A.N. What's this an update right after one. Shocking I know rightXD. Anyway I decided to include the third chapter of the interlude. Since I don't feel like renumbering all my chapters I've already written. This one gets the awesome number of chapter 16.5XD. Anyway think of this as a gift from me for being awesome my lovely readers(and also being so patient when I take a month to get a chapter out) enjoy^_^.
Chapter 16.5
"Mew!" The tiny ball of fur cried out staring at the hunter sitting in the grass. Samus looked at the small kitten raising an eyebrow. For a rare occurrence the hunter was not wearing her power armor. After spending about a month in Hyrule she was comfortable leaving it off when she was alone.
Today the hunter was relaxing under a tree far out in Hyrule fields. Samus had finally dug into the clothes Zelda provided in the guest room the hunter stayed in. Now wearing a simple white shirt and tan pants. It was odd wearing such simple clothes, but Samus was glad Zelda knew the hunter wouldn't want something overly fancy like the royal herself wore. The hunter had a cloak too, a deep red that she was sure Zelda purposely chose because it reminded her of the hunter's armor. Thick leather boots covered the hunter's feet, dark gloves kept the chozo marks on her hands hidden from plain sight.
Despite having to wear nothing but her suit for months at a time before, it didn't mean Samus didn't like to go without it once in awhile. The suit was a second skin to her, but she wore it all the time out of necessity. Samus was usually constantly in danger, the only way to feel some sense of security was to keep her suit activated and her senses sharp at all times. Her suit was hardly subtle though, at times it was better to blend in with the crowd.
Adjusting the hood of the cloak Samus stood stretching her stiff muscles. The cat standing before her meowed again staring at Samus. The hunter quirked an eyebrow, everything in Hyrule was so docile. She had yet to come across any hostile wildlife or monsters. Leaning down Samus ran her hand down the cat's back earning a purr of approval from the animal.
Straightening back up the hunter prepared to head out having a mission of sorts for the day, but the kitten mewed looking disheartened at the hunter's departure. The two stared at each other for a moment before Samus sighed. She picked up the small animal grabbing a leather messenger bag she had borrowed from the castle barracks. Opening the bag the kitten happily curled up inside despite the papers and other items within. Before it got too comfortable Samus pulled out a map that was rolled up inside.
Mewing in contentment the kitten kept its head poking out of the bag as Samus slung it over her shoulder. Samus adjusted her cloak so the bag and animal remained out of sight. The cat mewed but settled down rather quickly. Samus smiled softly at the creature before unrolling the map. Normally the hunter could map out an area, and access it from her visor. However her visor only had the basic terrain of Hyrule mapped out for her, not the landmarks like towns and such.
The hunter didn't mind, despite having the most advanced suit in her world. She didn't need it to survive. She had trained for years as a child without her suit, and hardly required it to survive.
Looking around it looked like she was on track there was a gate up ahead leading to Gerudo desert. Yesterday the hunter had overheard Zelda's guard captain tell the royal several soldiers went missing after traveling to Gerudo Valley. The captain told the Queen he was worried there were a few Gerudo that would intend harm to any hylians connected to the royal family.
From what Samus heard the Gerudo were reluctant to let more soldiers come and investigate. This left Zelda with little choice to either force the issue and demand the soldier's disappearance be investigated, or do nothing. Never one to be idle when a problem could be solved Samus decided to look into it herself. Zelda not knowing the hunter was going to of course.
Approaching the Gerudo outpost that separated Gerudo control land from Hyrule Samus spotted two Gerudo women standing watch. They appeared bored, but there was still a level of vigilance in their gaze.
As soon as Samus got close the two snapped their eyes to the hunter. The one held a spear tightening their hold slightly in case the hunter was violent. The other stayed relax holding up a hand telling the hunter to stop.
"Hold there stranger, what business do you have in the Valley?" Amber eyes watched Samus warily, Samus could see her eyes trying to catch a glimpse of Samus' face under her hood. The hunter pulled the cloth down showing the gerudo her face. It would put her at ease, make her less likely to give the hunter any trouble.
"Just traveling," Samus told the gerudo simply. The woman quirked an eyebrow a smirk coming to her lips. Inwardly Samus noted how much easier it was to put people at ease by talking. If she were still unable to speak, the hunter would no doubt put these women on edge with her silence.
