June, 2020: From here on out, chapters are at a level of quality that I'm at least somewhat satisfied with. Obviously they get way better towards the end, as I've grown and improved over time. If you've made it this far through the unedited chapters, then wow, thanks for enduring that. Haha
COUNTING STARS
Chapter 20: Pawn
O, it's been quite some time since I seen the sun
I won't be out for years…
The guard comes 'round with keys and a gun
The prisoners, his worst fear…
"Will you shut up?" demands the petulant voice of Ghirahim.
His cellmate, Ekpemofuna, tosses a sideways smile over his shoulder. "It is simple folk song. Boss man like when we sing it."
Brows knotted, Ghirahim scoffs dramatically. "Why?"
With a yellow-toothed grin, Ekpemofuna answers through the slow and deliberate articulation of his foreign accent: "Bring support and brotherhood to us prisoner. Band us together against common enemy."
"Common enemy?"
"Prison guard, boss man say."
Ghirahim huffs in frustration, clawing his hand through his long white hair. "Is everything you do here dedicated to your stupid boss?" he grumbles.
"I tried help you, guppy," he laments. "You still have lot to learn. Show respect for higher power."
"Now you're just saying exactly what he said," mutters Ghirahim, put off by the man's recent uncharacteristic demeanor. "It's like you're all under his little spell."
When Ekpemofuna turned to offer him another grin, Ghirahim swore he saw a flash of red—the same color of the gem on Majora's strange pendant—within his cellmate's eyes.
Saturday, December 1
"Link, are you listening?" asks the voice of Sheik, a not-so-subtle hint of frustration in his tone.
I snap out of my apparent trance, blinking back spots to clear my vision and refocus. "Huh?"
"You were daydreaming," begins Mido, an accusative frown creasing his freckled forehead, "weren't you?"
"Yeah," I say untruthfully. "Daydreaming."
Actually, it was another strange vision. This was the first time it wasn't in my sleep, however, and this is the second time I've envisioned Ghirahim. Perhaps something suspicious is happening at Death Mountain Prison. But how am I even getting these seemingly-impossible visions? What's even causing them?
I meet my friends' gazes. Sheik, Mido, Pipit, and Mikau all eye me with suspicion as we walk down the cobblestone road of the Tri-District, our destination unknown. "We were in the middle of convincing Mikau to kick Lulu's mooching ass to the curb," explains Pipit with an ardent nod, "since she only came crawling back to him because his band is having success."
"No," counters Sheik, "we were in the middle of disagreeing with you because Mikau can do whatever he wants."
"No, we were in the middle of suffering and wanting this conversation to end," adds Mikau meekly. "Oh wait, that's just me."
"What do you think, Link?" Mido questions with an expectant raise of the eyebrows.
"Why does it matter?" I ask, rolling my eyes. "It's his decision in the end. Have you considered that?"
"But we're his governing council," affirms Pipit, pumping a fist for emphasis. "We make the decisions, he just takes the blame for them."
Mikau, the subject of this fatuous discussion, has remained mostly silent, visibly peeved. When he meets my eyes with a piqued, imploring look, I deem it best to intervene. I turn to Pipit. "You of all people should know not to keep someone from being happy," I tell him pointedly, in reference to the recent conversation he and I'd had.
He fixes a perplexed frown on me, seemingly taken aback. "What? Why me?"
I send him a meaningful glare, a visible You know what I'm talking about, but he returns me a convincing look that counters, No I don't.
"Remember that girl? Orielle?" I prod, suspicious of his sudden defensiveness. "She's the one you called 'special,' right?"
"Another one-timer. I don't know what you're talking about," he says, and I wouldn't blame the others if they believed him. They would never suspect that it's just an act, and never would they think that Pipit is different from how they've always known him.
Why's he doing this? I ask myself. Perhaps he's embarrassed to have revealed that side of himself to me, and his ego is taking over his true feelings. Maybe he was only saying that just to get me to come back to our group of friends, and now that I'm here, he dropped the act and went back to his old self. Or, alternatively, maybe I really am going crazy and hallucinated that whole conversation. It's possible.
An odd silence has settled upon our group since my small run-in with Pipit, and the only ones seeming to enjoy it are me and Mikau. I enjoy the lack of meaningless bickering, and he is just glad to no longer be taking any more heat for getting back with Lulu.
