The particles of dust floated lazily through the air, visible from the rays of light that passed through the checkered iron bars covering the window. It was uncomfortably humid; summer had surprised everyone with one final breath of intense heat before the onset of autumn. The stone-covered walls provided little relief from the moist warm air. Sweat dripped from the Sheikah's forehead just by sitting, and his dirty, well-worn clothes stuck to him like bandages. Sounds from the marketplace seeped through the bars of the window, enlivening the otherwise silent jail cell. Aside from the open window, a lone torch crackled beyond the rusting iron door, casting a small amount of light on the cell from its perch on the opposite wall.

Kari sat cross-legged on the uneven stone floor, small pebbles poking persistently into his strong legs. His red eyes examined his surroundings like an archeras he twirled the Wind Waker thoughtfully between his forefinger and thumb. He was not impressed. The Sheikah had been in more imposing jails before. This one looked like it'd been built to house petty criminals and evasive taxpayers, not those accused of high crimes against the state. Nevertheless, he couldn't find a means of escape.

The soldiers had come for them without warning. He had been watching over Link in Zelda's absence on their arrival. As they stepped hesitantly through the door, the fear on the soldiers' faces was obvious. Even in this country, they had heard stories of the mysterious warrior from Hyrule and they were not anxious to face him in combat. Lucky for them, that same warrior was confined to a bed by his injuries.

Kari had been ready to face them alone; they would have been no match for his speed and reflexes. However, a sharp rebuke from Link had stopped him. Against his better judgment, Kari had dropped his guard and allowed himself to be taken away along with the hero and Ilia, making sure the Wind Waker was tucked safely in his sleeve for later use. The guards were cordial but weary. One of them, a veteran named Jongi with a thick country accent, willingly admitted his doubts about the whole ordeal: 'Dunno' why we're doin' this. Ya'll just don' seem like thieves ta me.' His admission provided some comfort but gave little reason for their arrest in the first place.

It wasn't until Kari was taken to a cell with Midna that he finally learned what happened. The whereabouts of their friends was unknown, so they took what little comfort they could in each other's company. With a scowl on her face and her voice more bitter than grapefruit, the Twili explained to him the events outside the Maku Tree Meadow and why they had been arrested. Now, with the situation clear in his mind, Kari began to work on a way to escape.

"This is all a terrible mistake," Midna's voice broke the silence. She sat upright with her back against the hard stone wall. She subconsciously rubbed her thick cloak made of goat skin between her thumb and pointer. It was a staple garment used by the Ordonians for harsh winters and had been given to her by Link before they left the village. Although it was uncomfortably warm, it provided her protection from the sun. "We should be out finding Zelda. Not rotting in here." The red-orange in her eyes reflected the sad twilight of sunset, emphasizing the somber tone that wrapped around her words. "Have you found a way out?"

The Sheikah let out a deep breath, a few black strands of hair hovering above his forehead from the passing air. His eyes shifted to the window and then to the torch across the hall. "The iron looks too strong. I do not think we can break it."

Midna's back slumped against the wall as she leaned her head back in defeat. "If only I had the fused shadows. We wouldn't be wasting time here."

Kari straightened up and looked at Midna intently. "What did you say?"

The Twili shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing important."

The Sheikah was persistent. "Something about shadows?"

"Fused shadows. Why?"

Kari swallowed hard and tilted his head. "I have heard of those. What are they?"

Midna rolled her eyes and leaned her head off the wall. "It's an instrument. We're going to shatter the iron with music."

"Oh." The Sheikah looked pensively to the sky. His brows furrowed in concentration. The words swirled around in his head like a whirlpool yet he was unable to make sense of them. "I thought they were something dangerous." He paused. "Wait. Music?"

Midna chuckled to herself. "I was being sarcastic, you twit." She rose from her position, shaking the dust from her cloak, and walked over to the window. She placed two dark hands on the rusting iron. A warm breeze wafted through the bars and caressed her face, but it provided little relief from the sweltering heat. "Do you always believe everything you hear?"

Kari's cheeks turned a hint of red. He turned away so she wouldn't notice and began investigating the structure of the cell for the third time. "Only if it comes from a friend." He paused. "I was taught to never trust the words of an enemy though they be smoother than butter. But the words of a comrade are always to be heeded, though they can be rougher than stones."

The Twilight Princess rested her head against the iron bars and closed her eyes. She answered with a grunt. "You must've had some good friends then."

A large sigh escaped from the Sheikah. Midna could almost feel the homesickness in the air as he exhaled. Kari's mind filled with familiar faces from his past. As the images of Sharlo, Sheik, Ordona, and countless others flashed through his mind, the wind tamer suddenly felt like a foreigner all over again. He hugged his knees close to his chest. "We were always at war; always on our guard. All we had was each other." His fist pounded uselessly against the stone ground. "I just wish I knew what happened to them." He hesitated for a second, speaking in a softer tone this time. "What happened to her."

Midna still caught the last part of his sentence. She released her hands from the bars and rested them on the windowsill. "You lost someone dear to you, didn't you?" Her finger began to draw circles on the rough stone. "I know how that feels. What was her name?"

Kari hesitated for a moment. He rose to his feet and turned to look at her. The warm breeze wiggled a few strands of the twili's flaming red hair. She turned around to face him, and their eyes met for several seconds.

"Her name…" The Sheikah broke his gaze as his eyes retreated to the floor. "Her name is not important." His voice quivered slightly. "She is long gone."

Midna looked back to the window. There was a warm empathy in her tone. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Kari shrugged his shoulders and turned back to the door of the cell. The silence in the room became intense and oppressive like a giant attempting to suffocate them. Neither knew what to say; Midna continued to look down at the floor as she fingered with the fabric of her dress beneath the cloak. She turned back to the window and placed her chin on the windowsill. She never thought she would actually miss the sun. She could hear Kari's footfalls from behind her as he paced anxiously around their spacious cell investigating the layout; no doubt it was more therapeutic than anything else.

