-The Exchange-

Zelda rode all day and well into the night. Allowing herself and Epona only a few hours to rest at nightfall, she woke up at dawn, and forced Epona to ride on retracing the trail she had gone down. Epona had naturally been less than willing, especially when they arrived in the dark forest, but Zelda pushed on, determined to find her father. Eventually, she found the path her father went down, forcing Epona to retrace her steps. She followed the path up to where her father went, and gasped upon seeing where the path led. She saw before her the mighty and dark castle. Lightning flashed above the castle, thunder roaring throughout the shadowy valley. Taking in a deep breath, Zelda dismounted, taking Epona by the reins and leading her up to the castle. She tied her up, and then went inside.

Once she was inside, Zelda immediately felt small and insignificant in the great and dark hall. She looked around, calling out, "Hello? Anyone here? Papa?"

On the table, Fox and Mario saw Zelda wander in as she called out, "Excuse me? Can someone help please? I'm looking for my father."

Fox whispered to Mario, "Oh dear, that must be the daughter of the poor man Master imprisoned…"

"Well just keep quiet," Mario whispered, desperate to avoid drawing her attention.

"But Mario, we have to help her,"

"No we don't! Listen, if the Master finds out we've helped her, we'll be in even more trouble. He's already furious at us for taking in the other one,"

"But Mario-"

"I said no!" Mario insisted definitively. Fox ignored him, calling out to Zelda, "Excuse me mademoiselle!"

Zelda gasped upon seeing Fox talk. She approached cautiously as Fox assured her, "It is okay young lady, we will not harm you I promise you."

"What… are you?" Zelda asked confused, nervously picking Fox up. Mario piped up, "I beg your pardon ma'am! We are not 'whats', we are people, just like you!"

Upon seeing Zelda's confounded expression, Mario corrected himself, "Well, for the most part…"

"Allow me to introduce us. I am Fox, and this less than pleasant fellow is named Mario. We are servants to the lord of the manor,"

"But, why does he have objects as servants?"

"That is a long story I'm afraid," Fox said, "But regardless, you are looking for your father no? Would he happen to be a short monsieur with a thick white mustache named Olimar?"

"Yes!" Zelda exclaimed, her eyes growing wide with excitement, "He's here? Where is he?"

"I'm afraid the master has imprisoned him in the tower," Fox answered sadly, in a tone Zelda could tell was apologetic, "But I can take you to him."

"Let's go!" Zelda insisted, turning towards the grand staircase, "Lead the way."

"Wait a minute!" Mario stopped her, "You aren't even supposed to be here. If the master finds you, he'll imprison you as well."

"I'm not leaving without my father!" Zelda argued. She turned away as Fox said, still in her hand, "I will help you get him back."

"Wait!" Mario insisted. Zelda turned around once more. Mario sighed, saying, "If you go off his direction, all you'll get is lost."

Mario jumped down, hopping in front of her, beckoning, "Come, I will lead you. But we must hurry."

Without leaving a chance for thanks, Mario quickly began hopping towards the staircase as Zelda followed. She was surprised how fast he could move for a clock. He quickly made his way up the stairs and down a hall as she followed him. It took some time, but she finally was led to the entrance to the tower. The door was already slightly open, and Mario pushed it open even further, saying, "Follow the stairs to the top. You'll find your father there."

"Thank you," Zelda smiled, putting down the Fox as he and Mario hopped away. Zelda rushed up the stairs. She went up a number of stories, finally reaching the top which held a row of cells. She grabbed one of the torches off the wall and ran over to one that had an arm sticking out through the bars. She kneeled down to see who was inside as she asked, "Papa?"

Olimar rushed to the bars, shocked as he asked disbelieving, "Zelda?"

"Papa!" Zelda exclaimed, a wide smile appearing on her face. She felt her eyes start to tear up, taking her father's hand to make sure it was real as he exclaimed, "Oh my dear! I feared I would never see you again…"

"Your hands are ice cold," Zelda gasped, realizing for the first time how freezing it was here in the tower. Olimar shook his head, saying, "I'm sick, but that's not important right now."

"Who did this to you papa?" Zelda asked. The fear returned to his eyes as he said, "Zelda, listen to me. You have to get out of here, now. Before he finds you…"

"Who papa?"

"There's no time to explain! You have to leave, now!"

"I won't leave you!"

Zelda felt a huge hand grip her shoulder, turning her around as she heard a roar, "What are you doing here?!"

"Run Zelda!" Olimar cried out as Zelda backed away against the cell door, dropping the torch in fear. The roar seemed to be a human voice, but unlike any she had ever heard, as if it were mixed with the roar of a lion. She looked terrified at the huge figure before her, concealed in the shadows. He was well over 6 feet tall, and had a huge hulking figure. Whoever this man was, he could give Ike a run for his money. Zelda looked nervously at this man as she asked, "Wh, who are you?"

"The master of the house," the man answered, his booming voice setting Zelda even more on edge. She then turned back to her father, noticing how pale his skin was, even more so than usual as she turned back to the man, "Please sir, I've come for my father. Please let him out?"

"No!" The man roared.

