Chapter 12

It was completely quiet in the Shiekah village, as nothing unusual was know to happen there- unusual, that is, for a tribe of Ninjas sword to defend Hyrule and it's royal family. The youths trained with their teachers, learning both weapon skills, and how to appear and vanish mysteriously, like true ninja- while the council of elders debated endlessly over the recent turn of events.

The Sheikah were currently not on the Royal Family's good side. A rouge Shiekah named Agahnim -who had been cast out of the Tribe for dabbling in sorcery- had nearly destroyed the entire kingdom a few years ago. The vile sorcerer had made a pact with Ganon, attempting to break the seal on the Dark World, and free the evil king. The Hero had defeated him, and when Agahnim fled into the Dark world, Ganon possessed his body. Even though the hero slew the possessed Agahnim after that, The Hylian people still blamed the Shekiah for his crimes (Much as the people of Labyrina blamed all Twili for Veran's crimes, even though she was an exiled Twili sorceress).

As the Shiekah went about thier business, they failed to notice one of thier number was not what she seemed. A Shekiah named Kiva, who had appeared out of nowhere a few months ago, was actually a monster- a new type of shape-shifting keese called an ache. Aches were magically bred by Ganon's wizzrobes to serve as spies, who could disguise themselves as a member of one of the friendly races to gather information.

Everything had gone according to plan-after a Sheikah patrol had come across Kiva (who told them she was from another Shekian village, and had bumped her head and gotten amnesia), they took her back to their hidden village in southern Hyrule. After several months of covertly gathering knowledge on thew Shekiah's fighting styles, numbers, and plans... she had finally reported the location of the village to Ganon's army. Now, as she awaited Shadow Link's invasion force, Kiva had one more duty to perform.

Sneaking into the chief elder's hut, the Shiekan/Ache spy rummaged through the village leader's personal belongings. She was looking for something she had heard was in the elders possession-something Shadow Link was desperately searching for. From the other Shekiah's whisperings, Kiva had learned that the fabled Ocarina of Time had been entrusted to this particular village long ago by Hyrule's royal family, and that the elder had it in her possession. Kiva soon found this to be true, as she uncovered the Ocarina, hidden in a box beneath the Elder's bed.

"Hey! What are you doing in here?!?" The elder had walked in on her search, and it only took a moment for the old woman to determine the spy's intentions. She assumed a fighting stance, ready to fight off what she assumed was simply a traitorous Shiekah in the service of Ganon.

It much to the elder's surprise, then, when Kiva shifted first into her natural bat-like Ache form, then into the large, gargoyle-like Acheman- a form the wizzrobes had given to the spies to defend themselves (much like how two regular Keese could combine to form a Vire). The Shekian elder was caught completely off-guard, and was easily dispatched by a blast of Kiva's fire breath.

The other Sheikah were completely caught by suprise when the Elder's hut burst into flames. A large, gargoyle-like creature burst forth, and flew into the Sky- followed by a volley of Shiekian arrows and boomerangs. As she flew away, they thought the danger had passed... but they soon had something even worse to deal with... something far worse.

It was at that moment, that the wall around the village exploded inward, and a swarm of Bird-like armoured soldiers poured into the compound. These were the Fokka- the most feared of all Ganon's troops. Descended from a bird-like race from an age gone by, these skilled fighters could move just as fast as any shekiah- but whereas the Shekiah couldn't wear armor in battle because it slowed them down, the Fokka could perform the Shekiah's own martial arts against them while in full armor.

Riding on their large Fokkeru firebird mounts, the elite troops quickly overwhelmed the Shiekah. Dozens of the Ninja guardians were cut down by the leaping bird-men within minutes. One Shekiah who managed to decapitate a Fokka was quickly skewered by the swords of three more. Another used the Deku nut flash trick to try and escape, but was by a Fokkeru firebird's burning breath. It wasn't long before the entire village was in flames.

On a cliff nearby, Shadow Link and his spy Kiva watched the slaughter taking place below them.

"Amazing!" Shadow Link said in disbelief. "The Shiekah are the best warriors in Hyrule... I've seen them cut through legions of Moblins, Darknuts, and even Iron Knuckles like they were nothing! But these 'bird-men' troops the Thunderbird loaned me cut through them like they were nothing!"

"That's not the only reason, my lord." Kiva hissed. "My experience living among this village of Shiekah has taught me they have grown soft... degenerated from the greatness thier ancestors once had."