Midna let out a complacent groan and closed her eyes. She knew the pain of loss all too well. Up until this point, she had viewed the Sheikah as an uptight annoyance. Now, she felt a stir of compassion within her as she began to understand a sliver of his story.

"On the bright side," Midna lifted her chin and turned back to face him, "you've managed to make some new friends." She began to count off her fingers. "There's Colin…and Link…Tifa…Zelda."

Kari stopped mid-step and blinked a few times as the comment registered. "Yes, I suppose you are right," he said at last. He looked down at the floor and then to the torch on the opposite wall. His tone was softer, almost as if he didn't want her to hear his next question. "But do you consider me a friend?"

Midna stopped short. The question had taken her by surprise. It was innocent enough; yet something about it still caused her to hesitate. She looked casually around the room. Her lips forced into a crooked smile as she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, that's a good question, isn't it?"

Kari's eyes dimmed as he leaned against the bars of the cell door. A large sigh passed through his lips as his fingertips squeezed the rusted iron. "I suppose it is."

Suddenly, the clanging of iron keys and the squealing of a door opening caused both prisoners to tense. A sphere of light gradually bounced along the stone walls as the approaching footfalls grew louder. Kari and Midna looked at one another in mutual understanding. The Sheikah tightened his grip on the wind waker and placed himself nonchalantly in the corner. Midna stood by the window a short distance away.

This was their chance for escape.

Just as expected, the guards stopped at their cell door. There was only two of them; one fumbled with metal keys in his hand as he tried to find the correct one while the other held the torch so he could see properly. Kari held his breath as he hid the wind waker behind his back. Midna watched the guards intently as she prepared to bolt.

At last, the iron door swung open and rattled against the stone wall. The soldiers' metal boots clanked against the hard floor as they stepped into the cell, looking expectantly at their prisoners.

"You two need to come with us."

Kari wasted no time responding. With a wave of his baton, he sent a strong gust that sent even the armored soldiers crashing against the wall and collapsing to the ground. Taking advantage of the chaos, Kari grabbed Midna's hand and the two dashed out of the cell and by the disoriented suits of armor. Cells whipped by them as they turned corner after corner like rats in a sewer. In the distance, they heard shouting from amongst the other guards and quickened their pace.

"You better not be leading us in circles," Midna warned, breathing heavily to keep up with the agile Sheikah.

Kari said nothing. He kept his gaze ahead. The two turned a sharp corner and rushed up a spiral staircase. They turned left at another corner and rushed by a few more cells; all of them empty. Voices echoed in the distance. They quickened their pace and dashed around another bend. Much to their surprise, they collided with someone standing near what appeared to be an exit. The resulting collision formed a chaotic pyramid of bodies that blocked the door.

"Kari? Midna?" Link's voice carried from the bottom of the pyramid. He grunted a little as he tried to move but their cumulative weight was too much. "What are you doing?"

Midna rose from the pile first. "What are you doing here, Link? Now's our chance to escape!"

Kari stood to his feet as well. "We have to find Zelda." He offered a hand to the weakened hero and helped him to his feet. Link stumbled over to a nearby wall and leaned on it for support.

"But that's what we need to talk about," he tried to explain. Link pointed to the gathering behind him. There, the Mayor, Din, and the rest of their companions stared at them. The guards from the prison ran to the door but stopped when they found Kari and Midna with everyone else.

Tifa pointed and laughed. "The scary lady fell down."

Suddenly, the Twili felt like the center of attention as she looked around her. "What's going on?"

Din's face became serious. "There isn't much time so we'll explain quickly." She placed two expectant hands on her hips and looked to the Mayor. "Perhaps you should do the honor, Mayor Ruul, since this was your mistake."

Ruul adjusted his glasses and fidgeted nervously with his blue vest. Dots of red painted both cheeks as he shuffled his right foot. Midna noted he was not very dignified when he had to perform something difficult. At last, he cleared his throat and prepared to speak.

"First, on behalf of Holodrum, I want to apologize for the mistake. When the Rod of Seasons was stolen, all I could think of was getting it back. When I remembered that Queen Zelda was asking for it, I became suspicious. I thought the real Zelda would never ask for such a thing, and so I assumed her to be an imposter." His glasses began to fall from his nose once again. "Shortly after you were taken away, Din came into my office and said the Maku Tree wished to speak with me. I met with him and he informed me of what really happened and confirmed your story." He held his glasses in place and bowed low to the ground. "It seems I imprisoned you without just cause. Once again, I am truly sorry."

Midna felt her blood boil. "That's all you have to say?" She raised a fist to the leader of Holodrum. "Do you realize what you've done!"

Tifa clung tightly to Ilia's side. The two watched in silence. Several of the guards readied their weapons as Midna took a step towards the mayor.

Kari stepped beside Midna and gently guided her fist to the side. "Yelling will do us no good here."

The twilight princess snapped her hand away. "Shutup, Kari! You stay out of this!" The startled Sheikah pulled away while Midna continued her assault on the foreign leader. "What do you think's going to happen when Hyrule finds out you are to blame for Zelda's disappearance? This could be grounds for war!"

The guards looked nervously at one another. Should they intervene?

Mayor Ruul bowed once again. He fidgeted with his hands nervously as he began to stutter."I-I hope it will not come to that. I-If there is anything I can do to repair the situation, please let me know."

Midna snorted and drew her cloak around her shoulder. "I don't have time to listen to your blubbering." She flipped her hood over her face to block out the sunlight. "I'm going to look for Zelda." Two fiery eyes glanced at the hero. "Are you coming, Link?"

