Wow, something must have really screwed me up. This is the longest time it has taken for me to update!

Roy: We're very disappointed in you, Aru

Ardath: Wait, don't blame it on her, blame it on... (Dun dun dun...!) Writers' block!

All: Gasp!

Marth: Well, at least you managed to get this chapter up and going.

Link: I agree.

Ardath: Do you have any others to blame?

Yes. Let's see... First it was the last week of the first semester, and boy was that stressful. Then it was the almost daily quizzes our English teacher was giving us. Then it was the lack of motivation. I don't have any good music anymore to inspire me. But after long chats with my buddies, Terra, Kippy or Jamie, and Melyy, (who was more a pain than a help, but I'm still thankful for her) and the recent addition of Charlie, I finally managed to scrap up some inspiration for this chapter. Thanks to them! As for the next several chapters, I already have an idea planned out for them... Quite a twist of events coming up, and it might cheer everyone up. Sorry for the wait!

Fox: Pyro Aru doesn't own anything. Almost. I'm sure you've all heard of her plans to take over Nintendo though.

All: Onward, to Chapter 4!

"In Truths That She Learned,
Or In Times That He Cried.
In Bridges He Burned,
Or The Way That She Died.
It's Time Now, To Sing Out,
Tho' The Story Never Ends!
Let's Celebrate
Remember A Year In The Life Of Friends!" Seasons of Love, Rent Musical
Chapter 4: Failure: Fight for Hyrule Part II

The silent group stood on top of the boulder. To the West, dark clouds were rapidly approaching, like an ominous sign. A strong wind began to tug at Roy's cape, which began to flutter. He had his two motion sensing bombs and a blaster gun. Link, Young Link, Saria, and Malon were testing their bow strings. The wind would harass their arrow's flights, but they had good shots. To make the speed faster, they tightened the bowstring a bit. Zelda was praying to the three Goddesses for protection. Falco and Fox were looking over their own guns for any flaws or rust.

Before them was the plains, which was holding the Wireframe army. Roy noticed that the army was much smaller than it had been earlier. Several of the Wireframe transport ships were gone as well. He hoped Elibe would be okay just long enough for him to finish up here, although he knew he wouldn't be going back anytime soon.

"Well, luck is in our favor at the moment. The army has shrunk. Can anyone contact Master Hand?" Zelda asked.

"Yes." Fox tapped his headphones. He carried them everywhere, like a cell phone.

"Okay, call him. I want to know where those Wireframes are." Zelda commanded.

"Yes ma'am." Fox mocked her. He put his headphones on, then went silent. "Master Hand, it's Fox. We're on Hyrule with the Hyrulian smashers and the Fire Emblem Smashers. We are going to confront the Wireframes, and we're wondering where the rest of the army is." Fox went silent. "No, it's Zelda's idea. We've already tried to talk her out of it." More Silence. "Yes, she won't listen." Fox rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, I will. Now where is the rest of the army?"

Roy looked to Zelda, who was studying the army. He silently joined her, seeing as he was also a tactician of sorts. The layout was next to the forest. Their best bet was striking from the forest. To the other side of the army were steep hills. That could also help, if the hills were close enough, though the forest was still the better approach. The other two flanks were clear, making that the worst place for sneak attacks.

"Roy, do you think we should try those hills first, or the forest?" Zelda asked the swordsman suddenly. Roy jumped, then turned to Zelda.

"Sorry, you startled me. I think that our best chance will be attacking from the forest. We'll just have to be careful for traps and scouts and sentries. The hills, if they aren't too far, could be used for a good stand, since we could climb to the top and have the upper ground." Roy explained.

"If we go through the forest, we'll also have to watch out for the native creatures. Most aren't afraid of the Wireframes. There might even be some ReDead in those trees. They can't be killed. I've been caught by them enough times to know that they're dangerous." Link pointed out. Young Link nodded in agreement.

"Well then, we'll just have to find a safe path to the forest. The Wireframes are guarding the main entrance. There are scouts traveling up and down the border as far as a mile. We should be able to slip through if we head a bit further." Saria added.

"Okay then. Let's head out." Fox stuck his blaster into its holster and grinned. "We've got some ways to go."

