Got a really angry review… Someone's gotten a little emotionally attached to my characters. Well, without further ado, here's the replies! You thought I was gonna go straight into the chapter, didn't chya? Nope!
Dragon-Charmer16: OO; Uh, well… Actually, things will get worse before they get better. I think it's Chapter 13 or 14 when everything is okay again. Uh heh… don't kill me! -gives straight jackets- Use these! They're very entertaining! Pursue a career as an escape artist! Just don't kill me when things get worse, okay?
Lil-Miaka: I'm glad you like it! Yup, read it, reviewed it, LOVED IT!
JMG: Actually, I lost two of my reviewers in the sequel switch. EvilRobot and CheeseFromJupiter, come on down! … Or not. Fine! Be that way!
Okay, we're all good. Let's get started! By the way, my website has been updated (again). Like, five new pictures! New buttons. A "New Stuff" section. But you're here for the story, right? Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Dungeons
There was a sound of wings somewhere in the sky. From the ominous clouds came a slender man with black wings upon his back.
"Master Drakar, here they are," Hieke said, gesturing to the two boys. The man, obviously this Drakar character, spread his great sable wings and smiled. "Very good, little one. I will take them to the dungeons now," he announced. He cast two orbs of black magic about the boys, sealing them within and knocking them unconscious. The four vanished in a dark mist…
"Ohh," Link groaned, sitting up. He was in a dim cell constructed of stone. The only light was from a tiny slit in the stones that made the ceiling. There was barely room for Link to stand. When he attempted to do so, he hit his head. "Blast you!" he cursed, punching at the ceiling repetitiously.
"Link…"
The voice was like a ghost whispering on the winter breeze. Link strained to see through the darkness. "You are Link, are you not?" asked the voice again. It was familiar, but strangely foreign at the same time. Finally Link was able to make out the shape of his dear friend.
"Hieke!" he shouted gleefully, tears already in his eyes. Then his expression grew solemn and pained. "Go," he commanded. "You're a traitor. Soul or no soul… You're too strong to be controlled without giving into it. Go away…!"
The Spirit reached out a hand and touched Link's bandaged arm. In an instant the agony that he had become so accustomed to over the months drained away and he was able to move his limb again. He gasped and looked up into the cold, apathetic eyes of his friend. "Are you a traitor… or aren't you?" he asked quietly.
"Traitor," Hieke repeated, her vacant eyes downcast. "I want to… help?"
Link gave a meek smile and nodded. "Atta girl, Hieke. Tell you what, you can help by getting me out of here," he whispered. Hieke closed her eyes and a soft glow enveloped them both. When the light cleared away, Link found that he was standing in the middle of a long hallway lit with torches. "Where are we?" he inquired.
"Dungeons," Hieke replied simply. Link stared at his friend for a moment. "Where are you?" he asked softly after a long period of silence. "Master Drakar will be furious with you," she said, ignoring the question. Or perhaps she didn't understand… "I suggest you find your friend and leave. Wythe is very close to interpreting the tome. If they get the Staff of Dreams, your cause will be lost."
"Where is Drakar?" Link asked. Hieke turned and began to walk down the hallways. "You should find your friend," she repeated. Link growled in frustration. "Hieke! He's your friend too! Will you snap out of it already? I know they took your soul away, but they didn't take your spirit! Somewhere in there is the Hieke I know… Somewhere is the Hieke that I traveled with… the Hieke that I love…"
"Oi, sappy!" said a familiarly cocky voice. "Kaze!" Link exclaimed, looking around. "You won't see him," Hieke informed. "If you wait, I will retrieve him." She faded in a soft glow and returned moments later with Kaze.
"Hey! You all right, buddy?" the thief smirked. Link nodded and gestured to his arm. "Good as new. I knew that Hieke would be able to heal it," he smiled. Hieke stared through them, her empty eyes not focusing on anything. "No doubt you wish to see Master Drakar," she interrupted, for the boys had been conversing.
"Oh, yeah. Could you take us to him now?" Link asked. Hieke shook her head. "What!" Kaze blurted in confusion. "But you said… Weren't you offering to lead us to Drakar just now?" Hieke shook her ahead again. "I was merely stating the obvious. Master Drakar is not in at the moment, but you can talk to Wythe."
