Amy Sorrel had been hiding out in the small wooded area behind the manor
house nearly all day. Though she was a small skinny little thing, she was
very lissome at climbing the trees. And it was here that she found
sanctuary when she didn't want to be found or be cooped up in that stuffy
over sized mansion. Besides she found that being out side on her own was
better than being inside with the grownups being fussed over constantly and
having to dress up in those ridiculous clothes all day long. No one ever
suspected that she could climb trees and therefore never thought to look
for her up among the thick branches.
So Amy stayed in the woods all day long under the forest's green canopy hiding from the maids and attendants sent to look for her. She didn't like them anyway and would always come back to the manor on her own. Why did they insist on treating her like some little girl?
Since her self appointed guardian, Raphael, had started going on long journeys, Amy spent most of her time on her own in these parts as it was really the only place where she could do things on her own and be left alone. Weather it was taking long walks to explore the place or to find something she could use in the future, or even to find a comfortable place to sleep for a bit, Amy always came here. It wasn't anything like the slums back where she came from, but at least it was a whole lot better. She didn't take kindly to the strange people Raphael had appointed to take care of her, and more than that she hated when he'd leave, even though he always promised to come back.
On beautiful days like these, she could find a warm place to sleep with the sun on her face and the gentle breeze at her back. She'd been dozing in her favorite spot where the trees grew the closest together and their branches overlapped. From here she could see and not be seen. Most days she would spot the occasional servant looking through the bushes to find her, but today was different. Earlier when she had first entered the woods, she heard soft voices speaking amongst themselves curious the girl sought refuge in her secret hiding place; from there she was able to spot the owners of the voices. They seemed to be normal folks probably from one of the cities nearby, but something about them warned the girl to be wary. Always trusting her intuition above all else, the girl stayed hidden from view. She didn't like these men, but she couldn't really make out what they were saying. But what ever it was they were talking about the girl knew it wasn't anything good.
After a few minuets the men dispersed in different directions and even when she could not hear their footsteps any longer, Amy didn't come down. So here she was like a cat stuck in a tree. Some time ago she had heard some one calling her name, but it wasn't the usual maid or attendant. This voice was different. Amy didn't recognize it as Raphael's and was reluctant to wake from her dreamless sleep.
If it wasn't Raphael, then she didn't care WHO it was. Eventually the voice stopped calling her name. That was a while ago.
Amy continued to sleep, her knees pulled to her chest arms hugging them tightly wishing that Raphael would come to seek her out as she had a lot to tell him. It was during this time that her ears picked up soft music in the distance. It surprised her a great deal as no one she knew in the manor could play. Piquing her interest, the girl slowly opened her eyes.
The sun was a blazing orange disk in the evening sky, had she really slept that long?
Brushing back her red fringe with a hand, her deep green eyes looked around as she heard the music again. The song was lovely and wasn't like any she'd ever heard before.
"No one I know in the manor can play, unless there is some one new around." As she thought of this, she remembered Raphael telling her the night before of a friend he had brought with him from Athens. She was to meet him last night at dinner, but his friend hadn't appeared. Raphael hadn't said much about him to her other than he was a friend with rather unique attributes. Amy didn't care really if she met him or not, but it did strike her as strange when Raphael referred to him as a 'friend'. Raphael had friends?
Now that she thought about this, her interests started to grow. What kind of person was this friend? He had to be unique if Raphael called him a friend. For as long as she's known the man, he had no need for such people except to use or deceive. And those he called contacts or acquaintances.
The song continued to play and the longer it did, the more Amy wanted to find its source.
Its sound was so clear and seemed to sing to her in a language that could not be earthly. But where was it coming from? Scanning the area from her high perch Amy could not locate its precise source. If she wanted to find it, she'd have to go and look for it. After one last look around, the small girl clambered down from her hiding spot and landed lightly on her feet. Judging by the music, it couldn't be far from where she is and so she followed her ears.
The manor's estate was a large portion of land, and much of that land was grazing land. Behind the Manor was a large pasture and stables for the manor's lord. Amy had never met the man either but the horses she saw there was among the most elegant and she even heard they were famed the fastest in the providence.
As she approached this place the music got significantly louder and the young girl soon spied its source.