Still uncertain of our plans, we continue to walk aimlessly through the Tri-District below the imposing spires of Hyrule Castle that loom overhead. Most Saturdays keep this area teeming with tourists, but with the chill of early winter, the cobblestone paths are devoid of the throngs of awestruck sightseers. Besides the five of us, the only other signs of life are commuters who travel by foot, or miscellaneous shoppers scattered scarcely across the block.
"Where are we even going?" inquires Mido abruptly, addressing the question none of us would ask.
"I thought you were taking us somewhere," says Pipit.
"Well I thought you were."
"So we've just been walking nowhere this whole time?"
As the five of us go silent once again, I feel an uneasy chill run down my spine—and this time, it's not the cold weather. My hand beginning to tingle, I flick my eyes from side to side, scanning the surrounding area for danger. But as I noticed earlier, the block isn't crowded. At second glance, however, it seems to be… empty. I swallow hard, knowing that, in my experience, deserted streets sometimes bring bad omens.
"Let's, um…" I begin, gulping, "find a place to—"
A sudden deep, bone-rattling bellow sounds off from behind us, freezing us in our tracks.
Slowly, I turn my head backward, and catch sight of a blurry, gargantuan hand right before it claps the side of my body. I'm flung into my friends as a crushing pain erupts in my side and ribs, and the five of us are toppled over like bowling pins, yelps and grunts emitted as we fall.
Hand clutched tight at the source of my pain, I stagger to my feet, the rest of the boys following after me. Ridden with terror, Mikau, Sheik, and Mido stare up at the towering behemoth with quivering lips and quaking legs. I, too, show my intimidation as I look up at the most terrifying monster I've ever seen. A gray-skinned, red-maned, lion-headed centaur stands before us, piercing yellow eyes peering down as it emits a beastly snort. Two horns jut out from the forehead, and a dark scar accents its cheek just below the eye. The creature's toned muscles ripple as it paws one hoof at the pavement, snarling menacingly at us. We stand here, mere snack food to such a brute, and take slow, miniscule steps backward.
"What the hell is that thing?" whispers Sheik frantically, nudging my arm.
"How should I know?" I shoot back.
"You're the one who spends the most time in the city!"
Our eyes stay locked with the lion-centaur-thing, and I can't help but wonder how this colossal monster stayed hidden in a bustling city. Maybe it was just born into this world. If so, Ganondorf must be summoning a whole army of demons, what with the increased monstrous activity in recent weeks. What could that mean? Maybe Ganondorf has grown impatient, and he and Zant are preparing to storm Hyrule Castle like they've been planning for so long. Or, he is aware of his depleted gang, and he's compensating for the loss of allies.
Even if I knew the answer, that doesn't solve the problem of the angry cat-pony-man in front of us. "Here's the plan," says Pipit in a shaky whisper, ignoring the dubious looks from the rest of us. "We all run in separate directions, and the slowest one takes one for the team."
"I like that idea."
"Me too."
"I don't!"
"Because you're slower than us."
I don't engage in their stupid argument, although the plan Pipit suggested would likely save all of their lives and just leave me to the danger. Not that I'm the slowest. Instead, these monsters are geared to hunt down a Triforce bearer.
The beast stamps its hoof against the pavement once more. "Pipit," I begin slowly, "we'll use your plan. Scatter."
"No!" Mido hisses in protest. "My stubby legs aren't fast enough!"
"It will follow me," I assure him, eyes still locked with the beast's. "I'll make sure it does."
Sheik shakes his head, gripping my shoulder with his hand. "No. We're not gonna let you die. We're not scattering."
I take my eyes off the beast and turn my gaze to Sheik, a smirk on my lips. "I won't die. And now…" I look back at the creature and feel the adrenaline beginning to rush through my veins. "…you don't have a choice." With that, I break off into a run, darting toward the nearest alley.
"No!" yells Sheik hopelessly. Pipit, Mikau, and Mido drag him along, until the four of them all run for their lives in different directions.
The rush of the brisk wind against my face is rejuvenating, invigorating.… I would be having the time of my life if not for the small fact that a mythical behemoth is trying to rip my skull off. As soon as I'd fled to the alley, the creature roared with flames bursting from its maw before bounding off after me.