The group launched themselves off the rock. Link stopped to help Malon from the rock, seeing as she was more accustomed to flat landscapes. The group then started out with an easy trot to the southern area of the forest. To the southeast, they could see a bit of the ocean, glimmering softly. The Wireframe army took no notice of the small group as they darted behind the rolling hills of the Hyrule Plains.

Malon began to slow first, followed by Zelda and Young Link. Saria and Link also looked a bit weary. Fox and Falco looked like they could sprint all the way to the forest and back several hundred times before they tired. Roy and Marth's armor was beginning to slow the two swordsmen. Navi, who had popped up from nowhere in particular, flitted about the girls' heads, totally unbothered by her quick flying.

Finally, Malon called for a breather. "I… Haven't run… Like this… For… A long… time…" Malon panted, bending over. Young Link plopped himself down in the long grass.

"I'm tired!" he complained. Link smacked his forehead.

"Was I like that when I was younger?" he wondered aloud.

"Yes, you were." Navi snorted. Link shot daggers at her with his eyes as Fox and Falco laughed at him.

"Okay, we'll take a five minute break. I don't suppose we brought any food, did we?" Zelda looked around. "I'm feeling a bit hungry…"

"Don't start, Zelda. It was your idea to go on this crazy adventure." Marth growled. Zelda looked at him in alarm. He never sounded like he had just then.

"Are you okay Marth?" she asked. Marth ignored her and jogged up the nearest hill to check their position, wary of the army nearby.

"He's been like this since Samus was shot." Roy looked after his friend. "Whenever he worked hard, he'd go into mood swings. The really scary ones are the ones when he doesn't say anything at all, and has one of those deadly gleams in his eye."

Zelda shivered at the thought. "And I was just trying to lighten the mood too…" Zelda looked after the gloomy swordsman, who was still at the top of the hill.

The troop rested in silence. Zelda and Roy climbed another hill, and took note of how close the army was. They were still far from the forest, but near to half way.

"Once we get to the forest, I suppose we should let Saria lead the way through. She knows the forest like the back of her hand." Zelda informed Roy. She looked over to Marth's still form.

"It's okay Zel. Marth's just…" Roy tried to think of an appropriate word.

"Heartbroken?" Zelda clasped her hands. "What about you? You lost Katan too. I know that she didn't make it back to her home planet like almost everyone else has…" Zelda turned to Roy to find him studying his boots. "Oh goddesses, I'm sorry Roy. I didn't mean to…"

"No. Marth and I have to face it. We've both been running from it for the past several years. But we both know that Samus isn't about to be resurrected. And Katan was too close to the blast, along with Pichu and Ness. We've probably lost them too." Roy turned and looked into the wind, his hair fluttering. The last of the sunlight lit up both Zelda's and Roy's hair, making one gold and another a true living flame.

He looks so… forlorn… Zelda thought, looking at the pyro swordsman. "Maybe there is a way we can resurrect them all." She whispered.

"Roy! Zelda! We should move out soon!" Saria called from the little bowl. Marth had already begun trudging down the hill, Malon slightly behind. He looked… Defeated. It hurt to see him that way. Zelda winced at his haunted looks.

Roy and Zelda joined the party at the bottom of the hill. Fox and Falco were antsing to get started on the next part of the run across the Hyrulian plains. "So, what's our status?" Fox asked.

"Good so far. The army hasn't gotten wind of us yet." Zelda studied the faces of her friends. "Well, I suppose we should head out. I think there is a storm coming."

Without another word, the group left the protective bowl. Instantly, they were buffeted by the strengthening winds. They struggled to keep on balance as they set off at a struggling trot. Zelda, Malon, Saria, and Marth's hair whipped at their faces, Link and Roy's waving madly. Malon ended up tucking Navi into a pocket to keep from loosing the little misunderstood fairy. Falco held his wing like arms close to keep them from getting caught and injured by the wind. Fox closed one eye to the oncoming force. Marth and Roy were forced to take off their capes in danger of them getting seen.

It took the group twice as long as it should have to reach the sentry line point. They ducked behind a hill to avoid being seen by the wire sentries. But to their misfortune, the wind was coming from behind them. It was be seen or be winded.

