RPG The Legend of Zelda: World of Ruin

[Desbreko]

[color=seagreen]It was dark in that small room at the top of the tower. A single candle was burning in a bracket on the wall, casting only enough light necessary to see by. The window was closed against the sunlight outside, and the door leading to the staircase outside the room was locked.

Agahnim stood in the center of the room, and waited as a shadow was cast across the room. The candle dimmed, and went out, and then a voice spoke.

[b]Voice: Have you found it yet?[/b]

The voice was deep, gruff, with a trace of a growl in it, and was enough to send a shiver down the spine of the bravest of the brave. That voice was the voice of Ganon, the King of Evil.

[b]Agahnim: Not yet, master. It cannot stay hidden for long, though.

Ganon: Find it! Leave no stone unturned.

Agahim: As you wish.

Ganon: Are you aware of the latest so called "hero" that has set out against us? It seems he managed to survive the trap set for him.

Agahnim: I seem to remember another young "hero" coming against me. Let him come; I shall crush him like I did the ones before him. He may be able to defeat Stalfos, but he is not even as powerful as Link was.

Ganon: Very well. I will leave the matter in your hands.[/b]

The shadow left, and the candle lit once again, giving off its faint light. Agahnim paced back and fourth in the small room, smiling evilly. Yes, let him come; he would enjoy watching him die.

[b]Agahnim: The fool! He has no idea what he's gotten himself into.[/b][/color]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[color=indigo]Not too far away, Drake and Lalia stood by the edge of the river, just east of the Graveyard. It was late afternoon, now, and it would be dusk in a few hours. They stood, watching the river flow, talking and eating a little.

[b]Drake: I'm sure she would be proud of you. You've done so well.

Lalia: Thank you. I hope she is... What about you? Are you missing home, too?

Drake: I...don't have much of a home. When Ganon invaded Hyrule, Kakariko Village was attacked, and both my parents were killed. I was in the Lost Woods, gathering some mushrooms when the village was attacked, so I avoided harm. When I came back, though, I found the village devastated, and my parents dead in our house. I've just been living by myself ever since.

Lalia: I'm...sorry.[/b]

Drake looked down at the bank of the river, remembering that awful day. The terrible images of his dead parents were forever burned in his mind. A single tear fell down to blend with the swirling waters of the river.

[b]Drake: I haven't talked about it for years. I just went on, determined not to let what happened to me happen to other people. That's why I became a warrior and protected the village. Now I'm going to make Ganon pay for what he did on that day.[/b]

Drake looked back up, the sadness in his eyes replaced by rage.

[b]Drake: Our next destination is Agahnim's Castle. With my Magic Cape, I should be able to sneak in and find the Master Sword. Then I shall strike Agahnim down with it![/b][/color]

[James]

[color=#507AAC]Immediately after breakfast, Hikaru ran from the kitchen and into his bedroom at the end of the hall. He closed the door carefully and changed into his favourite blue tunic.

[i]"Now, what to take with me..."[/i], he thought to himself.

Hikaru walked over to his wooden dresser. The carved wooden doors opened slowly to reveal shelving with various items scattered on them. To the right of the shelves was a larger space with a small leather satchel. Hikaru took the satchel and lay it open on his bed. He then began sifting through the various items on the shelves. He lay each item on the bed, one by one.

[list]
[*]A bottle of blue potion...check (this might come in handy!).
[*]A bug catching net...check (you never know when you'll need it).
[*]Grappling Hook...check (very useful).
[*]A big leaf, all rolled up...check (great for gliding).
[/list]

Hikaru looked over the items on his bed. He nodded and carefully packed them into the little satchel one by one. He made sure that the little piece of rope which was wrapped around the leaf was secure. He didn't want the leaf opening up inside the satchel and breaking.

Finally, Hikaru scrambled under his bed and produced a small broad-bladed sword and a precious wooden boomerang. Both of these items were important to him; they were both gifts from friends. He decided he'd need them on his journey. Obviously he didn't know where he'd end up, but his mother had warned him about the world outside the village being dangerous. Especially now that Agahnim had taken over.

Hikaru decided against opening his bedroom door. Instead, he carefully pushed his window open and climbed out onto the small yard behind the house. He didn't want his mother to worry.

The small elven boy walked away from his house, toward the west of the village. The air was cool this morning and the grass around him had a fresh scent. Everything had come alive from the spring rain of the day before.