I sprint through the alley, my pursuer just now arriving at its entrance. With a quick glance over my shoulder, I see the beast's claws ripping through the building's wall as it bursts into the alleyway in hot pursuit. An opening to the right comes into vision, and I quickly cut into it. I repeat these actions several times over, darting left and right between new alleyways, making a seemingly-fruitless attempt to lose the beast. Heart hammering as I vault over an overturned dumpster, I hear it claw through a corner of another building and let out a predatory roar. It's gaining on me.
At this point, I wonder if I can sit and hide and allow it to pass by. I could look for an alcove of some sort, or hide in a building. No, that wouldn't work—it can sense my Triforce!
My side throbs where the monster had clobbered me, my breath beginning to grow ragged. I can feel it getting closer, closer. With another cut through an alley, I slow to a trot with the gut-sinking feeling that I've arrived at a dead end. I turn around to go back when a harrowing sight freezes me in my tracks. A malicious, imposing paw digs its claws into the brick structure of one building's corner, and the beast comes around and blocks off the exit with its muscular build. It puffs plumes of hot air out flared nostrils, glowing eyes set on its prey, red mane flowing out and behind its prideful head.
My heart thuds heavily, and my legs begin to quiver as twin senses of hopelessness and fear threaten to take over. I find myself backing away, the predator stomping forward to trap me. Is this how it ends? Courageous hero reduced to a sniveling infant, incapable of putting up a fight? Farore herself would be ashamed.
With a crude sense of realization, I recall this alley being the very one that we'd been in on Halloween night. It was the first time Pipit, Sheik, and Mikau had seen a monster—a moblin, it happened to be. How ironic…. This lion-demon is the second one they've seen. Mido's first. Poor kid must be in hysterics.
How did we manage to get out of that situation? We were cornered at this dead end, then climbed a ladder—
The ladder!
I turn to my left, and sure enough, there it is. The beast charges forward upon seeing me make a mad dash for the rusty contraption hanging from the brick wall. I spring up and latch onto the metal bars, hoisting myself up and leaping off each step. The beast is directly below me, and it leaps up to try to pull me down. I climb faster, but can't avoid the beast's claws that rake down my back. I stifle a scream of agony, biting down on my lip as my grip on the ladder threatens to loosen. I kick up off the step, pain erupting in my new wounds as sticky blood oozes out and trickles down my body. I fight through the pain, climbing faster and faster up toward the roof. The beast jumps again, but luckily I've climbed out of reach. It lets out an infuriated roar, and I feel myself relax.
Nearing the roof, I muse how coincidental it was that I happened to arrive at the same dead end where I'd previously found a ladder. How unlikely and extremely lucky that I'd find such an easy way out. It's almost poor storytelling.
Out of my peripheral vision I notice an orange light coming from below me; I drop my gaze to the beast. With a frightened yelp I realize the light is emanating from its maw—it's about to breathe fire.
Frantically yanking myself up the ladder, skipping two steps at a time, I climb and climb and climb as I feel the heat quickly and gradually increase and I don't want to get burned!
I leap over the edge and onto the roof, unceremonially plopping on my back as I watch the beast's fireball soar high into the sky, searing right through where I had just been. With a sigh of relief, I close my eyes, taking calming breaths before slowly rising to my feet. My back's wounds cause me to grunt painfully, spots appearing in my vision as I begin to feel woozy. When I turn my head with a strangled cough, I see a familiar figure, bent over with his back turned.
"Dark?"
My doppelgänger turns, then smiles through his confusion. "Oh, hey, Link," he says, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other. One arm is held behind his back, presumably concealing something.
"What's in your hand?"
Dark bites his lip, then reveals the rifle he'd been hiding. I immediately storm over to him, take the gun, then position it against my shoulder and point it down at the alley. "Link—" He starts to protest, but I pull the trigger once, twice, three times.
The beast lies dormant at the bottom of the alley, three bullet holes in its forehead.
"What did you just do?!" Dark demands, eyes wide in shock, apparently too afraid to look for himself.
I scoff, perplexed by his density. "You didn't hear those noises?"
"I thought it was my stomach."
I throw my hands up in frustration. "Do you not understand the problem here?"
He gazes upon me with innocent eyes, replying meekly, "…I had tacos."
"Not tha—No!" I shout, tempted to throw him off the building. I point down into the alley. "Look!"
He complies, placing his hands on the edge and peering over. Dark's jaw falls agape, and he turns to me. "A lynel," he mutters. "Those are some of the toughest monsters from the dark world."