"Oh really? Most folks don't just travel to the desert. You're not hylian, so you're either here to die or to sleep with someone." Samus didn't react to the gerudo's blunt statement, she merely put her hood back up covering her face in shadows again. She looked Samus over again, noting the hunter's strong muscular frame and how the hunter had a good few inches on the already tall Gerudo woman. A mischievous smile came to her face and she looked over to her fellow gerudo.
"Let's hope it's for the latter." She called over to her companion who laughed the tension from the hunter's arrival leaving her. Inwardly Samus smirked, they believed Samus to be a simple traveler that they could defeat with ease if she turned violent. Which why wouldn't they? Samus appeared unarmed, although her paralyzer pistol was tucked away under her shirt. Plus Samus could reactivate her suit within seconds if she wanted to, but to them it would seem she would be easily dispatched.
Lucky for them Samus wasn't looking to fight. Let the two guards joke amongst themselves, Samus had no quarrel with them.
"Go ahead stranger you can pass." The woman gestured with her spear ahead allowing the hunter passage. Samus gave a nod to her before continuing on her way.
It was about another half an hour before Samus spotted a bridge up ahead signaling she was entering the valley. There were two more Gerudo standing on the opposite side of the bridge, probably there in case they needed to cut the bridge to bare someone entrance.
They didn't pay Samus much mind as she crossed the bridge. Samus gave them a nod to show she acknowledged them, and it seemed to keep them calm. From what Samus was seeing the Gerudo were a proud people that valued respect greatly. As long as the hunter showed them respect they would return it in kind.
On the other side of the bridge a bustling market of tents and stalls welcomed any planning to make the trip to Gerudo Fortress. Merchants mostly gerudo attempting to sell their wares. Though Samus did note that for a market it seemed rather empty. Even the stalls that were opened didn't have many wares for sale. Her answer for why came in a loud cry from a gerudo woman standing inside a blue tent with wooden table displaying her wares.
The woman was yelling at a short plump hylian man. It was clear from his dress that the man rarely came to the desert. He had fine clothes made of silk on, clearly they were not meant for this environment as sweat coated his brow.
"You damn hylians! We can't afford 30 rupees per pound! We can hardly raise cattle out here ourselves, we'll starve!" The man huffed, crossing his arms he looked up at the Gerudo like one would look at dirt on their shoe.
"That's the price everyone has to pay for beef, take it or leave it." He stated smugly, Samus' eyes narrowed now she could see why Link was constantly bad mouthing the higher ups in Hyrule, minus Zelda of course. If this man was anything to go by, no wonder Zelda usually had a headache after dealing with such arrogance. The woman's face became desperate, and Samus saw her hand reaching behind her back.
Approaching the stand slowly the gerudo spotted Samus. They made eye contact, the hunter shook her head, and she saw the woman come to her senses.
"Fine," she snarled glaring daggers at the man. She pulled out a leather pouch taking out several rupees paying the man who left looking rather smug. She then turned her gaze to Samus giving the hunter a disgruntled look.
"Thanks for the look I was two seconds from stabbing that man in the eye." Samus nodded, glad to have stopped things from escalating to murder.
"Damn hylians keep jacking up the prices of basic food. We can't raise livestock or crops out here how are we supposed to survive?" The gerudo muttered angrily more to herself before giving her full attention to Samus.
"Sorry about that I'm Lufif, best jeweler this side of Hyrule. Ever have a rare stone bring it to me I'll fix you up something nice." Samus noticed the various gems laid out on her table for display.
"Hylians always giving you trouble?" The hunter didn't think this woman had anything to do with the missing soldiers, but any information she could gather would make things go much smoother. The woman huffed crossing her arms.
"I guess I sort of sounded a little racist there huh? Not all the hylians are that bad, Queen Zelda seems to be at least trying to keep the peace. There are still a lot of racist bastards in powerful positions though, they just love to make our lives miserable. They're making sure to keep Gerudos out of Castle Town." Nothing Samus didn't already know, after all Ganon had planned to murder the royal family and take over. There was plenty of bad blood on both sides to make relationships tense between the two races.
"Not to be rude, but are you going to buy something? I sort of have mouths to feed here." Samus glanced at the table, she didn't really need anything Lufif had. However, the woman seemed like the alright sort, so Samus wouldn't leave without giving something in return for the information the woman freely gave.
Looking at the table Samus noticed a pair of earrings sparkling in the desert sun. A blue gem wrapped in gold with a symbol etched on its face caught the hunter's eye.
She pointed to the jewelry and Lufif's face lite up.
