Disclaimer: GrimGrave does not own any of the characters featured; they belong to their respective franchises of Nintendo and Shouzou Kaga, Namco Bandai and Arc System Works. GrimGrave does not make money for writing fiction.

A/N: Hello everyone! I hope you're well. I know, you've waited too long for this, but I hope you'll feel that it was worth the wait!

As a friendly reminder, I started another story a little while back, and, if you're interested, feel free to visit "Legend of Zelda - The Phylactery of Epochs" and throw your suggestions for heroines you'd like to see.

Thank you. :)

To Hunt Down a Hylian

Chapter 14

Journeys II

This was bad.

Link looked around, searching frantically.

This was not good at all. The forest looked the same wherever he looked; he didn't recognize it at all.

´I haven't been here in a long time…´

"I-is this t-t-the right w-way?" Noel queried behind him.

The Hylian rubbed his neck and nodded. "I think so. I can't quite tell, but I think so." It wasn't necessarily a lie. He was sure he would eventually find a landmark of sort that'd jog his memory.

He just hoped it would come soon. How long had they been separated from the others? Must have been a few days now, it felt like it at least. Link's thoughts returned to Zelda and Cassandra – how were they holding up? Were they safe? He prayed for them and wished they were out of harm's way.

As he contemplated, the gunslinger at his side carefully ogled him; watching, studying, observing…

Admiring.

"…"

The red hue one her cheeks grew redder and hotter. Her mind wandered back to their "kiss." The feeling of Link's lips against hers was enough to make Noel's head spin and the gunslinger would've fainted had she not frequently reminded herself that she'd be a burden to the Hylian if she was to pass out here.

Still…

Olive-green twin pools eyed the young man up and down before settling for his face; he looked handsome, even when he appeared troubled.

…what she wouldn't give to experience that feeling just one more time.

Wait – what?!

Noel's face was warmer – growing warmer still – and she quickly tore her gaze away from the swordsman. What was she thinking?! This was neither the time nor place for - … whatever this was.

The gunslinger shifted nervously. She hadn't been around boys to this extent and certainly not this intimately either, and it was not like boys usually gave her romantic attention. And while their "kiss" earlier had not been romantic in the slightest, it had–

"Is something on your mind, Noel?"

The blonde lass jolted, eyes wide. When had Link gotten so close?! Her head was spinning, heartbeat accelerating.

Noel let out a short-lived yelp. "W-w-w-what?! N-n-no! I-I'm not th-thinking about a-a-a-anything!"

Link stepped back, an eyebrow quizzically arched. "Okay then… You appeared to be thinking about something, I was merely curious." He turned back around. "Let's rest for a spell. It's been a long march and I need to clear my head."

"O-okay…"

They settled in the nearby clearing, though neither could shake off the uneasy feeling that lingered in the air around them. The wolfos' hadn't shown up again, which was a blessing, but for how long would this last? There was no telling if they had already caught up with the two and simply prowled, hidden in the bushes.

And then there was the fact that Link, despite knowing where they were, he couldn't tell… well, where they were. The Lost Woods was aptly named, after all; anyone without the aid of a fairy would likely not find their way out and –

Link froze up, a soundless gasp escaping his throat upon realizing. Fado once told him that adults who got lost in the woods became stalfos', and neither he nor Noel was in possession of a fairy that could help them. And they had been walking around for hours now…

He glanced over at the gunslinger: she sat on a stump, seemingly lost in thought as well. What was she thinking about, he wondered.

Link took a deep breath and calmly exhaled. If they were indeed susceptible for such a fate, he had to find a way out of this forest, and soon.

x.X.x.X.x

Things were looking grim. The sandstorm was relentless and the scorching heat was wearing the girls down.

"We are going to die out here, aren't we?!" the flaxen-haired girl cried out.

Sheik didn't look back as she replied, "No. We may have the odds against us, but it's not impossible to cross the desert. The Goddesses will see us through, I am certain of it."