After what seemed like a harsh eternity, the sentry disappeared, totally unfazed by the strong wind. The group rushed the forest, not stopping for anything as the sentry disappeared around a hill. They finally stopped in the forest, their breathing laborious.

Malon plopped down on the ground, ignoring the strong wind, which remained strong even in the forest. Navi stuck her head out of the pocket.

"Maybe we should find shelter and attack as soon as the storm ends." Link suggested. Young Link was on his back, exhausted. "I don't think we'll be able to hold them off, in our current state. The wind doesn't even affect them."

The others could only murmur in agreement to the proposition. All eyes turned to Saria. "So, where is the best place for hiding, Saria?" Zelda asked.

Saria pulled herself off the tree she had been leaning tiredly on. "Well, there is a little cave near here. I'm sure we could fit into it, though it might be a tight squeeze."

"That should be good. We can cover the entrance and use Roy and Marth's capes, with their permission, of course." Zelda looked to the swordsmen. They nodded, too tired to voice their answer. Fox took Young Link from Link, who handed the tired youngster in relief. Fox and Falco were the least affected of the group.

Saria led the way to a cave, out of the way of the hunting trails, and surrounded by brush. The entrance required for the entrant to crawl, though inside the cave grew larger. Zelda cleared the cave of insects using Din's fire, then led the way in. Fox and Falco remained outside to cover their friends and to pull some of the brush towards the cave. Falco retreated first, followed closely by Fox and a pile of brush.

The group sat in a circle, not quite sure of what to do. Fox went back out with Roy's Sword of Seals, which soon poked down into the little cave, creating a hole, which Fox covered with a pile of large leaves. Zelda then lit a small smokeless fire, the nearly invisible smoke going through the hole. The cave was cold and clammy. Roy and Marth's capes served their purpose well and kept the warriors off the clay and dirt. Soon, the cave was a little home for the group. They soon all fell into a deep sleep, besides Falco, who offered to take first watch. They slept on undisturbed.

Roy was first to wake. Falco had fallen asleep on duty, allowing them all to sleep through the storm. Roy crawled out of the cave, and was almost instantly drenched by the rain. Thunder pounded in the distance. The heart of the storm had already past, but the rain still fell steadily. Roy crawled back into the cave. He sat by the fire, hoping he would dry off some. But soon, Fox awoke.

"What… Hey!" Fox looked at Roy, who held a finger to his lips. Quietly, he asked Roy, "Why didn't Falco wake me up? I was next for watch."

"He fell asleep." Roy answered, poking at the small fire with a root. The end burst into flame, then died away, only to flame again when dropped into the fire.

Fox let out a hiss of air. "That idiot… he could have gotten us captured or even killed…"

"Oh well, we needed the rest. Even you needed it Fox." Roy pointed out. "The main part of the storm passed, and we slept through it like there is no tomorrow. Heck, maybe there isn't any tomorrow."

"Don't say that." Zelda had woken and heard Roy's last comment. "We're all going to live, and we're going to win. Now, let's wake everyone up. Now might be the perfect time for an ambush."

"Oh Zelda, when did you get ideas of ambush and war into your pretty head?" Roy asked as he reached over to Marth's shoulder.

"I guess you could blame it on Ganondorf. He's such a war ridden freak. I wonder where he went…" Zelda was waking Malon and Saria up, while Fox tackled Falco.

"Mmf!" Falco squawked like the avian he was, then attacked Fox back. "What was that for!"

"For sleeping on watch, idiot." Fox grinned at his friend.

"Oops." Falco laughed airily, rubbing his head self consciously. "Well, I was tired, and you were out like a dead fox…"

Fox coughed, forming a fist. He hit Link on the shoulder, waking the hylian with a start. "What the heck?" Link bolted up, hitting his head rather unceremoniously.

"Time to boogie." Fox announced. Roy shook Young Link awake as Marth sat up, not even yawning. He looked ready to kill. Roy frowned at Marth's attitude. It was getting worse everyday.

"Shall we head out then?" Zelda asked. Saria and Malon were yawning behind her. She was already working on putting out the fire. The others merely nodded, then began to crawl out, Roy and Link first, followed by Marth, Falco, and Fox, and finally Young Link and the girls.