The wolf man winced and shrugged his shoulders. "I can barely move. Don't think I'd be much of a help that way." He looked around. "But the rest of you should go."

Kari stepped forward. "I have experience tracking."

Colin raised his hand to volunteer as well. "I'll do whatever I can to help."

Mayor Ruul motioned to several of the soldiers. "Gather as many men as you can on short notice and spread out around the city. Search every inch until you find her." The soldiers saluted and hustled out of the crowded entryway, armor clinking together like tin cans in a barrel.

Midna eyed those coming with her and motioned for them to follow with a wave of her hand. Colin and Kari took off in hot pursuit.

As the trio rounded a corner, Kari found it easy to keep up with the twilight princess. His only difficulty came from weaving between pedestrians on the main road. Colin was not far behind.

"You were awfully passionate back there," The Sheikah remarked. He was careful to speak so only Midna could hear.

The twili kept her eyes on the path ahead. "Why wouldn't I be? We need to find Zelda."

The Sheikah spun around another pedestrian and resumed his position beside her. "But you seemed to take it personally."

The trio rounded another corner and continued running. Midna bit her lip. "You don't mind your business, do you?" From the horizon, she could make out the tall crown of the Maku Tree. "She saved my life a while back." She relented after a short pause. "I just want to return the favor."

Kari nodded. "I see."

Midna pointed ahead. "Enough about that. We should be at the sanctuary of the Maku Tree soon. Hopefully, we can pick up the trail from there."

Meanwhile, the rest of the company stood with Din and Mayor Ruul. The hero leaned against his childhood friend for support while Tifa rocked anxiously back and forth on her feet. Tatl kept a careful eye on the nervous girl. Ever since their encounter in the Maku Tree's sanctuary, she had become jittery and much more reserved. The fairy worried about her companion, but the Forest Sage refused to reveal what was gnawing at her.

"It'll be okay," the Oracle of Seasons offered comfort as she watched Ruul pace nervously back and forth on the stone path. She brushed a few loose strands of red hair from her eye with a swipe of her hand. "I'm sure they'll find her soon."

The Mayor let out a deep sigh. "I just wish there was something more I could do."

Link's eyebrows rose. "Well, actually, there might be something."

Ilia jabbed him gently with her elbow. "What's going on in that insane mind of yours?"

A sly smile crossed the hero's lips. "I may have found our opportunity to get the Rod of Seasons."

Zelda could feel the blisters pressing into the bottom of her feet. Her calves whined and her feet complained as she forced herself to take yet another step. Her muscles, accustomed to long diplomatic sessions and marathons of paperwork, creaked to life as they were forced to march against her will. She had been walking blindly for what seemed like hours now, but any actual sense of time was blurred beyond comprehension by the blindfold suffocating her vision. She felt the heat of the sun warm her shoulders through her light cotton shirt; at least she knew it was still daytime.

She had remained silent while in the presence of her captors. With her eyes unable to see anything, she found her sense of hearing enhanced. She could visualize the birds singing in the branches above just by distinguishing their energetic chirps. The footfalls of her captors hinted at their numbers: somewhere between five and ten. The faint sound of rushing water revealed a nearby stream. The most useful information, however, came from the conversations she overheard from those charged with guarding her.

The one in charge was named Maholo. From what she could tell, he was not well liked by his fellow thieves. His arrogance and sense of superiority graded on her own nerves; she could only imagine what it did to everyone else. Nevertheless, everyone seemed to follow his leadership without question, leading her to suspect that there was some truth to his self-inflated boasts. As for their destination, she concluded that they were taking her back to Hyrule. It was more of a guess really, based on comments she had overheard here and there. The thought of returning home was bittersweet. As much as she wanted to go back to her people, she knew now was not the time.

She stumbled as her foot caught a protruding tree root. A rush of panic swept through her as she felt her body drop towards the ground like a tree cut from its roots. Yet, before she even touched the soft grass, she felt two strong hands catch her from around the waist and guide her gently back to her feet. She couldn't see who her rescuer was, but the pungent odor of sweat and grime that stung her nose quickly sapped her curiosity.

"You fool! Hurry up and get the prisoner moving!" she heard Maholo yell from a distance ahead. A grumble and a sigh later and Zelda felt the tug on her wrists that marked the continuation of her dreaded march.

As her exhausted body struggled to meet her captors' demands, her thoughts wandered safely to the companions she had left behind. It was for their safety she had given herself up. They would no doubt be looking for her, but would they find her? Her only chance for reuniting with them was to escape soon. Right now, that was impossible, but she'd keep an eye out for when an opportunity presented itself.

Yet the shadows of doubt began to creep into her mind.

What if she managed to escape only to become lost? What if her captors decided to kill her on the spot? What if she never saw her friends or her people again? What if…?

The surge of intangible worries became too much. Like a victim lost at sea, she reached out for the first island of stability that came to her mind: Link. When her beloved kingdom had met its darkest hour and she had been imprisoned within Hyrule Castle's lofty towers, it was he and Midna who had given her hope. When Ganondorf stared them down with eyes full of bloodlust, it was he who stepped into the ring to face him, the calm glow of twilight resonating off his face to contrast the lightning charged sky. When the monsters of Zant's army pounded on her doorstep, it was the hero who plunged into the battlefield to keep them at bay. Somehow, this simple Ordonian had an aura about him that gave hope in even the most desperate times. Even thinking about him helped calm her fears; she felt a soft tickling from the Triforce on her left hand and stiffled a chuckle. There was a strange warmness and familiarity emanating from it that made her feel at peace; almost as if she was going for a casual walk with him right beside her.