"What ´goddesses´?! There's no such thing! We have probably been walking around in circles already!" Lili chided. This was torture; sand was getting everywhere and her legs were killing her.

And how could this crossdresser be so sure that they would get out of the desert? For all they know, they could've indeed have walked around in circles. If an exit even existed, were they even walking in the right direction?

This was ridiculous – ridiculous and complete utter garbage. Why was she stuck in this place? She was supposed to live her ordinary life and settle the score with Asuka –

Asuka. Lili's expression became somber.

´I wonder what you are up to now, Asuka Kazama. Don't get too comfortable with me out of the picture – when I return, you will taste utter defeat…´

"When" she returned? If she returned was perhaps the proper phrase. If this hellhole of a desert wouldn't be the end of her, the other horrors i.e. the warlock or the monsters probably would. This was something straight out of fiction; the protagonist finding him/herself trapped in another world with no way home, with only the option to venture forth in unknown lands.

Lili shook her head, dismissing the thought. She wasn't a protagonist in some kind of weird novel; she was the heir to the Rochefort fortune and a fighter without equal!

But then again…

/ "You may be trapped here, milady, but you are not alone." The Hylian smiled at her and grabbed her by the arms tightly but reassuringly. "I would not want you to go anyway. Your place is with me."

The female fighter couldn't stifle the grin that curved her lips. "I am equal to a princess, you know. This lifestyle is hardly something I'd want."

"I will treat you like the princess you are, my lady. I will give anything and everything to make you happy."

Lili laughed. "Then kneel before me, knave! Grovel before me!"

"As you wish, my lady…"

"…You may call me by my name…" Lili stated. "Just this once."

The young man looked up at her. "Lili…"

The blonde lass shivered at the sound. "Again…"

"Lili…" /

"Lili! Snap out of it!"

The blonde fighter startled with a yelp. "W-W-What?! What?!"

The Sheikah's stern glare met confused azure eyes. "What in the Goddesses' names were you thinking about?"

Lili's cheeks reddened. "N-None of your business! What did you want, anyway?"

Sheik pointed behind her. "I found what I was searching for."

"A… flagpole?"

"It's a landmark," Sheik explained. "It's what the Gerudo use to navigate through this area. If we found one, then the others aren't far away."

The fancy-garbed blonde beamed. "So, we can get out of here?!"

"Yes," the princess replied with a nod. "Soon enough. Let us hurry – I think the sandstorm is getting worse again."

"Okay!" This was great – perhaps there was a chance for her to return home again! They would hopefully meet up with Link again –

Link? Why would Lili be happy about seeing that jerk again? She needed to find a way home and give Asuka a good thrashing!

…

Then again, Link needed to be put in his place before she left. Yes, that's it. She couldn't give him the last laugh, could she?

Ignoring the sand that had managed to get inside her boots, Lili treaded begrudgingly forward.

x.X.x.X.x

Tired cobalt eyes blinked as to adjust to the light. Lucina's vision was mostly dark – she wasn't outside, she noted – but there was a flickering light which provided vision.

A crackling sound earned the swordswoman's attention as she shifted her tired body. What had happened?

´…There was a snowstorm…´ she remembered. That's right, a snowstorm had appeared out of nowhere and then…

…What had happened after that? How had she ended up inside a cave?

´I don't remember finding shelter.´

Lucina shivered and rubbed her arms. The campfire (when had she set it up?) provided warmth, but the cave itself was cold enough to make her breath come out as thin mist.

Something wasn't right here.

"Oh? You're awake, oro!"

Lucina jerked her head to side, eyes wide, and a creature – hulking, big, and strong by the looks of it – stood at the other side of the fire.

"It's good that we found you when you did, oro! A few moments later and you would have frozen to death –"

The warrior woman bolted upright and frantically searched for her weapon. When she discovered it was gone, she grabbed a nearby stick and stuck the end into the open flames. The creature seemed frightened. Good. She waved the stick in front of her, scattering embers in all directions.

"Don't come any closer!"

