I stared incredulously at Link. "What? Why me?"

Link sighed. "You . . . Your . . . I . . . ah . . . eb . . . er . . . I can't tell you."

I groaned and rolled my head backwards. I slumped down onto the ground. "Of course you can't. You never can."

Link sat down next to me and placed his hand gingerly on my waist. "Rebecca . . ."

I suddenly jumped up and stormed into the forest nearby. I payed no heed to how far I had gone before I sat down on a rock in the middle of a clearing. I let out all the tears I had held back and allowed them to run freely down my face.

"Rebecca."

I stopped weeping and looked up. I saw a pair of eyes with yellow irises gleaming back at me. I gasped and reached for my sword, but it wasn't there. I heard a chuckle coming from the direction of the eyes.

"Silly girl. You thought not of bringing your sword, hm?" The mystery person spoke with the same lingo as Ganondorf, but his voice was . . . lighter, somewhat. And cockier.

"Of course," said the mystery person, stepping out of the shadows, "I wouldn't think of it, either, if I were running off in a blind rage."

I gasped. This person must've been no older than twenty, but he spoke with all of the authority of a king. His hair was red as fire, his eyes as yellow as oil, and his skin as black as coal. His lips were pressed into a thin, cocky smile, which opened to reveal white teeth and sharp canines.

My heart just about stopped as I asked, "Who are you?"

The young man chuckled. "I am Armondorf, adopted son of the almighty Ganondorf."

I shifted uncomfortably. "Adopted?"

Armondorf nodded. "My father was a weak Hylean. My mother wooed him, married him, and had me. When she saw that I was male, she killed my father, so as to direct all attention to me. Ganondorf saw great power in me, so he killed my Gerudo mother and adopted me. I am now more powerful than I would have been under my mother!" He laughed maniacly. I winced at how much he and Ganondorf sounded alike.

Ganondorf sent me to capture you . . . but he only specified to capture you before your 17th Birthday, when your power will be at its utmost. In your . . . prone [he dragged the word out for a full three seconds] state [he dragged this word out for 2", then paused for 5"] I can do whatever I please, hm?" He raised his eyebrows and walked over to me. His strides were long and confident; and slow. He rested his hand on my shoulder and walked around behind me, where he stood with his right hand on my right shoulder and his left o my left. "And you will do exactly as I tell you to, or pain will ensue." I groaned involuntarily as his hands clenched and a jolt of electricity jarred me. Armondorf leaned over and whispered into my ear, "Lots more pain."

"Rebecca! What . . . who . . . let her go!"

I turned to see Link, sword drawn, at the entrance to the clearing. "Link!" I breathed.

Link growled, "Who do you think you are?"

Armondorf shrugged. "Armondorf, the adopted son of Ganondorf!" He examined Link's face, and a look of recognition crossed his face. "Ah. How interesting that an heir, a new holder, and an experienced holder would congregate here. Oh, if my father were here . . . of course, if he were here, I wouldn't be here."

I looked at Link, who was self-consciously rubbing his left hand. He looked sheepishly at me.

"It's true. I am the holder of the Triforce of Courage."

Armondorf spread his hands out wide. "Hey, technically, all portions of the Triforce are here together. But, frankly, we don't need the holder of one section."

"Well," said Link, "that's not very nice. I mean, Rebecca's plenty useful."

Armondorf walked out from behind me and turned to earlier said star-of-the-show strumpet. "I present to you a choice. You can die fighting me, or you can come willingly. Either way, it's your choice."

I defiantly proclaimed, "To die fighting is the nobler."

Armondorf unsheathed his sword, a huge blade, even in the Gerudo princeling's hands. It had a pale white blade and black hilt. "Well, I hope it's the dying part that's noble, because he's about to get a heck of a lot of honor." He flicked his blade to Link's neck and slowly applied pressure. I gasped and took a step forward.

Armondorf stopped and turned to me slowly. His eyebrows were raised. His mouth was open, and the corners were upturned slightly. "So, under what condition will you come with me now?"

I gulped. "If Link is not harmed, and the portions of the Triforce are kept seperate until I say they can be together."

Armondorf sheathed his sword and took two steps towards me. "Let us go, then, shall we?" He placed one hand on my shoulder and the other on Link's arm. Then he closed his eyes and clenched his hands. In a moment, the scenery changed and we were outside a huge castle.

"Welcome," Armondorf said, "To my adopted father's palace." He unsheathed his sword and took a previously unnoticed spear from his back, pointed the tips to our backs, and marched us toward the black castle.