Chapter 4: From captor to captive

Princess Zelda's POV

"The reason why you are locked up is quite clear. You pose a danger to everyone here. However, you may walk freely among us whenever you desire, so long as you remove the rest of your armor. Your cannon will be returned once I am certain you will not harm my people." I said while walking away from the knight. I kept my back turned to her, waiting for her response.

"What will become of my suit if I remove it? Will you hide it too?" She said. I could sense her mistrust.

"It will be left where ever you leave it. I shall make sure it is not taken or hidden. You will have it back but only when you-" My breath caught in my lungs as I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. I was unable to turn around because the fingers had quickly dug in. I felt the cold armor of the knight behind me.

"I'll let you in on something, princess. I'm a bounty hunter, which means I don't take orders from anyone other than myself. Sure, I may work with the Galactic Federation at times, but only because I choose to do so." She let go of my shoulder and I spun around to face her. As soon as I did she put an arm around my torso and pull me close. Her armored hand was placed on my chin and she tilted my head upwards as if she were examining me.

"If you harm me the kingdom will have your head." I hissed threateningly. I did my best to hide my fears about what this powerful knight could do.

"I wouldn't dream of it, unless of course you got in my way. Which actually, come to think of, you're in my way right now." She said coldly. My heart beat quickened. The cold of her armor pressing against my chest did not help to relieve my anxieties, "Return my cannon to me."

"If I did, I fear you would most certainly-" I began but her grip tightened and I felt her armored hand leave my chin and went to part of my neck.

"I can cause a great deal of damage without it, believe me. I just prefer to have it. Plus, it may be the only weapon capable of killing Ridley." She said, "Now, do you still want to be in my way?"

"If I fetch you your cannon, do you promise to leave this place peacefully?" I inquired.

"That depends," She said slowly, "Will you let me?" Suddenly one of my guards entered the pavilion. As soon as he saw the current situation his stance changed and we exchanged a quick look.

"Not a chance." I said trying to push away from her in an attempt to break free. Her grip was strong and I remained still close to her chest. The guard whistled for the others and we were soon surrounded, "Your actions will not go unpunished dark knight."

"Of course not," She said while glancing at all the guards, "Now, take me to my cannon and you won't me harmed... severely." She spun me around so that my back was to her. She still kept an arm tight around my torso while her armored hand glowed ominously. My guard stood around uncertain of what this powerful knight could do with her enchanted armor. Her glowing hand rested on the side of my head, "Tell them to lower their weapons and to stay where they are." The knight said almost smugly. I relayed the message and they obeyed, but not without hesitation, "Now, as I said before, my cannon..." I grudgingly conceded defeat. I began to lead the way out of the tent, head bowed slightly.

Samus Aran's POV

It was not my initial plan to treat the princess as a bargaining tool but I didn't know how much time it would take to find Ridley. Every minute mattered. The sooner I got to Ridley the sooner I could leave. Not to mention the sooner these Hylian humanoids would be freed of his terrorizing. The princess led me passed the outskirts of the outpost and towards what I assumed to be a hidden bunker. It was a hand made stone cave sticking out from the ground and hidden by a bush.

"Let me go and I shall bring it to you." She tried, I assumed in a chance to escape. My grip tightened on her to let her know I was displeased by the idea, "The underground is only large enough for one person. Either yourself or I could go. If I go, you would be able to stand guard over the only exit." I considered her for a moment. Could she be lying? She was a tricky one. Crafty.

"Than the solution is quite simple then really," I said and looked at her. She tilted her head slightly to the side. A slight smile played across her face, though she dared not let it tug at her lips, "I'll simply have to make the cavern larger." Her eyes widened in outrage. I took my hand off her head and pointed it at the entrance. I formed a small charge from my hand and aimed. The explosion sent rubble flying everywhere. We walked over to the remains of the stonework and I spotted a tiny green glint in the rock pile, "Dig it out." I ordered the princess. She glared at me and I pointed the glowing palm of my hand at her. She proceeded to do as I instructed but with a most indignant expression. As soon as my cannon was excavated, I quickly slipped it onto my right arm. The powersuit recognized it and reacted instantly by reattaching it to the rest of my armor.

"You have your cannon, knight. Now I suggest you release me. If you do so quickly I may consider letting your crimes against the royal crown of Hyrule go." The princess said, in what I think she believed to be a threatening voice. I considered her for a moment.