Hikaru made his way onto the village's main dirt road and continued walking west, past the little houses. Finally, he saw it; the beetle. Not just one, but three. The three little beetles were fluttering their way across someone's yard, which appeared to be full of small green shrubs. Hikaru approached the yard and watched the beetles. They fluttered in perfect formation and for a moment, they didn't seem to be moving in one direction in particular. They zig-zagged over the yard absently. But finally, they came to a stop...and in the blink of an eye, the little beetles dove downwards and disappeared underneath one of the shrubs.

Hikaru scratched his head. He had no idea what was going on. But moments later he heard the sound of cackling laughter to his left -- and old man was sitting on the porch of the adjoining house. He was sitting in an old rocking chair and waving a wooden cane at the yard.

"Bahah! Silly beetles...always going for that same shrub!", he cackled. After several moments of being totally wrapped up in his own little world, the old man turned his attention to Hikaru. "Hey there, youngin'! Did you see those beetles? Marvellous, aren't they?".

Hikaru nodded and opened the small white gate near the yard. He entered the yard and looked at the shrub where the beetles had hidden.

"Why do they do that?", he inquired to the old man.

"Hmm...well er, why don't you pick up the shrub and take a look for yerself?", the old man replied.

Pick up the shrub? Hikaru wondered what this old man was going on about. But he gave way to doubt and clutched the shrub in his little hands. "Ugh!", he snorted as he pulled at the plant with all his might. [/color]

[color=red][b][i]POP![/I][/B][/color][color=#507AAC]

Hikaru tumbled backwards with the shrub in hand. As he sat up, he brushed the dirt off his face. He noticed the old man grinning from the porch.

"So there ya go, youngin'. Take a looksee!"

Hikaru stood up and walked over to the hole in the ground. Nothing could prepare him for what he saw -- a pair of ears were sticking out of the ground! They looked just like wolf's ears, but he couldn't be sure.

"B-but...where are the beetles?", asked Hikaru. He looked up at the old man who was no longer grinning.

"Well, those beetles aren't ordinary beetles. You see, I use 'em for trainin' youngsters like yerself. Kinda hard to explain, see. But basically, they burrow underground and enchant the roots of special shrubs. Don't know how they find special shrubs exactly...", the old man paused for a moment and adjusted his position in the chair.

"Ahh yes, much better. Now, where was I? Oh yeah! Them beetles...they're good for trainin'. Pull up them ears there and I'll show yeh what I mean!"

The old man looked earnest. Hikaru shrugged and grabbed the ears firmly. Once again, he tugged on them hard. But this time, he didn't pull up a shrub. He pulled up a wolfos!

The white wolf shook the dirt from its fur and growled. It glared at Hikaru and began approaching slowly. Hikaru backed away and looked up at the old man. "What do I do?!", he yelled over the wolfos' growling. "Heheh, just target that wolfos! Target him!", yelled the old man.[/i]

[i]"Target him? What is he talking about?!"[/i], thought Hikaru.

Hikaru unsheathed his sword and faced the creature. Immediately, he saw a coloured diamond appear over the creature's head. Hikaru suddenly felt more focused, as though he was ignoring the outside world. Though he could hear the old man cackling in the background. He was saying something like "Yeah! That's it! Slash it!".

The wolfos lunged at Hikaru suddenly. He dodged to the right quickly, which prompted the wolfos to land face-first in the dirt. Hikaru sidestepped behind the creature and jumped forward with this sword, jamming it into the creature's back. And suddenly, the creature's body disappeared; it erupted into brilliant plumes of purple and black smoke.

Hikaru took a deep breath and sheathed his sword. He turned to the old man who was clapping gleefully. "What was that all about?", asked Hikaru. "Ahh, my boy...that was your very first fight! Didn't it feel good? If you ever need more trainin', come back 'ere and I'll help yeh", the old man stood up slowly and hobbled along for a moment. then he stopped and turned back to Hikaru. "Oh, by the way...I got a present for yeh for beatin' that wolfos", he walked through the nearest doorway into his little house and came out moments later with a wooden shield. The old man smiled and tossed the shield to Hikaru, who caught it in both hands.

"Wow, thank you sir!", exclaimed Hikaru. He strapped the shield to his back. The old man simply nodded and waved as Hikaru exited the yard.[/i]

[i]"Now what?"[/i], Hikaru thought, as he looked out over his home village.[/color]

[Charles]

[center][color=blue][I]I only wanted a bite to eat--just a nibble. What's the harm in that? After all, I am a wolf and my belly was growling louder than I was! I was running on empty. Deku sticks just weren't cutting it anymore. I had an insatiable urge to eat something more filling. It's a "dog eat dog" world out here, ya' know?[/I][/color][/center]

Sam stumbled backwards, the slick ground stubbornly rejected her feet. Her large, emerald eyes reflected the wolfish prize fighter lurching towards her with purpose. She could smell its pungent breath, feel the thick heat bearing down upon her like a heavy mask. It was a moment like no other. Sam felt as if she was trapped behind the glass walls of a childhood dream.