"You alright?" A slow and gruff voice whispered to her, bringing her consciousness back to reality.

"Excuse me?" She whispered blindly, unsure of who was speaking to her.

The speaker was close. She could smell the raunchy smell of fish through the blindfold. "You almost fall. I catch you."

The monarch held her breath until the speaker's mouth backed away. "Oh…so it was you who caught me?" She was at a loss for words. The last thing she expected was a courteous captor. "Thank you?" she managed at last.

They continued walking in silence for several more minutes. From the direction of the sound and the tension on her wrists, she concluded that the one who caught her was the same person who held her ropes. She decided to press her opportunity to learn more about her strange new ally.

"So who can I thank for catching me?" she asked quietly. She had to be careful the other thieves wouldn't overhear her.

There was a pause for several seconds as the stranger contemplated the question. "Name not important. Maholo just call me stupid."

"I don't think you are. In fact, you are quite kind." She attempted to smile.

Her words seemed to have an impact on the smelly man. "No one ever say kind word to me before." He paused for a second. "Ma call me disgrace. Pa call me mistake. Maholo call me lots o' other names."

As if to confirm his point, Maholo's voice called from the front of the troup. "Hey! Did I say you could talk to the prisoner? Do it again and I'll beat you like the stupid animal you are!"

Zelda's guard closed up like a threatened clam. She felt the rope against her wrists pull just a little tighter. She thought she heard low mumblings coming from his direction but they were too soft for her to understand.

Her fingers tightened in frustration. They had been getting somewhere too. After several minutes of marching in silence, she decided to risk one more attempt to gather information.

"Well, I think you are quite sweet. You must have a big heart."

There was a soft sniffle and a whisper. "Really?"

"Really."

The tension in her wrists loosened as her captor slowed down. "Why you say such nice things? We take you prisoner. Treat you like animal."

The monarch had to think about his question. She didn't want to tell the truth, but she didn't want to lie either. She decided for a careful medium. "Because I believe in repaying kindness with more kindness." She paused. "Besides, you are different from them. They are the animals; not you."

"Kindness with more kindness?" The man mumbled to himself. He seemed to become lost in his own thoughts.

Once again, they walked in silence. Zelda decided to turn her attention to the other guards to see what else she could learn. Several of them joked coarsely just a few yards ahead. Zelda winced and began to blush beneath the blindfold as she overheard the way they talked about women and their anatomy. If such a thing was ever repeated in the Royal Court, she knew it would draw many a gasp. Ramiro might even faint

"I am…" she heard her strange new friend begin. She could hear the hesitancy in his voice, like a frightened animal that cautiously takes food from a stranger. After a little more coaxing from her, he finally relented. "I am Error."

Zelda paused midsentence. She could hear the sound of the dirt scuffing against the bottom of her shoes as she thought of a response. "How could you say such a thing? That's awful." She wanted to place a hand on his shoulder, but the blindfold made it difficult. "The Goddesses made you to be special. They have a purpose for you. You're not just a mistake."

"No. I am Error," her strange captor reaffirmed. He paused for several seconds. She assumed he was looking to see if Maholo was listening. His voice was more upbeat now. "Do you want to learn a secret?"

Zelda's heart skipped a beat. Could this be the opportunity she had been waiting for? Had the Goddesses heard her prayers so quickly? Her fingers began to tap against the sides of her legs in anticipation. "Yes, I would love to."

Error did not say anything right away. Zelda felt the suspense building in her head. She just wanted him to say it already. Her breathing quickened a little as she tuned out all distractions so she wouldn't miss a word. At last, she heard him inhale deeply. He was about to speak.

"South of King's tomb in Mido is a tunnel."

"Excuse me," she replied after a few seconds of confused silence. "You lost me. What is Mido?"

Error's voice almost seemed to scold her. "You must discover for yourself."

"You stupid animal! I told you to stop talking to the prisoner!" This time, she could hear Maholo's footsteps as he steadily made his way towards them. "Now you're going to get it!"

Zelda's heart beat like a drum. Sweat dripped slowly from her forehead as she decided what to do next. Her lips moved faster than her mind could comprehend as she whispered prayers to the Goddesses. Please! This cannot be the end!

Maholo's yelling grew louder as he rained down curse upon curse. When he finally approached them, he directed his anger at Error's intelligence. She could hear the snickering and mumbling amongst the other members of Scorpio. Her heart ached for her new friend, but a small part of her was scared for herself as well.

Suddenly, her entire world seemed to brighten as Error ripped the blindfold off her. While her eyes adjusted to the massive influx of light, she saw the face of her protector for the first time. He was large and intimidating, easily a head taller than she was, but his kind face put her at ease. His scruffy black hair was scattered in all directions, while the shadows of a black mustache greeted her from under his nose. His hazel eyes lacked any sort of sophistication, but instead were filled with a rare purified compassion. The gentle giant took his knife and cut the rope restraining her wrists.

"Go!" His words were blunt and direct.

"But?" She paused.

"Error! What are you doing?" Maholo's voice rose in pitch.

"You showed me kindness. Now… it my turn." He gave Zelda a strong shove. "Kindness for more kindness." She took his message and began running through the woods as fast as her exhausted body would let her. Maholo stepped forward to grab her, but Error blocked his pursuit like a brick wall.

The snap from Maholo's wrist as he backhanded Error's cheek echoed throughout the confined area. The gentle giant's cheek turned rosey red as the skin swelled. The sudden impact caused Error's knife to drop to the ground.

"What in the underworld are you doing, Error? Go retrieve her now or I'll beat you senseless." The self-proclaimed leader threatened, his own face quickly turning a light crimson.

Error was silent.

