirth and etcetera, and-"
"Come ON, man!"
"No, no, go on, Nathaniel." Grasshopper waved Link away with a hand. At this, Link wrinkled his nose, finished his soup, and left the table, launching himself onto the bed and listening huffily from under the stairs.
"Then Link and Layla were so very upset. Cameron went on a rampage of taking away all this stuff Layla loved and cherished, and then went on to rape her, which made things even worse, thus Layla's and Link's hate for him grew. Then Cameron went on to imprison Zara, a Gerudo who I am involved with, and then everyone got mad at everyone else, and Link and I were plotting to get Zara out of Solitary Confinement (Cameron had said she was at the castle) and get rid of Cameron, but he spilled that we were conspiratising and then we were exiled. And...well...here we are." he finished. Kunti was wide-eyed, Grasshopper had lowered his eyes to the table and seemed to be in deep thought, and Nesira was seething.
"SOLITARY CONFINEMENT! I...I've heard those are TERRIBLE!" she hollered.
"Yup."
"And he just PUT HER IN THERE."
"Yup."
"CUZ HE FELT LIKE IT."
"Mm-hmm."
"What a bastard!"
"Eeeyup."
"I'd like to make a proposition." Grasshopper said quietly from behind his hands. He put them onm his knees. "I'd like to help you with the ridding of this Cameron character. He seems like a terrible guy and I haven't even directly seen the horror of his malice, but now, I feel like I have an obligation to kill him in about twelve different ways. What say we team up?"
"Sounds like a plan." said Nathaniel. They shook hands and Grasshopper stood up, looking down at Nesira who was shoveling soup into her mouth.
"Come on..."
"Yoo cuh shet daon I'n shtill eeten." she said bossily to Grasshopper. He sighed in defeat and sat back down, his face in his hands.
Nathaniel waved them off as they left, the dark Kakariko Village lit up by the lights of houses around town. Kunti was washing the dishes and humming a merry little tune, and Link was staring at the ceiling under the stairs, thinking.
"Well, that was nice." Nathaniel said, closing the door.
"Except for the fact that you had to go into detail about Layla and I...you-you know...THANKS man, like I really needed to recall all that!"
"Well I felt like it was necessary."
"Well it wasn't necessary for you to go into my mentioning of Layla's...you know...BODY..."
"Oh, that. Well I was kind of looking for trouble then." Nathaniel's eyes sparkled.
"Im sure Nesira thinks I'm a pervert now. Thanks."
"Oh come on. She seemed too peeved about Zara in solitary confinement to even remember that part."
"Well, I'm done, you guys." said Kunti, walking over to them.
"Okay."
"Can I go?"
"Actually..." Link began. "I'd really like it if you would do a bit of snooping around in Layla's room for any sign she misses me or...something. Can ya do that for me?" he said.
"Well..." Kunti looked hesitant.
"You're fired if you don't."
"Meep! Alright alright! I'll do it, geez. But don't be MAD if I don't get anything, okay?"
"Alright. Seeya."
"Byee!" She jumped high up back onto the catwalk, and into the vent, replacing the grate and disappearing. Link laid back on his bed.
"I'm soo tired."
"Yeah. We should both go to bed. Goodnight Link."
"Oh." Nathaniel said. Link had already dropped off to sleep, turning over and kicking off his boots when Nathaniel began walking away.
Kunti walked into the fortress and towards Layla's room. She flattened herself around the corner when she saw Layla coming out, her baby in her arms and her stomach looking very flat already, walking towards the infirmary. Once Layla was out of sight, Kunti slipped in and tiptoed to the center of the room.
She felt a bit guilty snooping, but she couldn't help it. Free food cooked by Nathaniel in exchange for almost effortless-to-get information was a sweet deal! Kunti looked high and low for anything, just to see how Layla was faring, and she was snooping under the end-table by Layla's bed when she caught sight of a stack of paper. She sat up and reached under the bed, pulling the stack out from underneath.
