Yay! Chapter 30 is finished! After weeks of writer's block, it's finally done! Awesomeness! Chapter 30, 100,000 words, and over 2000 hits. I am a happy writer!

Moriko: You know, this was actually a good chapter. A little sad at the end, but you've improved a little since the beginning.

Taiki: I had fun reading it! And you didn't forget me or Navi this time!

Me: (smacks Taiki) Aw! Thank you! I'm so happy! This story is almost finished! After this is done, I can start working harder on my Kingdom Hearts fic. Please enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, READERS!!!!

Suzume: Don't own, don't sue, please.

Chapter 30: Three's a Crowd

It took less time to get to Lake Hylia than Moriko had planned. She had made a quick stop in the Castle Town market, and she'd still reached the southern path to the lake within a day. It had been lovely riding Meryl after being stuck in Death Mountain (again), and the wind in her face was like cold water on a hot day. It soothed her tired muscles, but not too much. She'd taught herself to fire arrows at monsters from Meryl's saddle, and she'd gotten very good at it during the daylight hours of her trip.

Unfortunately, the twilight was approaching fast, and she had figured it out the hard way that monsters grew restless during the dark hours. She urged Meryl into a swift gallop, bounding over the locked gate that was built in front of the canyon entrance in a single leap. The impact of the landing jarred both their bones, but Moriko kept going. She didn't have any time to waste. Not anymore. The time of chatting happily with friends had passed after she'd left Ordon, and that was that.

The narrow pass opened up into the upper cliffs of Lake Hylia gradually, though the lake's brilliance was still as amazing as the first time. Though the water was far below the cliff's edge, the rocky walls were covered in brilliant patterns the water reflected onto them. The waters were orange in the twilight, and small white birds skimmed over the water, catching fish in their talons.

Moriko slowed Meryl until the mare was trotting, then halted in front of the small hut perched on the cliff's edge.

Damon. Hiroshi. Mai. She' hadn't seen them in what felt like ages. She'd thought about visiting them, but her journey had kept her away from the beautiful lake and its friendly inhabitants. She wondered what had happened since her last visit.

As soon as she dismounted from Meryl, the small, red hair girl burst out of the house and ran up the hill, smacking so hard into Moriko that both of them toppled backwards, falling into a heap a few feet away. Mai was bawling like a toddler who'd lost its favorite toy, and Moriko didn't know what to do.

"Mai? What's wrong?"

"Moriko! It's so awful! Dad and Hiroshi went on a fishing trip this morning and they haven't come back yet!" Mai blubbered, pushing herself off the ground and gluing her hands to her eyes. "I'm so scared! The Zoras disappeared again, so I think something bad has happened!!"

Navi and Taiki emerged from Moriko's tunic collar and flew in circles around the little girl.

"Don't worry, Mai! I'm sure they're fine!" Taiki said encouragingly.

"They probably just got distracted," Navi suggested, trying to find a positive outlook. Moriko sighed quietly, then helped Mai stand up.

"Mai, I'll go find your family."

Mai's mood went from depressed to thrilled in a heartbeat. She brushed off her clothes and took Moriko's hand happily.

"I'm coming with you!"

"No."

"Yes, please?"

Moriko bit her lip as Mai stared at her as sadly as if she were about to cry, then sighed.

"Fine…you can come. But once we find them, I'm escorting all of you back home. No complaining."

"Roger!" Mai said, already heading towards Meryl. The mare snorted into Mai's face, then stomped her hooves in irritation.

"Sorry, Meryl, but we've got an extra rider this evening. You'll have to put up with this for tonight, then I'll give you a good brushing."

The horse seemed to give her approval and allowed Moriko to push Mai up onto the saddle, who then mounted herself. Navi and Taiki decided to hang onto the pompoms wound into Mai's hair.

"Hang on tight, Mai! We're gonna go really fast!"

With a snap of the reins, they were off, galloping quickly across the Great Hylian Bridge. Apparently it had been built long ago. Almost four thousand years ago; after the era of the Hero of Time. Such an old bridge should've disintegrated long ago, but it remained intact and well used, though not many people travelled these days. They kept to themselves nowadays, and only merchants who owned small shops did any traveling.

After they'd crossed the bridge, Moriko slowed Meryl to a canter, keeping a sharp eye out for any sign of the men. If they'd lost their horses, they'd be heading back on foot.

"I don't see them," Taiki whined. "Are we there yet?"

"Taiki, I'm trying to concentrate. Just be quiet for a bit."