Maholo reached for the sheath by his waist, an accessory made of Dodongo hide used to carry small weapons, and brought out his knife. The blade glinted from the sunlight coming through the forest canopy. "Do you know what you are?" He snarled in Error's face, his hot breath steaming up the large man's nose and eyes. Maholo slid the blade gently against the soft flesh beneath Error's chin. "You're a stupid animal. An animal that does what it's supposed to."

Suddenly, Error placed a strong fist into Maholo's stomach. Spit came flying out of the bandit's mouth as he lost his breath. His eyes looked up in disbelief as first his knees collapsed to the ground and then the rest of his body.

The large man beat his chest and reached for a large tree branch nearby, although it was more the size of a small log. The veins on his strong arms bulged as he slowly tore the limb from its trunk. The tree groaned and moaned beneath the tension. Bits of bark and wood dropped to the ground as the joint between tree and branch began to crack. At last, with one final roar, Error ripped it free. Tapping the large limb against the palm of his hand like a club, he glared at his startled contemporaries.

"I am Error!"

Maholo lifted his head to look at his rebellious underling. His vision was quickly blurring and he found it difficult to think clearly. Nonetheless, he managed one last order before he collapsed into unconsciousness.

"Kill him!"

The various wood folk scurried away as the cries of battle rung through the forest. Birds stopped their choruses and flew to safety. Squirrels ceased gathering acorns for the winter and retreated to the safety of their dens. Deer halted their grazing on the soft grass and rushed effortlessly through the thick underbrush in the opposite direction. The angry shouts carried past the various tree trunks and through the branches to Zelda's ears. As her sore feet slammed against the ground and her hands protected her face from the tree limbs rushing at her, she distinctly heard Error's voice ringing out in a desperate battle cry.

She had to fight her instinct to turn around and go back. How many lives had been sacrificed just so she could live? It seemed no matter how hard she tried, someone always died protecting her. Her heart wrenched in her gut and she felt an immense burden on her shoulders that slowed her pace. What good was the gift of Wisdom if she couldn't protect those she cared about? If she couldn't even protect her own people?

She stopped suddenly as the battle cries ceased and the forest became eerily silent. She closed her ears and listened intently. The quiet lingered in the air like a fog. The whole forest seemed to hold its breath with her in anticipation of what came next.

It didn't take long for her to hear the sound she had been expecting. It was subtle and almost undetectable, but her sensitive Hylian ears were able to pick up the shuffling of dead leaves several hundred paces behind her. Her eyes narrowed in that direction as her muscles tensed. The Triforce on her left wrist glowed brightly, almost as if expressing the monarch's growing determination.

Enough was enough! No more blood would be shed on her account! With the strength of the Goddesses, she would fight her own battle. By their grace, she would win. Or die trying.

She looked around frantically for a good climbing tree. Fortunately, she didn't have to search hard. Once she reached one that suited her purpose, she took out the red ribbon she used to tie back her hair and placed it strategically on the ground. Once she was satisfied, she grabbed a limb and pulled herself up, hair now flowing wild and untamed. The fatigue already set in her muscles combined with her weak upper body strength made the climb initially difficult. Still, she was successful. Once she was safely on the first branch, it took little effort to continue up. Like she had done as a little girl in the castle gardens, she maneuvered herself through the limbs to a sturdy branch overhanging the ribbon. Now, all she had to do was wait.

Her pursuers did not take long. She could hear their shouting as they slashed brush out of the way in a frantic effort to find her. Immediately, she noticed their numbers were smaller than she had guessed, and Maholo was not among them. One guard stumbled upon her ribbon and looked at it puzzled. He moved it around between his fingers and felt the cotton. He was about to turn around and call over one of his companions when Zelda made her move.

Just as she had done to servants countless times in the past as a girl, she jumped out of the branches like a monkey and landed on the unsuspecting thief's shoulders, her knees catching hold of his neck like a saddle. Together, they fell to the ground, the monarch riding the thief's back like a stubborn mule. Taking advantage of his momentary disillusion, Zelda relieved him of his scimitar and blunted him viciously in the back of the head with the hilt. Whatever struggle he had put up now ceased.

She looked to the scimitar in her hands and back to the unconscious thief. Logic told her to kill him now while she had the chance. Yet, her values restrained her wrist. She believed all life was sacred to the Goddesses, even those that had chosen to walk down a darker path. Make no mistake, they would face justice, but it was not her role to be the executer.

Unfortunately, she had attracted the attention of the rest of the bandits. They quickly spotted and surrounded her. She turned her head to observe the remaining enemies: four against one.. Her face grimaced; she didn't like the odds. Nonetheless, she tightened her grip on the scimitar and knelt in a defensive stance.

"Watch out! She's got a weapon!" One of the thieves, Baca, warned his companions.

"You idiot! We all have weapons!" His twin brother, Akamai, shouted at him.

Zelda took a deep breath. She had trained with weapons ever since it became apparent she would be the only heir. As monarch, she would have to lead Hyrule's armies into battle, so it was considered good upbringing. She had become familiar with all sorts of weapons, the bow being her favorite, and Geoffrey had given her further instruction. Even so, the curved edge felt awkward. It was different from anything she had used before. She would quickly see the fruits of her training.

Zelda concentrated on the magical energy inside of her and focused it into the tip of the blade. The tip of the scimitar began to glow with an otherworldly aura, and a small ball of light hovered just above the blade. It crackled as if filled with static electricity. The thieves eyed it cautiously but stayed where they were.

Zelda hesitated. She knew as soon as she released it, she would lose her advantage. It wouldn't take them long to overpower her. Still, she might as well go down fighting.

