M.S.K: Whew! It took a while for me to edit and proof-read this thing. Right now, Hoshimi's on land and I have to figure out what she'll be doing on the next chapter. Right now, I'm watching Saint Seiya for a brief while. So, soon I'll get back to writing after some thinking time while I'm at it. So, um, Red?

Red: All rightie! Kaoru doesn't own anything about Legend of Zelda: Four Swords. It all goes to Nintendo. But, she does own her princess while the prince belongs to someone else by permission.

M.S.K: (Snuggles Red) Awww! You're always cute when you do that! Thank you soooo much!

Red: Aww! You're going soft now!

M.S.K: (Releases Red) Sorry. I'm usually like that whenever I'm excited about something. Anyway, do sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Chapter 9: Hoshimi in Hyrule

On the beach near Hyrule Castle, a melody being played on an ocarina was heard. It came from Shining Link, sitting on a rock on the beach. He is playing the song that is from the girl who rescued him from drowning. But the problem is, he didn't have any idea it's from Hoshimi. In fact, he doesn't know her yet. Because of the song repeating in his mind day after day, he still hasn't found out whose voice it is and she didn't know who that girl is.

He let out a sigh for a moment, until a fairy glowing in white light came and start hovering around his head.

She asked him. "Shining Link, was there something troubling you already? You were playing beautifully just now. Also, you were like this ever since you came back. What's wrong?"

"It's. . . It's about this voice, Snow." He answered her.

"A voice?" Snow, the fairy asked him.

"Yes." He got up from the rock and stared out into the ocean. Then he let out another sigh. "It's been haunting my head every time I think about it. It's even in my dreams each night. I still don't know whose it is though."

"Oh?" The fairy wondered. "Is it about this mystery girl, you keep mentioning?"

Shining Link turned to her. "You know? I searched all of Hyrule, Snow. But, so far there's no sign. I wonder where she is. It's been two weeks and I haven't found her."

In the mean time, Link, Red, Vio, Blue, and Zelda have just made it to the other side of the beach. They just laid Hoshimi onto a rock for her to breathe in some air since they left Ganondorf's domicile. Now, everyone is exhausted from swimming up from below the water's surface. They all rested themselves on to another rock.

"Oh!" Red exclaimed. "I've never swam that much if I were in a lake."

"Well! For your information, we're nowhere near one!" Blue provoked.

"I'm just saying that!" He said back to him.

It wasn't too long before Hoshimi opened her eyes as if she woke up from a nap. The sunlight warmed her face and shone upon her eyes. She slowly sat up from lying upon the rock before rubbing her eyes.

"Ah!" Red is the first to notice that his sister is awake. Everyone else took notice after him.

"Hoshimi!" They all exclaimed in unison.

She looked at them and smiled.

"You're awake!" Link exclaimed.

She nodded, then she turned over her shoulder to look at what's behind her. It's Hyrule Castle, the home of her prince! She's on land right now. Then she looked down and took a look below. Her fish tail has been replaced with a pair of legs and a pair of white knee-length pants! Her smile broadened for the potion have worked successfully before she fainted not too long ago.

"Yes." Said Zelda. "You're not a Mer-Hylian anymore. Well, that's for sure."

Hoshimi shrugged. Then she heard a small familiar voice calling out in the air. "Hey! Hey! Hey!"

Everyone looked up and they saw Navi flying down to meet them! "Hey! Look what I'm seeing here!" She said cheerfully. She went up to Hoshimi first. "Well, now. It's nice to see you again, Hoshi. . ." Then she looked down and saw her new legs. "Oh. . . . Hoshimi? What on earth happened to your lovely tail? I doubt that you can ever swim around Hylia with these things you know. . ."

Before she can say anything else, Vio laughed a little, telling her. "They're Hylian's legs she received a while ago, Navi. Of course, she can't swim down to our homeland with them."

Navi took one more look at the princess' new legs and she is surprised! "Oh! Really? When did this happen?"

"It was a long story." Said Link. "We followed her to the Forbidden Seaweed Jungle where she's getting 'help' from Ganondorf."

"Seaweed Jungle? Ganondorf?" The fairy asked again. "Why, you guys shouldn't be swimming there. The kelp there are strong enough to tangle themselves on to a Mer-Hylian very easily and they can even wreck a ship. Plus, it's a home to utterly dangerous fish. And Ganondorf. How in the Great Sea did you all get involved with such a villainous magician?"

"His pawn, Shadow Link brought her into the idea of visiting him for help." Blue grumbled.

"Well, she said she needed it." Red added.

