Aya: Romance will come, don't you worry.

MAS: She does not. No one but Link remembers the events of OOT or MM

SailorZeldatheLightAlchemist: Wat. Can you still not read it?

music watch: Yup, Michael is an r-tard.

"Fuck!" Lucien sheathed his sword. "Fuck!" Lucien kicked the unconscious Ghul. "Fuck you!" Lucien kicked the unconscious man again. And again. And again.

"Lucien. Please. We need him. Don't hurt him anymore." Derrick said quietly.

Lucien wheeled around. "Don't you tell me what to do. Don't you say another FUCKING word. What was that back there? Huh? You just stood there while Hans got cut down. He was our friend. He was my friend, anyway. You don't have any friends, do you Derrick? Fuck you. Fuck this." Lucien sat down, putting his head between his legs. Hans had three kids. Lucien couldn't tell them this. He just couldn't. He felt a hand on his shoulder. Link's.

"Hans was a friend to us all, Lucien. He, he died with honor." Link gave him a pat on the back. Lucien cringed. He didn't want to be touched.

"Get off me." Lucien abruptly stood up. He looked over at Hans. The big man had taken one of the demons with him, at least. Lucien turned away from the sight, there was too much blood. The Ghuls had bled him out, killed him slow. Lucien could not stomach their cruelty. Derrick just stood there, a blank expression on his face. Blood covered his uniform. None of it was his.

"Why? Why did you let him die?" Lucien walked toward Derrick. The man continued that blank stare. Lucien could not believe it. "WHY?" He screamed into Derrick's face. The man's eyes flicked down to him, and the blank stare left him. Derrick looked down in shame.

"It is the way. As soon as I heard them coming, I-" Derrick shook his head. "My training took hold. I cannot think for myself. I can only..." He paused. "The void tells me when to strike. The best time to strike. I cannot disobey the void." Lucien stared at him.

"Bullshit." Lucien's word were soaked with venom. Derrick's eyes stayed on the ground.

Link cleared his throat. "We need to take this man to the dungeon immediately. I will send someone for Hans and the others. There are still three out there, somewhere. Lucien, we need to find out where. Come on. We can talk about this later." Link looked over at Derrick, about to say something. Derrick abruptly started walking. He left the room. Lucien grabbed the unconscious Ghul. There would be nothing left of him once Lucien was done with him.

"Lucien." Link spoke quietly.

"What."

"The princess forbade torture."

"She did." Lucien walked off and out of the room. The princess wasn't here any more.

"One of our agents was attacked yesterday. An important agent." Impa spoke quickly.

"What? Which agent? Where?" Link asked.

"She was attacked off the road to Kakariko. This is serious Link. Very serious. I need you to go down to the cabin where we have hidden Zelda." Impa said seriously.

Link couldn't believe this. They had just cut the Ghul in half and imprisoned two more. Could it be possible they had discovered Zelda's position? "How many are coming with me?"

"Just you and Derrick. You will be going undercover. We cannot afford to send a large group. They will give away Zelda's identity. You have to go down there, get Zelda, and return here. Immediately."

"What of Michael?"

"Derrick will go with Michael and Captain Jacob. They will travel separately. The Ghul very probably know who and what they are all disguised as. We cannot afford to allow them to identify the group."

Link nodded. Derrick stayed silent, as always. The meeting had been called shortly after they had deposited the Ghul in the prison cell. Impa had met them in the dungeon. Lucien was being kept in the castle to guard the King. One could not be too careful.

"Here is a map to the cabin. Go. Now." Impa nodded brusquely to both of them, then marched off.

Link and Derrick began to run out simultaneously. This was not good at all. Link needed to get to Zelda. He could not believe they had been found so easily. His plan had failed. If they reached Zelda before him... Link could not think that way. He would get there first.

They were not even halfway there. Derrick clenched his teeth. It was growing dark. Link and he had been galloping through the forest to the cabin, making good time until they came upon a shirtless little man in the middle of the road. He had halted them with cries of distress, but that had simply been a ruse. The absurd little creature was demanding a toll. Link was not having it.

