DISCLAIMER: SEE CH 1

AN: I've never been this into a story. I can't stop writing. I want to find out what happens next, and I usually don't know until I'm writing.

Review Responses:

Anime Wildfire: My first chapter was posted yesterday, I must admit. I'm not quite THAT fast. As usual, thanks for the review!

Spiritual Stone: I'm glad you appreciate the Master sword thing, I spent forever thinking that up. At first I thought I'd have it zap em, but that wouldn't get the sword where I needed it to be. Merry Christmas to you too!

Runic Tunic: Glad you liked it. I actually like your "emporer" idea, I'm going to try to slide that in next chapter somehow, I think. About the blood, I don't want to put too much, cause I don't know how much is allowed in a story rated T.

Link awoke at some unknown time. It seemed to be early morning, from what he could tell through the tiny window way up at the top of a wall. He looked at the corner opposite the bed, and noticed he had gotten the shower. The ground had been dug so that the water would all flow down a drain that was installed, instead of pooling on the floor. A metal tap with a single handle beside it was up on the wall. There was even a curtain installed facing the bars, presumably for the guards' sake. He got up and tried it out. The water was frigid cold, but at least it was clean. After his shower, he planned out his hygiene for as long as he was here. A shower every 3 days seemed right; he didn't want to overdo it. That water was wicked cold. It was more than most people got anyway. He also realized showering would do no good if his tunic was filthy. He had 3, with his zora tunic and goron tunic. He could wear 1 for a week, wash it in the shower, and then wear another one for a week, and so on. Wouldn't be that clean, but Link spent part of his life sleeping in fields, so it seemed like luxury.

With that sorted out, he could focus on far more important matters: escape. He would keep whoever ran this place happy by fighting for them, but he wouldn't give in. He resolved to tear down the whole coliseum, and he would not rest until The Jarmanians were fleeing their burning city. But to achieve that goal, he had to get out of here. He inspected the whole cell. The window was no good; it was barred, and high up. Even if there were no bars and he could reach it, he probably couldn't fit. He double checked the bars, but not one was loose. He had no equipment, his sword and shield were outside, and even if he had them they wouldn't help much. He had only one option. Watch and wait, and when the opportunity struck he would escape.

He lay down on the floor, and started some pushups. If he was going to survive against more giants, he would have to stay tough.

"A little worried about your skinniness?"

Link started at the voice, and fell on his stomach. He scrambled to his feet, and glared at Bruce, who was standing outside, hands clasped behind his back, smiling.

"You again." Link said flatly.

"Of course. I am a… attendant, if you will. I am assigned certain gladiators to take care of, and you're lucky enough to be one of them." He said.

"You talk too much. Am I to fight again?" Link asked.

"Am I boring you? Trust me, that's the least of your problems. Yes, you're fighting again. I know I said this last time, but I don't think you will live. No matter. Come with me." Bruce said.

He opened the door. Link stepped out, and considered running. No good, guards were constantly patrolling. He followed Bruce to the same door as last time. Before he left, he took the key he was given out of his pocket and unlocked a wooden crate with the number 14 on it. His name was also painted under it. Inside was the Master Sword, in its sheath, atop his faithful, battle scarred Hylian shield. He picked them up, and put them in their rightful place on his back, attached to the belt that went over his shoulder.

"Hmm… I have to admit; just those weapons make you look a little for formidable." Bruce commented. "Well, anyway, good luck out there… your opponent is a little… wild."

Link stepped out to a little applause. People didn't seem to know what to make of him. He looked over to see his opponent. It wasn't human, and it wasn't waiting for him. He didn't know what it was, but it was charging at him, uttering a trumpeting cry. It looked kind of like a bull with an alligator's head, plus a 1 foot long, sharp horn pointed at him. Its tail was long and whip-like, and there was a razor sharp blade on the end. Its back feet had typical bull hooves, but its front had paws with three 6 inch nails on each. It was about 8 feet tall, and 15 long, plus a 5 foot tail. Link dove to the right, just avoiding the thing's stampeding feet. He rolled and stood up, drawing his sword and shield. The creature turned sharply, crying out like a deranged elephant. It charged again, and this time Link was ready. He wished for his bow, but made good use of what he had. As the creature neared him, Link jumped up. He just cleared the horn, and landed on the things back, facing backward. He sat and dug his feet in. The tail-blade came flying at him, but he sliced it clean off with one good swing. The tail whipped around, spraying purple blood all over. The creature yelled, and bucked suddenly, dislodging Link. He flew up, and rolled to his feet as he hit the ground.