"Thus making them easy pickings for the Fokka." Shadow Link agreed. He turned towards Kiva. "Did you get the Ocarina?"

"As you requested, my Lord." She tossed him the instrument. "I look forward to the reward you promised me."

Shadow Link shuddered at that. In order to get her cooperation, the Shade had promised the bat creature... a night with him. Still given her shape-shifting ability, it promised to be an... interesting night.

Besides, he had the Ocarina now... everything was going according to plan....

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Link and Din ran for their lives across Mirodo Swamp, fleeing after escaping capture at the hands of monsters.

"If we keep going north, we'll reach Mirodo Palace!" Link gasped " We can hide out from these monsters there!"

"Okay... let's go!" Din replied.

"As they kept moving the swamp near them began to bubble. Suddenly, all of these goo-like creatures began to rise from the swamp by the hundreds.

"Chuchus!" Link said . "Get your scimitars out, these guys shouldn't be too much of a problem!"

"Ewww! They all look like giant balls of snot!" Din replied in a disgusted voice. "Like somebody blew their nose in five different colors!"

She was right... the vicious slimes were everywhere. Green ones- called Zols- swarmed them from the left, while blue ones- called Bots- swarmed them from the right. Din and Link slashed and hacked away at the gooey creatures, but this only cut each Bot into two smaller slimes called Bits, and each Zol into two smaller Gels. To make things even worse, more and more of the oozing slimeballs kept rising out of the swamps.

"Link, they're overwhelming us!" Din yelled. "there must be hundreds of them!"

"It's even worse than that, Din!" Link replied, turning pale.

Behind all the other Chuchus, a third type arose. Their bodies sparking with electricity, a row of Buzz Blobs closed in on the two of them.

"Link!"Din screamed."If those things touch the swamp water, they'll cook us alive!"

"I know!" Link yelled back, zapping away at all the Chuchus with his sword beam.

Just then, a voice called out from the edge of the Chuchu swarm. "Have no fear! A REAL hero is here!" A familiar figure in a blue cloak and hat came running up.

"What the... Ralf!?!" Link yelled in suprise. "What in the Name of Faeore are you doing here?!?"

"Ralf?" Din asked in surprise. "You mean that loser who always hangs around Nayru?"

"A loser? HA-HA!" Ralf replied. "Would a loser do... THIS?" He threw a stange-looking staff at Link, who caught it. "Recognise that little item, Link?"

Link's eyes went wide. "It's a cane of Byrnia!" The Hero smiled. "Din, get behind me!"

The Oracle moved behind him, and Link used the staff to create the magical force field known as Nayru's Love. Surrounded by the force field, Link and Din made their way out of the Chuchu Swarm. Whenever a Chuchu tried to jump at the shield they were vaporised. But just when the two of them had gotten out of range of the Chuchus, the Cane of Byrnia crumbled to dust.

"Oops" Ralf laughed nervously. "Guess I shouldn't have bought such a cheap model."

Link rolled his eyes. "RUN!" He yelled, as the three of them fled the area as fast as they could go.

---

After the three had made it away from the Chuchus, they decided to set up camp for the night. Din got a fire going, and the three of them sat down to talk.

"So what brings you to Hyrule, Ralph?" Link asked.

"A bunch of monsters kidnapped Nayru, and brought her to Hyrule." Ralph replied. "I've tracked her to Mirodo palace, and I was on my way to save her when I ran into you two."

Link looked over at Din. "We have to try and save her." The Oracle of Seasons only nodded in reply.

"Wait, I don't need the Help of a wannabe hero to save Nayru." Ralf answered arrogantly. "You'll only get in the way, just like you did when Nayru was possessed by Veran!"

Din looked over at Ralf. "You listen to me, little man... when Onox and Veran attacked, Link saved both Nayru and I, and pretty much the entire world... while you were running around Labyrinia, getting beat up by monsters." Her eyes burned with anger. "He is a true hero, and while Nayru may put up with you shooting your big mouth off, I will not."

She looked him right in the Eye. "I am the Oracle of Seasons, named after the Goddess of power herself. If you don't keep your blasted mouth shut, I''ll freeze you... make it it rain on you...and finish you off with a bolt of lightning!"

A look of fear in his eyes, Ralf gulped, and sat down quietly.

Link sat in stunned silence for a few minutes, before replying. "...Okay then, it settled. We'll go to Mirodo palace, and rescue Nayru in the morning. For now... let's get some sleep."

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