"No, I don't think so princess. You're coming with me." I said and grabbed her wrist, "You could be a bigger pain to me free than as-"

"A prisoner." She interrupted, "You make a foolish decision knight. One that you will deeply regret." Zelda said trying to break free of my grasp. Her wrist suddenly grew hot and I quickly released. She raised her right hand, the back of it had begun to glow, "You shall witness the power I hold dark knight!" A beam of energy shot from her hand whilst the faint image of three triangles circled around her wrist and arm.

Princess Zelda's POV

"Behold the power of the Triforce!" I shouted proudly as the beam struck her in the chest causing her to fly backwards. I would show this mysterious, brutish knight that I was a force to be reckoned with. No knight could simply take me prisoner without a fight. I was slightly disconcerted that I had to resort to using my Triforce to get the upper hand. I only wished to use it in the most dire of situations and only if absolutely necessary. The knight got up slowly and watched me cautiously. She clearly had not expected my true power. She raised her cannon and I kept the palm of my right hand facing her. The Triforce grew hot as I prepared for an attack.

"What weapon are you in possession of pirate?" The knight demanded.

"I am no pirate, dark knight," I said while trying to ignore the burning sensation I was feeling on the back of my hand, "As I said before, I am blessed by the goddesses. I am a holder of the Triforce. If you continue to fight me, know that you fight the goddesses themselves."

"Why keep up this act? Just admit to your crimes as a space pirate and come peacefully." She said. Clearly this knight was either mad or never ventured far from her lands.

"Leave peacefully or forcibly." I called back. Her helmet masked her face and expression but I could still read it quite easily. She charged with lightning speed and I released the pent-up power I was holding back. She dodged, evidently prepared this time. She charged her cannon and fired. Obviously she had not planned on me being familiar with her weaponry either and she cursed heavily as I leapt out of harms way. She fired a new missile from her cannon and I prepared to dodge again. However, this missile seemed possessed by some poe spirit or such, for it followed me. While being chased by the ghost controlled projectile the knight took the opportunity to fire repeatedly at me with her usual cannon charges. She leapt back as soon as she assumed the missile would impact on it's target. I bet she hadn't planned on my ability to form a diamond-hard crystal to surround myself. The missile exploded harmlessly and I faced the knight with a fierce expression.

The knight, who I expected to be surprised, or amazed, or even intimidated by my magic, seemed completely unsurprised. Without missing a beat she made to strike again. More of those possessed missiles flew from her cannon. I had no time to react other than to form the crystal shield once more. Smoke clouded my vision. Without thinking I summoned a spell to clear the smoke in a gust of wind. I did so just in time to prevent and aerial attack. Her fist collided with mine. The Triforce blasted her away and she flipped in mid-air to land perfectly on her feet. As soon as her feet touched the ground she charged again. I shot another beam towards her, and before my eyes she disappeared. I spun around. I looked down to see a strange ball rolling towards me. I leapt of of it's way, certain it was another of the dark knight's tricks. The ball was faster than I anticipated and suddenly exploded back into the dark knight. I fist struck my side and I felt my ribs crack. I instantly teleported to avoid the second attack. I reappeared only feet away, my magic only as strong as my health. I was sent flying onto all fours as I felt a bolt of energy strike me in the back. I clutched my side and proceeded to cough up a few drops of blood.

Just as I looked up I was struck once again with a powerful punch to the face. I lay sprawled on my back in agony. The dark knight stood over me. Just as I was about to raise my Triforce hand, her metal boot came crashing down on it, shattering my arm. I looked up into cold green glass, hiding the face of my conquer. Darkness began to seep from the corners of my eyes, slowly turning my vision to complete darkness. I saw the cold cannon of the knight point at my face and I closed my eyes, waiting for death.

Death was not in my immediate future is seemed, as I awoke much later in a strange cold location. My vision was still blurring but I was beginning to make out my surroundings. They didn't make anymore sense as my vision cleared though. At the very least, I was no longer in Hyrule. As my memory returned of the brutal fight an air of panic began to fill me. This strange place must be the lair of the dark knight. I attempted to move, but found myself restrained. However, this wasn't the most shocking discovery, I soon found. I looked down to see my naked body chained to a cold metal slab. My restraints appeared to be made out of blue energy. Clearly I was in a torture chamber. I waited painfully for tormentor to appear.

A woman clothed in tight blue fabric appeared. She looked at me shamelessly and I couldn't help but feel my blood rush to my face in humiliation. She walked over to me, with no apparent weapon or torture device in hand. This didn't help my anxieties though. For as soon as she reached me, she groped me shamelessly, in... regions certainly worthy of a hasty death.