"Oro! P-please, calm down! We m-mean you no harm, oro!"

"Who or what are you?!" Lucina shouted. "And where am I?!"

"C-Calm down, oro! We a-aren't your enemies!" the creature pleaded as he held up its arms as a sign to its sincerity. Granted, while it looked physically imposing with its strong arms and size, the creature did have a rather gentle expression with its big round eyes and even gentler expression.

That didn't mean she could lower her guard. Lucina waved the stick some more, forcing the creature back. "Tell me, where am I? How did I end up here?"

The creature replied with a surprisingly shake voice, "W-We found you half-conscious out in the mountains, oro! You a-and your friend were trapped in that s-snowstorm so we –"

"My friend?!" Lucina's eyes widened. That's right; Cassandra was with her but vanished in the storm! "Where is she?!"

"S-She's right here, oro!" The creature calmly pointed to the other side of the campfire. The blonde swordswoman was still unconscious on some blankets, but thankfully she didn't look injured. If anything, she appeared to have been taken care of.

The cobalt-haired girl forced herself calm and assessed the situation anew. "…Did…Did you help us?" she asked, observing the creature in front of her.

The creature nodded. "Y-Yes…I thought I saw something in the distance and when I rolled over to check, I found you two! It's strange to find humans this far in the mountains, oro."

"I… I see." Lucina bowed her head. "My sincerest apologies! I acted foolishly without knowing," she said. "Thank you for saving us!"

The creature smiled at her. "It's fine, oro. You are safe now, that's what matters. But tell me, why were you two doing so poorly equipped in Snowhead mountains, oro? Usually humans don't leave Clock Town –"

"´Snowhead´?" Lucina inquired. "Is that what this region is called?"

"You don't know? You travelled rather deep into the mountains without knowing?" The creature eyed her, puzzled. "Then again, you look different from the humans of Clock Town, oro."

Clock Town? Snowhead? Nothing made sense at all. "No… I'm not from around here. Where exactly am I?"

"Hm? Well, Snowhead –"

"No, I mean, what do you call this world? Am I still in Hyrule?"

"Hyrule, oro?" said the creature. "I don't know what this ´Hyrule´ is, but this land is called Termina, oro. Are you from this ´Hyrule´?"

"Not originally," Lucina admitted. "But it is there I must go. I'm sorry, but could I ask you to help us down this mountain? We are in a hurry."

The creature shook its head. "Your friend is no condition to move just yet. Once she has recovered, we can help, oro."

Lucina sighed; as much as she wanted to hurry, the creature was right, Cassandra was in no shape to travel and neither was she. And without the creature's help, they probably wouldn't find a way back. It was a better decision to stay put, rest up, and move out when they both had the strength to do so. Until then…

"By the way," Lucina began. "This may be rude of me to ask, but what are you?"

"Me, oro? I'm a Goron, oro!"

"Goron? I'm afraid I can't say that I've met your kind before. Are you perhaps shapeshifters?"

"Shapeshifters? No, this is how we look, oro." He turned around and picked something up before turning back to the swordswoman; in his hands was a pretty, red stone. "Here, oro."

"A gift? Thank you, friend. Is it a good luck charm perhaps?"

The Goron eyed her, more puzzled than before. "A charm? That won't do, oro! You're hungry, aren't you? It's nutritious, so please help yourself and eat!"

"…I'm supposed to do what with it?"

x.X.x.X.x

The warlock guffawed, his laughter echoing throughout his cavernous lair. Blood-red fires lit up the camber: a gargantuan cave with a single raised plateau made of obsidian in the middle and pillars reaching for the ceiling. The warlock stood still, but the shadow he cast danced menacingly to the flames' flickering forms.

The preparations were coming together. His plans would soon be come to fruition.

Long had Mau waited, and longer still had he yearned for the day when his master would blot out the world. A world of shadow and ruin, belonging to his master, would soon no longer be a mere dream. As long as things went according to plan –

"We grow tired of this, old man," a voice called out and the warlock, with a frustrated sigh, spun around. "Just tell us what you need done so we can return home."