The crackling ball of energy flew faster than her opponent expected as she swung the scimitar down. Sparks flew like from a campfire as Baca was knocked back in an incandescent display of particles. The other three wasted no time in coming after her. Zelda spun around to parry the nearest attack. The grating of steel against steel screeched into her ears as she blocked the slash. The assassin continued to swing at her aggressively but methodically.

While she dueled, Akamai snuck behind her and kicked her off balance. This time, there was no one to catch her. She grunted as her back hit the undergrowth and the scimitar dropped just out of reach. The third assassin, Shaza, jumped on top of her, threw the scimitar further out of reach, and pinned her arms down. His rancid breath scorched her nostrils as his beady yellow eyes looked her over.

"You've been quite a naughty girl," he said. His eyes focused on her chest. He was breathing faster now, almost like a panting dog. "It's been a while since I've had some pleasurable fun. And you're quite a catch."

She spit in his face and struggled to get free, but he was too heavy and his grip was too strong.

Shaza paid no mind to the saliva slipping down his forehead. His other two companions watched approvingly as he licked his lips and let his instincts take over. Zelda felt him press harder against her arms. She wanted to wince, but she refused to show any signs of weakness. Her struggling continued, but it proved futile.

"Its time you had a lesson in humility." Shaza said with a sinister grin. "I'm going to enjoy this."

Zelda looked at him with an intense loathing and disgust. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction he sought. Even if struggling was useless, she would find another way out.

It was then that a whirlwind flew through the air. It sailed straight for Shaza and knocked him against a nearby tree trunk. The back of his head began to bleed, and the impact knocked him out cold.

Kari!

Zelda tried to rise to her feet, but the other two assassins quickly grabbed her arms. This time, the whirlwind flew for her left arm and knocked Akamai into nearby brush. Using the distraction to her advantage, she tripped the thief with her foot and knocked him in the face with her free arm. She grabbed the scimitar from earlier and rushed towards the moving bushes where the wind had come from.

Contrary to her expectations, it was not Kari who ultimately emerged. Instead, a rather large kangaroo with strange red boxing gloves and a competitive smirk greeted her. Its orange skin was distinctly noticeable, and its pouch looked big enough for a human to fit.

"Are you okay, Miss?" The Kangaroo greeted her.

Zelda was speechless. The animal was talking to her. She thought she was dreaming. The groaning of the assassins behind her snapped her back to reality.

She eyed his pouch. "Were you the one who came to my rescue?" The kangaroo nodded. "Can you get me out of here?"

He patted his pouch with one of his gloves. "Just hop in. There isn't a single human alive that can keep up with ol' Ricky."

Zelda couldn't believe herself. She jumped in as he instructed. To her surprise, the pouch was actually snug and cozy like a blanket. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her pursuers recovering and running towards them. Ricky whipped around and took off in the opposite direction. Her stomach rose and dropped with his rhythmic hopping, and she was grateful that she hadn't eaten for several hours.

She heard shouting from behind her. Suddenly, an arrow whizzed by Ricky's left cheek and planted itself within a nearby tree. Several more followed it, missing their mark by about a foot.

"Ricky. Watch out! They have crossbows!"

The kangaroo just nodded, his confident smirk still plastered to his face. He began to skillfully weave in and out of trees, making it difficult for their pursuers to fire a straight shot. She heard the whistling air on several shots as they passed by, but none succeeded in hitting them. Trees raced by her and the oscillating ground just couldn't seem to stay still.

After several minutes of hopping, they were finally able to relax. The barrage of arrows had finally ceased, and there was no trace of their pursuers.

"So what was that back there?" Ricky asked nonchalantly once he ensured there were no more pursuers. "You owe them money? They courting you?"

Zelda's face soured.. "Not quite. They were trying to kidnap me." She had to admit, it was weird to see the friendly kangaroo looking down at her. Her mind still couldn't comprehend she was actually talking to an animal.

Ricky gasped. "Kidnapping? Sounds pretty serious." He pretended to box an invisible opponent. His red gloves guarded his face while he threw a few mock jabs. "Good thing I came by then..."

"The name is Zelda." She finished his sentence. A warm smile lit her face. "And thank you for rescuing me. It makes me cringe to imagine what could have happened."

Ricky nodded his head and threw her a wink. "No problem. Is it comfortable in there?"

"Excuse me?"

"The pouch? Is it comfortable? Not many people ride in there so I'm kinda curious."

Zelda blushed slightly. "Oh. Actually, yes it is." Her hand felt the smooth skin. During her ride, she had been securely tucked in. The thought of flying out hadn't even occurred to her. Suddenly, a question dawned on her. "Not to change the subject, but how did you find me?"

Ricky began to stretch his arms. "These woods are my home." He grunted as he brought his arms above his head. "I was doing some training when I heard a whole bunch of humans shouting. We don't get a whole lot of those here, so I decided to check it out. That's when I ran into you."

Zelda nodded. "So how did you make that gust of wind?"

The kangaroo's head lifted just a little. "The tornado punch? That's my signature move. Took me several years to learn." He proceeded to put on a show. He wound his arm faster and faster around its joint, so much so that Zelda was afraid it might become dislocated. Nonetheless, she could feel the wind brushing against her cheek as it seemed to congregate towards his arm. Then, in one smooth motion, Ricky let out a lightning fast jab. The air had formed into a vortex that went spiraling in the direction he punched. It managed to chop several shrubs on its path through.

Zelda clapped from her seat in the pouch. "Very impressive."

Ricky placed a bashful glove behind his head. "Thanks." He looked around in their vicinity once more for the enemy. "So where are you going, Zelda? I assume you don't live here like I do."

Zelda's face lit up. "Actually, do you think you could take me to Horon City?"