"But I'm tired and hungry and-"

The green fairy was cut off as an arrow thudded into the ground near one of Meryl's hooves. The horse reared up and set off at a swift gallop, Moriko and Mai barely hanging on. Moriko pulled herself back into place and kept her hands locked on the reins.

"Mai, whatever you do, don't let go of the saddle horn!"

"Right!"

Moriko hooked one arm around Mai's waist as she turned back, trying to locate the arrow's source. A lone figure ran along the upper cliff's edge, trying to get a lock on the moving horse. It must've been difficult, since Meryl had taken to swerving along the path like a drunken man. Eventually the attacker gave up, and Moriko sighed happily.

"The archer's gone. Let's slow Meryl down a bit."

Mai nodded vigorously as Moriko tugged at the reins, slowly the unsettled Meryl into a steady trot. The horse shook her head, as if waving away a rancid smell, then relaxed. Moriko frowned. Why had the strange archer suddenly opened fire on them?

"We're here," Mai said quietly. Moriko looked to her left, noticing the fishing sign in a cave a few yards away. With the experience of a ranch hand, she steered Meryl expertly into the cave mouth. She jumped down and helped Mai off, who immediately shook out her legs and ran through the door. Moriko led Meryl all the way back into the dark cave and tied her in he same spot as last time, then pushed the door open.

Cool moonlight danced energetically across the pond's surface, casting rainbows on the walls. Fish jumped eagerly near the waterfalls situated around the area, attracting the attention of birds circling the waters from above.

"You JERKS!!!"

Moriko snapped out of her reverie and watched Mai swing her arms wildly in the direction of a small boat a ways out on the water. Two men sat in it, both with their fishing lines cast out. They turned to look at Mai, then nearly tipped the boat as they scrambled frantically to reel their lines in. Damon and Hiroshi, of course. Who else would be so flustered at Mai's sudden appearance?

"You complete and utter jerks!" Mai continued, pacing angrily along the water's edge. "I come all this way, on HORSEBACK, mind you, and this is what I find?! I've been waiting ALL DAY for you two to come home with dinner, and you have the gall to forget about me?!" She hurled a rock out at them, shrieking as it came up short, "I hate you so much!"

"Mai, calm down!" Damon shouted, taking up his paddle.

"Why should she?" Moriko called. She mentally smacked herself for joining the dispute, but continued. "You should've seen her when I found her! She was crying hysterically!"

"We have a reason for our delay!" Hiroshi shouted. The men were almost to the docks now.

"Spill it!" Mai shouted, on the verge of crying. "What's your excuse this time?"

"I can explain."

Everyone looked towards Helen's house, watching Helen herself emerge from it, Tammie clinging to the folds of her loose tan dress. "They were going to stay with me for a while, since they" –she pointed to Damon to Hiroshi- "like fishing so much. I figured they could spend the night, free of charge, but they said they had someone else living with them. I sent a friend out to collect you, Mai, but they haven't returned yet."

"Would they by any chance be an archer?" Moriko asked, her suspicion rising. Helen nodded.

"Yes, he was. He arrived just this morning, and told me he was a friend of yours."

Moriko frowned, realizing she had no archer friends. Who the heck had that been?

"Anyway, it's time for dinner. Everyone inside please, while the food's still hot."

Damon and Hiroshi, who'd just set foot on the dock, scooped Mai up and carried her inside, stopping only to say hello to Moriko before disappearing into the house. Moriko took a long look a the clear waters of the pond before heading inside as well.

The house was exactly how she remembered it; trophies and ribbons displayed all over the walls, along with pictures of Helen and Tammie. Everything smelled lightly of fish and spices, and it helped Moriko relax.

"What are you doing here?"

Moriko flinched at the harsh, familiar voice, freezing in mid-step. She turned to the couch, and her jaw promptly hit the floor. Seated on the soft burgundy cushions, a book in his hands, sat the crown prince himself, Zenith. His black hair was pushed back slightly, throwing off his usual regal look. He looked almost…lazy.

"I should ask you that question, prince," she said after recovering somewhat. "How'd you get here? Where are all your body guards?"

"He left a while back, but he should be back in a-"

"I lost her!" someone yelled as they thrust the front door opened. Moriko couldn't help but flinch again. That voice…oh for the love of Hyrule, hadn't he tortured her enough?

Tanner stomped into the room and flopped down onto the couch next to Zenith, shaking out his damp hair. He had his eyes closed.

"I don't know how I lost her. I found the kidnapper's horse outside and tried searching the northern pass, but there's no sign of them."

"Tanner," Helen called lightly, smirking.

"Damon, Hiroshi, I'm really sorry, but I couldn't find her."

