Hey there, readers! I'm back, and I'm a new girl! I gots a job, and I'm actually good at it!! XD Muahahahahaa!!

Moriko: You're soppy.

Me: What?

Moriko: From Lekki12. She says you're soppy.

Me: (sigh) well, I guess I desverve that. But I just love David Tennant soooooo much-!

Moriko: Shut up before you lose it!

Me: Okay...here's chapter 27! I just finished 30, so we're almost done! Gah...I hated writing it but it was necessary for the good of the story. Apologies to those who want me to get on with it! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Zelda fanchise.

Chapter 27: Poes and Selenthium

"So how long has this ghost been around, exactly? Explain it to me again, please?" Moriko asked Kota as she set her empty mug of tea down. She and Kota had been talking for a bit about a lot of things, mostly stuff pertaining to the rest of the world and what was going on outside Kakariko. Kota seemed really interested in what she had to say, and agreed with most of her opinions, though he always had something to add on. He was a really nice kid when it came down to attitude, but he always seemed to be off in the clouds. His mind wandered almost too easily.

He made his way around the small room, lighting almost thirty candles before taking his seat on the mat next to her.

"Well, it came around about the time the shaman got sick."

"What was the shaman doing before he got sick?"

"Uh…he was always tending to the graves outside, cleaning them off and making sure they hadn't been robbed. He was always saying that the better we treat the dead, the more they'll be at peace."

"Huh…maybe he did something to one of the graves and awakened a spirit?"

Kota was silent as he stared into the fire, sighing sadly. "I don't think Shaman Anduro would do that. He's always extremely careful with the graves and…" He trailed off, a look of realization slowly dawning on his round face. His shoulders began to shake.

"Kota? Are you okay?" Moriko asked, placing a hand gently on his shoulder.

"Oh no, I woke up a spirit!" he cried, covering his eyes with his hands. "I was chasing a cucco around the graveyard and accidentally tripped over one of the smaller gravestones! I must've disturbed one of the skeletons! It probably thinks I robbed it!"

Moriko took Kota's face in her hands and forced him to sit still.

"Kota, calm down! You are fine! All you have to do is right the grave and allow the spirit to pass on, am I right?"

Kota, biting his lip in fear, nodded vigorously.

"Then let's go find the grave and fix it."

Moriko let him go and helped him up, holding his hand even as they ventured outside.

The air seemed colder than it had been a few minutes ago. They shivered slightly as a breeze whipped around them. This was definitely ghost weather. It gave Moriko chills, remembering all the times Laura had told her ghosts stories. She shook off the cold and looked down at Kota.

"So where exactly did you trip?" she asked, her teeth beginning to chatter slightly.

"Near the northern wall. That way," Kota said, pointing a shaking finger towards foggy area to the right of the hut. They stepped quietly and quickly around the numerous gravestones, soon losing sight of the hut as well as any source of direction. They tried to stay in as straight a line as possible, but they found themselves facing the western cliffs. They turned around and attempted to find the thin pathway that made its way around the area, but the whole area seemed to be darkening, despite the sun from above. This place was so gloomy that it bordered on nerve-rattling and frightening. Something out of a scary story, only meant to be shared around a campfire. But this was all too real for a scary story. Those were usually tall tales and enormous bluffs told by friends and family.

"We're here," Kota whispered, starting Moriko from her thoughts. She bent down in front of the grave, reading the inscription out of curiosity.

"It says Mark Ronan. A kind father and a wonderful friend. He died a few years ago." Seh looked back at Kota, who was gripping the hem of his sleeve tightly. "Did you know him, Kota?"

Kota avoided her gaze as he made his way around the grave, trying hard not to cry. "He was…my father. I'm…an orphan now. He was killed by thieves a long time ago, and my mother went to avenge him. I know, usually it's the other way around and that I should be bawling, but my dad was dying anyway. I always knew I was going to lose him."

Kota went silent as he took something out of his pocket and placed it on the grave.

"What's that?" Moriko asked. The boy stepped back, allowing her to see the small object on the ground. It was a small rose, encased in a crystal-like substance.

"It was my mother's memento. I left it here after my mom left because I didn't want dad to be lonely. My mother's name was Rose." He was silent for a moment, then sniffed loudly. "I took this position because I hoped maybe there was a way I'd be able to talk to my dad. Just to see how he's doing."

Kota sat down next to Moriko and leaned on her, thoughts of the Poe miles away. They didn't even see it approach them, floating there almost aimlessly. It watched them sit there in front of the grave until the boy turned and faced it. He looked as if he wanted to scream, but he held it back, managing to whisper:

"Dad?"