"Move aside now. We will not pay the toll. That should be obvious. We are royal guardsmen, and we are currently on a very time sensitive mission. You will be cut down if you choose to stay as you are."

"You may attempt to cut me down, sir, but what of my friends? They will pincushion you! I will be left without a scratch. You have offended me. I don't want a toll anymore. I want your horses. Dismount."

Derrick saw Link was getting anxious. He could feel it as well. The princess was in danger! Hans' body flashed in his mind. Derrick tried to clear his head. Hans proved to be a vivid memory. "We have no money." Link continued. "We did not come out with any. We have nothing to offer you. We need to pass. Please move aside."

"Did you not listen to a word I said? I'm afraid coin isn't the only thing we are after. Dismount and be on your way."

"We need these horses." Link said with growing anger. "We are on a time sensitive mission! We cannot give you the horses."

"Oh? You cannot? Then it seems we will just have to take the horses, doesn't it?" The little man smiled. Derrick kicked his horse, springing her into action. There were at least five men in the forest around them. All with crossbows. They probably lacked experience against trained men however. They were probably not trained themselves. The best bet was to start moving.

The first bolt took Derrick's warhorse in the head. Derrick jumped off the falling animal, unsheathing his sword as he rolled out of the fall. The void came with his sword.

The forest disappeared. It was darkness.

The little man stood in front of him, reaching for a sword. Seven silhouettes in what was woods frantically reloaded. Derrick was on the little man. His sword moved easily through the man's throat. Derrick gasped. Such ecstasy. The void thrummed green and red. A rowdy little fellow! The void roared in his essence, and consumed it. Derrick was left with the smoke after the fire, the cloying spicy smell of a jester's incense.

Derrick shook with pleasure. What did the others taste like! The void loved that question.

Derrick danced through the leaves, a smile touching his eyes. The void flowed in and around him, blanketing him in warmth. Derrick was safe here. Everyone else was not. The void giggled.

Derrick rushed into a ditch containing three of the bandits. They were not prepared. His metal licked and tickled the skin of three men in a group. A drunk! A rapist! An idiot! What colors did they possess? They tasted like jam. The void chuckled. They loved jam!

Another thrum. The man on the road had his shield up. Why, Link! A pleasure, as always. Such strong limbs, such a shapely smile! The void laughed. A silly joke to play on Link. He was pretty enough to be a girl! The goddesses were such tricksters. Derrick leaped out of the bushes. Link can't be killed, he reminded the void. They pouted. Derrick smiled. Maybe one day!

Four bandits on the other side of the path, and they had taken out swords. Derrick pointed his sword at one. Him first! The void loved to make such declarations. Derrick excitedly sprinted toward him. The funny hairy man swung too high! Derrick uncorked his barrel chest. A little wine? The void giggled. Couldn't get drunk now!

A sword swung toward Derrick, but Derrick was not there. The void pouted. Derrick was so hard to catch! They had never beaten him in tag. They looked back to Derrick. He had killed them all? The void cried in despair. They had missed it!

Derrick sheathed his sword. The forest returned. Link had a cut on his cheek, a bolt in his shield. His horse had taken two in the gut. What terrible robbers. Link looked back at him, his face a mask. "You alright?" He asked.

"Not a scratch. Let's get out of here."

Lucien had had a few drinks. Perhaps more than a few. He cursed. He was supposed to be on duty. He couldn't stop thinking about Hans, or the men that had killed him. "Fuckers." He muttered to himself, getting to his feet unsteadily.

He was doing no good here. The king was not a target. They had put Lucien here for one reason and one reason alone.

He couldn't keep up.

Lucien cursed again. How many times had he missed training? How many times had he made excuses to his father? There were no excuses. Link was his age. Link had killed a Ghul. He had captured another. Lucien could claim neither. He had faced one in the tower. And he would have lost if it hadn't been for Derrick. He spat.