"Tanner. Open your eyes."

"I really don't see how doing that will help, Helen," he said sadly, but opened his eyes anyway. His gaze shifted from Helen to Damon and Hiroshi, then froze on Mai.

"Are…you Mai?" he asked. Mai nodded, squeezing Damon's hand. She looked uncomfortable with the fact that this new person knew her name, but she didn't know anything about him.

Moriko, though glad that Mai was with her family, kept inching towards the door slowly. She was happy for the family of clowns, but Tanner and the prince were two of the first things she never wanted to deal with outside Hyrule Castle. Sure Tanner was nice and the prince kept his distance, but she had work to do, and she didn't want to be distracted.

She slipped quietly out the door and down to the water, setting her bag down so she could change. Navi and Taiki emerged from her tunic collar and set off on a quick race around the pond. Moriko pulled off her green tunic and tossed it next to her bag, groaning at the fact that she'd have to go back underwater again. She'd be waterlogged…not something she wanted to look forward to.

She pulled out the Zora Tunic and pulled it on, making sure she had all the parts for it before pulled the Master Sword back into place. It fit snugly between her shoulder blades in a comforting way. It helped her keep her head clear, and she really needed it right now.

Sighing, she picked up her helmet, watching quietly as the fairies began their final race.

"Going somewhere?"

Moriko jumped, dropping the helmet. She spun around, glaring angrily at Tanner.

"Yeah. I have something to do. Go home."

He smirked and folded his arms across his chest, his gaze shifting from Moriko to the fairies.

"Hmm…you seem tense. Why don't you take a while to relax?"

"I did relax, but that was before I saw the Gorons turning to stone. I do have a responsibility to the world, you know. Don't you have one to the king?"

Awkward silence. She regretted her words, but it felt good to say them. She was angry at him…or maybe she was just angry. Just being around him was infuriating. Why was that?

Tanner frowned deeply. "Since when were the Gorons turning to stone?"

"Since I messed up. I paid for it, and they forgave me. I have to go."

As she snatched up her helmet and turned to head for the docks, Tanner grabbed her by the upper arm and yanked her back. She dropped the helmet again.

"What is it with you?! Do you hate me that much?!" he shouted. His hazel eyes burned with anger, and his grip was already beginning to cut of the circulation in Moriko's arm. Moriko bit the inside of her cheek until it bled, trying to tear her gaze away. He'd been nice to her, but for some reason she hated it. It felt like…a forced nice. And it made her angry.

"Why do you feel the need to hang around me? Do I seem helpless to you?" she shouted back, ripping her arm away. Tanner threw up his hands and kicked up a chunk of grass.

"No, you're not helpless! I just…!" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I just feel like we could be friends. At least, if it weren't for this stupid Triforce stuff." His face was tinged red now, and he was trying to kick the clump of grass and dirt back into place. "But it seems to be all that's on your mind."

Moriko blinked, picking up her helmet. She turned it over her hands, fingering the intricate wave patterns etched into it. Her mind was reeling, but she felt oddly calm.

"Should there be…something else…on my mind?" she asked, feeling the color rise in her face. Tanner smiled bashfully and joined her by the water's edge.

"Well…I think there should be," he said quietly. Moriko felt her face flush bright red, and she pulled her helmet on.

"And what would you do to change my mind?" she asked, fussing with one of her sleeves. Tanner kicked a small rock into the pond and glanced at her, his face a slight shade of pink.

"I…don't really know. But can I try something?" he asked. Moriko turned to face him completely, tilting her head to the side curiously.

"Like what?"

He brushed his hand gently across her cheek carefully, his hazel eyes locked on her electric blue eyes. Her stomach was doing flips, and she felt really odd. She wanted to know what it was, but that would have to wait. Tanner was leaning towards her, his eyes beginning to close. Moriko took the hint and closed her own, then felt his lips brush hers.

Suddenly, a hand slammed against her shoulder, and from the sudden tension in Tanner's hands, she assumed he'd been hit as well. They balanced precariously on the water's edge, then clumsily toppled into the cold water.

Moriko, thinking fast (though woozily), pulled the Zora mesh over her mouth and nose, allowing her to breathe. She saw Tanner a few feet away, trying to find the surface. With a strong kick, she propelled herself at him, catching him by the shoulders and hauling him to the surface.

When they hit air, they flipped over so they were floating on their backs, breathing heavily.

"Cool off, you two!" someone shouted from the shore. Moriko turned her head slightly and caught sight of Prince Zenith on the shore, rubbing his wrists. "I thought you said you wouldn't date yet, Tanner!"