The Poe seemed to relax, then twisted its form into that of a frail man in his late thirties. He smiled at Kota with the kind of sad happiness that only a loved one could convey.

"Kota. It's been almost three years since my death, but I still feel the need to go on. I want you…to live happily…with the shaman. He will be a good role model for you."

Kota simply smiled, crying tears of happiness. "Dad! It's really you! I can't believe it!"

Mark turned to Moriko, his smile widening a bit.

"Thank you, young lady. Thanks to you, I've gotten to speak to my son. Now…I will wait for my wife."

"But shouldn't you move on?" Taiki asked, peeking out from Moriko's collar, where he'd been hiding. Navi flew out as well, seeing as there was no danger anymore.

"Not yet. I still have unfinished business in the world, and I can't go until all my worldly wishes are completed. The last thing I wish to do is to see my wife…one last time. Please, Kota, be happy. I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, but I still have something I must do."

Mark began dissipating in the sunlight that peeked through the clouds, flowing back into his grave like a small river. The graveyard's fog finally lifted with the sunlight, giving everyone a clear view of the entire area. It was surprisingly larger than Moriko expected, but most of it was filled with graves and statues. She saw everything from sad cherub carvings to statues of weeping angels decorating the graves, adding to the aura of gloom that pervaded the small area enclosed by the high cliffs.

Kota took Moriko's hand and guided her back to the hut. He looked perfectly fine, but Moriko was confused. She had been sure that it had been just a monster, something she could kill with a sword strike, but it had been a human soul!

Once inside, Moriko took a seat by the fire pit again, her eyes glazed and confused. She'd had so many ideas in her head about the Poe's identity, such as it being the soul of the shaman upstairs. She had also suspected it of being someone she knew, but the Poe had been Kota's very own father! What a twist!

Moriko was snapped out of her thoughts by a creaking noise from upstairs, sending Kota into a near frenzy. He placed another mat near the fire pit and hurried upstairs, lightning fast. When he came down, he was helping who Moriko assumed to be the shaman down the stairs. The man was tall, almost twice Kota's size, with long black hair and eyes that were green and blue. He had an air of dignity around him, but his expression was warm and inviting.

"Hello, young lady. I am Shaman Anduro. How may I assist you today?"

"Uh…well, let me just start off by introducing myself. I am Moriko of Ordon Village. I heard from Kota that you were ill. Are you well again?"

"That's kind of you to ask, Moriko," Anduro said as he sat down carefully on the mat Kota had put down earlier. "I am doing much better. All I really needed was a good night's sleep and some good food." He accepted a mug of tea from Kota, who also handed one to Moriko before taking his seat beside Anduro. "So, what brings you to Kakariko? Or should I ask, what brings you to the graveyard?"

"Well, you should probably see it for yourself, so allow me to retrieve it." She fished her hand down into her bag and pulled out the Rod of Seasons, carefully handing it to the shaman before taking her seat again.

The shaman paled at the sight of the sacred item, and his hands shook slightly. He examined every inch of the rod, noting every dent, crack, and scratch with a look of shear horror plastered on his tan face.

"What force has done such evil to this rod?" he whispered disbelievingly. "Nothing like this has ever happened before. Or, at least, not since the rod was first made. Am I to assume you've come for the sacred ore from which this item was made?"

"Yes. I need…uh…what was it called again, Navi?"

"I believe it was called Selenthium," the fairy said, perching herself on Kota's head. Taiki kept his place in Moriko's collar, but sighed irritably.

"I can't believe she did that!" he grumbled. "All it took was-"

"Taiki, be quiet," Moriko hissed, silencing the fairy immediately. Taiki shivered at her tone and stayed quiet, but Anduro was intrigued.

"What, or who, did this much damage?" he asked. Taiki shrunk back into Moriko's tunic, so she explained what had happened.

"My sister was always jealous of me when we were kids. She'd always say that I was our father's favorite. But when he went away and joined the King's personal guard, she was blaming me, I guess. Then came the time when the evil Kaiser came to the village in an attempt to kidnap me. Everyone defended me except her and Simeon." Moriko was silent for a bit, took a sip of her drink, then continued. "I guess she just wanted the spotlight to be on her. She never liked the amount of attension she got. She always wanted more."

