Chapter 6 - Illusions.

Link and Z walked through the less crowded streets, they were only a few minutes away from reaching the wall. Surrounding Castle Town was a stone wall, over four stories high. The closer to the wall you were the less people you ran in to, this was also the area that was a bit more run down and in the greatest disrepair from the rest of the city, some buildings were missing windows. It's the part of the city where the poor lived, walking along the wall you'd most likely see more people sleeping on the streets than any other place within the city walls.

The very center of castle town was where the rich, and the guards would live, it's also the place with the less crime. Mostly due to the fact that in the center of town was a great hall, where all the guards would meet and decide on new laws. This was also where the guards kept their prisoners.

The name Castle Town was a deceptive title, for there wasn't even a castle in town. Rumours are that in the days of old there was a royal family, and a King whom ruled over the land of Hyrule, that was ages ago. There was no such thing as a royal family now... In fact most of the laws of castle town were made and enforced by the guards..

The two young men had finally made their way to the wall, Link looked up at the wall that towered over them...

Remembering back to when he was 15. Link was a bit of a trouble maker at times. He had made a makeshift grappling hook, somehow to managed to toss it over the large wall and began to climb the rope. He was a good distance off the ground when he heard the guards shouting from below. Looking down he gained a small smirk. "Just go ahead and try to catch me" He said as he continued to climb up the rope. He only made it an extra foot when he saw an arrow whizz past him and find its mark.

The rope then cut into two, making a split second decision, with all his force Link kicked off the wall. He did a backflip before landing gracefully on his feet, looking up he noticed three guards standing in front of him. "Weeeellllll heeeeyyy there gents" He took a step back. "You know I would just soooolove to stand herebuuuut-- gotta run" With that Link spun on his heels and took off running.

The guards we're close behind "Get back here you rascal!!" One of the guards shouted. One of the guards sped up juuuust enough to grab a hold of Links arm and yanked him back.

Linksbalance suddenly thrown off as he staggered back. The guard quickly yanked Link to the ground, once on the ground the three guards pointed their spears at Link. He held his hands into the air. "Okay...you got me..." A pair of chains then placed around his wrists and the guards forced him to his feet.

Before he knew it, Link was placed in to a cell, he was sitting on a bench staring down at the chains around his wrist. There were four cells that lined the back wall of the room, other than the cells there was a single desk where a guard would sit and watch over the cells. Currently Link was the only prisoner. He remained silent... An hour passed by before the door near the guard opened, entering the large room was a familiar face, his aunt. Link looked up and grinned as he spotted Annette, the chains jingled as he waved.

Annette shook her head as she looked at the guard. "What's he in for this time Groose?"

The guard chuckled an almost annoying chuckle, he was a tall man and was far more strong than the average solider. "Well a group of patrol guards caught him trying to climb up the wall"

Annette slowly looked at Link "Is that so..." Link smiled sheepishly and shrugged a bit "I'm soo sorry Groose, its hard trying to raise a kid" The woman sighed

"Oh it's no skin off my bones... though you should know... this being his 10th offense, the lads lucky he aint being moved to a more permanent place... and just between you and me, rumours have it that the laws are about to get more strict... I heard some of the other guardsmen talking the other day, apparently to lower the crime rate they are going to start enforcing executions in the town square" the guard, Groose said.

Annette gasped. "can they even do that??"

"Their in charge...and some think it could help keep the citizens in line...honestly the whole thing is corrupt...The reason im telling you this is because I understand how hard it is...not only that but your boy is the perfect canadite for such a thing" He pointed out.

Annette shook her head. "no way-- they can't dothat-he's just a boy-- can they really get away with doing such a cruel thing??"

"Hey he's had 10 offenses against The Order... Most people don't get 3 and what's the best way to strike fear into a civilization... by proving just how far you'll go... Killing akid-it would be nothing to them...I'm just letting you know, after all we were good partners you and I..."

"Thank you.. I really appreciate it Groose" Annette said

Groose nodded and waved his hand. "Hey not a problem.." He said as he stood up, the man walked over to the cell and unlocked the cell door. Pushing the barred door open he walked over and unlocked the chains around Link's wrist. "You know kid you should give your aunt a bit of a break..." He muttered quietly. Link nodded and silently stood up and made his way to his aunt...

They two began to make their way back to theinn, Link looked up at his aunt. "...do you think they'll really start executing people???" He asked

His aunt shrugged. "It's hard to say...but most likely...did you really try to climb the wall??" She asked, the teen looked to the side and nodded, causing the woman to sigh. "This is almost as bad as the time you snuck into that shop and broke all the ceramic pots"

"Well on my behalf I was 8, and I thought there would be rupees in the jars" Link said

"or when you were 10-- it took them weeks to track down all those cucco's"

Link chuckled nervously"yeah but I mean I thought it would help me fly..."

"Link every time you leave the house you end up in trouble..." She pointed out

"...okay...granted your right..but-"

"No. no but's-- this is very serious.. Your young so you don't understand, but the city is on edge, the people don't trust the guards and the guards don't trust them back. The guards are on the brink of doing something drastic to gain control... and you heard Groose... you're the perfect canadite to make an example of.. You need to stay out of trouble my dear..."