"Well, I changed my mind!" he shouted back, smirking. "I can do that, right?"

Zenith frowned folding his arms over his chest.

"Sure…whatever."

"Why? Do you like her?" Tanner called innocently. Zenith went from pale to beet red in seconds.

"No way! She's a commoner!!"

"So?"

Zenith didn't get to answer, because Tammie came running out of the house, flailing her arms angrily.

"Get out of the water!" she screamed into Moriko's mind. Moriko shuddered and covered her ears, though it did no good.

"Tammie, stop it! It hurts!"

"Get out! The Cold will get you!"

"Alright!" Moriko shouted, pulling Tanner over to the docks. They pushed themselves up onto the thick wooden boards and wrung out their clothes, still trying to catch their breath.

"Moriko, who were you shouting at?" Tanner wheezed out. Moriko took one last deep breath, then glanced worriedly at Tammie.

"What are you talking about, Tammie? What's the cold?"

Tammie grimaced, then motioned for them to come inside. After wringing out the rest of the water in their outfits, Tanner and Moriko followed the little girl inside, followed shortly after by Zenith. Helen and the others were gathered in the livingroom. Tammie began screaming, and it took both Helen and Moriko to calm her down. When they finished, the others looked almost expectant, as if they hadn't been invited to play. Moriko took a few minutes to explain Tammie's condition, then turned her electrifying gaze back to Helen.

"Helen? I assume you know what's going on with the Zoras?"

The fisherwoman sighed, nodding sadly.

"I already told Damon and his family about it, so I guess I should explain a few things." There was an awkward silence, as if she were bracing herself for impact, then spoke. "It seems…Tammie can't call Shun any longer. The connection has been…severed."

For a second, the world seemed to slow down. Moriko thought she felt her insides do a million flips in her throat, and her hands suddenly felt cold and clammy. What had happened?! Had something happened to Shun? What about the rest of the Zoras?! Were they dying now, too? Had the Harp of Ages been damaged as well? Was it Kaiser's doing? What the hell was wrong with the world?!

Moriko yanked her bag off her shoulders and dropped it on the floor, digging through it until she found the Harp of Ages. She sighed with relief; it was in perfect condition. With a flick of her wrist, she closed the bag and sat back, a hand over her eyes.

"Well, it's not my fault this time," she said in near hysteria, "but that still leaves us with an unknown culprit. It could be Kaiser-"

"Moriko."

"But, if it's not him, it could be Ganondorf himself. Maybe-"

"Moriko."

"I'm sorry Tanner, but I'm a little bit flustered right now. Can I have a minute?"

"Moriko, why don't we just go there and find out what happened?"

Moriko blinked, then looked at him sourly.

"Why do I feel the sudden urge to maim you?"

Tanner just shrugged. "So what's the quickest way to Zora's Domain?"

"Well, I'd say the tunnel near the far end of the pond, but that's been frozen over."

Moriko huffed angrily, then stood up.

"If that way's blocked off, then we'll just have to head upriver."

She promptly received everyone's attention.

"Upriver?" Prince Zenith asked disbelievingly. "How will you manage that? You don't have the time or the strength!"

"If the river's frozen, I'll walk it. If it's still flowing, then I'll swim it. You got any bright ideas, Sour Pants?"

"Hey! What gives you the right to call me names?"

"Hey, you're the one bringing the mood down with your sister complex! Get a grip and give us a hand!"

The prince shut up, pressing his back hard against the couch. Anyone could see he'd never had his head chewed off by anyone. It must have been a real shock.

"Anyway, we really don't have time to dawdle. I'm heading out-" her growling stomach interrupted her, "as soon as I eat something."

"Well, that's why I prepared dinner! I knew you'd show up eventually, so I doubled everything so we'd have enough for everyone. It worked out perfectly," Helen said happily, scoopingup Tammie in her arms. She turned and headed towards the next room, glancing sheepishly at Damon before opening the door and heading inside. Damon turned completely red and Hiroshi just rolled his eyes.

Prince Zenith and Mai headed in after them quickly, leaving Moriko and Tanner alone.

Hmm…how should I describe this awkward feeling? I'd say it's like talking to someone you really like, but then you run out of things to talk about, and you sit there on the phone for twenty minutes just listening to each other's breathing (in a completely non-stalker-ish way, of course…) Moriko sat on the couch, twiddling her thumbs like a fool as Tanner bit his lip and stared out the window. I'll give you one guess as to what's on their minds.

"Moriko, I…"

"I don't…know what to say," Moriko said quietly. Tanner laughed hesitantly, scratching his neck absentmindedly.

