Link was dead tired now, he was sore too, those damned keese brought an army. Link had no choice but to run. He had to leave everything behind, except the diary, he knew he had to protect it. He and Navi were forced to spend the night in another room, neither one had a say. Unfortunately all his things were destroyed, the keese set everything on fire. He and Navi had to return to the surface, Link needed to head to a clinic, his ankle was a ugly shade of purple. Hopefully he had enough to pay the doctor. Since there was nothing left to do, Link had to rest. He was in no mood to walk or fight to the surface. Navi went to fetch a fairy, she said they could treat Link so he can walk easier. she made him promise to read the diary to her when she got back.

Link promised to wait, but he was too curious. He had to know. He opened the book, thankfully there was a blue fire nearby.

Darwyn and his friends were stuck. They had the equipment to explore, but they couldn't go any further than the first floor. Darwyn had no choice but to hide in the Temple, he knew the Zoras won't enter, not with Mirabel using the Hookshot to close the gates. At least he wasn't alone, Sierida was with him. Both Mirabel and Rheda went to the castle to see if they could have a audience with the Princess. Both knew her on a casual basis, Princess Lara used to train with the horses at Lon Lon with her handlers, she was good friends with Remy; and she knew Nahara, she used to come with her bodyguards to visit with the Geruldo leader for negotiations about trade. Before they arrived at the castle, Mirabel insisted on stopping at home, she was dying to tell her family about her adventure. Unfortunately, there was tragic news.

"Sure you don't mind leaving Darwyn behind?" Rheda loved teasing her best friend. Her crush was even stronger, especially when he was wearing the Zora mask. Even as a Zora, he was just as handsome. Darwyn was delighted, he could be with Roana. Although, both Mirabel and Rheda insisted he didn't need one, Roana fell in love with him for who he was, and wouldn't want him to change.

Her face red, Mirabel denied being in love with him. He was nice, but he was a taken man. Desperate to change the subject, she talked about her home.

"I hope you are hungry, Remy is a excellent cook. Father, he got fat eating her cooking. Her raspberry/apple pie is unmatched."

"Yum." Rheda was starving. The last thing they eaten was raw fish, open fire was banned at the moment at the lake due to the earthquakes. Neither Darwyn or Sierida didn't mind, both were fish creatures. (Darwyn said he ate raw fish before, but it was easier to eat as a Zora.) "Hope you have chicken or beef." She adored fish, but it has been awhile since she ate a proper meal.

"Do not worry. Come inside, the horses, they need rest. It's getting late, I have a spare bed, I guarantee it is fluffy and soft."

"I can't wait." She was tired of roughing it. When they got to the entrance, they were startled to see the Royal Guards. "Whoa!" The horses whines made the guards look in their direction. "Miri, is the Princess staying at the Ranch?" She was worried, she had one of the guards stay at the inn back at home last year, she robbed every rupee from him.

"No. She always sends a messenger first before she arrives. Something's wrong." The heaviness, Mirabel felt it. "Remy. Father." Her family. "Rheda, act natural." She and Rheda walk up to the gates.

"Halt!"

"This is my home. My father, he owns this ranch."

"Not anymore. It now belongs to The King of Hyrule. Leave this place." The guard ordered.

Before Mirabel could argue, her twin runs out.

"Stop! That is my sister! She is an employee of this place." She nods at the Geruldo. "Good! You brought the new maid. Come inside, I will show you both to your rooms! Step aside." She ordered the guards.

A maid? She was about to argue, till she saw Mirabel's face. She was best friends with Mirabel, she knew when to shut up. She clamped her mouth shut.

Once they were safely inside, Mirabel was shocked to see the state of the ranch. There were guards everywhere.

"Remy? What's going on? Where's father?"

"Not here. As you can see, there are some changes. Come and bring your horses for rest. Dinner will be ready soon, I promise to tell you everything."

It was terrible. Uncle Thomas, he was arrested the same night Miri and I left. He was caught off guard, he was in bed when he was arrested, Remy, she was forbidden to help when she was woken up. Thomas was afraid she would be arrested as well. He was accused of tax evasion.