"Hmmm and what do we have here?" Kunti said to herself. She looked down at the stack again and picked up one sheet, and then another and another, The sheets seemed to be repeating the same thing over and over and over again. She Read the first page. "Dear Link," she began. She read the rest in silence, one, two, then three and four pages...they all said the same thing. Looking at it made Kunti's heart break. She couldn't believe that Layla could only express her sorrow this way. She left the top page and took four pages, stuffing them under her arm and shoving the pile of papers under the bed again and stole away towards her room. She would bring it to Link and Nathaniel tomorrow.
Ganondorf sat, satisfied, as Cameron sat, stunned, at what his powers could do. The room was destroyed from blasts of power from his fists, and he was extremely fast, and much, much stronger.
"You are complete." Ganondorf said, softly.
"Thank you, my leige. I will destroy Link as soon as possible and bring his mauled carcass to you as a trophy."
"No, no, That won't be necessary." Ganondorf dismissed. "I want to see if he tries anything." the evil kind smirked. He began to laugh a maniacal laugh that was soon joined by Cameron's, and they reveled in the feeling of thier power.
"Wake up."
"No."
"Wake up or I'm going to take your most prized possession."
"I don't care."
"I'm going to feed it to the wild dogs and they will rip it up."
"Not caring."
"It will be destroyed."
"Still not caring."
"Fine. Here, doggies, doggies, come get Link's hat!"
"WAIT NO OKAY NOT MY HAT!" Link launched himself out of bed and attacked Nathaniel, only to find that he did not, in fact, have Link's hat at all.
"You...bastard. It's too early!"
"No, it's midday. You MISSED breakfast and you were about to miss lunch but I woke you up. So there." Nathaniel said, huffily.
"So, where is my hat?"
"Under your pillow, like always."
Link walked over to his bed and stuffed it on his head, angrily. "Damn straight. MY hat."
"Yes yes." Nathaniel said, making lunch.
"So, did Kunti give news yet?"
"No, she did come, but she said she had big news and had to come at night to tell us. She seemed too quiet for some reason."
"What? Kunti? Quiet? Bad news." Link said, pondering.
"Yes, it seems that way, doesn't it?"
"Naaaaate!" Link whined. "I don't want bad news!"
"Nobody does. But she said Layla's fine...physically."
"...Mmmkay...well, I guess thats semi-good news." Link pondered.
He sat on the bed and watched Nathaniel's back. Was he even remotely worried about Zara? Probably not, Kunti had said she was back, anyway. Maybe he thought Cameron was done with her. Link sighed. Hopefully he was done with everyone. Suddenly, the door burst open.
"Look!" Grasshopper said, bounding in. He ran in and was holding something head-sized and white. He gave it to Link. "Isn't it cool? I found it in Termina!" Link looked at it. It was a feirce-looking mask.
"That's...great. It's a mask. Real cool, buddy."
"But it's magic! All masks from Termina are!"
"I...don't think so." Link said, tossing it onto the bed.
"When I put it on, nothing special happens-"
"Thus making it normal."
"No! I think you should try it on! It kinda looks like you!" Grasshopper pushed the mask into Link's chest. Link grabbed it and looked at it. A pale face with two blue streaks on either cheek and a red triangle pointed downward on the forehead. It had white hair and white eyes with no pupils. Link sighed.
"It's a FESTIVAL MASK! Nothing more."
"Put it on or I'll hurt you."
"Pshh, I'd like to see you try, little man." said Link. Grasshopper growled.
"I'm not little, I'm freaking YOUR AGE!" at this, he pounced at Link and began to wrestle with him, knocking Link off the bed and going straight for the hair.
"YOW! LET GO! LET GO! OHHHHH, LET GO OF MY PRECIOUS LOCKS!" Grasshopper stopped, and Nathaniel looked around.
"My precious locks?" said the redhead prince. "...Nice. Real...MANLY."
"Hey, chicks dig the hair, okay? Get off of me and I'll put on the mask."