That fucker. Derrick. His father had spoken of him a few times. How he was as gifted a swordsman he had ever seen. Loyal too, despite being a foreigner. That bastard had saved Lucien. He had also left Hans to die.

"Hans has three kids." Lucien said to no one in particular. He was sitting in a small room with two other guards. The room led to the King's Chambers. Lucien had been stuck with them for the better part of an hour. Fuckers. Lucien had some questions for the Ghuls downstairs. He was doing no good here.

"What of it?" One of the guards asked. Thom. A pale man, with a scar near his lip. They had evidently not heard of the attack on the tower. Impa was keeping the entire episode very quiet. Apparently the woman disliked showing how terrible she was at her job. Her official explanation ran along the lines of 'not letting the other Ghul know what became of their agents'. Lucien knew she was just covering her ass. No one trusted the Sheikah.

"Nothing. Forget I mentioned it." Lucien looked over at Thom. "I'm not fit for duty, Thom." He looked at him seriously. "Look at me. I've been drinking. Call in a few other boys from the Inner Guard. They will more than make up for my absence." Thom was the Captain of the Inner Guard, and he had the authority to assign new men to the chamber.

"Have you no decency, Lucien? What would your father think?" Thom answered.

"Do not speak that way to your superiors, Captain." Lucien said dismissively. "Now, I have obviously been drinking. Do you really think I am in any condition to stay here?"

"No. I don't suppose you are. Very well. Dugg, go to quarters and find me three men to take the place of this one."

"Yes sir." Dugg saluted smartly and ran out the door. Such a disciplined boy. Probably had no idea what to do in a fight though. Lucien had sparred with Inner Guards before. They were inferior.

"Alright then! I suppose I'll be off then. Enjoy the rest of your day, Cap Thom!" Lucien waved behind him and exited the room, Thom's protests cut short by the slam of the door.

Lucien hopped into a drunken jog in the hallway. The prisoners wouldn't wait for him! They might start confessing before he got there! Lucien rounded the corner and tripped over a kneeling servant.

"Fuck you!" Lucien yelled at her, pushing himself up and turning to face her. "What the FUCK were you thinking? Huh?" He looked down on the frightened woman. He put a foot on her shoulder and kicked her to the ground. "Dumb ass." Lucien resumed his jog.

Which to question first? The first had been starving for awhile, he'd probably be ready to spill some secrets. The other would likely need some encouragement. Encouragement the princess had forbade. Oh well. The princess wasn't here now. Lucien hopped down a flight of stairs. Might as well get the tough one out of the way first! No sense in putting it off. Lucien hit a wall and pushed himself off it, rounding a corner and going down a flight of stairs. The Ghul were such skilled operatives. Lucien wondered if they took pride in their work. Almost certainly. He wondered how skilled they'd be without fingers. Not very skilled at all, he should think. It seemed he had a place to start.

Lucien walked down the last step of the stair way and looked around. The dungeons were such a dark, damp place. He proceeded down the narrow path, metal doors flanking his passage. He came to the one he knew to be occupied. He flung it open.

The Ghul hung from his shackled arms, naked. Lucien's lip curled.

Captain Jacob knew how to cook. He had learned how early in his military career. The world of spices held no mysteries from him. He smiled as he watched Michael and Zelda quietly slurp down the soup. It might not be a royal dinner, but he could whip up something tasty.

Michael finished first. He pointed his wooden spoon at Jacob. "You know, if it weren't for your insolent tongue, I would pay you a king's ransom to cook in my kitchens, captain."

Captain Jacob smiled, eyes crinkling. Michael was an emotional creature, and spoiled rotten, but he had charm too. "I'd gladly work in your kitchens when I retire, your Grace. I wouldn't even require a king's ransom. Just double my present rate."

Michael laughed, a fist pounding the table. "Zelda has told me what she pays you royal guards. I would be bankrupt within the month!"

Zelda remained silent. She had been very quiet recently. Jacob got up from his seat. "Would you like more, your Grace? The pot is still half full."