"That? Nice choice those sapphires I got off a Zora. They're rare here since the etching on them is for Nayru, but they'd be a perfect gift back in Hyrule. Sixty rupees, or I accept trade." Samus moved her cloak reaching into her bag. Only the movement caused the kitten that had been snoozing within to jump out and onto the table. The cat meowed loudly looking around at its new surroundings. The gerudo's woman's eyes widened then an amazed grin appeared on her face.
"Wow! A cat, never seen one up close before." Lufif scratched the kitten's chin who purred at the attention.
"Oh my kids will love this, I'll trade you for him." After thinking for a second the hunter nodded shaking the gerudo's hand before taking the earrings that Lufif put in a small box. Samus stowed them away in her bag giving Lufif a wave goodbye before continuing on her way.
There was clearly a lot of tension between the two races. It would be hard to pinpoint who could cause the soldier's disappearance. That was if a Gerudo caused their disappearance at all. Samus wasn't called the greatest bounty hunter in galaxy for nothing though. She had tracked people across planets and solar systems before, finding a few missing soldiers would be child's play in comparison.
Moving around the market blending in easily among the people, Samus seemed like just a simple traveler browsing the market's wears. Eventually Samus caught a sign of her prey.
A stall at the far end of the market stood out, or more like the items it sold stood out. Swords lay on the table on display, Samus took the pommel of one of the blades. On the hilt while someone had clearly tried to scratch it out. The mark of the royal family was engraved on the sword.
The owner of the stall wasn't paying Samus any mind. The gerudo woman was skimming the pages of a worn book. The hunter checked the other swords, all had the mark of the royal family.
"Where did you get these?" Samus' voice startled the gerudo she jumped snapping her book shut. She narrowed her eyes at the hunter before reopening her book.
"What's it to you?" Samus turned the sword in her hand tapping the still legible mark with her finger. The woman groaned running a hand through her hair.
"Oh I know why you're here. You're looking for those missing soldiers. Look I had nothing to do with them. I admit I stole these, but I stole them from drunk assholes who had it coming. I'm no murderer, we got enough problems out here to be stirring something like that up." Samus didn't sense any lie coming from the woman, so the hunter spoke voice low and commanding.
"Then who is?" Samus prompted the woman who gave an uncertain look around before getting up and leaning across the table to whisper to the hunter.
"Listen, no gerudo here would murder a hylian. It would be stupid and just make it harder on all of us." She paused her voice getting even lower.
"There was a pack of lizalfos passing through not to long ago, if I were you I'd check there." The hunter nodded, reaching into her bag she sat a few rupees on the table. The woman glanced at them nodded, then took the rupees and returned to her book.
"Captain, have you seen Samus anywhere?" Zelda asked the man before he left her study. The Captain shook his head frowning.
"I haven't seen her since breakfast your majesty. I can ask around if you'd like?" Zelda smiled but waved off the offer.
"No, that won't be necessary I'm sure she'll turn up before long." The hunter didn't mention what she planned to do today, but it wasn't odd since Samus rarely had a set plan. Zelda was curious as to what the hunter was up to though, it always brought a smile to the royal's face when she saw Samus enjoying herself.
When Samus first came to Hyrule she seemed at a lost of what do with herself. It was clear the hunter never allowed herself down time to simply relax before. It annoyed Zelda she couldn't clear more time to spend with Samus herself, but the alone time Samus had seemed to do the hunter some good.
Getting up Zelda sighed, normally she would have lunch with Samus. Since the hunter was currently missing though, now was as good a time then ever to meet with a few of the nobles. That plan came skidding to a halt though when a familiar voice called out.
"Zelda!" Zelda adopted an exasperated look as she turned to greet Link. The hero merely grinned.
"Hey don't look at me like that! You know when winter rolls around and I can't visit as often you're going to miss me." The monarch's lips upturned into a small smile. True she wouldn't be able to see Link as often, but she wouldn't be completely alone this winter.
"Of course Link, you didn't give anyone too much trouble sneaking in this time did you?" The hero puffed out his chest putting his hands on his hips appearing rather proud.
"You'll be happy to know I was let in today. I was planning on annoying Samus until she agreed to visit the ranch. I wanted to test a theory on whether she could ride a horse or not." Zelda quirked an eyebrow wondering herself if the hunter had done anything like riding a horse. The hunter could run faster than any animal Zelda knew of, so it seemed unlikely Samus ever entertained such an idea. She mentally noted to ask the hunter later.