His blue-tailed brother continued. "She traded her voice to him in order to obtain those legs. It's for visiting a Hylian Prince!"

"I see. . . ." Navi even looked at Hoshimi and she nodded.

As Hoshimi tried standing up, Red explained the next set of facts to the fairy. "He gave her a really painful potion to turn her into a Hylian. In order to make the effects of the potion permanent, she's got to get the Prince to fall for her and after that, she has to get him into kissing her. It's a pretty simple plan, really. She's in love with him first, he's going to be in love with her next, and then, 'Chu'! After the kiss, the spell will remain on her for eternity!"

"But, to complete this task. . ." Said Link. "She has to get him to love her within three days. Because, that's the time limit of the potion."

Before she can stand up on her two feet perfectly, Hoshimi slipped on the muddy sea bed and fell upon the water.

"Oh dear!" Zelda exclaimed. "Are you all right, Hoshimi?"

She nodded for 'yes' and she is okay.

Navi wondered about this. "Well, that's going to be a big thing for her to handle. I wonder if the Maidens or King Thor were to. . ."

"What?" Blue shrieked when he heard her mentioning the Maidens and the King. "What are you saying, Navi? Do you have any idea of what this situation is? This is something that neither Father nor the Maidens know of! We didn't even asked him to go visit that sea devil wizard!"

"You're quite right on that Blue." Said Link. "But, I don't think. . ."

But, before he can say anything else, his panicked brother shrieked again. "This is big, big, big trouble for all of us now for Farore's sake! What will he say? No! No! I figured it out! I do know what he's going to say! He's going to punish us all and take away our Pearls of Farore and Naryu! That's what he'll say! You know what guys? I'm going to swim back to the palace right away, without wasting another second or two and tell him everything what we've been through!"

"What?" Everyone exclaimed except Hoshimi who is surprised from her eyes.

"Why should we let father know about this?" Vio provoked. "Hoshimi has been through enough trouble to fulfill her own need. She even gave away her voice for it too, I hope you know."

But Blue hissed. "Try and stop me, but everything out of the ordinary is to be reported!"

Hoshimi quickly grabbed his arm and shook her head.

"And don't you say 'no' on that too, girl!" He said to her.

"But Blue! You can't breathe a single word about this!" Exclaimed Zelda. "No one in Hylia should know. Not even Father or the Maidens. Nor would Shrakah and Keir!"

After what she said, Blue began to think. "Hmm. Well, perhaps there is still some time left in our hands. I think I got just the thing." He turned to Hoshimi. "Perhaps, we can at least get that wizard into giving your voice back, then we can take you home as normal Mer-Hylian Princess again and. . ." He then sees her face becoming stern again. "And. . . And be a little love-less for the rest of your days. . ." After a small pause, he heaved a sigh of defeat. Defeat from seeing her face. "Okay. . . All right. . . I'll help you get that Prince with everyone else."

With that said, she gave him a cute-looking smile and gave him a hug. Then she slowly knee-crawled her way back to her rock.

Blue sighed again. "Oh, man. What a soft-shelled turtle I've become right now."

Red giggled when he said that. He wrapped his arms around his brother's waist. "That's what makes you my loving brother! I always knew that underneath this hard, crispy, rough shell, there's a soft, spongy, puffy inside in you!"

"Red! Cut it out!" He provoked, trying to pry him off again.

"Won't mind if I call you Brother Blue?" He just asked.

"Argh!"

Then, Navi can sense that another fairy with a Hylian is slowly approaching. "Oh! Quickly everyone! We must get ready! The Prince and another fairy I happened to know is coming any minute!"

"Ah!" Link gasped. "She's right! We cannot be seen here!" Then he turned to his sister. "Hoshimi! You lie there on that rock you're sitting on and pretend that you were washed up upon it. Act like you were shipwrecked."

She nodded.

"Come on, you guys!" Said Vio. "Everybody underwater!"

Before she can join her brothers, Zelda went up to her sister. "Here. You should have this with you." She handed Hoshimi, her white ocarina.

Hoshimi blinked at first. Then she quickly took it and hid it in her pocket.

"Whenever you need to see us, play our family's lullaby on it and we'll be up to see you." She instructed. After her sister nodded to her, she quickly swam back to the others.

So, the Royal Children of Hylia dove into the water to hide and Hoshimi laid down on her rock to pretend she's unconscious. Navi then hid away underwater too.

Later after that, Snow flew through the air and spotted Hoshimi lying on her rock. Then she flew around Shining Link's head, crying. "Prince! Prince! I found something! You must see it!"