Michael put a hand to his stomach and feigned a look of pain. "I could not eat another mouthful! I am stuffed, sir." Jacob nodded. The boy had gone through three bowls. He should be stuffed. Zelda had yet to finish her first.

"My Lady, should I prepare you something else?" Captain Jacob kneeled next to her, shifting his sword out of the way. "You have barely touched the soup."

"No, no the soup is more than sufficient. Thank you, Jacob." Zelda looked down.

"My Lady, what's wrong? You have not been yourself lately."

Zelda shifted in her seat. She frowned. "Something is...wrong. Ever since the day started, I-" She shook her head slowly. "It is nothing. I am having a headache. Nothing more." She attempted a reassuring smile. She looked in pain.

"Princess-" There was a knock at the door. Captain Jacob snapped to attention, a hand on his sword. Everyone was still. Captain Jacob glanced at the others. Zelda was rigid, frozen in place. Michael looked back at Captain Jacob. Where was the boy's fear?

Another knock. Captain Jacob thought quickly. Jacob slowly pushed the kitchen table back, taking care not to make a sound. He turned over a small carpet and revealed a small door cut into the floor. He opened it. Zelda was not moving. He walked over to her and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Go." He whispered. Zelda stared back for a moment, then nodded. She began the descent. Captain Jacob looked over at Michael- why was he smiling? "Go." He whispered again.

Michael began to shake his head, but then Jacob's sword was at his throat. The boy was an imbecile. Michael gulped and nodded. He followed Zelda into the trapdoor.

One more knock. They would break it before the next one, Jacob was sure of it. Whoever this person was, they enjoyed drama. Assassins had a penchant for such things. They were soldiers without glory, executioners without justice. All they had was the big reveal. Jacob quickly covered the door again and checked the room. Only the one entrance. The windows were covered. Good.

He turned to the front door. He walked to the front door. He opened the front door, body tense. A single man in black stood before him, a small lantern in hand. He was several yards from Jacob. The forest was dark around him.

"Captain Jacob, I presume!" The man in black declared.

"Who?" Captain Jacob called back.

The man in black laughed. "Don't play coy, my captain! You are many things, but a good liar is not one of them. I have spent quite some time tracking you and your friends down. A lie will not save you now. I know who you harbor."

"Very well. Should I assume you are a Ghul then?"

"It would not be a bad assumption."

"Ah. I see. Well Ghul, what is your name? You know mine, let's hear yours." Captain Jacob was stalling. This man's knocking had hinted at arrogance, and Jacob planned to appeal to it. Zelda and Michael would need all the time they could get. The trap door was the entrance to a small passage. It would take them to a cave a half mile west. A minute more could mean the difference between life and death.

"Ghul are Ghul, my captain. My name is meaningless. Call me Death, if Ghul does not suit you."

Captain Jacob could read people. It was a talent he had honed over many years of active service. Some men were humble. They liked to apologize before they killed. Some men were arrogant. They liked to be known before they killed. Some men were clever. They liked to prove their cleverness before they killed. This man seemed to be the last two. "Death? That is foolish. I will not have 'killed Death' listed under my accomplishments in the Guardian Analects. I've never heard something so stupid!"

The Ghul's posture shifted. Jacob could almost feel his frown. "The Analects will speak of your defeat this day, my captain! Defeat, at the hands of Guire! Guire Sol!"

Captain Jacob let out a condescending laugh that was only half fake. "How do you spell that? I must make sure I tell the scribe your name correctly!" Guire Sol had taken the bait. He wanted to overcome Jacob in a verbal exchange now.

"I would tell you, my captain, but I know you are illiterate! It would be silly to provide you with letters."

"If you don't know how to spell your own name, you don't have to. I don't want to embarrass you, my friend."

"It seems idiocy and ignorance go hand in hand, my captain. I am here to kill you. We are most assuredly not friends."

"I have to disagree. You've been nothing but friendly since you came here. You politely knocked on my door, you graciously introduced yourself, and then you decided to start some idle chit chat. I'm half way to asking you to go hunting."