"Unfortunately I believe Samus is out today. I haven't seen her since we had breakfast." Link quirked an eyebrow at that as Zelda began walking to the throne room. He followed grinning at the royal.
"You let Samus leave your field of vision. I'm shocked, with you being such a worry wart I would have thought you'd keep her imprisoned here forever." Zelda chuckled at the thought of anyone imprisoning Samus. The hunter could blow up half the castle without breaking a sweat.
"Hardly, Samus leaves the castle all the time. She'd probably go stir crazy if she tried to stay here the whole time." She has noticed Samus getting rather antsy as of late. The hunter spared with the guard sometimes, but that was the most action she saw. If one could consider that action, probably to Samus it was more like child's play. Zelda tried to spend as much time as she could with the hunter, but the needs of the country never ended.
"Can't blame her for that, I still don't get how you live here. It's so empty!" Link raised his voice so it echoed in the castle halls. The Queen gave him an amused look, Link grew up in the forest so it was natural life in a castle would be strange to him. The castle was Zelda's home, and while it did seem like a lonely place to be at times. Zelda wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
"It's an acquired taste. At any rate I have things to do Link. If you find Samus…"
"Don't worry I'll send her your way. I'm sure she's only blown up five houses and smashed ten thieves' heads by now." Zelda's eyebrow twitched, the royal sending Link a glare.
"That's not funny…"
The stench of rotting corpse was stagnant in the air. It was a good thing Samus was familiar with the scent, or else she probably would gag. It didn't take the hunter too long of searching the outskirts of the desert to find sign of the pack of lizalfos. From there it was easy to find the corpses of whatever they attacked. It seemed the lizard people killed for fun as well as food.
The corpses of the hylians were half buried half rotted away in the sand. Give them another day or two, and either the desert would sweep them under the curtain of sand, or some creature would come along to pick the corpses clean making them unrecognizable.
Walking over to the closest body Samus brushed away the sand covering their metal breastplate. The Hyrulian crest was dusty, but still proudly emblazoned on the man's dead body. Checking the bodies over their wounds did seem consistent with the way a lizalfos attacked, though Samus hadn't fought enough of the lizard people to make a final judgement.
A vulture cried out loudly from above angry that Samus had interrupted its meal. Samus paid the bird no mind though checking each body for any clue as to why this happened. Perhaps the soldiers were just unfortunate, and perished at the hands of monsters. It did leave the question why the gerudo were being so shifty about it though.
Something wasn't right, some of the bodies had wounds that seemed to be given by that of a lizalfos. While others had different sets of wounds not consistent with the others. A low familiar crackling sound echoed through the desert.
Samus snapped up looking around sure enough not to far away Samus saw the air crackling just like it did on Tallon IV. Another portal was opening up. Black energy exploded and the world shifted as a tear opened itself in the air.
A light buzzing came from the portal, and out flew a large insect of some kind. The portal snapped close behind it as if it were never there.
Samus drew her paralyzer eyes narrowing. The bug was about the size of a large dog, upon closer inspection Samus recognized the creature. A lumite, a creature from the planet Aether. Samus remembered coming across dozens of the pests in the Agon Wastes during her mission to save the planet in distress.
The lumite seemed to be inspecting its new surrounds, flying around in circles no doubt disoriented from crossing dimensions. Frowning Samus took aim charging up her pistol stunning the creature before several well aim shots ended its life. While the lumite wasn't all too threatening it wouldn't do Hyrule any good to introduce a different life form to the peaceful environment.
Stowing her pistol back away Samus approached the insect to confirm its death before glancing back at the deceased soldiers. Walking over to where the portal had opened Samus approached cautiously. It wouldn't do for her to get dragged through another portal. She might not be so lucky to end up in a place like Hyrule.
Everything seemed normal though, if Samus hadn't seen it. There would be no sign a portal had opened here. This didn't bode well if other portals were opening between Hyrule and her world it could spell trouble for the peaceful land.
The portal must have brought the soldiers demise. There were plenty of horrid creatures in Samus' dimension that could easily destroy the unsuspecting group of hylians. That brought up the question of what was dragged into Hyrule as well.
Going back to the bodies, Samus frowned. The bodies were too decomposed, she wouldn't be able to place the creature that killed them. Without any clues as to what kind of monster attacked them, the hunter was without any leads to track it with.