"But can't you see he's sick?"

"Then he shouldn't have trespassed here!"

"Please, he'll die in here,"

"That is not my concern," the man replied, turning away. Zelda didn't know why, but something about how he turned away, how his voice got quieter when he said this, told Zelda that deep down, he wasn't being honest. So she begged hopefully, "Please. I'll do anything."

"There is nothing you can do," the man said, still refusing to face her. Zelda suddenly got an idea. She offered to him, "Take me instead."

"No Zelda! You can't do this!" Olimar insisted. Zelda forced herself not to look back at her father, tearing up once more as the man in the shadows slowly turned to see her as he asked, "You… you would take his place?"

Zelda could tell by his voice that he was genuinely shocked she would do something like this, as if he never considered anyone to be willing to make such a sacrifice for anyone else. Zelda nodded, "If I do, will you let him go free?"

"Yes, but you must swear to stay here forever," The man answered. Olimar continued, "Zelda, no! You don't know what you're doing!"

"Come into the light," Zelda asked of the man, trying her best to ignore her father's objections. The man stepped forward, and Zelda gasped upon seeing him in his true form. She saw the unruly brown fur that covered his entire body like a bear, his horns like that of a bull, his hands claws like those of a lion, his teeth razor sharp like a wolf, his feet hunched like a tiger, and his mighty and fierce blue eyes. She turned away, falling to her knees as his father begged, "Zelda, listen to me, I'm old, I've lived my life."

"I can't let you die like this papa," Zelda said sadly, standing up as Olimar tried to grab her, objecting, "No Zelda! I won't let you do this!"

"You have my word," Zelda told the Beast, who immediately replied, "Done!"

He stormed over, unlocking the cell door and grabbing Olimar by the scruff and began dragging him towards the stairs. Olimar looked back Zelda, calling out for her as Zelda stood up, begging, "Wait, please! Wait!"

But then it was too late. The Beast and Olimar disappeared down the stairs. Zelda fell to her knees, sobbing into her hands.

The Beast stormed out of the castle, dragging Olimar behind. He reached a horseless carriage, opening it up and throwing in Olimar as he objected, "Wait, my daughter!"

"She's no longer you concern!" The beast replied harshly, telling the carriage, "Take him home!"

The carriage stood up, carrying him out the gate towards the village. The Beast then saw Epona standing there, tied to the post. After untying her, he ordered a stable servant (in the form of a shovel) to take her to the stables. He then marched up to the tower, realizing he had forgotten to lock up the girl. When he got there, however, he was surprised to see her there on the floor, sobbing hard into her hands. She looked up at him, deeply hurt as she cried, "I didn't even get to say good-bye! You took him away, I'll never see him again, and I didn't even get to say good-bye…"

She then sobbed more into her hands as the Beast stood there, unsure what to say. He looked aside, and felt something he hadn't felt… ever now that he thought about it. He felt a nagging sensation at the pit of his stomach, a great negative feeling come over him. He hadn't ever felt this before, but he knew what it was, from what others had described…

Shame.

After all, this young woman had just sacrificed her freedom, given up her entire life, put behind her whole world just to save her father, and he robbed her of the last moment they could've ever had together. And now he realized he couldn't possibly lock her up now. Not because he wouldn't be allowed to, but because he knew it would be wrong. He was shocked to find himself thinking like this. After all, he normally didn't care one ounce for other people. Why should he, after how they all rejected him so coldly? But this young woman…

"Come, I'll show you to your room," The Beast told her, turning back towards the stairs. Zelda looked up, confused as she asked, "But I thought…"

"Do you wanna stay here in the tower?" The Beast demanded, getting impatient as Zelda quickly answered, "No."

She then stood up, following him down the stairs. When they reached the bottom, The Beast began leading Zelda through the castle. Now that she was no longer in a rush, she was able to look around and admire the surroundings. The halls, even the side ones, were tall and grand, lined with various suits of knight armor, and the halls decorated with many tapestries, and statues that looked down at Zelda with evil eyes, causing Zelda to turn away nervously. Despite the beauty and grandness of this castle, it seemed to be corrupted by shadows, making it seem so alien and unwelcoming.

The Beast, holding Fox in his hand to light the way, saw tears fall from Zelda's eyes. He then saw Fox motion towards her to comfort her. The Beast sighed, saying to her, "The castle is your home now. You can go anywhere you want. Except for the west wing."

"Why? What's there?"

"It's forbidden!" The Beast cut her off, and Zelda dared not ask another question. They finally reached a bedroom door, and the Beast opened it. Zelda walked in and saw it was too dark to really make out the features. She saw a large bed and some furniture, but not much else. The Beast was about to leave when Fox motioned once more towards her, whispering, "Ask her to dinner."

The Beast turned back, saying, "You will join me for dinner! That's not a request!"

The Beast then shut the door and walked down the hall, as Fox sighed, bowing his head in dismay as his attempts to make the girl feel better failed. Inside her bedroom, Zelda threw herself onto the bed, and began crying once more.

Sorry for the delay, but hope everyone's enjoying so far. Anyways, stay tuned for next time.