"I apologize then, my captain. I had not realized how old you were. It seems a profound dementia has taken you. A man dressed in black, armed to the teeth, has come to your doorstep at night, and you are so addled that you think him to be a friend. I have had enough of this. It pains me to see such weakness in an enemy."

Damn. The boy was out of patience. Jacob did not think he could stall any longer. "You will find me more than a match for you, I'm sorry to say. I don't quite know what you were thinking, Guire, but I am the greatest living swordsman in the east. You will fall to my blade."

Guire looked at Jacob for a moment. "My captain, did you think I came here alone?" Guire touched his lantern, twisting a small knob. The lantern illuminated more of the forest. The quivering light reflected off eyes and axes, boot straps and swords. A hundred men surrounded the clearing outside the house. Ugral mercenaries, by the look of it. Captain Jacob idly wondered how the boy in front of him had smuggled them into Hyrule.

"I am very aware of your talent, and now I am aware of your wit. You have done well in stalling for your charges, but the cave to the west has been blocked by a rock slide. Once we have defeated you, we will go into your trap door and find Zelda and Michael." Guire shook his head slowly. "I have been talking to you because I heard stories as a boy of your triumphs, and I wanted to meet the man himself. You are my hero, Captain Jacob. But I must kill you."

Captain Jacob shook his head."You don't have to do this." Captain Jacob said quietly. "Send these men back from where they came from, and join me in defending this great country. If I really am your hero, come with me. Let me show you a life of honor and pride."

Guire continued to look at Captain Jacob, his posture slumping slightly. "I already know a life of honor and pride, my captain. You have a king. I have a contract." He paused for a moment, waiting for Jacob to say something. The captain had no words. Guire nodded. "Attack."

Captain Jacob drew his sword, stepping back into the house. The door would be his funnel. Guire stood in the same spot, his mercenaries flowing past him, screaming and hollering. He wondered if they knew who he was. It was doubtful any of them understood the exchange. Hylian was not a well known tongue. He wished he could use a shield. He never understood how Derrick could go without. That was an anomaly even in the void stance. The barbarians were getting close.

Captain Jacob grinned. Derrick had tried to kill him once. They had first met on opposing sides of a civil war down south, back in Jacob's mercenary days. They had each been selected to champion two sides of a stalemated battle to decide which would take the patch of countryside. It had been the best fight of Captain Jacob's life. The scars Derrick gave him were the ones that still kept him up at night. The man had a joyful ferocity unmatched by the greatest of Ugral chieftains. It complemented Captain Jacob's own tranquil finesse well. The fight had lasted more than an hour. It had ended by, of all things, Jacob punching Derrick in the chin. Knocked the demon right out.

Jacob laughed. The barbarians were almost upon him. "Tremble, Ugral! You face Jacob Stone Sword, Last of the Farsung! The blood of three of your chieftains has stained this blade. Look upon your death, and despair!" Jacob bellowed to the rushing horde in an accented common tongue.

His sword caught the first in the throat.

Dugg cleaned his sword as he walked into the royal chambers. King Harkinian sat with his back turned in a red velvet armchair, a book in one hand, a glass of brandy in the other. Dugg tossed his helmet off. He still hadn't got used to all that metal on his head. The King turned, startled, toward the noise.

Dugg put a dagger to his throat, standing over the armchair. "Do not speak." Dugg said evenly. King Harkinian gulped.

"I think I owe you an explanation, your grace." Dugg began. "Let me begin by introducing myself. I am Grim, a Ghul." The King opened his mouth, words forming. Grim pressed the knife closer to his neck. "Yes. I know. It's unfortunate. I'm sorry. But you must understand." Grim circled around the armchair, pulled up a small table, and sat on it, eyes to the king. The knife remained at Harkinian's throat. "I am doing this for your daughter." The king's eyes widened at that. Grim lifted the knife from the man's throat slowly, then plunged it into his chest. The king attempted to scream. He let out a light wheezing instead. The knife had punctured a lung. The man would suffocate soon.

Grim stood and walked calmly back to his dropped helmet. He put it on. Time to leave.