Suddenly a look of realization crept onto her face, making her jaw drop. "Maybe it wasn't the amount of attention she wanted. Maybe…maybe it was just the people. She tried to destroy the rod to gain my attention." She let out a small laugh. "Now that I look back, there were so many times that she tried to get me to watch her, or even see her, and I completely ignored her. I guess I really took advantage of my sister's presence. I never really appreciated having her around."

Anduro smiled, as did Kota, and handed her a small, shiny stone. It glinted orange in the fire's light, but cast rainbows in the sunlight.

"This is Selenthium. But before you can repair the Rod of Seasons, you must obtain a sliver of the Goron Ruby."

"Oh, right…Now I just have to get up to the Goron City…oh no," she mumbled. "I have to hike up there again, don't I?"

"Why don't you just use Gorador and Farore's Wind?" Navi asked.

Moriko just blinked at the suggestion.

"I take it you forgot about that."

"Sh-shut up, Navi!"

"Don't you give me that!"

"Well, don't patronize me!"

"We should probably go soon," Taiki said. Moriko shook off her embarrassment and got up, thanking Anduro and Kota for their warm hospitality.

"It's no trouble. Come back whenever you feel like it," the shaman said with a kind smile. Kota grinned and waved, watching Moriko walk away until she was beyond the hidden wall. When she was through, the rocks sealed up behind her, floating back into place as if an enchantment had been placed upon them. She didn't linger there, though. She headed to the inn, to give Roland the good news.

"So the ghost is finally gone, eh? About time!" he said as he set a bowl of hot soup in front of Moriko. She began inhaling it, but stopped after a few noodles.

"Did you have business back there?"

"No…it's just some guests wanted to visit the graves of some family members, but were too afraid of the ghost to go anywhere near that place."

"Well, it had been the corrupted soul of Kota's father."

"You mean the apprentice? Oh, that sucks. I heard his mom left for Gerudo Valley."

"Gerudo Valley?"

Roland was silent for a minute, and then his jaw hit the floor.

"What? You've never heard of Gerudo Valley?"

"Only a few times, but I've never seen it," she said, fishing the last noodles out of her dish.

"Well, it's not a place you want to see…or even be near. It gives off an extremely evil vibe that most adventurers stay far away from. An occasional explorer heads there, but they're never heard from again. That's what happened last time, which was...about ten years ago, give or take a few."

Moriko shivered, slurped down the last of the soup, then asked about the room she'd stayed in last time. Roland gave her the keys in an instant, then shoed her off, saying something about needing beauty sleep. Moriko didn't know if he meant her or himself, but headed upstairs anyway.

The room was the same as it was the first time. Same window, same bed, same bedside table and lamp, and even the same, thick blanket she'd slept on the floor with. She set her stuff on the floor by the bedside table and kicked her boots off.

"Moriko, take a bath," Taiki said.

Moriko had him in her hand in a split second.

"Just curious, but why would you suggest such a thing to me? Are you insinuating something, little green bug?"

"No reason!" Taiki blurted out. "I thought you might want to relax or something before you head up the mountain!"

Moriko let him down onto the windowsill, her gaze unrelenting, then turned and stalked into the bathroom. She slipped in and out of the tub in a few minutes, but decided to sit in the warm water for a a bit. She felt relaxed again, just like at home, and it was wonderful. The menaces of the mountain above her and the terrors of the forest behind her were forgotten in an instant. She was alone, and completely tranquil in her small inn room. All her fears and worries melted away-

"Hey, Moriko! You still alive in there?!"

-and they came zipping back in no time flat.

Moriko pulled a towel on and stomped over to the bathroom door, ready to throttle a certain fairy until his color turned from green to purple. She yanked the door open, eyes livid, and swatted the fairy into her hat, which the fairies had dragged onto the windowsill.

"Taiki, I was extremely happy in there. Why in all of Hyrule would you call me out of there?"

"Navi said you'd turn into a giant prune if you stayed in there too long!" he yelped.

"I didn't actually mean it, Taiki!" Navi grumbled, swatting the green fairy with her wing. "You take some things too literally…"

"STOP SWATTING ME!!" he cried. "Anyway, I just wanted you to get a good night's sleep for once."

Moriko sighed and stared out the window. The stars were bright, displaying their brilliance with all who looked to the sky. It was comforting, and Moriko was jealous. They stars rarely changed, but her life had taken a dramatic turn over the past few weeks. Every time she had a chance to look back, she knew one thing was for certain.

She wouldn't trade this for anything.

She yawned and shuffled to her bed, pulling on her white under-tunic before crawling under the covers. She had a lot to think about, but it could always wait until morning. She yawned again, then fell into a dreamless sleep.