"Huh? What is it, Snow?"

"I can't explain! Follow me!" She said flying off to the spot on the beach where she found the princess.

"Snow! Wait for me!" The Prince called out, running after the fairy. "I can't run as fast as you can flutter your wings!"

As soon as he met up with her on that spot, he asked her after catching his breath. "What's gotten into you, Snow?" Then she showed her the girl that's lying on one of the rocks. "Huh? Ah!" He quickly went up to the rock and held her in his arms. Then he patted her cheek. "Hey, are you all right, miss? Wake up."

Hoshimi opened her eyes and saw him. Her prince! He's even holding her in his arms.

He sighed with relief. "Oh, thank the Goddesses, you're okay. You nearly scared me. It seems you must have been shipwrecked. You poor thing."

She just smiled at him as they both looked at each other.

Shining Link blinked. "Uh, You look a bit familiar, some how? Do we meet?"

Hoshimi quickly nodded her head for her answer.

The prince smiled a delightful smile and gasped. "I knew it! You're the one I'm searching for. I haven't told you who I am yet. I'm Prince Shining Link of Hyrule. Will you tell me your name, please?"

But, when she tried to speak it out to him, not a sound came out from her lips. She almost forgotten that her voice is gone as a price for the potion to become a Hylian. In that, she couldn't speak to him. She solemnly laid her hand around her throat.

The prince tilted his head to wonder why she didn't made her answer. "Hmm? Is there something wrong?"

Hoshimi made a sad look in her eyes as she held her throat in order to tell him her problem.

"Are you mute?" He asked her.

She nodded.

With silent dismay, he then said. "Oh, I see. Then. . . you might not be what I thought you'll be." But, he brightened up. "But, you can write. Can you?"

She nodded her head again.

Shining Link grabbed a small stick and gave it to her. "Here. Write your name on the sand."

Hoshimi slid down from her rock and wrote it down on the sand as she dragged the stick on it with her hand.

Once she's done, Shining Link read. "Hoshimi. . ." Then he turned to her. "Is that your name?"

She nodded once more for her answer.

"I see. It's very beautiful for you by the way it sounds." He complimented.

When she heard his praise, she began to blush a little. She even smiled too. "I've been praised! He liked it!" She thought.

"I like it too." Said Snow as she flew around her.

Hoshimi stared at the little white fairy and turned at the prince with a questioned look.

He answered her. "Oh. That's Snow. She's the family's fairy. Frankly, she's been around me from time to time."

Hoshimi shrugged and smiled at the same time to say that it's kind of cute to her opinion.

"Speaking of which. . ." Said the Prince again. "We should get back to my home, the castle to have you see them. I'll even let you meet my confidante, Sheik." Then he took her hands in his. "Do you think you're strong enough to get up and walk?" He asked her.

Well, Hoshimi began to stand up with his aid, she almost had her stance. But she happened to feel a sting of pain as she got up on her feet, causing her to lose her balance and almost fall back on to the sand.

Shining Link quickly caught her in his arms. "Woah! Oh my. Are you all right?"

Hoshimi nodded and she tried to start walking on her own. But every time she took a step, she felt the same sting again. It kept repeating every time she made her first steps. To her, it felt like she was treading on a field of knives and it hurt very much. She winced silently and began to fall again.

"Woah! Woah! Easy there!" The Prince exclaimed again as he caught her once more. He brought her up to his gaze and said. "Goodness. I believe you must have been through something that is pretty rough on you, somehow. But, no need to worry. I'll help you over on our way. We'll even help hospitalize you."

As the gentle prince helped her walk their way to the castle, Hoshimi can see her siblings and Navi appearing from their hiding spot at the beach. They all waved at her to tell her to take care of herself while they stay behind for her. After she nodded at them, they all disappeared into the sea.

Hoshimi continued to walk with the Prince to the castle. Then they were met with a pretty looking maid at the door.

She ran up to them and greeted. "Welcome back, your highness!"

Shining Link chuckled. "Liliana. You don't have to address formalities to me every time. Call me by name."

"But, your highness. You're the Prince of Hyrule. So, there's no way I can call you by your given name according to your status."

"It's all right. There's no law about it, right? So, go ahead and address me by my name."

The woman sighed and said. "All right. Shining Link. Welcome home." Then she notices Hoshimi. "Oh! Who's this?"

He turned to her. "Ah, this is Hoshimi. Snow and I found her washed up on to the beach a while ago. She is also mute so, she may not be able to speak. But she can write for us to know what she's saying."

