Chapter Two

The War Yet to Come

" This place gives me the chills. Did you redecorate or something?" Raven shivered only to be answered by Darkness and Silence. " HELLOOOOOOO! Ganondorf? Where are you?" Raven checked in every room and closet until she stumbled upon a statue that almost made her pee in her pants. " AH!" Raven's voice echoed through the whole room. " I thought that Ganondorf was in front of me. Hey, what's this?" She stared at a picture of a young girl and an older man standing next to each other. The girl had white hair and the main had red hair. " Is this his parents?"

" Aunt and Uncle." Ganondorf appeared form knowhere, " Where have you been Miss Kae?"

" Looking for you Ganondorf."

" Oh. Well then you must follow me. I brought you here for a reason." Ganondorf walked off again. They entered a room filled with weapons and potions and saw a Gerudo sewing a patch of some sort. " This is where my plans are made. I draw them on a map and my servant over here sews them on a patch so that they are easier to keep. Great idea don't you think? Nabooru thought it up. She was such a smart woman…"

" Now don't you start talking about your wife Lord Ganon. I don't want you crying all over my newly made maps."

" Yes Grandmother."

" Is she your grandmother?"

" No. We just call her that because she takes us in when we feel lonely. She calms the thieving in our souls and brings out a softer side in us."

" Really?"

" Yes. That's my other job deary." She snorted and went back to her work.

" Funny." Raven said, " So what plans are you making?"

" We are planning to attack Hyrule and finish the Kingdom once and for all. With you as the bait." Ganondorf pinned Raven against a wall and put a blade up to her neck. " Are you wiling to risk your life?"

" No. I wish to go back home."

" Ganondorf! I knew you were behind this!" A woman with golden hair kicked Ganondorf in the back, making some of the blade slide into Raven's throat. " Raven!"

" M-Mother?"

" I'm here sweetheart. Let me see your wound."

" It's just a scratch."

" No it's not. Blood is spilling all over the floor."

" Right. Mother, why are you here?"

" Your husband sent me."

" SEPHIROTH? Why? I told him I could take care of myself."

" It seems that you can't if you get attacked by Ganondorf and not know how to defend against his attacks."

" Did you think that I would think that I would get attacked by him?

" You must be ready for anything my daughter. Even if your most trustworthy comrades say they will never ever hurt you, you still must be prepared. A stronger side is taking over this world and many others and your friends will decide that whichever side is more capable of destroying the side that they are on, they might as well join that side and become just as strong as they are. We must take you to Aeris immediately because that wound of yours is getting worse and worse by the minute."

" But Mother!"

" No buts! If you think that Ganondorf taught you, think again. Ganondorf is a foolish man and he doesn't know left from right. If you think that I will let you fight in a war already half-dead then you must be crazy. Your Father and Kratos were the ones who told Ganondorf to teach you those actions. So really you should be thanking them and calling them your master. Now hurry, we don't have much time." Raven's mother grabbed her by the waist and threw her over her shoulders, " Why did you marry Sephiroth anyway?"

" I thought he would be a protector. Isn't that what you said I should look for? A protector?"

" No. I said you should look for someone that YOU can protect if they swear that they will protect you. Besides, Sephiroth can protect himself."

" Oh. Oopsie-Daisy."

" Right. Now, do you know how to get there?"

" Well, not really. I have just been transported there."

" Transported?"

" Yes. When I've been in the world for no longer than cough sorry. The blood hasn't stopped much."

" Well at least it's not spilling."

" Yeah. Just leaking."

" It's still something that you need not put aside."

" Anyway, I was there for no longer than 30 minutes and then I was lifted into the air and I was transported."

"…That's not good. In what order did you go in?"

" I started at Hyrule, then went to the Forsaken Fortress, then I went to someplace called…Tethe' alla, then went to Midgar and then came back here. Only when I came back here Ganondorf took me."

"…We must make haste. I cannot carry you. Raven, put these on and get ready to fight."

"…But didn't you just say I couldn't fight?"

" Sometimes people change their minds! Now let's go!" she ran down the corridor, staff in hand. Raven sighed and cast Curaga on herself.