Perched upon the thick wooden fence was a strange fellow with his hood drawn over his head and an instrument to his lips. He reminded the girl of the type from the stories she heard in the slums. Fairy tales didn't mean much to her as they were just a bunch of childish nonsense, but some how she managed to remember a particular fairy tale about a pied piper that got rid of the town's rat problem by playing the pipe.
Only the crowd he was attracting was not those of rats but the horses.
A soft gentle breeze picked up in a most mysterious manner billowing the dark cloak about the man and Amy caught sight of the strange clothes he donned beneath and the sword at his side. Dressed in strange garments that made it obvious to the girl that he was not from around here and that he was a fighter as the sword looked more like a saber. And sabers were not common in these parts as noblemen preferred the long and thin swords as they were more elegant. She should know, Raphael told her a few times before.
He played an instrument she did not recognize right off. But what was more amazing was the large crowd he was attracting with his music. All the horses in the field were either in the small gathering around the man or standing still with their heads and ears turned his way. Amy had seen many things in her life but nothing such as this! Could it be possible? He was placing an enchantment on the poor beasts?
Before she could make her move, before she could even open her mouth to shout a warning, the playing stopped and it felt as though the spell was broken. Amy wanted to scold herself.
Magic, spells and fairy tales, they didn't exist.
"Raphael has been looking for you, Amy." The figure spoke before turning to face her.
Whether it was because he was keen to know her presence or the fact he spoke of Raphael by name, Amy stood there speechless the words fled from her in that instant. She became angry as she was never at loss for words.
The man wasn't much of a man as she first thought, but young features spoke of years no more than two or three summers than her. His eyes captured her attention in that instant as they were deeply blue and clear like the skies overhead.
When she could find her voice it was suspicious and accusing. "You, you must be the friend that my father spoke about. And seeing that you speak of him by his real name I can only imagine that it is the truth."
Strangely the youth smiled hopping off the fence, the horses behind him slowly began to disperse, Amy faltered back a step instinctively, but it wasn't because she feared this.boy.
"Oh, so you are Raphael's daughter then." His eyes regarded her with something of surprise. "I don't mean to be rude, but you don't look anything like your father."
"That's because I'm adopted." She quickly returned a bit bitterly. What was with this guy? Her answer caused the stranger to rub his neck a bit embarrassed but the smile never faded.
"Sorry, I should have guessed."
Well he was certainly different Amy quietly mused to herself. He didn't talk down to her as every adult did and tended to do, and she liked that. As she thought of this she remembered the weapon he carried and her suspicion flared again. It could all be an act. What if he was one of those men she had seen in the forest?
"Are you a fighter?"
The question seemed to startle him and those angular eyes went wide before that smile was back on his face. "Ah, yes I guess you could say that."
Inclining her head she asked; "Are you any good?"
"I used to think so, but then your father showed me otherwise." The stranger laughed a little uneasy this time. "But I suppose it's true what they say, there's always somebody better. Oh I almost for got." The stranger said suddenly and here he knelt before her still smiling. "My name is Link; it's a pleasure to meet you Amy."
While her experiences earlier in life had validated her mistrust in strangers, there was something about Link that made her want to trust him.
If only it was so easy. If she had been anyone else but herself, she would have given into this boy's charms a long time ago. But she refused to leave herself open like that, afraid that it still might be a ploy. She had been betrayed too many times and had seen too many people stepped on in her life that made her fiercely determined not to become one of them. Turning away quickly Amy felt a little better now that she wasn't staring into those trusting eyes.
"We should be making our way back now." She said stiffly. "My father did send you to get me didn't he?" With out turning she could hear Link standing. "I don't know why he still insists on worrying about me."
"Well, I'm not one to talk as I don't know him all that well." Link's voice said uncertainly. "But I think they worry because they care. I know it seems stupid, but it's one of the ways they show they care. At least that's what I think, I know I never wanted anyone to worry about me, but it made me happy to know that people cared about me."
Amy almost stopped in her tracks as she hadn't expected him to say what he did. The truth of his words hit her as she had always felt the same. In a strange way, it was nice. But Amy didn't say this as she was convinced that adults thought they knew everything.
"It's a waste." She suddenly said feeling something stir with in her. "Kindness.You're only leaving your self open to be hurt..There's no place for it." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she said the last part as if convincing her herself.
"What?" Link asked almost taken aback by her words. But Amy grew tired of talk and she shook her head with out looking before suddenly taking off.