"But that's impossible! Dad paid his taxes on time! He sent Igon to pay the taxes every year. You know father will never cheat the King!" Mirabel was furious. Seeing a guard in her bedroom, she felt violated. She, Remy and Rheda were forced to sleep in the servant quarters, with the guards claiming they needed to be well rested due to reasons.

"Good thing you weren't here Sister. Once father was taken away, I was forced to be a handmaiden to the guards. Even Igon was forced to work on his day off. It's terrible, I hadn't had a day off in weeks. Both of us, we are exhausted."

"I'm sorry." Rheda felt bad for Mirabel and Remy. Both sisters, they cried on each other's shoulders. "Is there anything I can do?"

Mirabel shakes her head. She cared about Darwyn, but she loved her sister and home more.

"You don't have to stay, you can leave. I won't leave Remy."

"I understand." Rheda, she cared about the two sisters. She liked Remy, she was just like her sister, she was kind and spunky. She knew Darwyn was waiting, but she couldn't leave her best friend and her sister behind. "Look, if I have permission, I can stay for a few days. Let Remy and the ranch hand rest. I could work. I know how to cook, clean, and do general work. My mom, she made sure none of the citizens were lazy and soft."

Remy smiled at the kind woman. Mirabel, she had friends, but Rheda was the first best friend she ever had, not including her twin.

"Thank you. Just for three days. I know you have errands." She knew about Mirabel's adventures. If it wasn't for the Ranch, she would have insisted on coming.

As promised, Rheda stayed. She swore she would send help, she had friends back in the desert fortress, they would be happy to find work, the town needed help to rebuild since most of the homes were lost in the storm. Remy and Mirabel promised they would be paid, the King allowed Remy to do the books.

Three days later, Rheda and Mirabel were saying goodbye. Rheda was traveling alone to the castle, Mirabel didn't want to leave.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Mirabel was worried about Rheda. She was a great thief, but if she was arrested, she would be executed by the King if she broke in and was caught.

"I'll be fine. I know the Princess remember?" She tears up when Mirabel grabs her in a tight hug. "You promised! No crying!" She was crying as well, Miri was like a sister.

"Can't blame me for being a worrywart." She and Remy were outside saying goodbye, with both claiming Rheda was getting fired, she was too young. Luckily, the new employees were already there, they were working hard. "Say hi to Lara and Darwyn. Tell Roana I'll send for a wedding gift when they settle in."

"I promise." She hugs Remy as well, she was good friends with her. "See you around." She refused to say goodbye, her mom said the word goodbye was the final word. She said that to her husband when he left to find work, he died when he encountered a monster. Rheda never met him, Nahara said she was just a baby herself, her mom refused to talk about him, claiming he was just a traveler. Poor woman was just a few weeks pregnant with Rheda.

It would be a few days to see the Princess. Even with her sending a letter, her nanny sent word back the Princess was busy with her studies and couldn't visit her at the inn. Of course it was just a ruse, Lara was very clever.

Rheda was in awe at the town. She had spending money, thanks to the generous folks at the town square. She wasn't foolish, she only robbed the ones that wouldn't miss a few coins. She was bowling when she got robbed herself.

"What the..." She felt lighter. "Hey!" Dropping the bombchu, she runs after the thief. "Son of a..." She was kicking herself for being so stupid. "Hey!" She chased the thief into an alley. She been to town several times, she knew every dead end in town. She was going to trap the thief and beat them senseless. Once she cornered the thief, she smiles in anticipation. The hell? That was impossible. The thief was gone. How? There were no windows, no garbage cans, there was nowhere to hide. Out of all the dead ends, this was the most open. It also had the highest walls. Where did he go? Her answer was answered a second later.

Rheda grunted when she was knocked to the ground. The wind knocked out of her, it took her a second to recover.

"You will pay." She had a knife, she wasn't planning on killing anyone, she just wanted to get her money back. Then rob them. She and the thief fought, with the thief and her equally matched, they fought for a few minutes. But hearing a sneeze, both stopped fighting. When the thief gestured for Rheda to follow her, a reluctant Rheda had no choice, there were guards on patrol. Once they were alone, Rheda demanded her money back, plus an explanation. When the thief took off the hood, a shocked Rheda couldn't believe it.

"Lara?"

This part was amusing to be when I heard it. I never met the Princess, but I heard countless stories about her, how clever and smart she was. Plus, with the gossip saying she was a huge tomboy, it made sense how she ambushed Rheda.