" Doesn't she know that I know healing spells?" Raven ran after her mother with her sword in hand and casted another spell to protect them both. Suddenly, a laser beam shot down from the ceiling and almost blinded Raven and her mother. " Agh!"

" It's just me."

" Sephiroth? What are you doing here?"

" Your father called me."

" HOW DO YOU GUYS KNOW HIM???"

" It's a long story and I promise we'll explain it to you once we meet your father. Now Raven come on! You've wasted about 30 minutes of good killing time!" Her mother yelled.

" Fine. But you better tell me the whole story when we get there!" Raven shook her head. A Gerudo guard called after them but Raven killed her. " I can't believe I have to do this…" She sighed and ran out the exit.

" Raven, do you know your way around here?"

" Of course I do! I lived here for most of my life."

" Well then take Sephiroth and I to Hyrule Castle."

" Okay. Can you fly mother?"

" No."

" Then hop on my back. Sephiroth you just follow. This might take awhile."

" Raven, do you think they won't notice a girl with a bleeding neck carrying her mother and a man with one wing flying in the sky?"

" Well if they couldn't see Link from about 20 feet away then I am sure they won't see us flying." Raven said with an uneasy voice.

" Right."

" They couldn't see that kid form 20 feet away?" Raven's father appeared.

" Great. Now we've got the whole crew here. If you can believe it, yes. Is Clara coming?"

" Yes. She should be here in about 10 minutes. While we're waiting why don't you take Sephiroth to Hyrule castle? Your mother doesn't need to go."

" May I ask as to why we need to go?" Raven said stubbornly.

" Find Impa and tell her that you need the music."

" What music?"

" That doesn't concern you!"

" Then why should I even get it if I don't even know what it is! For all I know is that you whipped me and beat me every chance you got!"

" I'm sorry but we had to!"

" Had to what? Was that some kind of 'passion' for me?"

" RAVEN! If you hate your parents that much then why do you side with them? Why side with me for all I care! I've known your father for over 10 years!"

" I DON'T CARE!" Raven started crying and ran off.

" Raven…" Sephiroth sighed.

" Just leave her alone. She's been through a lot. Until Clara gets here we can't do anything. Clara is pretty much the only one who can calm her down. You see, when Raven was young, she was taken from her world and lived in Hyrule. After she found out that this wasn't some fairy tale we had to brainwash her, and take her back to her world. Now she doesn't know what's going on, even though she thinks she does. Sephiroth, I'm afraid you really didn't marry her. Somehow Ganondorf is with the King of Hyrule and with Sylvarant as well. We need to find a way to attack the castle."

" How? Raven's probably gone off to see Impa by now!"

" Then let's stop her!" Sasha responded. To tell the truth, Raven was outside thinking. Why? Why me? I always yell at my parents when I don't need to! And now I have Sephiroth mad at me. I knew I was no good at this kind of stuff! Why of all things, did I have to become a stupid, stupid princess? If it wasn't for me I'd never…someone's behind me. Raven jumped up and drew her knife blade and put it to her mother's throat. Mother… "Raven it's only me…" Raven looked at the ground as she slowly put her blade away.

" I'm sorry. I thought you were Ganondorf."

" At least you were prepared and used smart thinking."

"…….Thank you." Not sure what to say, Raven hugged her mother and whispered a soft, " I'm so sorry…I don't think I can do this."

" I know. You father thinks you can do you everything."

" That's because she can."

" Stop dad, please, just stop."

" What am I doing Raven?"

" Your life, it is no longer needed in this planet. And I will be the one to end it. Right now." Raven summoned all the powers of darkness and with one hit killed her father.

" Raven…why did you do this?" Her mother calmly asked. When Raven's rage started to grow, she knew it would be best to just ask in a monotone and calm voice.

" He was starting to bother me, that man. He wasn't father, I knew it. Father knows I can't do everything and would've told me that this job wasn't for me to handle. He wasn't father, was he?"

" No, he was."

" Are you sure?"

" No. By the way, where is Sephiroth?"

" I don't know!"

" No need to get frantic Raven I'm right here. Now, when are we going to go to Impa?" Sephiroth patted Raven's back.

" I'm afraid we're a little to late…if we were to try to get to Impa right now, we wouldn't make it. The only thing we can do for now is to go to Lake Hylia and camp-out for tonight."