"You know, people of your position would usually choose their words carefully," Mau replied. "And with a bit more respect."

"My "partner" is right, warlock," another voice stated. "We aren't pawns in your little game. Let us be done with whatever you need and have you send us back home."

"You will return when I say so!" he shouted, his maddening voice echoing throughout the chamber. "Serve as my bodyguards and you'll be rewarded as soon as I've fulfilled my goal, and no sooner!"

"Tch, to think I have to serve someone like you…"

"You better keep your word, warlock, or else you'll be looking for new bodyguards! That is, if you even manage to find new ones before we get you."

The bodyguards left. Alone, Mau muttered lowly as he returned to his altar.

"Ungrateful puppets," he muttered. "They should be thankful for serving my grand designs. No matter, as long as they do their job…" He chuckled. "Yes, as long as they do what they're told, I will be able to revive my King…the one who will deliver us all."

In his solitude, the warlock laughed madly.

x.X.x.X.x

Night had arrived. A single fire illuminated the small glade Taki and Rikku had chosen to set up camp in, the moonlight barely filtering through the treetops. Nothing but shadows surrounded them.

"Are we even going to find a way back?" the thief queried. She rubbed her arms, desperate to warm herself up.

The kunoichi let out a sigh. "The forest is bound to have a border. I'm certain we will find out way, and we will, girl," Taki replied and tossed another branch into the flames.

"I know… I think you're right." Rikku certainly didn't sound confident, the brunette noted. "But everything looks the same. Who knows if we have even walked a straight path? We could be walking in circles for all we know…"

"A ninja never loses her way," Taki said. "We are not lost, Rikku. Trust me on that."

"I do trust you," said the blonde. "But…I guess it just feels hopeless; the whole situation, I mean. We don't know where the others are of if they are even safe, let alone where we are! And if we even get to the old man, who knows if we even will be able to defeat him?"

"We have a better chance now because we now know what to expect from him," Taki answered without missing a beat. "We can formulate a strategy to counter him now that we know how he fights." She flashed a smile. "I've been working on one since we separated."

Rikku beamed. "No way! That's incredible, Taki!"

"It's nothing," the kunoichi said. "It's helpful, but nothing is certain. We will have to be careful when we confront him."

Rikku nodded. Of course they had to be, but the young thief was restless; she wanted nothing more than to get back home – get back to Yuna and Paine.

Olive-green eyes teared up at the thought.

´Yuna… Paine…´

What were they doing now, she wondered. Had they continued without her, presuming her dead? Or were they still looking for her, by any chance?

…

Whenever she did return, would they even believe her story?

"Are you alright, girl?" Rikku looked up and met Taki's gaze; it was amiable, calm, and soothing. "You look somber."

The blonde quickly wiped her eyes. "I was just thinking about my cousin and friend."

The brunette nodded. "I see. Are you worried about them?"

"Yeah…I mean, I know they can take care of themselves, but… I just wonder what they are doing right now. I vanished when we traversed a mountain, so…" Her voice went quiet.

"You are afraid that they might consider you dead."

Rikku nodded slightly.

"If you are as close as you've told me, then I'm certain that they won't give up on you," Taki replied, a small but noticeable smile curving her lips. "And neither should you give up on them, Rikku."

The young thief managed a smile of her own. "Thanks, Taki –"

"Quiet!" The ninja's expression became passive, eyes narrowed and directed towards the bushes.

The blonde's heart threatened to burst. Had the older girl noticed something? Was it something hiding in the shadows?

She swallowed hard.

"Show yourself!" Taki exclaimed and, as fast as lightning, threw a kunai into the bushes a few paces away from them. There was a rustle, a yelp, and something glowing, orb-like thing appeared and disappeared into the trees.

"T-Taki…"

"Prepare yourself, girl," the ninja said. "We are not alone."

And as she had said it, something leapt out of the trees.