"Neither to I, to tell you the truth. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry if I offended you."

Moriko blinked once, then twice, clearly bewildered.

"Are you…apologizing?"

"I guess I am," he mumbled, the color in his face rising. Moriko smiled happily, then stood and walked over to Tanner's side.

"Thank you. I wasn't offended, but you surprised me," she explained, avoiding his gaze. "I just don't know if I'm ready for a relationship yet."

"Anytime soon?"

Moriko was silent for a minute, and his shoulders drooped, but then she spoke.

"I'll tell you when this whole hero thing is finished. Will you wait until then?"

"Sure," he said almost instantly.

"Hey," Prince Zenith called from the next room, "what are you two lovebirds doing in there?! Cool it and get in here!"

Both teens instantly blushed madly.

"Does he mean…?" Moriko babbled.

"I think so…" Tanner said, gulping down air.

They looked at each other, making a silent promise to kill the crown prince once he was alone.

"Today's the day."

Takeshi walked behind the red headed woman – who'd been dubbed Thief – and leaned forward slightly so no one else would hear.

Thief twitched her head slightly to show she'd heard. Everything was working out perfectly. No one suspected that Thief, who had worked in the fortress kitchen just this morning, had stolen three canteens of water for the trip through the maze. She'd swiped a canteen off one of the guards and taken it to the kitchens, claiming said guard had sent her to fill it up, as well as obtain a few others for the other guards. The head chef had fallen for it, and Thief left with all three canteens full of water hidden under the large bowl of porridge all the prisoners were served.

She'd dropped the first one off with Takeshi– dubbed Warrior because of his name – then had headed down to the runner's cell – who had been dubbed Flash – and then on to Muscle and Map, named for their respective jobs.

Now it was time to head out into the desert ruins, to try and find the way out. Takeshi had kept and eye on the guards, taking note of the fact that they switched shifts at the ruin entrance every two hours. He guessed it was to ward off heat stroke, but if you didn't want one, leave the desert. It was common sense.

"Prisoners 245, 34, 68, 46, and 766 step forward," the lead guard shouted as they stepped out into the sunlight.

Takeshi, Thief, Flash, Map, and Muscle stepped forward, their hearts pounding. It really couldn't be helped, since it was the day of the planned escape. All five of them were on edge.

"You five requested time to work in the ruins. King Kaiser was gracious enough to allow four of you to work there, but you," –the guard pointed directly at Takeshi – "are not to work in there. Not for another few days." He turned back to the others. "Get to work, slackers."

With that, Takeshi was led away from Thief and the others with his head downcast, but sent a look at Thief that said, "Don't worry. I won't be long." Thief huffed impatiently, then allowed the guard to unlock her ankles and lead her down into the ruins.

Takeshi groaned when she was gone. How would he get to the ruins now? He had a plan, but it had about a 60% chance of failure, resulting in his death. He grimaced as the guards set him to work, but with time, he began working out the bugs in the plan.

It was at least fifteen minutes before Takeshi was able to make his move. He made it look as if he were working really hard for those long minutes, then pretended to slip and collapse in the hard packed sand.

The workers around him shuffled away as the guards stomped towards him, shouting orders to get back to work. One poked Takeshi's ribs with the butt of his spear, then unlocked the shackles on his ankles and wrists.

"Looks like this one's just passed out. Get him in the shade. If he's not up in five, throw him back inside."

The lead guard turned around and stomped back to his spot in the shade of on of the fortress walls, leaving the lesser guards the job of dragging Takeshi's limp form over to another shady spot, a few yards away from the rest of the prisoners.

As soon as the two guards let go of Takeshi, allowing him to slump to the ground like a doll, he made his move. Pushing off the ground with his hands, Takeshi smashed his feet into the guards' faces, knocking them out instantly. They fell to the ground in crumpled heaps in seconds, and no one had even noticed over the scream of another prisoner meeting the unpleasant end of a guard's whip.

Carefully, Takeshi made his way over to the ruins entrance, keeping at least thirty feet of distance between him and the guards at one time.

Let's see…he could

A.) Barge right through the lone guard and run for his life.

B.) Kill the guard and escape without anyone knowing who got out, though that would mean breaking a promise to Suzume a long time ago (when they were ten, to be precise. It was merely to keep Takeshi's name clean)

or

C.) Grow several limbs and climb like a monkey into the ruins without anyone noticing.

Takeshi thought carefully, but he was interrupted before he could decide.

"SOUND THE ALARM!! ONE OF THE PRISONERS HAS ESCAPED!!!"

