Damn. I'm disturbing flattered by the reception of the last chapter. Disturbed because I feel flattered after I killed a character. Flattered because one of my original characters was liked so much that people became genuinely upset at his death. Thank you fleets and Legend of Zelda 4 Life. I'm not sure whether that thanks should be said peppily or grimly. D:
Anyways: This is Saturday's update. I won't be around this weekend because of an anime convention. I'm to nerd around with my fellow nerds.
Also, sorry for not updating any earlier too. I've had plenty of time to type out this chapter and probably dish out a few more updates since I;ve gotten over my MapleStory phase, but it seems that a certain Goblin King played by a certain awesome rock star in a glitterific 80s movie seems to have me delighted to no end. Even as we speak, I'm searching online for a copy of the out-of-print novelization of that very movie. And if you have ANY idea what I'm talking about, you win the internet.
Zelda was going to meet the witches Koume and Kotake that day – night to be accurate, actually – and she wasn't sure how much of a good thing that was. All the Gerudo who were friendly enough to her revered the two, but she had the feeling that a good portion of that respect was from fear. That meant they were pretty powerful, how much she couldn't say. So the thought of meeting them was terrifying to her, a witch with sealed powers.
What if they had no patience? And what would happen when they found out she had no magic to use at the moment? Would they figure out her soul-bond with Vega?
Fidgeting as she paced around the Fortress, she knew that she had to escape with both Link and Vega before she went to go see the witches. There was just too much risk involved in meeting with the witches.
Luckily, Zelda knew just where Link was and where Vega was.
After an extensive amount of time of following the soul-bond, she managed to find a building which her Gerudo guard didn't seem to like her getting near. A little more investigation around it and she had come to the conclusion that was where the star was. She had asked questions of other Gerudo what that place was and what kind of people went in there. Since she had heard that Vega had royally pissed off the very witches she was to meet, he was placed in the high security cellblock.
She found it. All she needed now was a plan so they all could escape before night came.
Now if only she could tell Link…
… Who was busy finishing up his escape plan in his mind. The page had come to the conclusion that he had no choice but to try and charge out. He could only hope there would be no interference from the other prisoners and that any Gerudo he encountered were completely incompetent when it came to fighting in enclosed spaces. The chances of either of those happening were low, but it was a chance he had to take.
The real problem, however, was getting out of the cell. His cell proved to be very solid with no weaknesses and the keys were at the very end of the hall with the guard there. That guard did not make rounds through the cellblock, nor did she get close to any of the cells unless ordered to let a prisoner out. The cells weren't even opened when they were fed. All food was squeezed through the bars. As such, Link's diet consisted of stale bread and dirty water in a small cup. Not satisfying but better than nothing… he only hoped his stamina wouldn't deteriorate from it because he needed it for his escape… whenever that would be.
He sighed and fiddled with his cup that once contained the muddy water they were supplied. It was a simple, crappily made cup with a small handle. It was probably made of tin or some other weak metal, so the actual cup itself had many imperfections. He pulled a bit on the handle and winced as it broke off without much trouble.
Link frowned, wondering if his captors would use that as an excuse to get angry at him.
Well… he better not draw any attention to it just like he was pretending his sword wasn't in the small haystack.
Maybe I can stick it back on? He thought.
He took the handle and tried to place back on the cup. Letting it hang for a moment, he smirked in satisfaction until the handle promptly fell on his boot. He attempted again only to meet with the same result. Getting frustrated, he set the cup down and angrily squeezed at the handle. He didn't hang onto the handle for long, though, as it started to make his palm feel very raw through the glove. Twiddling it in his fingers, he considered throwing it at the prisoner in the cell across from him. The man probably deserved it but…
But the one-handle of the little cup gave him an idea. Being a weak metal it was easily malleable. He could make a makeshift key! It would probably be good for only one use, but if he could shift it into a key-like form, it might be enough to pick the lock! To use it he would need a diversion, though…
Shaking his head, he would think about that later. He would just make it up as he went along. So he began to warp and bend the soft metal into the form of a key.
As he finished, it was like if Fate was on his side, Link heard the clanking of iron door that was the entrance to the prison. Peering as much as he could down the hall from his cell, he saw that the Gerudo were changing guards. Quickly he stuck his makeshift key into the lock of his cell. Really wishing he could actually see the lock, he shifted the key in the lock, hoping for something.
"Oi, oi, wotcha doin?"
"He 'tempting to make a run for it?"
"What's he sticking in that lock?"
Were some questions Link was hearing but ignoring. As long as the guards weren't noticing yet…
Cla-clack!