"Makes sense," I murmur slowly, turning around to show him my bloody back. "Considering this is what it did to me."
"It got you?" he asks with an incredulous drop of the jaw. "What about the friends you said you were hanging out with today?"
"They ran," I explain, nodding once, "and I lured that… that lynel."
We watch as the beast below deteriorates into a puff of purple smoke. Then, coming toward me, Dark withdraws some bandages from his pouch to tend to my wounds. "I keep these nowadays since you're always so… reckless," he tells me.
"I like to call it heroic."
"Sure. Put the gun down, please," he implores, "before I touch you."
"Why did you even have it?" I inquire, peeling off my ripped and stained jacket and tee shirt to allow better access to the wounds. The cold air bites at my bare skin, and even more so at my bleeding cuts. A shiver runs down my body.
Dark wraps a tan cloth diagonally over my shoulder and across my back, adding additional layers to cover each individual claw mark. "Well," he begins, tightening the wrap and ignoring my grimace of discomfort, "as you know—obviously, after today—the monsters are coming out during the day now, so I wanted to hunt most of 'em down before they hurt anybody."
"You missed one."
Dark frowns, crudely tying off the makeshift bandage. "Clearly," he grunts.
"Where'd you get it?"
"I broke into Agahnim's licensing office," says the boy with a proud grin. "It was strapped under the desk. I also stole two thousand rupees from his safe."
I smile widely, clapping him on the back. "That's my boy."
Sunday, December 2nd
"How did you survive?!" exclaims Mikau, slamming his hands on the table at the lounge.
"I just ran," I tell the boy and three friends sitting beside him, all wide-eyed and in disbelief.
"No," says Pipit, shaking his head. "That lion thing was so much bigger and scarier than that moblin. There's no way anybody could've lived through that! You—you pulled a prank on us!"
I roll my eyes. "Did I? Really?" I drawl.
"Yes!" he insists, pounding an ardent fist on the table. "It was probably some kind of hologram—"
I sigh, then lift up my shirt and turn to show them my back. Their eyes fall upon the scabbed claw marks, which have begun healing very quickly, and Pipit and Mikau each stifle a gasp. Mido and Sheik, who have been oddly quiet, even show signs of awe.
"Link," Mido chimes calmly, "um… thank you."
I wave off the gratitude, shaking my head lightly. "No big deal," I tell him.
I honestly wasn't expecting a thank you. That has never been my goal—the attention from those I help. In fact, right now I'm barely trying to help anybody. I'm just doing so indirectly; I want to take down Ganondorf to get revenge, and simultaneously, the streets will become safer. But I'm not in it for fame. If anything, I prefer staying under the radar.
Friday, December 7th
Under the light of the full moon, I leap across the wide gap between buildings, tumbling onto the roof. Peering over the edge, I catch sight of the four friends walking nonchalantly down the opposite sidewalk. An all-too-familiar boy leads the way, three girls along with him. "What is he doing?" I find myself saying aloud.
Six days remain, and still no signs of Zant. The past few days I've started to feel the pressure of the deadline for completing the deal, so I've joined Dark in the nightly searches. Consequently, I've been running on four hours of sleep every day since.
"Maybe he knows we're coming for him," Dark had suggested one night. "He could just be hiding out in their base."
His words linger on my mind. What if Dark's right? I would most definitely fail. So what do we do? Lure Zant out of hiding?
Earlier today, I'd decided that I needed a second mind to come up with an idea. In turn, I'd gone to find Dark, and by some stroke of luck I'd found him right as he was about to leave—with three other people. Midna, of course, and surprisingly Malon. At sight of the third girl, my heart skipped a beat as I was thrust into an emotional rollercoaster of memories.
Zelda.
All the happiness and fun countered by guilt and nervousness in the first month we'd spent together.… All the stress and regretful obligation in the successive month we'd spent apart. All of it came rushing at me at once, and it took most of my strength not to break down into another anxiety attack, and most of my willpower not to go approach her.
But still… I found myself wondering. I'm on the brink of succeeding in my ultimate goal, and once I no longer have a target on my back I will have no further reason to remain a lone wolf. I would finally be able to give Zelda what I couldn't before—because now, this time around, she could be safe.