The countryside on the way to Horon was much nicer to look at without a blindfold. The monarch was amazed by just how far she had come on foot. Gradually, the rich, creature-filled woodlands gave way to grassy plains and open fields. The sun was on its decline into the horizon, and a few clouds dotted the sky like fluffy balls of cotton. In the distance, she could see the skyline of Horon, with the crown of the Maku Tree towering above any of the other buildings. Further off, she could see the port where sailors and vessels of trade made their living on the ocean.

Ricky had dropped her off at the entrance to the city. With a hearty thank you, she waved goodbye as the energetic kangaroo bounced back home. Her time in captivity seemed like a distant nightmare as she turned onto the main street and walked towards the Mayor's house. She couldn't wait to see the look of surprise on everyone's face, especially Link's, when they discovered how she escaped.

She stopped.

If it hadn't been for Error's noble sacrifice, she wouldn't be here. She said a prayer for the man before continuing on her way. She earnestly hoped for the chance to thank him in the afterlife.

Eventually, she came to the entrance to the Mayor's house. She paused before opening the door, pressing her ear to the furnished maple wood to hear the chattering of voices inside. Glad to find the house not empty, she reached for the handle and pulled the door open.

The main hall was fairly empty except for a few people. Mayor Ruul conversed with the captain of the guard while Link and Ilia eavesdropped. Din entertained Tifa in a nearby corner, showing her how to spin on one leg without losing balance. The chatter of the room came to a halt as they heard the door close loudly and saw her standing there.

"Hello, everyone," she said meagerly. "I'm back."

"Zelda!" Tifa was the first to come to her senses. She made a beeline through the room and buried her face in the monarch's leg. She squeezed tightly and refused to let go. "I missed you."

By now, her companions had flocked around her. Everyone began pelting her with questions at once, so the monarch soon found herself overwhelmed. At last, Ilia spoke up.

"How about we go to the guest room? Then Zelda can sit down and tell us what happened?" Everyone agreed.

The guest room was quaint and small with windows that opened out to the garden behind the house. There were plush leather couches arranged in a square for conversation, an unused fireplace on one of the far walls, and candles placed on elm tables scattered throughout the room. The sweet smell of hot tea and baked goods filled the room from the nearby kitchen. The Mayor instructed one of his servants to fetch the tea, and they all sat down.

When at last everyone had settled down, it was Link who spoke first. His face was dumbfounded. "So Zelda, how did you do it?"

Zelda giggled to herself. He looks like a little boy when he's clueless. She took a deep breath and recomposed herself. "I will be happy to tell everyone the story at a later time. First, I would like to apologize for worrying everyone. But as you can see, I am safe now."

Mayor Ruul folded his hands and leaned forward. "No, Your Majesty, it is I who should apologize. I misjudged the intentions of you and your friends and almost caused an international crisis." He paused, relaxing slightly. "But I am glad to see they found you."

Zelda's eyes grew wide. "Who found me?"

The room was uncomfortably silent. The clock on the wall seemed to announce each second that passed. Everyone looked from one person to another, but no one wanted to answer the question. A small serving woman came with the requested tea. She placed it on the various tables, but few people actually touched it. Only Zelda seemed comfortable enough to drink some.

Suddenly, Link burst out laughing. Everyone looked at him strangely. He held up his hands and quickly explained. "Kari is not going to be happy when he finds out he walked all that way for nothing."

The tension in the room dissipated as several people joined in the merriment.

When the noise had died down, Zelda spoke again. The monarch leaned forward in her chair and directed her gaze at the leader of Holodrum. "Mayor Ruul, I would like to ask: could you reconsider giving us the Rod of Seasons?"

Ruul let out a hearty laughter for the first time in several days. At last, he seemed to be at ease. "Your Majesty, I have already negotiated an agreement with Link here. He's quite the diplomat. You should consider hiring him as part of your Court."

Zelda smiled politely and cleared her throat. Her messy hair hid the redness forming around her ears. "And the agreement?'

Ruul continued. "So that there are no hard feelings for the imprisonment of your comrades or the ordeal you have gone through since setting foot in Holodrum, I will gladly give you the Rod of Seasons. Consider it a gift of goodwill between our nations. You may have it as long as your quest requires."

Ilia nudged the hero in the ribs. "So that's what you were up to."

Link smirked. "Well, I couldn't help find Zelda. I had to be useful somehow."

She mock scowled at him. "You better not overdo it. You still haven't healed." The hero just laughed her comment off.

Zelda bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you, Mayor Ruul. May the Goddesses allow our nations to prosper together."

The Mayor nodded in agreement. "I agree. I have already sent a messenger to Hyrule to notify them of your safety and our agreement. They thought you disappeared after the battle. Won't they be relieved to know their monarch is still alive?"

Zelda forced a smile. "Let us hope so."

Suddenly, Din and Tifa rose from their chair. The two ecstatic girls seemed to share a mind. Tifa jumped up and down excitedly, a stark contrast to her earlier mood, while Din looked around at everyone in the room, her ponytail bouncing through the air as her head turned. "Hey, all, lets have a feast with dancing to celebrate Zelda's return and the renewed alliance between our two nations."

Ruul stood up. "That's a great idea!" There were several shouts of affirmation from the hungry gathering.

Link laughed to himself. Ilia leaned towards him, wondering what was so funny. The hero looked at her.

"On second thought, maybe it's better Kari and Midna aren't here. I think they would rather fight a horde of moblins than dance."

"The trail ends here." Kari pointed confidently to the ground.

The trio had been traveling for several hours, racing hard to reach the pursuers before nightfall. In their hurry, they had forgotten a torch; they would be forced to go back once the trail was hidden by night's cloak. Desperation and faint hope had driven them hard; they only paused once for water before they were hot on the trail again. Midna was impressed with how skillfully the Sheikah tracked their pursuers. She had tried looking for signs herself, but their adversaries were clever and left only subtle hints to their chosen path. Whatever Kari's history was, wherever he had come from, she figured he had done a lot of this before.