Takeshi looked directly at the guard who pointed angrily at him. In several leaps, Takeshi's foot connected with the guards jaw, and there was a sickening crack as it was dislocated, or even broken. He didn't have enough time to check. More guards were coming. He twisted around and headed for the ruins, using kicks on every guard that came within arm's length.

"Stop him!" the lead guard yelled just as Takeshi slid in between the two guards in front lines protecting the ruins. He was up in a flash and heading for the hallway he and Thief had named the meeting place. Three more guards blocked his way. Takeshi feinted left and hit the ground, avoiding the sharp end of a spear before smashing his leg against the back of the guards' knees. They fell to the ground in one big jumble, a mess of armor and weapons, and Takeshi had just enough time to get up and take a flying leap into the ruins entrance.

He was down the hall before any guard could catch him. He'd spent the years of servitude not only serving Suzume, but also practicing for the day when he could escape from the fortress and take her with him. She was safe now, so there was no true reason to stay any longer. His mission now was to locate his lost love, hopefully before the final days began their swift countdown to the world's destruction.

"Warrior! This way!"

Takeshi skidded to a halt and squinted into the darkness. He could just barely see the faint outline of Thief and Map, two of the many shadows in the dimly lit corridor. Thief motioned for Takeshi to approach quickly, then disappeared around the corner, soon followed by Map. Takeshi glanced down the way he'd come, saw the flicker of newly-lit torches, and took off after the others.

He found them two halls to the left, trying their best to stay hidden in the shadows.

"I'm sorry, guys. I had to take out a few guards to get here. We'll probably be followed."

Takeshi heard a low growl, but ignored it.

"We don't have time to waste. Map, how many ways are there out of here?"

"Well," Map said quickly, "if you count every possible hallway you could take, there's at least five. I'm pretty sure the quickest way is down this hallway, following the story."

"Story?" Muscle asked.

"Yes. The murals on the wall. If you can figure out the story, then you can follow that to the exit. All the halls have a story, and they all end the same way, since there's only one exit."

"Great. Let's go."

As soon as the conversation ended, a resounding crash echoed from the hallway Takeshi had run through. This sent the fugitives running for the exit. Takeshi kept his sight trained on the walls, following the story as closely as possible.

It began with in a forest. There were several faces rubbed and eroded away, but there was a pattern. Each child wore green, and they each had a small ball of light floating over their heads. The children wove in between the trees as if they were playing, but soon the expressions that hadn't been worn away changed from happy to full of fear along the entire length of the wall. A turn to the right showed a giant tree withering away, revealing a sparkling green gem. It floated above a small boy with a tiny blue light next to him, levitating just above his open palm. A turn to the left showed the boy heading towards a large mountain. Takeshi recognized it as the story of the Hero of Time.

Several turns later, Takeshi and the fugitives were nearing the end of the hero's story. The walls were painted black now, and a castle that emanated evil stood in the place of Hyrule Castle. Several lights surrounded the boy, who had taken on his older form, and formed a bridge over the molten lava that surged in the moat around the castle. The hero crossed swords with several monsters in the seven rooms holding the barrier around the stairs in place, then began his swift ascent to the throne room.

Takeshi looked ahead and saw the end in sight. The King of Thieves was sealed by the Seven Sages in the Sacred Realm, and the Princess Zelda returned the hero's lost time, sending him back seven years to re-live his life the way he wanted to live it.

Then it ended. The fugitives had reached the end of the murals. It had taken a matter of hours of running to reach the end, but now what?

"Which way?" asked Thief. She leaned heavily on the wall, then took a small sip of water from her canteen. Map shook his head.

"This is the spot where everything falls apart. The murals end, and the walls cry out for an image to be carved upon their immaculate surfaces."

"That's almost poetic, Map," Muscle said, almost sarcastically. Map shot him a hard look, then continued walking, this time at a much slower pace.

Takeshi watched his comrades with sadness. They were all tired, but they still had to manage the desert. Hopefully they'd be able to reach the oasis unharmed.

"So you have no idea form here on out?" Flash asked. Map sighed and shook his head.

"I honestly have no clue. Maybe one of you will be able to make sense of the rest."

"The rest? There's more?" Takeshi asked, peeking around the next corner. He held back a gasp. The walls were no longer a crusty brown, but were pale marble. Magical torches lit with blue fire lined the walls, and between each pair were several stone slabs. Each had ancient Hylian writing carved into the tops of the slabs, but Takeshi couldn't get close enough to read it before it crumbled under his light touch.

Suddenly a shrill scream pierced the air, reverberating through the narrow halls like a siren. It sent everyone to their knees, their hands clutching at their ears. The sound was too painful to describe, and it felt as if their heads would explode.