Kaze and Link looked at each other, then turned back to Hieke. "That works too!" they shrugged. The once cheerful girl strode down the corridor, brushing her hand against the wall from time to time. They eventually came to a large, wooden door. Hieke knocked on the door loudly.
"Mister Wythe, you have visitors," she announced. The door swung open and Hieke stood aside, gesturing for Link and Kaze to enter. The boys stepped forward warily, their eyes surveying every corner of the room. It was dark, dark as though not a glimmer of sunlight had reached it in ages.
"Welcome, boys," said a haunting voice. Wythe came forth, a torch in his hand. "I trust your stay was to your liking? Oh, that reminds me. Hieke, dear, why did you let them free?" he asked, his cold eyes falling upon the Spirit.
"Friends," she whispered. Wythe scoffed. "You already have Lord Kuro, Miss Lilith, Mister Drakar, and myself! Why do you need these worthless fools?" he spat. Hieke closed her eyes, not answering. "Fine," the evil man muttered. He turned to Link and Kaze now. "I'd love to stay for a while, but we've found the location of the Staff of Nightmares and I need to go pick it up. I'll see you when the world is under Lord Kuro's control!" he waved as the black mist began to swirl around him.
Hieke touched his cloak and a brief flash brightened the room, but only for a moment. Wythe stared at her in shock. "Wretched girl," he snarled as the fog cleared away. Slowly the room was illuminated by faint stars glowing at the ceiling. Wythe smacked Hieke's pale face, knocking her to the floor. "Well, it seems my dear little friend doesn't wish for me to go. She's cast a binding spell on this room. No one can leave until she lifts the spell."
"I feel helpless!" James complained as he paced around the courtyard. Navi was sulking in a corner, Malon sat with her knees drawn up to her chest, and Zelda rested against the wall, gazing at the foreboding sky. "We all feel that way," the queen said quietly.
"Why don't we do something, anything?" Malon suggested. "We can look for the Staff of Dreams! We can find a way to counter Kuro's mind trick! Anything is better than sitting here waiting for them to come back. Anything is better than guessing at their fate…"
"Link will be fine," Navi interjected. "Kaze will be all right too, because he's a strong warrior. Hieke… I don't know about her. Who's side is she on anyway?" The four glanced at each other. No one but Link and Kaze really knew her well enough to make that call. "We just have to believe in them," Zelda stated firmly.
James shot his slingshot into the air and caught the pellet when it fell. "I best believe something when I see it for myself," he murmured.
"Link! Hero of Time! Perhaps I should take your soul as well!" Wythe laughed. Link held both his sword and shield at once for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. "You'll have to fight me for that," he sneered. Kaze drew out his weapon as well. "Me too, pal. Sorry, but we're not gonna make it easy on ya!"
Wythe's vicious grin became a smug scowl. He looked at Hieke. "Won't you please fetch my weapon for me, dear?" he asked sweetly. The Spirit shook her head. "No. If you want your swords, get them yourself," she stated, her voice still devoid of emotion. Wythe's scowl only deepened at this. "You'll regret that, you wretch," he muttered.
He turned and strode towards a podium, behind which was a rack of swords. "Oh my, I almost forgot. I can't use my weapons in this form!" he smiled maliciously. "Now listen, dear. I'm giving you this one last chance to redeem yourself. Go and get my amulet, will you?" he commanded. Hieke's shoulders stiffened, then held her hands above her head. A black light shined at her palms, and from it appeared an onyx medallion. She tossed the trinket to Wythe and sat down against the wall.
Wythe seemed to absorb the amulet into his body. He underwent a hideous transformation, one that Link and Kaze turned away from in disgust. Hieke had a vacant stare across her face and gazed through everything, so she didn't seem to care how horrendous the metamorphosis was. When Wythe had finished, the frail man with the tuft of gray hair and the black robes had been replaced a massive, monstrous beast with eight arms and a sword in each of his clawed hands.
"You won't be able to move easily in that form with my binding spell in place; you're too big," Hieke murmured absently. "Silence, girl!" Wythe growled. "Link! Kaze! We fight now!"
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DundunDUN. And so the epic battle against Wythe begins! Who will win? Well, Link's team, duh. They're the good guys! But some cool stuff's gonna go down in the mean time! Stay tuned and FIVE, darnit! You heard me! I want five! Yo, Cheese and Evil! Come on, guys! Where are ya?
