DISCLAIMER: I SHOULD STOP DOING THIS, IF ANYONE ASKS GUIDE THEM TO CH 1…

AN: Yet again, another quick chapter. I was thinking about making them longer, but that would mean you don't get to see them as quickly, so I don't know.

Anime Wildfire: Nothing important here, just thanks for the review!

Runic Tunic: Hmm… I'm not good at writing romance, but I think you're on to something. I'm going to add something similar. I'll give you credit at the end of the story.

Spiritual Stone: I'm glad you liked the monster, I made it up off the top of my messed up head. Oh, and finesse is like, grace. Lacking finesse meant he was wild, maybe clumsy.

Blood of Sparda: I'm glad you like my story and it's nice to see someone new reviewing. So thanks a lot! Oh, and you're the first to add this story to your faves, so thanks for that too.

That night, after dinner, Link got another note through the window. It read:

If you do not kill, you will be killed.

Link stared at the note. "Thanks for nothing." He muttered to no one in particular. He ripped the note to shreds. He was in a situation. If he was to survive, which was essential not only for his life but for the Master Sword's safe return, he had to kill. But killing slaves and others forced to fight like him was wrong. He didn't know if he could do it. But the Master Sword was the most important thing, so perhaps he had to.

He sighed, then lay down and did some sit-ups. He then went to bed for the night.

The next morning, he awoke to Bruce's voice. "Wake up, your first REAL fight is today."

This woke Link up quickly. "What do you mean," He said coolly.

"Before now, you were just being tested. If it was real matches, the crowd would have been bigger. Also, a judge will watch over these matches. I suppose 'judge' isn't the right word. He doesn't care what you use to win; he's there to make sure it's a good show. The gamesmaster, he is called. He will watch your fight, and the crowd's reaction, and then he will nod, or shake his head. If he nods, you're home free. If he shakes his head… make things interesting, fast. By the way, I think I should let you know something. You have been doing simple fights so far. These are most common, but you may be set up with special event fights, which have varying rules or goals. But forget about that, follow me." Bruce explained.

Link followed him, and collected his weapons. He stepped into the sunny pit, and looked for this "gamesmaster." He was easy to find, in a box way high up. He wore a black mask, and appeared more like an executioner than someone who would have the word games in their title.

Link's opponent was an archer. It was a short man with a bow, and he didn't wait. An arrow flew straight at Link's head. Link rolled to the side, and took off running at him. He blocked an arrow, and dodged another. He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his leg. He cried out, and the leg gave way, causing him to fall down. The archer laughed, and walked over to him. He raised the bow right over Link. Link kicked out with his good leg, smacking the archer's and making the arrow just miss Link's neck.

Kink sat up and grabbed the archer's wrist, snapping it. The archer cried out in anger, and punched Link in the face with his good hand. Link fell back, and the archer tried to stab him with an arrow. Link rolled to the side, ignoring the arrow in his leg, and punched up, hitting the archer in the gut. The archer fell forward, and Link hit him again in the face this time, knocking him out.

Link sat up, and grabbed the arrow in his leg. He wrenched up, and the arrow slowly came loose. He yelled out at the top of his lungs, but kept pulling until the arrow came free. He sat there, breathing hard, and lucked up at the gamesmaster. The gamesmaster shook his head. Link turned to the archer, but couldn't bring himself to kill a man who was unconscious. He crawled away to the door, and managed to stand when he got there. Bruce didn't say anything, just brought him back to his cell, and left.

Link tore a strip pf the sleeve of his tunic, and bandaged his wound after cleaning it quickly in the shower. He knew it would heal quickly. He was very good at healing fast, especially when he siphoned some magic power. Bruce and 2 guards showed up at his door 10 minutes later.

"Come with us. My superiors would like to see you." Bruce said, unlocking the door. Link was led out through the other door, and down a few halls. He was brought down another flight of stairs, and into a big room, with the white stone this time. He was sat on a chair, facing a row of people, also sitting. There were 7, with the one in the middle on a higher chair.