When the sound was gone, Takeshi watched in horror as the many stone slabs lining the hall crumbled, revealing several corpses that seem to havea life of their own. Their flesh decayed as if they'd been kept alive for centuries, never to see the sun or anything of the sort. Slowly they turned their heads towards the fugitives, and opened their rotting mouths to scream.

"RUN!"

Takeshi didn't know who said it, but didn't pause to ask. The fugitives were on their feet in seconds, heading down the right hallway. The stone slabs around them crumbled slowly, but each held one of the animated corpses.

"What are they?!" Thief shouted at no one in particular. It was Flash who answered.

"They're called ReDeads. I encountered a few on my errands a long time ago, and they feed on human flesh! They suck the life out of you, then eat you! Now, shut up and run!"

The group took two sharp rights, then a left, and another right, the ReDeads right on their heels. Their sides ached as if someone had stabbed them repeatedly, but no one liked the idea of having the flesh ripped from their bones.

So they kept going. Right. Left. Around several corners until finally…

A dead end.

Thief fell to her knees and screamed, clawing at the wall with tears in her eyes.

"No! There has to be a way out!" she cried. Takeshi pulled her away from the wall as Muscle came barreling past, slamming his entire weight into the wall. It cracked slightly, but just enough to allow a sparse amount of light to seep through.

A lone ReDead rounded the corner, only to freeze in its place.

"Sunlight!" Takeshi shouted. "They can't stand in the sunlight! Thief, Flash, Map, Muscle, let's break the wall!"

No one came even close to disagreeing. They immediately began punching, scraping, and slamming into the wall. Slowly but surely, the wall began crumbling like dust. And as more ReDeads rounded the corner, the more sunlight stopped them in their places.

When there was enough room to get through to the desert, everyone scrambled to get out. Thief first, then Map, followed by Flash and Muscle. Takeshi threw a loose brick at one of the front-most ReDeads, causingit to fall to the dusty floor in a heap. With one last glance as the frozen, decaying expressions of the living dead monsters, Takeshi thrust himself through the hole and into the blinding light and sweltering heat of the desert.

"We made it!" Thief shouted happily from her place several yards from the ruins. Map was lying in the sand next to her, and Muscle and Flash were busy trying to push rocks in front of the hole.

"This was only one part though," Takeshi said despairingly. "We still have to make our way to the Oasis, then on to Hyrule Castle. It took Suzume and I a long time to do that on horseback. It will be even harder now, but I'm sure we don't want to turn back now, right?"

Everyone paused and glanced at the ruins, picturing the ReDeads and their rotting flesh, and shuddered.

"We're in," they said in unison. Takeshi nodded, then pointed due east, judging from the shadows' positions. They had to movefast, now. Night was approaching.

When the sun did set, the fugitives were within a few yards of the oasis. They could see the palm trees waving in the chilly desert breeze. By now, despite the lack of light, everyone was visibly shivering. Takeshi had experienced a cold desert night before, but this was unbearable! How could anything but a monster survive this?

Takeshi sprinted the last few yards to the Oasis and dipped his hand into the refreshing water. It was warm, and he really wanted to dive right in and clean himself up, but with the chill in the air, he'd die of hypothermia in a few hours.

So the group settled on simply refilling their canteens and taking turns keeping watch as the others slept restlessly. The sand was white in the pale moonlight, and nearly every dead tree and shrub was clearly visible. Nothingwould escape their endorphin-boosted eyes. The dreams that haunted the escapees ranged from fighting the ReDeads alone to being dragged back to the fortress. No one got more than an hour's sleep at a time. They were simply too on-edge to find any peace.

"I say we head out," Muscle said impatiently, kicking up a cloud of fine desert sand. "We're just wasting time here."

"Maybe so, but what would happen if we were caught in a sandstorm?" Map asked. Muscle snorted and kicked up more sand.

"I don't know! I just want to get out of here!"

"It's a desert. There are sandstorms every few hours! There's no pattern, and some are stronger than others, so what makes you think we can survive the next one without the protection of the water and trees?!" Thief cried. "Don't be rash, Muscle! We have to stick together!"

Takeshi was about to interrupt their argument when something out in the direction they'd come caught his eye. He squinted into the darkness as hard as he could, only to give a surprised shout.

"Get the canteens refilled! We've got company!"

Everyone jumped at his words, then took several seconds to see what he was getting so worked up about.