Their journey led to a clearing in the woods. A few bodies were clustered together in the corner, lying flat on their backs. Splinters of wood were scattered everywhere, and pools of blood congregated in certain places where the ground was uneven. The clearing was eerily silent, almost as if the forest was mourning for those who had fallen. Surprisingly, the flies hadn't found the bodies yet, but it was only a matter of time.

"What happened here?" Colin remarked as he looked around. He was panting slightly from their intense hike, but the traveling from the last few weeks had really helped condition his body.

"There was a battle." Kari replied. Unlike his two companions, the journey didn't seem to affect him. His breathing was steady as if he had just rested.

Midna was the most exhausted. Rivers of sweat dripped down her forehead, and her breathing came to her in spurts. Nonetheless, her desire to find Zelda filled her with adrenaline and kept her going. She looked at Kari as she approached one of the bodies. "Really? I wouldn't have known that."

The Sheikah tilted his head to the side. "But I thought it would be quite clear from the state of…"

Midna shook her head. "Kari, let it go." The Twili turned the body over and discovered a large welt in the man's head. She rolled up his sleeve and saw the signature tattoo that all members of Scorpio had. This was definitely the hunting party they had been pursuing.

"Hey guys, come take a look at this. I think this guy is still alive." Colin called them over.

The trio gathered around a large man soaked in a pool of his own blood. His clothes were covered in holes, likely from stab wounds, and his breathing was reduced to a pathetic wheeze. A large tree branch, broken in several pieces, lay around him.

Kari shook his head. "He's alive, but barely. Whoever did this to him wanted him to die slowly and painfully. Likely by bleeding to death." He closed his eyes. "I've seen it before, and it's not pleasant to watch."

Midna looked at a nearby fragment of wood. "Should we put him out of his misery? I doubt he'll have any information about Zelda."

As if she had said the magic word, Error's eyes slowly opened. He looked at them. He attempted to raise his arm, but his wounds sapped all the strength from him. They felt pity for the man, but they had to keep going. They were about to go on the move again when his raspy voice stopped them.

"Zel….'scape." He coughed up more blood. "Go…back."

Kari knelt beside him. "Wait. Do you know what happened to her? To Zelda?"

It was a fruitless effort, however. The large man closed his eyes and continued his steady wheezing. Blood continued to trickle slowly from his wounds, adding even more liquid to the already overflowing pool around him. Despite the gruesome scene, there was an aura of peace about him. His life had always been full of hardship. Yet, in his final hours, he had finally received kindness. Better yet, he had given it in return. It was in this state of serenity, with these three witnesses, that the last second of Error's life ticked away.

"Does anyone know what he just said?" Midna asked, shrugging her shoulders with wide eyes.

Colin played the words in his mind. "I think she may have escaped."

The twili rolled her eyes. "Like they would just let her go."

Kari shook his head. He placed the man's hands on top of his chest and said a silent prayer for him. "No, I think Colin is right. If he was left here to die, it was likely due to a disobedience of some kind. Perhaps there was a disagreement about what to do with the captive. Maybe Zelda escaped in the chaos."

Midna looked to the darkening sky. She always felt a sad homesickness when twilight came around. It reminded her of the suffering she had watched as Zant slowly killed her people. If it hadn't been for the Ancient Sages, she would have met the same fate. "I hope that's the case."

"We should head back," Kari suggested. "I cannot pick up the trail further, and we do not wish to be lost in the dark."

The other two agreed. They left the forest graveyard. Behind them, the trees seemed to come together to hide the clearing, almost as if the earth were reclaiming the blood and bodies that had sprung from it in the first place. The companions retraced their steps in silence. The soft rustling of their feet against the forest floor was all that was heard. Midna walked alongside Kari, while Colin guarded the rear.

"Kari." The Twili's soft voice jolted the Sheikah to attention, causing his thoughts to scatter.

"Yes?" came a cautious reply.

There was a slight hesitation. "You did well." Midna's eyes diverted to the ground. "We would have never come this far without you. So, I guess I should thank you for that."

The wind tamer shrugged his shoulders. "I just regret it was a waste. We came all this way for nothing."

Midna shook her head. "That isn't true. Now we know there's a chance she survived." She chuckled softly. "Knowing our luck, she's back at Horon waiting for us with a cup of tea in her lap."

Kari nodded. "We still have a long trek ahead. Let us hope she saves us some."

The trio continued walking in silence for several more minutes. Several birds chirped their last song before turning in for the night. Through the colorful autumn canopy, they could see the beautiful warm colors the sky had turned. There was a slight chill in the air, but it promised to be a splendid night.

"Kari?"

"Yes?"

"I think I've made up my mind about you. You're a good person, maybe even good enough to be included in my exclusive circle of friends. You should feel honored."

A slight wind whistled in the distance. The crunching of fallen leaves echoed with each step.

"Thank you, Midna." He let his words of appreciation linger in the air. A twig snapped as Colin stepped on it, trying not to get lost in the dark. Kari paused for a moment as a question struck his mind. "But how can friends be circular?"

A/N- Well, I'm still alive. I apologize this chapter took so long. I tried hard to make sure the quality of this chapter was worth the wait. Now that I'm finally settled in, I should have more time to write. As a little extra bonus, I present to you two more drawings courtesy of The-World-Needs-Peace. If you go to my profile, you will see a link to the entire album. There's another picture of Atrayu as well as a scene between Kari and Link. Hope you enjoy!

By the way, how many of my readers are old-school Zelda fans? Did you guys catch the references I put in there? See you all next chapter!