"Must you walk so slowly? You're like a turtle! Did you come to fetch me or lecture me? Really!" Amy didn't want to hear anymore, at least not now. She refused to believe that anyone was that good. It was fake, all of it was, and kindness was nothing more than an act that people used to take advantage of other people.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Link watched the girl take off to the house a little stunned by the girl's words. When he had first laid eyes upon her, he could tell no, FEEL that wall that kept him out to protect what was within. He had suspected then that she did not have such a happy life and this proved it. It made him wonder just how many times she had been hurt or stepped on to make her this way. Her eyes were hard and cold and he could feel her shying away from his words when he tried to comfort her.
He had seen this kind of thing before, but never in one so young. People like Amy had closed their hearts to the world so they could avoid being hurt. So much he had wanted to assure her that he was not a threat. Link had tried so hard to tear down those walls with his hands and teeth, but he knew that what must have taken her a long time to build up would not crumble so easily because he had asked it to. But that never discouraged him.
No one deserves to feel that way, especially one at her age. And Link didn't care if that was life, because he believed that if there was someone who could hurt a person's heart as such, then it was true that there was also someone who could heal that heart. And even if he could not tear down the walls, he had hoped that he would at least chip away at each stone so that it might crumble a little and it's walls would be climbable.
Walking back slowly Link wondered about Amy and of Raphael and many other people he had met during his journeys. Along those lines, his thoughts wandered back to Siegfried who he worried about each passing day, and of Talim who must be worried sick about him.
So lost in thought was he that he didn't notice Raphael in one of the large windows watching him carefully, accompanied by another man.
His dark hair was pulled back in a small short rat- tail. He donned dark leather from beneath a thick mantel. Raphael had turned to say something to him, but the man did not lift his gaze from Link as if seeing past the cloak that obscured the elf's face from his vision. His cold eyes only turned colder as his thin lips curled into an ugly smile. An ugly smile that was probably no smile at all.
If only Link had looked, he would have seen the dangers that lay before him in the man's eyes and would have known that his life was in grave danger.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Darkness.It's all around me and I can feel 'it' moving within me, can feel it's fiery talons digging into my soul trying to take me. It hurts so much, almost as much as all the injuries I've suffered from that damn Astaroth. Damn him, I'll get him back. We'll find him soon because we're getting closer. The pain grows and so does it's voice.
The Soul Edge's voice, I can hear it. The stronger it gets the less I feel in control. I'm running out of time, I've got to get up even though I feel like hell. I've got to do what I can. I've got to help the others, I have to~
~Wake up.
Siegfried opened his eyes feeling as though it took what ever strength he had remaining to do so. The darkness that pervaded his senses for so long left him as if allowing him to go. But along with it, Siegfried felt as though it were stealing something back, some horrible memory that he was not to remember. The knight became aware then of everything that had been happening, of all the voices, human or otherwise speaking to him, the feeling the cool cloth against his face and the liquid being forced down his throat, and those horrible dreams.
His throat felt parched and dry and there was a chalky metallic taste there that made him flinch. His body felt as heavy as lead and it hurt to move his head.
'How long have I been asleep?' Half-lidded eyes focused on the endlessly blue sky. Was he outside? Where was he?
Siegfried had remembered that he and the others had gone to Athens, stayed at an inn...
"And I awoke to the sudden burning in my chest, but that only happens when." The sudden realization made him catch his breath, the fear jolting him fully awake.
Oh God, oh God please..What had happened?
Siegfried forced himself to sit up, ignoring the sharp pains as his body protested to the sudden movement. But after a few seconds they dulled to a mere throbs. He swept his surroundings with a glance half-expecting to find dead bodies of his comrades and other innocents scattered about. But thankfully he found not one. So then what.?
"Siegfried!!" A female voice called. Turning his head slightly to find it's source, Siegfried saw Talim and Xianghua running up to him followed by Kilik.
Relief washed over his form and he felt as though he could cry.
'They're okay, nothing happened. Thank the heavens.Nothing bad had happened yet.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Just as I promised another chapter. Sorry if there is no action, but I like to think of it as the calm before the storm. This was the last chapter I needed to complete the set up and hopefully things will kick up in the next chapter. For all that have asked for those pictures, I will send them to you as promised! I hope that you will like them, and that if I happen to draw anymore (I actually illustrated another scene of Raphael and Link in the library!^^) I'll be sure to let you know. The picture I send out to you is actually what inspired me to go ahead and write this fic! And like the fic please let me know if you like it! Critics are welcome of course. I'll see you in the next update! Let me know how I did in this one as usual. ^^;
~Hero Genkaku
So Amy stayed in the woods all day long under the forest's green canopy hiding from the maids and attendants sent to look for her. She didn't like them anyway and would always come back to the manor on her own. Why did they insist on treating her like some little girl?