One of them leaned forward, a woman, at least 60. "We are displeased with your performance." She said.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Link said flatly. A guard smacked him.

"Show some respect." He said, backing away.

Another leader, a young man, spoke. "It is not that you have no talent, we think you are far more resourceful and strong then you let on. But you're holding back, not killing, and the crowd isn't pleased. You are here to be… persuaded."

Link just glared back. Seeing that he was not going to say anything, the same man called out "bring them in."

A door behind the leaders opened, and a guard came out. Link gasped at the people following. They were Hylians, and not all soldiers. There were women too, which meant the Jarmanians must have been in Hyrule for a time to kidnap them. All of them looked scared.

The leader on the big chair spoke. He was a middle-aged man. "If you do not agree to fight well, they will die."

Link knew he had no choice. Kill Jarmanian slaves, or let captured Hylians die. Not a nice choice, but Link couldn't let innocent Hylians die.

"Fine." He said reluctantly. "But you have to let them go free."

The main leader considered it. "That is acceptable. We will let one go everyday for as long as you please us."

Link just nodded. The guards stood him up, and brought him back to his cell. Later that day, he was called down for a match. "You're fighting 2 opponents today; they will fight each other though, so they aren't ganging up on you. Three way free-for-all. Simple." Bruce explained, as Link collected his weapons and headed out.

He sized up his opponents. One was thin but muscular, no fat on him. He wielded a staff with a blade on each end. The other was a 6 foot tall, strong-looking guy with a war hammer. Link normally wouldn't have worried, but his leg was throbbing, and he could barely put weight on it. It was the same one that monster had slashed, which made things worse. He backed against a wall, and leaned against it. The other two went after each other. The big one swung his hammer wildly, not letting the little guy get close. One of those swings clobbered the small gut upside the head. There was a sickening crunch. Link winced, but held his position. The little guy dropped like a fly, head bleeding. Link hobbled forward after the big one, who showed no remorse.

The big one leered at him. He didn't seem that shaken up over what he had done. Link guessed being here for a long time did that to you. He put his sword and shield away, and stopped moving. His opponent walked towards him, looking a bit confused. He raised his hammer.

Link put his hands together, and brought them to his side. "HHYYAAAHH!!!!!!" He yelled suddenly, bringing his hands forward and down to the ground. A huge fireball erupted, and grew into a dome shape. It expanded quickly, engulfing his opponent. The man roared in anger, and charged at Link, still flaming. Link rolled, and the man kept running, right into a wall. He collapsed, and rolled around. The fire extinguished, and he lay there. He seemed to still be breathing. But he wouldn't be getting up again for a while. Link noticed the crowd was silent. He looked up at the gamesmaster, but he was just staring at Link with wide eyes. Link was confused, and headed back to the door. Bruce was waiting, but he too looked shocked. That was when it hit Link. It was the magic. In Hyrule, magic was commonplace. Perhaps it was not so here. He smirked, realizing he may have just learned a weakness to this civilization. He went back to his cell. Bruce left without a word.

Within an hour, Bruce was back, along with that main leader from the room. He looked pleased.

"Link, I don't know what you did out there, but the crowd loved it. They keep talking about it. You must do it again." The leader said, flushed.

Link saw an opportunity. He snapped his fingers, creating a spark. "I can do more. But only if I don't have to kill, and you release the prisoners."

The leader narrowed his eyes, saying "how do I know I can trust you?"

"I want to live. This will help me." Link replied.

The leader nodded. "If you incorporate this… skill into some of your fights, you do not have to kill. But try to add variety. And we will free 2 Hylians a day."

Link nodded back. The leader and Bruce left. Link turned, and saw another note slip through the window. It read:

Good thinking there. It will buy you some time. Tomorrow, there will be something extra in the crate with your sword.

Link destroyed it, thinking it would be bad to have a guard find these, then sat back to wait for dinner or another fight, whatever came first.

AN: Well, there you go, please review. Merry Christmas!