" The best thing we can do is when we wake up in the morning, go to the front gate and attack them. Sure they will think we are outnumbered but we have two advantages. One, the whole land is on our side! Two, with your, friend I should say Raven, then we can wipe them out!"

" Even better right now is for us to camp-out like she said and just get enough sleep to where we wake up around 3:30 in the morning and fly out over the castle. Then we can go to Impa."

" I agree with Sephiroth mother. If you think of the odds, Ganondorf might be in with the knights too. And some of the Gerudos might be hiding somewhere in there too!"

" Are you sure?"

" Yes."

" How do you know?"

" Father told me. He…is trying to get through us telepathically from inside the castle dungeons. He said he overheard Ganondorf and the King talking about Zelda. Where ever the heck she is…"

" Indeed." An ominous voice agreed. Silence fell over the entire group and drew their weapons as they pointed them in the direction of the voice.

" Who are you?" Raven held the point of her sword at the cloaked warrior.

" What do you mean, 'Who are you'? Don't you know who I am Raven? It's me! Clara!"

" Clara? Who's that?"

" My school friend from, well let's just say from a long time ago."

" I FINALLY FOUND YOU! After you had left that morning I didn't know where the heck you were going so I decided to follow the wind."

" You always said that to mother. Or was it vise versa?"

" Vise versa. Then again, I still morn over poor, poor Eve."

" Indeed. Hey, um, Raven? Isn't that you-know-who over there next to mother?"

" Yep."

" Awesome."

" I know. It's awesome because he whisper whisper yesterday."

" SERIOUSLY?"

" Yep. And then he healed me afterwards."

" Did that hurt?"

" Sorta, he really didn't try his hardest."

" Um…what are you guys talking about?"

" Nothing!"

" When are we going to go to Lake Hylia?"

" Right now, before it gets to late. The night watch usually comes out at this time of night."

" Are you sure?"

" You think I don't know Hyrule? I practically lived there all my life!"

" Well, if you insist…"

" Clara, trust me! You're a Lady Knight for crying out loud! Second of all, you are the third princess and the most, bravest out of the Kae clan! I don't expect my little sister to be so untrustworthy of her older sister! Besides, when we get to Hyrule, Zelda won't be there. There's one thing you won't have to worry about."

" I know that Raven, it's just, I feel some sensation about this place. I feel, that I'll never feel it again. Don't you? Anyone?"

" Now that you mention it…" Sephiroth whirled around, dislocating the neck of the spy that was behind them. Sephiroth ended his life all too quickly, but everyone felt that that person was the one who needed him the most.

" He needed our help." Clara sighed.

" I know, but we must not take risks right now. Who knows? He could've been a spy for Ganondorf's army." Sasha replied.

" I do not think that Ganondorf would send someone for me so soon. He is wiser than we think. For now that is. If we dilly-dally too much longer then we will be exposed. Let us hurry." Raven looked at the sky and smiled at the picture that formed in her eyes. Her friend, Princess Eve, who had sacrificedher life in order to set the girls free from their captivity from Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo Thieves. And yet, Raven felt that she saw Eve wink at her, only to conclude that it was just her imagination. Raven sighed a happy sigh and opened her thoughts as she remembered the day she had first met Sephiroth. Young, handsome, everything she could imagine. Cloud, who was just as cute, had arranged a secret date that only Sephiroth knew about, which started their bond. She then snapped into reality as she realized that she had dozed off in front of everyone. " Forgive me, I was lost in thought."

" Shall we continue on then?" Sephiroth questioned.

" Yes. Once we get to Lake Hylia, we will need to plan our surprise attack."

" I thought we had it planned already!!" Clara exclaimed.

" That was how we got inside. May you please tell us what we do when we are inside?"

"…Forget I said anything…"

" I will. We are approximately 10 miles from Lake Hylia. If you want another destination, we aren't to far from the Lon Lon Ranch. My friend Lisa resides there and we may stay if she lets us."

" Let us use the Ocarina of Time Raven. You have it, don't you?"

" Yes ma'am. I do not know if the spell will work on, let's see, one…two…four people. I have only transported two at a time and that was hard enough. You see, in order to send two or more people you must play that song four times as many people there are. SO, I will have to play the song sixteen times."