The cell door slid open a little. Grinning broadly in triumph, he quickly went over and grabbed his sword before yanking the door completely open and rushing down the hall.
The guard at the front of the hallway noticed immediately. "Someone's out!" The guards that were there began to charge at him.
The page smirked. I won't underestimate you this time!
The Gerudo, as he suspected, could only come at him one at a time. The first held a spear, leaving him at a disadvantage. But the hall wasn't that big. And in a show of support for his escape, one of the prisoners grabbed the shaft of the spear through his bars. This left the woman flabbergasted enough for Link to disarm her, punch her in the gut, and throw her down roughly.
Immediately after her, another woman came immediately at him. This one was armed with a sword, putting him and her at an even playing field. But she was sloppy, leaving herself with many openings. She thrust forward, he sidestepped quickly used the flat of his blade to whip her on the side – he still wasn't keen on the idea of causing a woman to bleed. Squealing, she turned on her heel and tried to slash again, but there wasn't that much room to do so. The page grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her; he held back a wince as he heard a crack and he scream, realizing that he had just broken her arm.
He heard footsteps behind him; the last Gerudo no doubt about to literally stab him in the back. The time, Link turned quickly around and then through the Gerudo he was holding at his next assailant. Taking the other woman by surprise, both girls toppled down on the floor.
Link wasted no time leaping over them and running out the door. The sun beamed down brightly, forcing him to close his eyes tightly for a moment. He hadn't seen daylight in a while… He forced his eyes open when he heard the scuffling from the guards in the prison. He yanked the door closed and threw down the wooden bar on the outside of it. That lock would only keep temporarily…
Looking around he saw the area was devoid of Gerudo guards, probably because they slept during the day. But there was no time to think about how extremely lucky he was. He ran behind the building and sidled his way by it. Reached the corner, he peered around seeing the coast was clear except…
… For a girl in dark blue with a witch's hat? Zelda?
"Zelda!" He cried out in a hushed whisper.
The witch forked an eyebrow and looked around when she heard name whispered again. Her eyes widened when she saw Link peering around the men's cellblock. He got out?! She had just been planning to attempt to break him out but… apparently, he didn't need the help…
Before going over, she looked both ways to make sure no one was around and that her secret guard wasn't peering in the shadows. Satisfied, she rushed over.
"Link what are you - why do you have your sword?!"
"Ah, never mind that!" The page said while quickly pulling Zelda behind the building with him. Looking around, his gaze rested on the gates that led out into the desert. "We need to get out… now. The guards won't let me escape so easily." Biting his lip, he looked around the area while muttering, "We might not be able to get Vega…"
"Wait!" Zelda interrupted his train of thought. "I know where he is! He's not far; we can get him!"
The collared page looked down at her in surprise, then his expression became serious and he nodded. "Lead the way."
Nodding back, she smiled proudly and looked both ways before heading back out into the open. Of course, her wrist was firmly wrapped around Link's wrist, forcing him to follow closely. Perhaps if he hadn't noticed her prettiness before they were captured, he wouldn't be so nervous about her grip at the moment. He did his best to leave it in the back of his mind and easily managed to keep up with the shorter girl's pace when his mind was focused on where they were going.
Zelda had stopped in front of a building that resembled the cellblock he had just been in - at least outwardly. The building did a look a bit wider and a bit more menacing than where he had been, though. Whatever it was, he was surprised that it didn't have more security on the outside.
The witch gestured for him to go around to the far side of the door. He understood the plan and unsheathed his sword. Zelda knocked on the door and it opened a crack.
"What do you want? You don't look familiar." Snapped the guard behind the door.
Without thinking much on what she was going to say, she said, "I'm new. I was sent here by… by Mistresses Koume and Kotake." She hoped she sounded convincing enough. "I'm the new witch!"
The one visible golden eye of the Gerudo guard narrowed. "What did they send you here for?"
This she could think of something easily enough to say. "They wanted to me to check on the seals on the star." She ignored Link's incredulous look.
The Gerudo seemed to believe that was a good reason and opened the door wider. As soon as there was enough space, Link wasted no time using the butt of his sword to ram the guard's head. Without a word, the guard flopped onto the floor. Both witch and page charged in the cellblock, surprised to see that she had been the only guard present.
"Lax security…" Link commented.
Then, behind an iron door to the right, they heard a muffled voice say "Bender?"
The witch happily went to the door and with a big grin exclaimed, "Vega! That's you, right?"
Chains rattled from behind the door. "Ducky?!"