"Not here." She whispered. "I have a room. Follow me."

Once they were alone, she described how she snuck out of the castle.

"How? You must have dozens of guards watching your every move." Rheda knew the Princess, but wasn't a close as Nahara was.

"Princess Lara is still at the castle." She showed off her disguise. "Meet Shilgen."

Link wondered if Lara's nanny was a Sheikah. Princess Lara, she must have passed down countless stories over the years, that's probably why Sheik was helping Link. He knew every song the Royal Family knew, he must be a descendant of Lara's nanny. Hearing Navi returning, he closed the book, pretending to nap. Luckily Navi brought her fairy friend.

"Link, I brought help!" Once Link's pain was gone, the friendly fairy flew away. "Open the book. I need to know what happens next. Once Link caught her up, he went back to the part where Rheda and Lara, aka Shilgen were talking.

"What are you supposed to be?" Rheda wasn't impressed by the costume.

Lara rolled her eyes.

"Seriously? I'm supposed to be a Sheikah." Her blonde hair was tied up, it was damp from the thick hood she was wearing. "I made this myself."

Rheda scoffed.

"Have you met any Sheikah lately? None of them dresses like that. They would be insulted at their symbol being backwards." She could imagine Darwyn's face.

"What do you mean?" She takes off her top. "Oh for Goddess sakes!" She was a straight A student. She should have known better. It was close, but the three triangles were upside down. "Dammit. Luckily, I have thread and fabric." While she was sewing, she asked what she wanted her for. Once Rheda filled her in, she shook her head.

"I love to help. Really I do. But our treasure. Father has it." She had no idea why, it was just an instrument. "Father, he loves music, but detests playing them. I don't know why he insists on carrying it. The Ocarina is difficult to play, even with expert training."

"Look, I have NO intention of keeping it. I won't get that much rupees anyways. I just need to borrow it, just for awhile."

Lara was deep in thought. She was fascinated on what she heard, Rheda, she and her Sheikah friend were going to explore a temple. But they needed the Ocarina. She was getting bored at home, all she did was study. Even her father rarely came to see her. Luckily, her nanny helped her escape. She wasn't happy to hear about it, but she was getting worried about the King. He wasn't acting like himself. She knew Lara would be alright, she wasn't the first time she snuck out.

"Okay. But it won't be easy. Can your friend hold on a bit longer? I can get the instrument no problem, but I need a expert counterfeiter."

"Easy." Rheda knew one, her sister's ex, Sadon. "I know a guy, but he ain't cheap."

"No problem." Lara's family had deep pockets. "I'll get the drawings from the local library, I'll just tell him how to recreate the exact symbols and sound. Just hold on for a few days. I'll pay the reminder of your room at the inn including meals."

"Cash only." Rheda didn't want to get caught.

"Duh." Lara had plenty of rupees.

It took almost a week. Their friend was a perfectionist, he refused to rush his work. Once it was done, he presented the counterfeit.

"Holy." Lara, when she saw the Ocarina, she was in awe. It was a exact replica. "It looks exactly the same. Down to the last detail." Everything was the exact same, even the tiny scratches.

"Just wait till you play it." When Lara played it, he smiled when she squealed. "It even sounds the same. How..."

"I am a craftsman master. There is a reason I am in hot demand. Here is my bill."

Lara paid him, even though she flinched at the price. It cost her most of her travel money. She could get more, but her father will get suspicious. Luckily, she had old clothing and jewellery to sell.

"Okay. I just need one favor from you, then we can go."

"Anything."

"Come with me to the castle. I would need help to steal the Ocarina."

"What? You need me to break in? Why couldn't you go alone?" Rheda was a good thief, but stealing from the King. It was extremely dangerous. "I'll get arrested!"

"Not with my help. I know every nook and cranny in the castle. Here is your chance to be a master thief. Just don't take anything, Father, he notices everything. Don't worry, I'll pay you handsomely. Promise."

Link blinked. Even he had trouble sneaking in. Zelda, she couldn't leave without escorts. He just hoped Rheda and Lara would be okay. He was getting tired. His ankle was throbbing, and he knew he needed rest before he headed back up. He closed the book and went to sleep.