"Yes!" Grasshopper rolled off of Link and watched in anticipation as Link grabbed the mask. He put it to his face and immediately, he began to feel funny. Grasshopper watched in horror as Link screamed, seemingly in pain, and Nathaniel went to take it off, but a bright light stopped him, and Link stopped screaming. Link was no longer on the bed. Instead, a white haired, very tall, very feirce looking warrior stood in his place.
"Are you getting shorter, Nate?" the figure asked in a deep, echoey voice. "Whoa! Listen to my voice!" This was Link, all right.
"Scary..." Grasshopper said, but he was smiling.
"And…DUDE!" The 15 foot figure unsheathed his sword and inspected the blue and green twisted metal weapon. "LOOK AT THIS KICKASS SWORD!" he swung it, and an energy ball shot out, missing Grasshopper by an inch and flying out the still open door.
"You are SO LUCKY that didn't hit anything inside." Nathaniel muttured.
"Who's paying for this house?" Link puled off the mask and swung a piece of hair into place. "Me."
"We both are."
"Yes, but I paid the initial cost."
"Whatever..." Nate said, sitting down at the table and drumming his fingers across it.
"Anyway, this mask is totally cool, Grasshopper!" Link said, his eyes lighting up. "But," He added gravely,"can you keep it with you? I'm pretty sure Cameron will hire spies any minute and try to take anything of value in here." Link stood up.
Grasshopper nodded. "Sure." He stuffed the mask back into his bag and walked out. "See you guys later!"
"Bye!"
"Zara, be CAREFUL!" Layla said, pulling at a strand of hair. "You're gonna cut too short!"
"Oh, stop being such a baby!" The nurse sighed, scissors in hand. "Your bangs are getting WAY too long, they need to be cut they're hanging in your eyes!"
"They are NOT." Layla pouted. "You sound like my mom." (A/N - AND MINE TOO!)
"That may be, but they ARE too long." Zara took the scissors and cut Laylas bangs into Zigzagged strands, how she liked them. She only cut a little bit offthat stubborn strand, and started on the back. Layla stopped her.
"I kind of Link—I mean like long hair." She said, blushing.
"You mean you know Link will like the way it looks on you." Zara smirked. Layla blushed some more and nodded.
"Well, okay, but, I think you'll find it more convenient this way." Zara grabbed a piece of string and tied up the hair in a ponytail at the nape of Layla's neck. The ponytail swung down to the small of her back.
"Very nice!" Layla giggled.
"I agree!" Zara smiled. She bustled into the other room for a moment and Layla bounced Zamayla in her lap.
"Wee!" Layla said, bouncing her. Zamayla giggled. Layla smiled and looked over at Zara who had returned in the doorway with a broom to mop up Layla's red tresses, and was smling softly at Zamayla, with a faraway look in her eyes. It was now or never, Layla decided, because she had come her for more than just a haircut.
"Uhm, Zara?" she stated, the quietest she had ever spoken in her life.
"Yes?"
"Come here." Zara walked over to Layla and Layla dropped Zamayla into Zara's hands. "I want you...to take care of her, okay?"
"Wh-what? Are you…going somewhere?"
"No, no...Layla said, her voice strengthening some. "I know you must feel really out of place when you see four or five Gerudos around with babies, and especially your best friend bouncing one around on her knee isn't making it any better...and...this is Cameron's baby..." Layla rambled on and on. "She's cute, and I love her, but...I..." Layla smiled. "…I think you'll do better with getting rid of all of that evil Cameron gave her. I want you to be happy. So I want you to take care of her and bring her up to be a wonderful, nice woman like you are."
"You…you're giving her to me?" Zara said, her voice cracking.
"Yep. Come on, you know you want her." Layla smiled. Zara was in shock.
"But she..."
"Look Zara, I can have another one with Link, one who I'm sure I'll cherish more! I want you to be able to have a girl to bring up and make happy! If you don't take her, she'll be MOTHERLESS cuz I'm not taking her BACK!" Layla said, a little too forcefully.