The witch retained a squeal of delight. She could feel it… Vega… he was happy to hear them! "Vega, we're going to let you out!"
Despite retained the squeal, Link could still see the happiness as Zelda looked around for the keys. And he was kind of jealous. Muttering profanities under his breath, he glanced to the side and grabbed the keys hanging off of a nail. Then he walked over to the iron door and unlocked it while Zelda was busily searching in the opposite direction. The door clanked as it unlocked, catching the witch's attention.
"Oh, you found them!"
Link ignored her and pushed open the door.
Standing in the cell that was much smaller than Link's old one, was a stunned looking Vega… with significantly shorter hair. And all of a sudden, he remembered a black haired ranger that passed by him in Castle Town.
Perhaps sensing that, the star smirked. "Hello, Nancy boy."
Before Link could begin an interrogation, however, Zelda came running in and hugged the chained star. Both of the men were shocked.
"Vega! You're alright!" She cried happily.
Vega felt the happiness surge through him and as much as he wanted to smile and hug her back, he realized something: He didn't like either of these sods. The star pushed her off. "I'm just peachy! What are you idiots doing here?" He told them irately.
Frowning from the anger fueling Vega, Zelda jabbed him roughly with a finger. "Looking for you!"
"I never asked to be looked for!" He said, jabbing her back. "I ran away for a reason!"
"And look what it did for you," Link put in smugly. "I have to say, the chains really go with your shorter hair."
More anger flared in Vega, but Zelda quickly came in between both men, trying to ignore the shared emotions with Vega. "Now's not the time. Link, give me the keys."
Grunting the page handed her the keys. Smiling satisfactorily, she went and removed Vega's chains. The star wrung his wrists and stomped around, getting his joints back into their normal comfort zone. He looked to both the witch and the page and frowned. "Well, sorry to say but I'm no use to you two."
"Yes," Link said, suddenly remembering Zelda's mention of seals. "What was that about?"
"A spot of bad luck that can be explained later." Vega staid nonchalantly. "As much I hate to associate myself with you two, I suggest we take our leave before anyone notices us here chatting the time away."
"Point…" Zelda mumbled. "But how? We still have to get past the gates…"
"And I can't let you do that."
All three looked towards the entrance of the cell. All three recognized her, but Vega was the only one who knew the name of the bruised Gerudo.
"Nabooru…"
The woman's eyes were narrowed into feral slits as she pointed her sword at them. "I can't let you three leave."
Vega stepped up and bowed cordially to her. "I am sorry, Nabooru. But the Fate of these two cannot be denied." He stood straight, holding himself in a way that none of the others had ever seen. The star had always been somewhat arrogant in the eyes of Zelda and Link, but this time his arrogance didn't seem like true arrogance… It was pride, because he had every reason to think himself above them despite the fact his magic was sealed. And just thinking of that sent shivers up the backs of the two younger people in the room.
Nabooru, however, did not seemed to be phased at all. She stepped forward, about to attack…
… But a tear of nothingness appeared from behind the star, the witch, and the page. Nabooru paused and stared in flabbergasted terror at the strange nothingness. Zelda and Link turned on their heels, and Zelda found herself screaming at the things she could sense from within the black nothingness. Link held his own sword at the ready but Vega then told them, "They won't harm us." Not at the moment, anyway. His expression then went from the earned arrogance to sympathy towards Nabooru. "I really am sorry I've caused so much trouble. But if everyone treats you like crap, you could always try what I did: run."
And then, the long, spindly and creepy arms of the creatures of the Abyss reached out for the three. Zelda and Link struggled and screamed, not wanting to be drawn into the darkness, but the star went without a fight. The blackness enclosed around them and then they were let go. Zelda and Link screamed, not seeing any floor beneath them and thinking they were going to fall into never ending darkness…
But they both fell roughly on something hard, landing on their hands and knees. Vega, however, seemed to be familiar with this as he landed on his feet without any sign of stress whatsoever.
An ever-changing, creepy chuckle rang throughout the darkness. Nothing could be seen. Zelda found herself inching towards Link. Whatever the chuckle was, it was scaring her half to death. And then, slowly appearing in the darkness was a heavily veiled figure. All three could feel a malicious smile behind the veil.
"Kekeke, I'm repaying my debt, dear Vega. Do listen closely."
OH MAI. Did you think the Time Spinner would have just left him like that? Well, yes... Yes, it would've done that, but it does have a sense of honor, albeit a very warped one. It does feel it necessary to repay any debts.
Welp. That's all I have to say.