" Oh."

" But, there is a catch. You can see where you are going and drop that person off, fly back and then grab another person. It will only take a few minutes."

" Do we even have a few minutes?"

" It's not like we cannot spare some time."

" What, is the Lon Lon Ranch?" Sephiroth quietly asked.

" It's where they raise a special type of cow called a Lon Lon. The milk is exceptionally delicious, and is quite healthy for you. It's like saying you were going to a Chocobo Farm to buy a Chocobo, which we aren't."

" I see. And, um, what exactly are we sleeping on?"

" Don't worry. They have spare bedrooms. It's not like we're sleeping on hay or something."

" They?"

" Just wait until we get there please…"

" Very well." Sephiroth grunted. Raven shook her head and sighed. Always wants the answers. " By the way, I thought you might want this." Sephiroth handed Raven a small dagger completely made of gold. Engraved on the sheath was "Princess of Hyrule".

" Where did you find this? I thought I had lost it."

" When you left Midgar you dropped this. Why do you have it? Isn't magic your main priority?"

" It is, but I had that when I was still training in my magic classes."

" You took magic classes here?"

" Unfortunately, yes." Her mother replied. Raven started the Ocarina of Time and for some odd reason, the Ocarina took everyone to the Lon Lon Ranch.

" We're here!" Clara shouted. The wind was the only one that made a reply, leaving the group in dead silence.

" Something isn't right here. I feel, cold."

" She's right Clara. I think your voice may have startled whoever was here. And it wasn't Lisa either. Clara, I think you may have exposed us a little too soon."

" She didn't mother. I know when the horses are here and when they are not. What I mean is that there is no one to worry about. Her brothers Sora and Riku are here. They don't know you, so the boys probably hid at the sound of your voice. Riku! Sora! It's me, Raven!"

" R-Raven? We thought you were one of those people. Gerudos? Is that what you call them?" Sora slowly slipped out from behind the barn. Riku, and a girl Raven had never seen stepped out too.

" Nope, just my friends and I. Who's the girl with you?"

" Oh, her? Her name is Kairi."

" Kairi is it? Well miss Kairi, it's a pleasure to meet you."

" Thanks. I'm glad we have people to look up to!" Kairi smiled from ear to ear.

" Now, what are you guys doing here?" Sora asked.

" Well, tomorrow morning, around two or so, we are going to sneak into Hyrule Castle and we need to speak with Impa."

" Impa? Haven't you heard? She's dead."

" WHAT!?"

" Yeah, she just died last night, leaving only her room." Riku nodded.

" What do you mean?" Sephiroth was puzzled.

" You see, Zelda has been missing for almost five years now. So is the Hero of Time."

" Who's the Hero of Time? And Zelda?"

" Zelda, is the beloved princess of our country. The Hero of Time, sealed Ganondorf into the Realm of Time years ago. Now Ganondorf is free, but, he has forced everyone to believing that he was not himself years ago. Now he wants to take over Hyrule and other neighboring worlds." Sasha answered.

" He hypnotized me into believing that he was my brother. Now he knows all of my weaknesses that I cannot replace and to top that off, I cannot read his mind like I used to be able to do…"

" That sucks."

" Indeed. "

" Where are you originally from Raven? Cloud says you are from Midgar, but I do not believe him. I feel, we have seen each other before that."

" A dream. "

" Please Raven, be serious here."

" I am. I, remember now…what happened so long ago, when I was only five, when she was born. I saw you. You were just a baby, but a baby nonetheless. My powers were, weakening, and then I was in Midgar."

" Raven…was your past that bad? That you had to make up lies about it?"

" I wasn't. You know that. Far more than anyone I know. Sephiroth, you're the one who's making the lies." Raven transported behind Sephiroth's back and killed the person who was there.

" Okay, what the heck is going on? First I had to kill the spy sent out, and now someone wants to assassinate me? Would someone please tell me why they want to kill me?"

" They don't. They want to kill you." Sasha pointed at Raven and Sephiroth.

" Us?"