Since her self appointed guardian, Raphael, had started going on long journeys, Amy spent most of her time on her own in these parts as it was really the only place where she could do things on her own and be left alone. Weather it was taking long walks to explore the place or to find something she could use in the future, or even to find a comfortable place to sleep for a bit, Amy always came here. It wasn't anything like the slums back where she came from, but at least it was a whole lot better. She didn't take kindly to the strange people Raphael had appointed to take care of her, and more than that she hated when he'd leave, even though he always promised to come back.
On beautiful days like these, she could find a warm place to sleep with the sun on her face and the gentle breeze at her back. She'd been dozing in her favorite spot where the trees grew the closest together and their branches overlapped. From here she could see and not be seen. Most days she would spot the occasional servant looking through the bushes to find her, but today was different. Earlier when she had first entered the woods, she heard soft voices speaking amongst themselves curious the girl sought refuge in her secret hiding place; from there she was able to spot the owners of the voices. They seemed to be normal folks probably from one of the cities nearby, but something about them warned the girl to be wary. Always trusting her intuition above all else, the girl stayed hidden from view. She didn't like these men, but she couldn't really make out what they were saying. But what ever it was they were talking about the girl knew it wasn't anything good.
After a few minuets the men dispersed in different directions and even when she could not hear their footsteps any longer, Amy didn't come down. So here she was like a cat stuck in a tree. Some time ago she had heard some one calling her name, but it wasn't the usual maid or attendant. This voice was different. Amy didn't recognize it as Raphael's and was reluctant to wake from her dreamless sleep.
If it wasn't Raphael, then she didn't care WHO it was. Eventually the voice stopped calling her name. That was a while ago.
Amy continued to sleep, her knees pulled to her chest arms hugging them tightly wishing that Raphael would come to seek her out as she had a lot to tell him. It was during this time that her ears picked up soft music in the distance. It surprised her a great deal as no one she knew in the manor could play. Piquing her interest, the girl slowly opened her eyes.
The sun was a blazing orange disk in the evening sky, had she really slept that long?
Brushing back her red fringe with a hand, her deep green eyes looked around as she heard the music again. The song was lovely and wasn't like any she'd ever heard before.
"No one I know in the manor can play, unless there is some one new around." As she thought of this, she remembered Raphael telling her the night before of a friend he had brought with him from Athens. She was to meet him last night at dinner, but his friend hadn't appeared. Raphael hadn't said much about him to her other than he was a friend with rather unique attributes. Amy didn't care really if she met him or not, but it did strike her as strange when Raphael referred to him as a 'friend'. Raphael had friends?
Now that she thought about this, her interests started to grow. What kind of person was this friend? He had to be unique if Raphael called him a friend. For as long as she's known the man, he had no need for such people except to use or deceive. And those he called contacts or acquaintances.
The song continued to play and the longer it did, the more Amy wanted to find its source.
Its sound was so clear and seemed to sing to her in a language that could not be earthly. But where was it coming from? Scanning the area from her high perch Amy could not locate its precise source. If she wanted to find it, she'd have to go and look for it. After one last look around, the small girl clambered down from her hiding spot and landed lightly on her feet. Judging by the music, it couldn't be far from where she is and so she followed her ears.
The manor's estate was a large portion of land, and much of that land was grazing land. Behind the Manor was a large pasture and stables for the manor's lord. Amy had never met the man either but the horses she saw there was among the most elegant and she even heard they were famed the fastest in the providence.
As she approached this place the music got significantly louder and the young girl soon spied its source.
Perched upon the thick wooden fence was a strange fellow with his hood drawn over his head and an instrument to his lips. He reminded the girl of the type from the stories she heard in the slums. Fairy tales didn't mean much to her as they were just a bunch of childish nonsense, but some how she managed to remember a particular fairy tale about a pied piper that got rid of the town's rat problem by playing the pipe.
Only the crowd he was attracting was not those of rats but the horses.