Samus wasn't about to give up, there was no way she was going to leave a potentially dangerous beast to roam Hyrule. Thinking to herself, if the creature wasn't built for the desert its first objective would be to find water. She recalled spotting a post signaling water was up ahead on her journey out here, that was as good as any place to start. Adjusting her hood to keep the sun from beating down on her face Samus did what she did best, hunt.
It turned out Samus' hunch was correct. After about an hour walk through the desert, she came to a small oasis. Sitting right in the middle of the small pool of water was a creature that certainly didn't belong in Hyrule.
A shegoth, a predator from Tallon IV, luckily just a young one. It sat in the middle of the pond of water, no doubt trying to stay cool. Shegoths hailed from the cold region of Tallon IV, its thick skin was definitely not built for the hot desert environment.
The beast was panting heavily even as it sat in the water. Samus calmly approached the oasis, the ice predator didn't react. The hunter frowned, shegoth were normally easily provoke into attacking. This one was close to death, the hunter could tell. The soldiers went missing about a week ago, so this young beast had spend at least a whole week roasting in the desert sun.
The shegoth growled when Samus stepped into the water, it wasn't deep coming up to just below the hunter's waist. The beast didn't attack though, and Samus knew it wouldn't. The animal was far too tired to attack her. Samus felt a pang of sympathy go out to the creature, but Samus pushed it back remembering this creature killed several innocent lives.
Pulling out her paralyzer again, Samus charged the pistol up. It wouldn't take much to end its life. The shegoth was on death's doorstep already, Samus wouldn't let the beast continue to suffer in the harsh desert environment it wasn't built for.
The shegoth let out a low cry as Samus fired almost a sound of relief as it died. Putting her weapon away Samus went to work moving the creature out of the oasis. The sands of the desert would make short work of the body, so Samus merely got it away from the oasis where it would rot away to nothing.
Heading out of the desert Samus felt fairly satisfied, though it still wasn't clear why all these portals were opening up between her world and Hyrule. At the very least she had an explanation to give Zelda about her missing soldiers.
Looking up the sun was beginning to dip towards the horizon. If she hurried she could probably make it back to Hyrule before tomorrow, it wouldn't do to go missing when she didn't tell Zelda where she went. No doubt the monarch would be worried about Samus absence. Adjusting her hood smiling slightly to herself the hunter began the trip back to Hyrule.
A gentle melody echoed from the castle garden. Zelda plucked the strings of the harp like she done so many times before. Sitting on a bench in the garden harp in hands, the familiar tune she played so many times calmed the monarch.
During the seven years Ganon controlled Hyrule playing her harp was probably the only comfort Zelda had at the time. The notes came easily to her plucking gently on the instrument.
It was late far later than the hylian normally stayed up, but upon retiring to her room Zelda saw the old harp and felt compelled to play it. After all being so caught up in her work the royal hadn't touched it since taking the throne.
The song paused Zelda stopping mid-note looking up upon hearing boots stepping in the grass. The first thing Zelda realized it was just Samus, and she could relax. The second was Zelda saw the hunter didn't have her armor on. Just wearing a simple shirt and pants, though one of the nicer pieces Zelda had the maids put in the guest a room a deep red cloak covered the hunter's body instead of thick metal.
Zelda had never seen Samus like this. Outside the armor Zelda expected Samus to seem small when compared to wearing it, but she was just as strong and imposing as before. The armor had added a few inched, but out of it Samus still towered over her. It appeared as if the hunter had been sweating earlier because the clothes clung to her body accenting Samus' muscular frame.
Zelda had the blush when she realized she may have been staring at the hunter's sculpted body a little longer than necessary. After recovering quickly the next thing Zelda noticed the royal voice giving the hunter a suspicious look.
"You're covered in sand," Zelda stated bluntly. Samus let out a short hum looking at herself before looking back at the royal. The hunter shrugged crossing the distance between them glancing at the bench silently asking for permission to join the royal. Zelda's eyebrow rose, but she patted the spot beside her telling the hunter to join her.
The hunter had the hood of the cloak up, but she put it down upon sitting. Sand fell off the hood blowing away caught in a breeze. Zelda reached out brushing some of the sand from the hunter's shoulder.
"Eventful day?" The hunter didn't appear injured so Zelda let herself relax amusement sneaking into her voice. Before the hunter answered her she ran a hand through her messy blonde locks shaking away some of the sand that got caught in her hair.
"Found your missing soldiers," Zelda blinked, she didn't know Samus heard some of Zelda's people went missing. Though Zelda wasn't about to complain if she found them.