"Oh, Layla!" Zara put Zamayla down onto the floor where the baby sat up and looked around. "You're best friend a girl cold ever have!" Zara hugged her friend tightly and almost started to cry. "I'll make she she turns out to be the kindest Gerudo EVER!" she Picked up the baby and hugged her. "She's off breastmilk, right?"
"Right, so you can feed her andgive her everythnig she needs as a mom!" Layla said.
"But...won't she remember you when she's older?"
"Oh, sure, but only as a friend of mom. Maybe she'll think sometimes that I'm related to her closely somehow, but really. Cameron may have given her some DNA, but he has the same genes as Nathaniel, you Im doubting she'll look too far from Nathaniel. Don't worry, she'll be fine."
Zara sniffled. "Oh, Layla...oh..." she looked at her child. "Thank you...so much! I…"
"Can you stop talking?" Layla giggled. "You're going to cry!" This made Zara laugh.
"No, I won't. I won't." she wiped away the forming tears and smiled. "Thank you so much."
"It's no problem. MOM." She winked.
Layla and Zara stayed together in the infirmary all night long, nurturing and playing with Zamayla, getting her accustomed to Zara and her new usual surroundings. Finally, Layla had to go.
"I'll see you!" She bade Zara goodbye. Zara waved back.
"Bye! Wave bye-bye, Zamayla!" she waved the baby's hand. "Bye bye!" Layla smiled. Zara was already treating the baby as a child of her own. She walked out the back entrance of the infirmary into the great hall, where she had not been since the wedding. In the corner were her abandoned presents, waiting to be opened. Cameron had opened the ones addressed to him, but left the ones for Layla. She spotted two tiny boxes on top, unwrapped but not opened. She opened them and gasped. She looked at the gold and sapphire bracelet on her right arm, and back at the boxes. Inside the two boxes were ones just like it, but with ruby and emerald gems instead. This had to be from Link. She looked on the inside of her bracelet anf felt the inscription: simply "For Layla." On the inside of the ruby one, it said "May the goddesses blessings be with you always." And on the insied of the merald one, it said "I'll love you always, I PROMISE. –Link" Like the bracelts were one big message from him. Layla smiled and put them on in the correct order, admiring how they glittered on her arm. She abandoned the rest of her presents and danced off to her quarters.
He WOULD love her forever.
"Guys! Hey guys, it's LOOOOOCKED!" Kunti whined, shaking the grate noisily.
"Shh! That's metal! It echoes!" Link said, openingthe grate. "Hmm, how did it lock?" He pulled it off and insected it. It had had alock all along, it was in UPSIDE DOWN. "Oh, well. Well...then." he saidm feeling kind of dumb. "Er."
"Hm?"
"What's the news?"
"Oh. Yeah." Kunti said. She looked sad for a moment.
"Well?"
Kunti produced several papers from inside her small pack. "Here, read it." Said the strangely gloomy Kunti, handing Link the paper. The hero grabbed the papers and Nathaniel watched his eyes run across the paper over and over again.
"Th...this is Layla's handwriting..." he said, holding a hand over his mouth. "Where did you...?"
"Under her bed." Kunti said, biting her bottom lip. "The first page said 'Dear Link,' but I left that, because if I took she'd know somebody was there." She was met only with silence. "...There's, um, 576 pages, not counting those..." she whispered. Link handed her the paper, in shock, hastily wiping away a tiny tear.
Layla had written 580 pages of 'I miss you, I love you, I miss you, I love you, I miss you, I love you..." over and over...all because of him.
"Nate...we have a situation." He said. "Show him."
"Okay." Kunti obeyed and handed the papers to Nathaniel, who took them and read over the paper quickly.
"...Layla wrote this, huh?"
"Yes. 580 pages."
"...Damn." Nathaniel plopped himself on the floor. "...I...I don't know what to say except, Link...I agree."