A soft gentle breeze picked up in a most mysterious manner billowing the dark cloak about the man and Amy caught sight of the strange clothes he donned beneath and the sword at his side. Dressed in strange garments that made it obvious to the girl that he was not from around here and that he was a fighter as the sword looked more like a saber. And sabers were not common in these parts as noblemen preferred the long and thin swords as they were more elegant. She should know, Raphael told her a few times before.
He played an instrument she did not recognize right off. But what was more amazing was the large crowd he was attracting with his music. All the horses in the field were either in the small gathering around the man or standing still with their heads and ears turned his way. Amy had seen many things in her life but nothing such as this! Could it be possible? He was placing an enchantment on the poor beasts?
Before she could make her move, before she could even open her mouth to shout a warning, the playing stopped and it felt as though the spell was broken. Amy wanted to scold herself.
Magic, spells and fairy tales, they didn't exist.
"Raphael has been looking for you, Amy." The figure spoke before turning to face her.
Whether it was because he was keen to know her presence or the fact he spoke of Raphael by name, Amy stood there speechless the words fled from her in that instant. She became angry as she was never at loss for words.
The man wasn't much of a man as she first thought, but young features spoke of years no more than two or three summers than her. His eyes captured her attention in that instant as they were deeply blue and clear like the skies overhead.
When she could find her voice it was suspicious and accusing. "You, you must be the friend that my father spoke about. And seeing that you speak of him by his real name I can only imagine that it is the truth."
Strangely the youth smiled hopping off the fence, the horses behind him slowly began to disperse, Amy faltered back a step instinctively, but it wasn't because she feared this.boy.
"Oh, so you are Raphael's daughter then." His eyes regarded her with something of surprise. "I don't mean to be rude, but you don't look anything like your father."
"That's because I'm adopted." She quickly returned a bit bitterly. What was with this guy? Her answer caused the stranger to rub his neck a bit embarrassed but the smile never faded.
"Sorry, I should have guessed."
Well he was certainly different Amy quietly mused to herself. He didn't talk down to her as every adult did and tended to do, and she liked that. As she thought of this she remembered the weapon he carried and her suspicion flared again. It could all be an act. What if he was one of those men she had seen in the forest?
"Are you a fighter?"
The question seemed to startle him and those angular eyes went wide before that smile was back on his face. "Ah, yes I guess you could say that."
Inclining her head she asked; "Are you any good?"
"I used to think so, but then your father showed me otherwise." The stranger laughed a little uneasy this time. "But I suppose it's true what they say, there's always somebody better. Oh I almost for got." The stranger said suddenly and here he knelt before her still smiling. "My name is Link; it's a pleasure to meet you Amy."
While her experiences earlier in life had validated her mistrust in strangers, there was something about Link that made her want to trust him.
If only it was so easy. If she had been anyone else but herself, she would have given into this boy's charms a long time ago. But she refused to leave herself open like that, afraid that it still might be a ploy. She had been betrayed too many times and had seen too many people stepped on in her life that made her fiercely determined not to become one of them. Turning away quickly Amy felt a little better now that she wasn't staring into those trusting eyes.
"We should be making our way back now." She said stiffly. "My father did send you to get me didn't he?" With out turning she could hear Link standing. "I don't know why he still insists on worrying about me."
"Well, I'm not one to talk as I don't know him all that well." Link's voice said uncertainly. "But I think they worry because they care. I know it seems stupid, but it's one of the ways they show they care. At least that's what I think, I know I never wanted anyone to worry about me, but it made me happy to know that people cared about me."
Amy almost stopped in her tracks as she hadn't expected him to say what he did. The truth of his words hit her as she had always felt the same. In a strange way, it was nice. But Amy didn't say this as she was convinced that adults thought they knew everything.
"It's a waste." She suddenly said feeling something stir with in her. "Kindness.You're only leaving your self open to be hurt..There's no place for it." Her voice dropped to a whisper as she said the last part as if convincing her herself.
"What?" Link asked almost taken aback by her words. But Amy grew tired of talk and she shook her head with out looking before suddenly taking off.