But time had worn thin, and the four of them had walked nearly out of sight by the time I recovered from my stupor. Overcome by emotion, I decided to keep them in sight. That way, I would give myself more time to think about it. Also, nights are very dangerous, and even though they have Dark, I can offer additional protection. And, more importantly, I can search for Zant at the same time. Three birds with one stone.
So here I am, atop a rickety rooftop on a cold winter night, watching the four friends down below as they amble down the sidewalk. A breeze flutters my green cap, and I turn to go jump across to the next roof. The problem is, this time, the next building is taller. The wall that faces me has no windows, no ledges or footholds of any kind. I glance quickly to my right and see a gutter pipe that runs all the way to the top. There.
Quietly scaling the pipe, I flick my eyes toward the group, making sure I've remained unseen. Pulling myself up onto the roof, I smile proudly to myself, then look up.
A bokoblin stares me right in the face.
I yelp frantically as it lurches in my direction, hands clawing at the space in front of me. I swat its gaunt arms away, then kick the bokoblin square in the belly. It falls back with a grunt, rolling sideways toward the edge. The creature staggers to its wobbly feet, gritting its teeth.
I frown, sensing the distant presence of energy from within me. Raising my hand, I aim for the monster and fire off a bolt of electricity; it strikes the bokoblin in the chest, sending it flying off the roof with a pained squeal.
The bokoblin hits the ground with a thud, disappearing into thick smoke. "What was that?" someone says down below.
I scramble to a crouching position, hiding myself from view. Stupid! I chastise myself. Why didn't I think about knocking that monster off the roof first?
"Probably nothing," responds Dark's voice, and then they are silent, presumably continuing on their way.
I huff, relieved, and poke my head back up to see. They are parallel to me across the street, but I notice that they have stopped walking, eyes directed toward my general location. My breath hitches, and then I realize that they are looking lower; I follow their gaze to the alley below. That's when I notice a tall, cloaked figure walking toward them, hesitantly at first. When he speaks, I strain to hear the words.
"M-Middie?" calls the man, cocking his long head to the side.
Taking a small step back, Midna's eyes widen. "Zant," she breathes, eyes narrowing.
Zant!
The frail man scuttles the rest of the way across the street, a jubilant smile amid his taut lips as he throws up his arms. Dark's body grows rigid, attempting to hide his face with his hand as Zant quickly approaches. "It's been so long since I've seen my beloved little sister!" he gushes, coming to a stop at the edge of the sidewalk.
Sister? What's with Castle Towners and their complex familial ties?
"Zant, please," implores the girl, a pleading look in her eye, "leave us alone. We're busy."
"But—" The man freezes. His eyes widen, and, removing the hood of his cloak, he finally recognizes Dark. "Shadow," he states calmly, to which Dark sends him an indignant frown. "Midna, you—You cannot associate with that boy!" He points to Dark, snarling and baring pearly fangs.
"What are you—"
As the man approaches, fingers curling, Dark raises a hand warningly. He steps in front of the trio of girls, crimson eyes narrowing into threatening slits. "Zant, back up. Don't try anything."
Malon, eyes wide in fear, cowers behind her protector as Midna stares at her brother with frightened irritation. Meanwhile, Zelda stays back, on edge, in spite of the intrigued glint in her eye.
I watch the exchange, ready to take action if need be. I take note of a power line running from the corner of the rooftop to a lamppost across the road, just feet away from Zant and my friends. But there's something else I need; I begin to rummage through my pouch.
"Hero isn't here to protect you this time, shadow," hisses Zant.
Dark shrugs nonchalantly. "He's actually my sidekick, so."
The pair stands still, eyes locked, and wait for the other to make the first move. Then, Zant suddenly lunges forward at Dark, swinging at the boy's skull. Dodging it, Dark leaps to the side, and Zant uses the space to dash to the trio of girls.
He grabs Zelda, a lanky arm wrapped tightly around her neck, a bony hand stifling her cry of fright. She thrashes against him, elbowing him repeatedly in the ribs, but the tall man doesn't budge. Dark gasps and raises his fist, starting towards him, but Zant's high-pitched voice halts him. "Come with me, shadow. Or she dies."
"Zant, what are you doing?! Let her go!" yells Midna frantically as Malon watches with wide, teary eyes.
Zelda, looking at Dark, shakes her head. Don't do it.