"Well, uh, I guess I should go." Kunti said reaching for the paper.
"No!" Link said, tearing it out of Nathaniel's grasp before Kunti took it. "I, uh, want to keep it." He said, quietly, weakly.
"...I understand. Goodnight." Kunti said, walking away backwards, quietly.
"Wait!" Link called. Kunti turned around. He thundered down the stairs and fished through his pack, producing something and smiling. He shuffled some more inside his pack, producing an inkwell and a slip of paper, scribbling something down and shoving it inside the other object, foliding it around it. He ran upstairs and held it out to Kunti.
"You're fire tunic, Link?" Nathaniel inquired.
"Sure! Layla would really like it, and I don't need it."
"Well...what if it blows Kunti's cover?"
"It won't! She'll think it was me!" Link puffed himself up importantly.
"Okay…where do you want me to put this?" Kunti asked, taking it.
"Under her bed. That's where you said you found the papers, right?"
"Right. Okay, I'll put it there!"
"Thanks, Kunti!" Link hugged her tight and gave her a big kiss on the cheek. "Ahhh I love you!" He said, not letting go.
"I—CAN'T—BREEEEEEEATHE!" Kunti managed to gasp out. Link let go and laughed.
"Now, go. Go, go, go!" He ushered her out and she disappeared out of the pipe. Link hugged himself. "I'm gonna get in contact with LAAAAYLA!" he smiled. Nathaniel laughed.
"Well that's good. What did the not you put in say?"
"Something you won't get..." Link smirked.
Kunti slipped inside Layla's quarters, stuffed the tunic securely under her bed and slipped into a dark corner of the room to wait for Layla's reaction. She made sure she had an easy and quick route to the entrance to leave quickly, after she saw Layla's reaction. She ducked when Layla came in, still admiring the the three beautiful bracelets around her arm. She ran to her bed and grabbed for the stack of papers. Kunti watched in anticipation.
Layla wanted to write some more of that letter, but after she pulled it out from under the bed, she noticed something else. What was that red lump? She pulled it out and gasped. A tunic? She put it her her face. Was this...Link's? She sniffed. It smelled like him. She puckered her lips and kissed it, tears coming to her eyes. It even tasted like Link! She was in bliss. He was thinking of her! She began to unfold it and pull it over her head. She thought she heard somebody when she was blinded by the fabric, but decided it was nothing and twirled with the tunic on. She heard a flutter and looked onto the floor. A piece of paper?
"I miss you and I love you, this is for our memories...Link." she read aloud. She gasped and giggled. He was in here…SOMEHOW! He had read her letter! That was kind of embarrassing but he was here and he gave her a tunic to wear, just for her. She cuddled the battlewear on her body. She'd NEVER take it off!
She bounced out of her quarters in the morning, feeling fresh as a daisy. She wore Link's tunic over her old white shorts and went prancing around, greeting everyone she passed. People were confused about Layla's attitude, after all, the exile was very public.
Nika was especially confused. Distressed really.
"You have to let them back, I think she's gone into denial. She's so happy! It's just weird, Nabooru..." she said, pleading with her lover to re-admit Link and and Nathaniel, which she had been doin since they left.
"No. There's not way. They went against the rules!"
"Cameron locked Zara in the dungeon!"
"There's no proof! Besides, it's not exactly written you can't do that...although it should be..." Nabooru gave herself a mental note. "And Link and Nathaniel went against the FIRST RULE! I'm not doing it."
"Nabooru, if you don't, I WILL!"
"No you won't!"
"I WILL TOO!" Nika turned but Nabooru grabbed her and pulled her back.
"You will obey your MISTRESS, chambermaid!" she growled.
"No! Nabooru, you better fucking let me go or I'll...I'll!"
"You'll what, chambermaid? Hm? Be EXILED like the others?" Nabooru was a kind ruler when she wanted to be, but when things didn't go her way, she could be very dominerring, and cruel without meaning to be.