"Oh dear! You poor girl! Washed up from a sunken boat? How unfortunate." Liliana said. "We have to bring her inside and treat her up before we can take her to see the King and Queen."

"Yes we should." The Prince agreed. "Prepare a bath for her and help her get comfortable."

"Right away." As she took Hoshimi inside the castle, she spoke to her. "Now, you're Hoshimi, right?"

She nodded at her.

"What a pretty name! I'm Liliana. The Prince's nursemaid. We'll all make you feel right at home in no time, dear. So, I'll help draw a nice bath for you."

Well, Hoshimi knows that adapting to life on dry land may not be easy. But, above that, she feels happy to be with Shining Link and she felt accepted by people like Liliana, even though she's not a Hylian in truth.

While Hoshimi is getting replenished by staff of Hyrule Castle, Link, Zelda, Blue, Red, Vio, and Navi were all underwater still. But they're not near Hylia right now.

"Hoshimi does look like being around that Prince will surely keep her safe. He's even friendly with her. Very friendly." Said Zelda.

"I think we should remain here in order to stay in touch with Hoshimi." Said Link.

"Yeah. We should." Agreed Vio. He notices that they're below a coastal sea cliff that's not too far from the beach they left their sister at. "This will be the perfect spot to stay. We can easily swim from here and over to the area where the castle is."

"Great." Said Blue. "But where are we going to stay around here?"

"Right here!" Said Red. He is pointing to a little cave that's at the very bottom of the cliff. "We can shelter here."

"You found shelter so quick?" His blue garbed brother exclaimed. He didn't expect him to find it in a short time.

"Good going, Red!" Squealed Navi.

"Good! Good!" Said Link. "Now, we need to put some sea sand along the floor of the cavern."

"Sand?" Asked Vio.

"Well, need to sleep comfortably for it may be difficult to sleep on the rocky ground. Am I right?" He said.

"Well, I guess it makes sense. Let's all get to it."

So, the Princes and the Princess worked together to construct their hideout so they can keep their eyes on their younger sister while she's away. They will also be gone from their real home for a while. They all gathered enough sand to make the seafloor of the cave more comfortable and they even weaved more than enough kelp leaves to make beddings for themselves. But, the hardest part about the blanket weaving process is to make sure that those leaves and fronds are infested with nematodes or sea urchins. They even got a big rock to close the entrance of the cavern when it's time for sleeping.

When their little hideout is finally finished, Link sighed. "Phew! We've done it!"

"Yeah. But how are we going to eat while being here for the next two days?" Asked Blue. "I would highly believe that we'll become sea banshees if we don't get enough food. Or else, it will be a low blood sugar meltdown for me!"

"There's no need to worry about that." Said Vio. "We can always hunt some squid, scallops, and sunlight zone fish for food."

"I believe we're completely settled." Said Red.

"But, our biggest job is to make sure Hoshimi wins that prince." Said Zelda. "Or else if she doesn't, she'll be heading for disaster."

Red began to sniffle a bit. "If. . . I'm sorry. . . If she does marry him, I'm going to miss her!"

Everyone sighed with him upon his statement.

"We might." Said Vio with a small smile. Then his smile began to turn into a stern frown. "But, I'm having a slight feeling that Ganondorf might be after something and he could be using this deal as an essential to it. I wonder what. . ."

Then, Blue growled pulling out his hammer again. "If he is after something and if it's Hoshimi, then I'm going to have to. . ."

Before he can say anything else, Zelda smacked him on the head. "Ow! What was that for?" He asked back.

"Don't try that again, please!" She said to him.

"Well, excuuuuuuuse me, Princess!" He provoked.

"Blue!" Red cried.

Link just shook his head and sighed while Vio face-palmed himself. Then he looked up to the surface and thought. "Hoshimi. . . Don't let the prince lose interest in you, no matter what."

M.S.K: Well, that's all for this chapter. But, the story, itself is not over just yet! More is going to be coming soon! So, do feel free to leave a review or a comment too. Boy! I am beginning to become less talkative than I used to. Anyway, I'll see you next time! Jya na!

Navi: Hey!

M.S.K: Yessie?

Navi: May I ask you this? Have you ever played a Zelda game before?

M.S.K: Oh. . . . It's hard to explain, frankly. I played Link, Sheik, Zelda, and Toon Link on several occasions on Super Smash Brothers Brawl. But, never in my life, I've ever played a Zelda game.

Navi: Eh? You mean you never played one at all?

M.S.K: Well, I want to. But I think it will be tough. But, if I ever start with Ocarina of Time, it will be worth of trying!

Navi: You should.