" Yes Sephiroth, you and Raven. Not anyone else but you and Raven. The world wants you dead, and this is the price to pay." Sasha took her sword out and sliced off Raven's wings in pain. The blood was black as night and it burned the ground. The stubs, or what was left of it, disappeared and Raven's eyes turned a bright green. Her hair was no longer short, but longer as it was before. She still wasn't completely recovered but it would have to do for now. Her weapons were no longer magic, but three flaming swords. One flame with it's own special power and it's own color of flame. Black, blue and red. How she controlled them, nobody knows. Raven sighed at the thought of losing her wings, yet she then knew that she didn't look like a child anymore. The staff that she carried was infused with magic, but it wasn't that good. "Is Raven going to be okay?" Clara asked.

" Yeah. I am. The wings were a spell not meant to be kept. If I had had these a little longer, I might just have died. And yet, those wings weren't very efficient. The spell on them was very easy to notice."

" Indeed. If we were close to the Hylian Army, the Seven Sages would've spotted you. I do not think we are safe, just yet. We need to stay here Sora. How many rooms do you have?"

"Well, Kairi and Riku and I stay where the cows are and we have three spare bedrooms in the house. We also have a spare shed in the back of the chicken coop that doesn't stink or anything. Take your pick."

" I say we each take our own bedroom. That way if we are found, one of us will only be taken. I will take the weapons and hide them in the barn so no one finds them. It is the safest way to protect Raven."

" I do not believe that we should take our own room. I saw we all stay in the same room. If one of us gets found, then the others can defend." Clara disagreed.

" Sorry Clara, but Mother is right. Although I don't think it would be wise to leave our weapons in the stables…"

" Raven, do you want to be caught with a blade at your neck?"

" Nobody can control our weapons. Sephiroth has his Masamune, I have my Triple Song blades, you have your hands and Clara has the staff that sticks in her pocket. We're fine."

" Raven… I think your mother is right as well. As an ex-general, it is what I would've said as well."

" Fine, be that way. But if we are in a situation where we are outnumbered with no weapons, don't count on mother to kill them all."

" Very well. Everyone, please keep quiet tonight and don't leave your posts. If anything happens, I want you to come to Sephiroth or me. As adults, we know what's best for you guys." Sasha took everyone's weapons, threw them in the stable locked the door. Raven walked to the back of the chicken coop and slammed her door in fury. We're going to die. We're so going to die. There's no way we can defend ourselves. I'm a princess for crying out loud! Why can't they think I have wisdom??? Huh? It's like I'm a moron or something. Raven thought. Idiots. Complete idiots. Knock Knock

" Who is it?"

" It's me Raven."

" Go away. I don't want to talk to you."

" Raven…"

" What!? Do you want to be like mother too? She doesn't know what's best for me! AND NEITHER DO YOU! I WISH YOU WOULD JUST DIE SEPHIROTH!!!!"

"…Then I will. Do you wish to see it?" Raven could hear the sharpening of a small dagger outside.

" Sephiroth…I'M SORRY!" Raven burst out of her room in tears and wept on Sephiroth's arm. " I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE!!!" Raven thought of her friend, Eve watching over her. Nothing was going to happen. As long as the stars were watching them, they would know what to do. " Please, forgive me…"

" Apology accepted. Raven, I wasn't here to tell you what to do and what not to do. Your mother is completely wrong. The weapons are just as you said. Anything could go wrong."

" Then why did you agree with her?"

" I did not want her to look bad. As a mother she is probably worried for you and Clara."

" She's not my mother. Mother's back at home, in the grave." Raven muttered.

" What's that?"

" I just, was thinking aloud."

" About what?"

" Do you have to know everything?"

" If it's about me you have got to tell me. Or something serious Raven. I'm here for you, you know that." Sephiroth said soothingly.

" The stars are beautiful tonight."

" Indeed. By the way, why were staring at the stars today?"

" Someone I couldn't protect was speaking to me."

" Who?"

" My friend, Eve. She used to go to my boarding school. Until one day we were taken to the Spirit Temple and then we met Ganondorf for the first time. Or at least they did. And when Clara and I were on Death's door, Eve sacrificed her life for us and we were set free. Back to our world. Now we are here fighting for Hyrule, the country that never understood."

" Raven, if I do say so myself, I do think you have too much on your mind right now. Go and get some rest. What time are we leaving in the morning?"

" Six. It is the time when the market first opens and nobody is outside."