"FINE! GO AHEAD! YOU NEED A CHAMBERMAID AND YOU KNOW IT! LET—ME—GO!"
"You. Are. My. Servant. You. Will. Obey!" Nabooru said, holding Nika in a grip like steel. She glared an icy glare at Nika and she just glared back.
"I am perfectly capable of overthrowing you. Go on, do it."
"Now I can't let that happen, now can I?" Nabooru said, dragging Nika over to the wall upon which Nabboru had chains that she almost NEVER used for (literal) punishment purposes. Until now.
"Nabooru...okay, please."
"You threatened me. That is also against the rules. However I understand that you are powerful and I also love you very much, you will be kept locked up here. Until you learn to obey me and the fact that I am RIGHT, this will be your home." As she was saying this, she locked up Nika to the wall with a collar, ankle and wrist cuffs.
"Ahh...Nabooru..." Nika pleaded.
"SILENCE." She walked off and Nika was shocked. This hadn't happened since...that time...before.
"Nesira is gone!" Nabooru said, storming in. The 17 year old chambermaid gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
"Where could she have gone?"
"I'm sure you know." The head gerudo gripped her maid cruelly.
"No, no, really! I don't! Why she would leave is beyond me!"
"I don't believe you." Nabooru had said, pulling Nika over to the wall and locking her up. "You will stay here until you talk.
"I have nothing to tell you!"
"Quiet."
That time, Nabooru had whipped Nika, but she had felt terrible afterwards and vowed to never whip anyone again. But she never promised to get rid of the chains.
She sighed. Nesira...where is she now? She had left not too long ago and she missed her so much already...did she ever find that boy she wanted to find? He seemed like such an elusive and hard-tempered brat. What did she see in him?
Whatever...she hoped she was happy, wherever she was.
Grasshopper and Nesira were on their way to Link and Nathaniel's house to do some planning when Grasshopper turned to Nesira and smiled mischeviously.
"Soooo have you thought about what Kunti said?"
"What? That I was weird to have green hair?" Nesira pulled at a strand of it and pulled on it softly.
"No, not that, I was thinking of something more significant. Besides, you konw I love it. No one else really seems to care. I'm sure Kunti's just a bit of a...dimwit..." Grasshopper snickered and buried his face in Nesira's green locks.
"Mmm, yeah. I think so. I mean, I do kind of want to see her. I bet she's really happy. She's wanted Nabooru for...who knows how long. She was always like 'Nabooru's so graceful! She's so pretty!'. Constantly. Totally drove me CRAZY." she sighed.
"Awww, but you loved her..."said Grasshopper playfully.
"Yeah... I guess in like, a week, I'll go see her. ...I kind of can't wait to see her smiling face."
"A week? Sweet! You can infiltrate the place and find stuff out before we go attack!"
"Yeah, but I'm just going to say hi, I'm not going to like...interview anyone or something like that." she said in an ornery way.
"Yes, yes." said Grasshopper, smiling. "But could you try and catch a glimpse of this Cameron guy before we go see him?"
"I guess that could be arranged." Nesira smirked as Grasshopper rapped on Link and Nathaniel's door.
"Thaaaaank yoooou." he gave her a one-armed hug.
"Mm-hmm." she gave him a look like 'grow up'.
"Hello, you both. Nice of you to join us." Nathaniel ushered them inside. "We've been waiting for you."
Link looked up from the table where he was bent over that oh-so-special map. "Hey guys, you ready?"
"Hah, you know it." said Grasshopper, sliding into a seat.
"Great." Nathaniel sat in a seat across from Nesira and they began to contemplate.
"Nabooru...please...let me off of the chains."
"Goodnight, Nika." said Nabooru shutting off the light. Nika sighed into the dark and laid down, pulling her chains taut.
"Goodnight..."
Alright, so, after a bit of slacking, there you go. A very eventful chapter.
...Hey...do you guys read my author's notes at the beginning and end of each chapter? And if you do...
Do they annoy you? Cuz if they do I'll stop.
3, readers!