"Must you walk so slowly? You're like a turtle! Did you come to fetch me or lecture me? Really!" Amy didn't want to hear anymore, at least not now. She refused to believe that anyone was that good. It was fake, all of it was, and kindness was nothing more than an act that people used to take advantage of other people.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Link watched the girl take off to the house a little stunned by the girl's words. When he had first laid eyes upon her, he could tell no, FEEL that wall that kept him out to protect what was within. He had suspected then that she did not have such a happy life and this proved it. It made him wonder just how many times she had been hurt or stepped on to make her this way. Her eyes were hard and cold and he could feel her shying away from his words when he tried to comfort her.
He had seen this kind of thing before, but never in one so young. People like Amy had closed their hearts to the world so they could avoid being hurt. So much he had wanted to assure her that he was not a threat. Link had tried so hard to tear down those walls with his hands and teeth, but he knew that what must have taken her a long time to build up would not crumble so easily because he had asked it to. But that never discouraged him.
No one deserves to feel that way, especially one at her age. And Link didn't care if that was life, because he believed that if there was someone who could hurt a person's heart as such, then it was true that there was also someone who could heal that heart. And even if he could not tear down the walls, he had hoped that he would at least chip away at each stone so that it might crumble a little and it's walls would be climbable.
Walking back slowly Link wondered about Amy and of Raphael and many other people he had met during his journeys. Along those lines, his thoughts wandered back to Siegfried who he worried about each passing day, and of Talim who must be worried sick about him.
So lost in thought was he that he didn't notice Raphael in one of the large windows watching him carefully, accompanied by another man.
His dark hair was pulled back in a small short rat- tail. He donned dark leather from beneath a thick mantel. Raphael had turned to say something to him, but the man did not lift his gaze from Link as if seeing past the cloak that obscured the elf's face from his vision. His cold eyes only turned colder as his thin lips curled into an ugly smile. An ugly smile that was probably no smile at all.
If only Link had looked, he would have seen the dangers that lay before him in the man's eyes and would have known that his life was in grave danger.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Darkness.It's all around me and I can feel 'it' moving within me, can feel it's fiery talons digging into my soul trying to take me. It hurts so much, almost as much as all the injuries I've suffered from that damn Astaroth. Damn him, I'll get him back. We'll find him soon because we're getting closer. The pain grows and so does it's voice.
The Soul Edge's voice, I can hear it. The stronger it gets the less I feel in control. I'm running out of time, I've got to get up even though I feel like hell. I've got to do what I can. I've got to help the others, I have to~
~Wake up.
Siegfried opened his eyes feeling as though it took what ever strength he had remaining to do so. The darkness that pervaded his senses for so long left him as if allowing him to go. But along with it, Siegfried felt as though it were stealing something back, some horrible memory that he was not to remember. The knight became aware then of everything that had been happening, of all the voices, human or otherwise speaking to him, the feeling the cool cloth against his face and the liquid being forced down his throat, and those horrible dreams.
His throat felt parched and dry and there was a chalky metallic taste there that made him flinch. His body felt as heavy as lead and it hurt to move his head.
'How long have I been asleep?' Half-lidded eyes focused on the endlessly blue sky. Was he outside? Where was he?
Siegfried had remembered that he and the others had gone to Athens, stayed at an inn...
"And I awoke to the sudden burning in my chest, but that only happens when." The sudden realization made him catch his breath, the fear jolting him fully awake.
Oh God, oh God please..What had happened?
Siegfried forced himself to sit up, ignoring the sharp pains as his body protested to the sudden movement. But after a few seconds they dulled to a mere throbs. He swept his surroundings with a glance half-expecting to find dead bodies of his comrades and other innocents scattered about. But thankfully he found not one. So then what.?
"Siegfried!!" A female voice called. Turning his head slightly to find it's source, Siegfried saw Talim and Xianghua running up to him followed by Kilik.
Relief washed over his form and he felt as though he could cry.
'They're okay, nothing happened. Thank the heavens.Nothing bad had happened yet.'
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: Just as I promised another chapter. Sorry if there is no action, but I like to think of it as the calm before the storm. This was the last chapter I needed to complete the set up and hopefully things will kick up in the next chapter. For all that have asked for those pictures, I will send them to you as promised! I hope that you will like them, and that if I happen to draw anymore (I actually illustrated another scene of Raphael and Link in the library!^^) I'll be sure to let you know. The picture I send out to you is actually what inspired me to go ahead and write this fic! And like the fic please let me know if you like it! Critics are welcome of course. I'll see you in the next update! Let me know how I did in this one as usual. ^^;
~Hero Genkaku