The creature had calmed down a bit, and the wound had stopped bleeding so much. But "calm" wasn't quite the right word. It still ran at top speed like before, and came charging at Link again. This time it pounced, which is an awkward sight for a bull/alligator creature. This didn't make it any less threatening, Link back flipped and just got away. It landed ungracefully on its stomach, and Link jumped on its back, facing the front. He raised his sword, and plunged it into the back of the creature's neck. It jumped to its feet, and began running and bucking. Link wrenched his sword to the side to do more damage, and held it there, using it to hang on. Eventually the creature bucked so hard the sword came free, and Link was sent flying back.

He landed as he did last time, and stood ready again. He knew a wounded animal was more dangerous than a healthy one. It came flying at him, completely uncoordinated. Link slid onto his back, and stabbed his sword up into the creature's soft underbelly. The noise of the feet right beside him was deafening, but it did the trick. The creature's own running caused the blade to leave a bid slash right down the creature's stomach. It was bleeding badly, and ran, wobbling, right into a wall. It collapsed to its side, and lay still. The blood on Link's blade boiled away, as always. He looked down, and noticed his leg was bleeding. The creature's claws must have done it when he had slid under it. He hadn't even noticed. He hobbled back to the door, where Bruce was waiting again.

"Nice job. The crowd is pleased." Bruce said. "Put your sword back in the crate."

Link did as he was told, and they walked back to his cell. It was locked behind him.

"I don't suppose you want to share more information with us..?" Bruce asked.

Link just glared at him. Bruce sighed. "I thought not. Bye then." He walked off.

In a few hours, a guard came with lunch. Link ate the miserable meal, and then walked up to the bars to see the other inhabitants. Right across from him was a random slave, huddled up in a corner. To the right was a cell with a Gerudo warrior. Link tried to get her attention, but she ignored him. In the cell to the left was a Jarmanian, probably a criminal. That was all he could see. He sat down in the stone chair. A piece of paper fell down onto the table. Link looked up at the window, but all he could see was someone's shadow. Then it was gone. He unfolded the paper. It said:

I am here to help you. More messages to follow.

Link studied it. He didn't know who it was, but someone in this hostile country was on his side, and that made him feel a bit better. He didn't know who it could be, no one in Hyrule should know of his capture yet.

Later that day, Bruce arrived again. "Again?" Link asked.

"A gladiator's life is not easy. Two fights a day is about average. Should be no problem for you, eh Mister Hero?" Bruce said.

Link stood up, and then did a double take. "What did you say?" He gasped.

Bruce smiled. "That's right. Our spies learned of this sacred hero, hidden from the people. We know you are Hyrule's unheard-of hero. We had suspected from when we first heard a report from the soldier you let escape from the Great Plains. When our royal guards saw a green-clad man wandering our town, with Hylian ears, we thought it might be you. You probably would have been killed on sight otherwise; you can't tell us much we don't know already. We decided to let you live, perhaps you will become a useful bargaining chip."

Link didn't respond. So they knew who he was. He didn't know what that meant for him. He hoped the king wouldn't trade anything big for him. A bargaining piece. Was that the only reason they let him live? It didn't seem right. But then, he knew little of The Jarmanians. All in all, it would do no good to worry about it too much. He followed Bruce down the hall, and collected his weapons before heading out into the stadium. This time his opponent was human. A spear carrying man about Link's size was coming out of the other door.

Link drew his weapons. The spearman ran forward, spear poised for a stabbing. The man's movements were reckless, he lacked finesse. Then again, so did Link. The man stabbed wildly in Link's general direction, and Link stepped to the side with ease. He grabbed the spear with the free hand of his shield arm (makes sense if you actually know how Link wields his shield.), and pulled it right out of his hands. He reared back, and flung it into the wall on the opposite side. The man drew a small dagger from his belt, and approached Link with it. Link sighed. He lunged out with his sword, forcing the man back, and then pressed the attack. The man was thrown off balance, and Link plucked the dagger out of his hands. He brought it down to the man's neck, but stopped there. The man looked relieved.

There was silence. The crowd didn't know if it was over, usually there was at least a knock out, if not a kill.

"That's it. I will not go any further." Link called out in a strong voice.

There was a smattering of applause. The crowd wasn't quite sure they were satisfied. The man sighed in relief, and thanked Link. Link headed back to the door, dropping the dagger as he went. Bruce was waiting for him. He didn't look pleased.

"My superiors may not be pleased." He said sternly.

"I'm sorry to hear that" Link said coldly, stalking back to his cell. Bruce locked it behind him, and walked off. Link sat down, waiting for dinner.

AN: Nothing to say here, except for "please review."