Link frowned and nodded a bit. "you're right...I'm sorry..."

"You know I was thinking, to keep you out of trouble maybe you could become the chef for theinn. I think you'd do a great job my boy" She said with a grin and a wink

Link looked up at her and nodded. "Alright...i think I can handle that..."

Zeland Link turned the corner and came too a small street, the houses that lined the street looked as if in awful condition, there was only a few people roaming the streets, Link frowned a bit at the state of things. He didn't know how truly bad castle town was...

Zel looked around and gestured. "alright there doesn't seemto beany guards around. It's just down the street"

Link nodded and the two continued to walk. After a handful of feet Zel came to a stop and was staring at the wall. Link blinked and looked at the wall as well. Nothing looked out of the ordinary... Link tilted his head slightly. What was Zel so transfixed by... "Are you planning on climbing the wall???"

Z looked at Link, he then looked around the street, what few people there were werent paying the two any attention. Z then looked back at the blonde hair hero. "Hold still, this will come in handy" Z said as he held our his palm. It began to glow dimly, a pure white color, Z placed his palm against Links forehead. There was what felt like a small static charge delivered to his head.

"Ow!" Link proclaimed as he staggered back and gripped his head. "What was that for??" He looked back at Z.

"To help you see" Z said as he crossed his arms.

"My eyes are perfectly fine" Link said he froze when he saw the wall. Suddenly he could see that there was a tower built into the wall, the tower was just as large as the wall with only a small handful of windows. Compared to the rest of the street it was a nice looking building. Link rubbed his eyes as he stared in disbelief.

"illusion magic courtesy of the Sheikah... you know the sheikah has had a hand in all the architect around Hyrule.." Z pointed out

"...so no one else can see this??" Link asked

Z nodded "exactly..."

Paying closer attention Link noticed the door to the concealed tower cracked open. He tapped Z on the shoulder and pointed to the door. Zel nodded "yes... I noticed..." Crouching down Zel pulled two kunai from his boot. Gripping one in each hand Z straightened his pose. "Normally there is a-" Z began to talk.

Link on the other hand spaced out for a moment, it was as if everything slowly drifted away. He felt an approaching darkness of some sort, he wasnt able to put his finger on it but it was almost as if something was closing in on them. All other noise drowned out as he heard the sound of heavy foot steps a short distance away.

Z suddenly smacked Links arm, causing him to snap out of what ever trance he was in. "Did you hear anytning I just said??"

Link looked around the street, he noticed that behind them there was a building, to the side of the building was a stack of barrels, two wide and two high.

Z sighed. "I'll take that as a no. Just stay close and don't do any--"

"we need to hide-Now!" Link said as he abruptly grabbed Z by the arm and dashed over to the barrels. He pulled Z behind the barrels and out of sight.

"what the--" Z began to complain

Link hushed him and then leaning over slightly he looked back on the street, he made sure he couldn't be seen as he remained hidden by the barrels. Z stood on his tippy toes as he peeked over the top of the barrels... A few people walked past...he took a deep breath and tried to block out all the meaningless noise... thump, thump-- he heard the oncoming foot steps. Opening his eyes Link saw her...Gannon

She stopped in front of the tower, she looked around. Maybe to make sure the close was clear? Or maybe she was looking for them... Gannon then reached into her pocket and pulled out an object. The object had a handle and was purple, on topthe handle was a circular object that seemedto bemade from glass, there was three red spikes protruding from the top of the object. Painted on the purple stained circular glass was a red-eye. Looking at the wall Gannon then entered the tower door.

Seeing the object Z gasped and crouched back down beside link. "I can't believe my eyes... she has the Lens of Truth..." Z said quietly.

Link looked beside him at Z. "Lens of Truth?? im guessing its special..."

"It's an old relic forged by the sheikah... it allows the user to see through illusions..." Zels eyes widen as he had a sudden epiphany. "...That explains how she was able to get into the city without my knowledge...She had the lens..." Z's fists gripped the kunai tightly as he gained a serious look. "No doubt about it... she most likely cleared out the tower..."

"Is that the only way out of the city?" Link asked. Z nodded, causing link to sigh. "Well maybe we can just wait until we know she's gone..."

Z stood up. "No...we go in swiftly and silently. Catch her by surprise...we end this now"

Link stood up as well "are you certain that's the best course of action??"

Z handed Link one of the kunai, and he peeked over the barrel. "We go on my mark.."

Link watched Zel, he had a look to his eyes that almost frightened Link, he placed a gentle hand on Z shoulder. "We should really think this through" He said in a gentle tone.

"on my mark..."Zel responded

There was no getting through to him...They was going to have to fight... Link took a deep breath and prepared himself to face off with Gannon yet again.

That's when he heard something from behind, more footsteps, this time lighter as if the person was trying to sneak up on them. Link gripped the kunai, he had to strike at the precise moment... The footsteps got closer... closer... closer...Link pushed his feet into the ground...Now-- he spun around and attacked the oncoming threat.