Takeshi was nervous. He'd been up for a while now - no way of telling, since there were no windows or reliable guards to ask - and he was having a nervous breakdown. There'd been no news on the location of Suzume, much to his relief, but he knew the soldiers were running out of places to look. They'd been all over the kingdom by now, and they were beginning to wonder if Suzume had kicked the bucket or merely taken refuge in some remote place with the door barricaded and the windows nailed shut. The guards would always try to provoke Takeshi into attacking them or giving something away, but the boy would just keep quiet and sit against the back wall.

The redheaded woman had been moved to the next cell over during the nights, but during the day, all the prisoners were herded to the farthest area of the large fortress, where they were forced to build upon the newest edition to the fortress. They worked for hours on that, then were taken back to their cells to sleep and eat.

A loud bell sang its off key tone at the prisoners, notifying them that it was time to get up. Everyone lined up against the back wall of their cells, waiting for their turn to be let out. The guards came in fours, two going into the cell to chain the prisoners together, and two to lead them away.

Eventually, they came to Takeshi's cell. They paused at the door, then opened it, motioning for him to come forward. He stepped up to the door and stood still as the guards fastened the chains to his wrists and ankles. He would wait for the right moment to run, if it ever came.

He joined the group of prisoners in the hallway. He was right behind the redhead woman. He matched his footsteps to hers and followed the line outside, into the blistering heat of the valley sun. It was unrelenting as usual, but a few prisoners got to work underground. Those few were lucky to get out of the sun, but also not so lucky. The underground ruins were still extremely unstable, even with the support provided by workers, and any problems above would occur tenfold below. Many people had been buried alive before, so it wasn't unusual to find a few decaying body parts down there.

Everyone was swiftly put to work, either lifting bricks or laying them down. Takeshi was directed to construct the wall with about ten others, as well as the redheaded woman. She looked tired, but after one glance at the guards, her eyes were full of fury. The sun was an ice cube compared to the rage swirling in her eyes.

"Hey," he called softly. "How are you?"

"Tired. Angry. Ready to hurt some Gerudo," she mumbled, glaring at the clay stone in front of her as she smothered the top in slip. "You?"

"Considering a way out."

The woman nearly fell over at the statement. "What?!"

"QUIET OVER THERE!!" a guard shouted. The woman calmed down, then looked at Takeshi with bewildered eyes.

"What are you thinking?!" she whispered. "You know as well as anyone that there's no way out of the fortress!"

"Has anyone proved that? No one has completely explored the ruins below. If we could just get these chains off our feet, we might be able to get free."

"You've never been down there, have you? They don't chain your feet while you're in the ruins. No one can get out alive, because it's a labyrinth down there."

"Yeah, but do you think they'll check to see if anyone missing is still alive down there?"

She was silent for a minute, then threw a glare at him.

"But not everyone can go," she whispered in a low voice. "We'd have too many people if we all tried to escape. They'd catch us for sure."

Takeshi was at a loss. What the woman said was true. If everyone tried to escape, not only would they all be captured again, but some people might get trampled or lost, even killed.

"So we'll escape first, then bring the army of Hyrule with us to free everyone else."

"I don't know…," she whispered, averting her eyes. "I just don't know-"

"DON'T YOU DARE SLACK OFF, SLIME!" a guard shouted. There were a series of loud footsteps and crunching sand, then the butt of a spear found itself jabbed into the base of Takeshi's neck. He was pushed against the stone wall and slumped to the ground, his hands protecting his head. The guard smirked at Takeshi's cringing form and ambled on back to his post, completely full of it.

Takeshi stood up slowly and went back to work on the wall.

"When do we start?"

Takeshi's eyes darted to the woman, who was glaring at the wall, her knuckles white as she clenched her slip-covered hands. He blinked, then smiled slightly.

"We start as soon as we get a few things."

"Like what?"

"We need a fast runner, someone who's been in the ruins recently, and someone really strong. Oh, and no names. If we get caught, the guards will kill anyone involved."

"So that's why you never asked my name." The woman bit her lip, sucked in a deep breath, then hardened her expression. "Right. Let's get this underway," she said, a grin was beginning to play at her lips.

YAY!! Chapter 27 is done, and it's on to chapter 28! I hope to see you all there! Thanks for hanging in there for me! I'm glad for all your support! I won't be able to update as often because of school and my job, so please be nice. I really hate most of my classes, since they have nothing to do with writing, and...yeah, I'll let you go now. Take care!