But Dark steps forward, hands up in surrender. Zant's thin lips curl into a feral smile. Releasing his hold on Zelda and pushing her away, Zant goes to grab Dark. Zelda, Malon, and Midna watch Zant's hand latch onto Dark's shoulder, before the boy swats it away and knees the tall man in the crotch, followed by a subsequent uppercut to the face. Zant falls to the ground, but latches onto Dark's foot, yanking and bringing him down too.
Back on the rooftop, I find what I've needed. I wrench that stupid, cliché cape—the one that Dark had given me when he'd gotten our "superhero" outfits—out of my pouch. Twisting the cape into a roll, I break out in a run toward the power line, then jump. The cape-roll catches the wiring, and I ride the makeshift zip line to the parallel lamppost.
Back down below, Zant scrambles to his feet, lifting his foot up to stamp it into Dark's head. He dodges, rolling sideways on the ground. Zant pounces down onto the boy, latching his hands onto his neck. Dark attempts to pry the man's arms off of him, but to no avail.
"Dark! No!" cries Midna as the three girls rush to his aid, but are flung aside by Zant's powerful shoves. Dark chokes for breath, striking his assailant in the face as he continues to be strangled.
I leap off the lamppost immediately upon arrival and aim my land so precisely, so strategically, that I use all my momentum to throw a cracking punch to the side of Zant's skull. Zant cripples, and I hit the ground hard, fist throbbing from the impact.
Gasps are emitted from behind me, and Dark heaves heavy breaths amid hacking coughs. I offer him a hand; he takes it gingerly, and I pull him up. "Call the cops," I order. "Now."
He nods dutifully, replying in a mirthless tone, "Okay, L—Hero."
I turn, stealing a glance at the trio of girls. Midna has a relieved smile on her face in spite of the tears that roll down her pale cheeks. Malon, meanwhile, stares at me—the wanted vigilante before her—with unblinking eyes and a fallen jaw.
I catch sight of Zelda, thirdly, whose face displays the utmost complexity of emotions to the point where her feelings are almost unreadable. A mixture of relief and nostalgia, as displayed in her eyes, along with a combination of disdain and sadness, as shown by her weakened frown. I tear my gaze away, sensing the tension in the air, and force myself to leave. Eyes linger on my back, and I stare at my feet as they take me farther and farther away from the people I'd just saved.
"I'd like to report that Hero has taken down another gang member and left him to be taken into police custody…" comes Dark's gradually-fading voice as he talks into his cell phone.
"This is why our parents disowned you," Midna's faint voice says to what I assume is Zant's unconscious body.
I'm glad I intervened. Dark was about to be captured, or die. But it was made clear that Zelda did not want to see me. And after considering to maybe try again with her, that was enough to make me want to leave.
Gods, how stupid am I? I hadn't even considered—hey, maybe she doesn't want to be with you anymore. Ever thought of that?
By the time I've arrived in a small park, I've slowed to a stop. It's quiet, vacant; then I notice the small flakes of snow beginning to float down from the heavens, settling peacefully on the ground below. I figure that I've arrived in Westcastle, the neighborhood closest to Hyrule Academy, due to the nearby apartment complexes I see through the trees.
At the sound of soft footsteps behind me, I slowly turn around.
"How did you know that guy would be there?" asks Zelda, arms wrapped around herself to keep warm.
I take off the black mask, revealing my eyes, and remove my green cap. Gazing at her longingly, I grunt, "Yeah, you're welcome."
"Answer the question."
My lips stay sealed.
A brief moment passes, and when she realizes I won't answer, Zelda steps closer. Her blonde hair falls elegantly down her back, crowned on her head by a warmly-knit hat. She wears a long scarf that wraps around her neck, just below her pink cheeks, and hangs down to her waist. "Have you been following me?" she breathes, voice just above a whisper.
Brows furrowed, I shake my head defensively. "No, I—I was following Zant."
"We heard a sound behind us before that happened, and it didn't come from his direction."
Defeated, I don't respond once again.
Zelda sighs. "I knew it." She looks at me, sadness in her eyes, as I drop my gaze to the snow-covered ground. "How often do you follow me?"
I meet her gaze again, thinking before my answer. "I don't.… Just tonight."
Zelda tips her head slightly to the side. "Why did you?"
"…Because I miss you," I tell her honestly, in a sincere tone.
Silence ensues. Zelda looks down, breathing slowly, before looking back up at me. "…Please," she tells me morosely, eyes glimmering, "don't do this to me again."