Like Roy, they were soaked soon as they trudged through the forest. Even the thick foliage didn't keep out the rain, though it would probably keep out snow. But it never snowed in Hyrule, even on the coldest winter nights. The group found themselves on a nearly invisible hunting trail. Twice, they dove into the bushes and hid as they heard a sentry on another close trail, or even their own trail. Once, Marth even attacked and killed the sentry. He was scolded for it, for that alone could alert the army of a hostile presence. They hurried along, ill thoughts running through several of their heads.

Saria soon led them away from the trail and back towards the plains. They paused in a thick bush filled area. The bushes reached higher than Link's head, reaching for the cloudy skies. Peaking through the bushes, they were met with a heart thudding view.

"Oh my goddesses…" Link swore. The army had shrunken a bit over their rest, but it was still a large force. Fox and Falco gulped, and looked to one another. Zelda's eyes watered, as if she were already being forced to give up. Malon gasped, and Saria swore to the goddesses. Marth remained impassive, a look of grim determination in his eyes, and Roy's eyes narrowed.

"Are you sure we can take them out?" Young Link asked, fingering the motion sensing bomb he had.

"No, not anymore." Zelda admitted. Marth turned on her.

"Are you saying we came all the way out here in a storm, risking our necks and health only to say that this might as well be labeled impossible?" He growled menacingly.

"Yes, I am. I didn't think this force would be this big up close." Zelda hissed. Suddenly, a horn blew. A Wireframe had either heard or spotted them, and the army was charging them.

"What the-" Link started, only for Saria to grab his arm.

"Run!" Malon screamed.

"Drop your motion sensing bombs!" Fox shouted, grabbing his and throwing them at the enemy. The others, except Marth did likewise. Marth paused for a moment, then followed along.

Explosions rocked the air as Wireframes ran over the bombs, setting them off. Link and Saria threw some of their own bombs at the ranks of wireframes as well. But not enough of the wireframes were going down. The group began a mad dash for the ranch. Their only hope of escape was the transporters.

The Wireframes were slowed by the bombs, allowing the group to rush the shortest way to the ranch. The boulder reared up into view after only a mile's worth of running. Link, Marth, Fox, and Roy helped the girls up, while Falco lifted Young Link onto the boulder. They then reached down and helped the swordsmen and the fox onto the boulder. From there, they jumped off onto the other side and made for the transporters.

"You guys go." Saria stopped. "We'll stay here and fend off those Wire creatures."

"But it's too dangerous!" Zelda tried to reason with them.

"If we feel too threatened, we'll take the cows, cuckoos, Epona, and Talon to the forest by the ocean route. Ruto will help us." Malon explained. "It's okay, just hurry and defeat the master of these creatures."

Zelda wailed, and hugged her friends, possibly for the last time. "Don't wait, start now. I don't want you here too long, and the cows will be too slow. Tie Talon up and put him on Epona if he doesn't agree to go with you."

"Okay Zelda." Saria turned and hugged Young Link. "See you around, little buddy." Saria nodded to Link.

"Link!" Navi fluttered through the air, ignoring the rain. "You'd better come back so I can bug you again."

Link grinned. "When have I not come back, Navi? See you around, and may the goddesses be with you."

"Good luck everyone. May the goddesses watch your backs." Malon smiled to the smashers as they rushed to the transporters, waving.

"Good bye!" Zelda shouted as Fox jumped in his transporter. She transformed to Sheik, and followed. Roy scrambled into the transporter as well. The transporters took to the sky as the last smasher got into their seat. The Transporters lifted off, flying away as Saria, Malon, and Navi hurried off for their final escape.

Well now, that was interesting.

Roy: Very.

Fox: I wonder what's going on in Marth's head...

Marth: I seem like an idiot who can't get over anything. Do you have to do that?

Ardath: Oh hush up. Come here, I'll tell you a secret.

Link: Why does he get a secret? What about me?

Marth: Really! That's awesome!

Link, Fox,& Roy: Okay...

Pichu: Read and Review and I'll hug you! Unless you don't want a hug from me...