"ReDeads!!" Thief shrieked, scrambling towards the water's edge, where the canteens lay half filled. She yanked the tops off all three and thrust them underwater, holding them there until there were no bubbles came out. Muscle stood next to her, acting as if he were her bodyguard, and waited until she was done to scoop up the full canteens and throw them over his shoulder. Flash squited hard at the approaching sea of ReDeads, counting their numbers as well as how far away they were.

"There's at least fifty ReDeads, and they're within thirty yards of us, guys! Let's get moving!"

"Muscle, can you carry Map and run?" Takeshi asked quickly.

Muscle snorted as if Takeshi's comment had stung him.

"I used to be a soldier, boy. Do not underestimate me."

Muscle lifted Map onto his back easily, despite the old man's constant protests.

"Don't be overconfident. You'll kill us all," Takeshi mumbled as Muscle set off at a jog.

They set off after a few seconds of last minute rest, then began their final run towards the thin canyon serving as the only path out of the desert, the ReDeads hot on their heels. At least the cool/cold weather kept them from getting heat stroke. But that was the only upside. The downsides were numerous, such as none of them had weapons, they were hungry, and they were having sufficient trouble running on sand, but the one that topped it all was the fact that there were running low on adrenaline. Just looking back seemed to become a less and less efficient way of gaining energy, and that definitely wasn't a good sign.

"There is it!" Thief shouted, pointing to a slight discoloration among the rocky cliffs.

It was the canyon! After running nonstop for nearly three or four hours, they'd finally caught a glimpse of it!

The group made their way towards it at a slightly quicker speed. The thought of sunshine and green fields drove them forward until they could go no faster, their sides aching from their speed. They were going to make it!

"Shoot! They're gaining on us!" Flash shouted from the rear. Takeshi chanced a look back, only to see the ReDeads within twenty yards of them an closing. They must've been angered by the thought of loosing their prey.

"How can they still be out here?!" Thief cried. "It's nearly sun up!"

Takeshi looked up at the sky, which was beginning to gain a pinkish glow.

"It'll be at least another four or five hours before the sun reaches this part of the desert!" he shouted. "The canyon walls provide the ReDeads with shade, so they'll keep going until there's no shade left!"

"Then we're done for!" she replied, shielding her eyes from a small cloud of sand kicked up by Muscle.

"No, we're not."

Everyone's attention was draw to Map, who was pushing away from Muscle as hard as he could.

"What are you talking about, Map?" Takeshi asked, slowing down until he was next to the pair.

"What I mean, Warrior, is that you have no need for me anymore. My job in the tunnels was finsihed long ago. Leave me here. I'll buy you some time," he said quietly.

Takeshi felt the air leave his lungs.

"What?!" Thief cried. "There's no way we're leaving you behind!"

"You don't need to worry about me, Thief," Map said bluntly. "I've decided. This will be my last good deed that I'll ever do. My family will be proud in heaven..."

"You can't mean that!" Takeshi said firmly. "We'll get through this together!"

Map looked back. "The ReDeads are within fourty feet now. Either my journey stops here, or everything we worked for will end. And I've decided. Muscle, put me down."

Muscle slowed and let the old man down, then grabbed both Takeshi and Thief, who'd stopped dead in their tracks.

"Muscle, put us down!" Takeshi said angrily. "We can't leave him behind!"

"We have to!" Muscle roared. "If we don't leave him, the ReDeads will be on us in seconds!"

Thief was bawling silently into Muscle's shoulder, muttering a prayer to herself. Takeshi looked from her, to the ReDeads, and then to Map, who was smiling proudly.

"I hope you find the princess, Warrior, and I pray you keep her safe. That is all this old man asks of you."

And with that, the ReDeads swallowed him into their masses, and the small glimmer of life that was Map, vanished into thin air.

Takeshi was distraught. They had been careless, and that had resulted in the loss of a valuable life that no one could replace. He clenched his fists and cried, tears streaking down his sand-covered cheeks like muddy rivers. Was this punishment for hope? The hope for a new and better future for the world? He didn't know anymore. All he knew was that Map had been a brilliant ally, and he had more courage than anyone he knew. To sacrifice your own life to bring about a better future. He had paid dearly for it, and now Takeshi knew exactly what had to be done. He had to find Suzume and protect her with his life. That had been his goal all along, but now it was strengthed by Map's incredible sacrifice and unending courage.

And so, with a strong but heavy heart, Takeshi and his band of fugitives crossed the last bit of sand into the canyon, with the sun rising just beyond the southern hills in front of them and the ReDeads and their painful memories behind them.

And so ends chapter thirty of my story. I hope you liked it. Leave comments and critique please.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Best wishes!!