With one last saddened look, she turns on her heel and leaves me standing there, alone and cold.
Thursday, December 13th
I sit across the table from the mysterious gang lord, masked in my Hero attire, in the secluded room of some fancy restaurant that I cannot pronounce correctly. Two unfamiliar goons stand watch at the door connecting this room to where the "peasants"—as Cia described them—currently dine. That peasants comment did not sit well with me, considering the fact that the meals they order are probably worth more than my entire hometown.
A tempting plate adorned with garlic mashed potatos, some green stuff, a food I have never seen before, and a filet mignon lies in front of me on the table. I nearly blanched seeing the flaming yawn—err, filet mignon. It didn't bring back kind memories from the last time I had tried it. I have not touched it.
Cia had invited me to a celebratory dinner, on the very night this deal between us were to be finished. I had reluctantly accepted, still untrusting of Cia, but eager to discuss getting my reward.
"Hero," she says, a taut smirk splayed out across her lips, "I would like to congratulate you, and thank you, for completing your end of our deal."
"I assume your end will be completed as well," I respond, a hint of hostility mixed in with my tone of expectation.
Cia takes a sip of wine, smiles again, and says, "Of course. We cannot succeed without you, nor you without us."
Despite the constant sensation of uneasiness she causes me, I detect sincerity in her words. Still leaving the meal sitting, I decide to cut to the chase. "What's your plan for getting to Dragmire?"
"Eager, are we? Then let us begin discussing the matter." Cia flips her white hair to the side before locking her fierce maroon eyes with mine. "All known members of the Men of Demise are either locked up, in my captivity, or dead. But in their place, Dragmire has amassed an army. Hundreds of monsters have been summoned from the dark world to serve the Gerudo man. We could have to fight through the army to get to him."
"Where, though?" I question, eyebrows furrowed. "The M.O.D. headquarters?"
"No," she sighs, "for we do not know where that is. We attempted to extract that knowledge from our prisoner, but we didn't want to injure him any further… to the point where he cannot communicate."
I frown indignantly. "…Agahnim," I growl.
"The one you so kindly offered to hand over," muses Cia with a smile. Noticing my humorless countenance, she drops the façade. "Please, Hero. I know you resent your decision. I was merely jesting."
I relax my expression, marginally at best, and sit back in my chair. "Answer my question, then."
"We know where he's going, and when. Remember when my soldiers picked you up from the mansion?"
"Yes," I answer, gesturing for her to continue.
"In the backseat of the van, you and your... sidekick left the maps to Hyrule Castle," she explains, pausing to sip from her glass of wine again. "It detailed Mr. Dragmire's entire plan of infiltration, and when it is to be commenced."
I mentally berate Dark for leaving those valuable maps in the van. But, it seems that it's worked out for the better. "So we're going to intercept him," I say, and she nods. "And his army?"
"He won't bring it," Cia assures matter-of-factly. "They would draw too much attention. But if he does, so be it. They're beasts, armed with claws and teeth. We have skilled fighters, with formidable weaponry."
"So when's he going to the castle?"
Cia smirks, running a hand back through her hand with a giggle. "Midnight."
I try to hide my shock. "Midnight? Four hours from now?"
"Indeed," she affirms with a nod.
Frowning, I ask, "So why'd you call for this meeting tonight?"
Cia laughs, a wide grin spread across her lips. "Don't you see? You're a big part of this plan. I had to get you here just before we initiate it."
"…Why?" I ask, squinting in confusion.
"You'll see soon enough," she sighs, still visibly humored. She reaches for a bottle, about to refill her glass. Then, she gestures toward me with it. "Wine?"
"No," I say with a shake of the head. "I don't drink."
Cia fills her own glass, then reaches for a pitcher in the middle of the table. "Water, then?"
I shrug, then give in. "…Fine."
She fills it, then raises her glass. "A toast," she says, smiling. "To partnership."
I don't repeat her toast, but decide to play along and touch her glass with my own. She drinks, and I take a meager sip.
You know, perhaps I can trust Cia. After all, she's helping me get Ganondorf with a well-thought-out plan. I can already feel the anticipation of getting my revenge, and a woozy smile curls at my lips.
My vision is freckled with colorful spots, and right before a bag is thrown over my head, I notice distantly that Cia is smiling, too.