"Really? What became of them?" The hunter went on to explain the portal and creature from her world she encountered. At first Zelda frowned hearing her people fell to such a fate, but it did warm her heart slightly that Samus went out of her way to find them for her.
"Thank you Samus, I don't like the idea of monsters finding their way into Hyrule, but at least the families of the soldiers know what became of their loved ones." Ildy while she spoke Zelda plunked a few strings on her harp to relax her frazzled nerves. Obviously Samus being dragged to Hyrule and the monsters from her world were related. The reason Ganon or anyone would want to drag so many things from Samus' world to Hyrule was beyond the monarch.
Zelda noticed the hunter giving the harp a curious look, and she realized she had gone silent playing random notes on her instrument while lost in thought.
"Sorry," the royal gave the hunter a sheepish smile. Zelda gave the harp a fond look before returning her gaze to the hunter.
"It's relaxing to play, I tend to get lost in thought when I use it." The hunter shrugged indicating she didn't mind. The monarch smiled, Samus was never bothered by anything the royal did. Whether getting lost in thought or rambling on about something of no importance, Samus didn't care.
"Anything of interest happen while you out. Last time you were in Gerudo Desert circumstances were less than favorable." Samus jolted as if remembering something. The hunter reached under her cloak for a leather bag rummaging through it before she found what she was looking for. Out of the bag she produced a small black box handing it to the royal. Zelda sat her harp down next to her, taking the box.
"What's this?" Samus said nothing handing the box over to the royal. The royal looked at the small black box curiously before popping it open. She let out a small gasp, inside the box lay a beautiful pair of sapphire earrings.
"Samus, these are beautiful. You got these for me?" Surprisingly to most, Zelda hadn't received many gifts in her life. Of course nobles and other higher up official have given her things, but they were always gifts to obtain favor. After her mother died her father was distance and other than a gift or two on her birthday. Zelda became used to receiving things not out of love or care, but a favor for something.
The hunter nodded nonchalantly as if it was no big deal. Zelda was touched, it may be just an insignificant gift, but to the royal the fact that Samus got her something on top of helping her find the missing soldiers was heartwarming that someone cared that much.
"Thank you, they're stunning." Zelda wished she could convey her gratitude with more than a simple thank you, but it would due for now.
Efficiently Zelda removed the earrings she already wore, and replaced them with the new pair. She then excitedly grinned at Samus.
"How do I look?" Samus paused for a second and Zelda might be imagining things, but a blush came to the hunter's face. However she signed a response momentarily forgetting she could speak.
"Magnificent." This time Zelda knew a blush had come to her own face. She wasn't sure why, dozens of people have complimented her before. Coming from Samus though, it seemed different. Maybe it was because the hunter never lied to Zelda, if she said something she meant it. Going on that the hunter truly thought Zelda looked magnificent, a thought that made Zelda's heart skip a beat.
"Flatterer," Zelda teased, ignoring the way her heart sped up thinking about the compliment. The hunter smiled, her hands moving again to tell Zelda something.
"I don't flatter people, only stating a fact." Again Zelda blushed, whether Samus was purposely trying to get such a reaction out of Zelda she wasn't sure. It certainly was working though.
"Oh hush you, or else all those stray animals that keep finding their way into the castle will be getting new homes within a week." Samus gave the royal a surprised look, either due to not realizing Zelda knew Samus had been bringing the animals in, or surprised Zelda would threaten to get rid of them. Zelda smirked, crossing her arms looking quite pleased with herself.
"I may spend most of my time in my study or the throne room, but it's kind of hard not to notice the large sheepdog bounding through the halls." The hunter looked away and Zelda laughed.
The rest of the night was spent with Samus trying and failing to convince Zelda that the stray animals getting into the castle weren't definitely not her doing.
A.N. I will fight anyone who tries to claim that Samus isn't a complete softy when it comes to animals. We're talking about the woman who took the time from escaping an exploding planet to save some animals in Super Metroid.
Next chapter marks the beginning of the Brawl arc, and I'll tell you all now I don't plan on following Brawl exactly as it happens in the game. To me that's boring if I wanted to know what happens in Brawl as it does I'd just play the game. Plus in the Subspace emissary I think Samus and Zelda only see each other at the very end of the story, so that's not happening. With that I'll see you guys next chapter!
Real Quick side note got fan fiction to work with me again, so I'll go back and fix up the last chapter when I get a chance.