Two glowing pearls had her number. Musky gray trees grinned down upon her. Her worst fear,materialized, was treading her way. But she wouldn't wake up, wouldn't find comfort in a safe world, far removed from danger and haphazard circumstance. She missed her village in the worst way--even the large boulders that rolled about for no reason. At least they didn't have teeth--gleaming daggers.

[center][i][color=blue]That's when I met Sam. It wasn't exactly under the friendliest of circumstances to be sure. I'll admit it--I was a [I]little[/I] grumpy. Only the night before, a torrent of rain swept over my home, reducing it to nothing more than a hole in the side of a mountain. Well, it was a hole in the side of the mountain to begin with, I'll grant you that, but the wife had just redecorated, licked the walls clean of moss and centipedes. She was sick of asking me to kill them for her, said I could be such a baby sometimes.[/i][/color][/center]

[size=1][color=red][I][b]Sam,[/size][/color][/I][/b]" June shrieked like a caged bird.

The small fairy darted back and forth frantically, helpless and horrified. She tried pulling at the wild dog's ears, but it shook itself free with ease. Frustrated, but unnerved, she kicked at its eyes only to be snapped at by its slobbering jaws. June rested her hands on her hips momentarily and blew a strand of stray hair out of her eyes.

Sam still wasn't moving; she was a statue grafted in frozen terror. June knew that a storm of memories and reoccuring nightmares whirled within the girls' head. Death loomed ever-so closely. A marriage of tangled gray fur and violent hunger stalked with unwavering persistance. But, the girl's gaurdian would not be deferred.

Letting out a small battle cry, June flashed through the air like a streak of lightning and seized the wretched hound's tail.

[center][color=blue][i]I couldn't believe how well things were going! I was a little worried at first. Who wouldn't be? The sword on her back was huge and sharp! And, well, :cough: you know that things weren't exactly going sunny for me as of late. But, kids like dogs. I could tell by the look on her face, that deep down inside, she wanted to pet me. Well, maybe not.

Anyway, that's when some pesky bug started buzzing about. It was a mean little sucker. Who would have thought that something so small would make a difference?[/center][/color][/i]

[Queen Asuka]

[color=royalblue][size=1]Lalia and Drake stood by the river for another few minutes. Lalia didn't say anything as Drake seemed pretty angry about the things that had happened to him. She never knew about his past. But come to think of it...Did she ever really know him? She sighed a bit and looked up at the clear blue sky, the same pale blue as her eyes. She wanted to be there for Drake. She knew it was her destiny to be accompanying him on this quest. And when she saw how angry he was, she knew it wasn't safe for him to head straight to Agahnim's castle right away. He wasn't thinking clearly.

Or maybe he was thinking more clearly than he ever had before? She wasn't sure. She put her soft hand on his shoulder gently. He was a little startled by her touch, but he looked over at her, seeing the concern in her blue eyes.

[b]Drake:[/b] What is it, Lalia?

[b]Lalia:[/b] Are you sure that you want to head to Agahnim's castle now? How much experience do you really have? Are you ready to face him? Link had traveled much longer than the length of a few short hours. His quest took months. And he still failed. Don't you think you need to be a bit more precautious and not so extreme?

[b]Drake:[/b] What do you mean?

[b]Lalia:[/b] I mean...I don't....It's just that....

She sat there for a moment, trying to get the words out. He just looked at her, the anger gone. What was he feeling now? Pity? Concern? What was that look on her face for?

[b]Drake:[/b] Tell me. What is it? What are you trying to say?

[b]Lalia:[/b] I'm just scared that...if you...run into things so quickly, it will almost certainly lead to disater. I just....

She sighed deeply and turned away from him, staring at the ground. He stood there, watching her. She finally spoke up again, her voice a bit shakey.

[b]Lalia:[/b] I know this is a serious quest that we're on...and even though it's been barely a day and I've been with you...I just....

He looked at her, putting his hand on her shoulder. He could tell she was crying, but he couldn't understand why.

[b]Lalia:[/b] I just don't want to lose you!

She turned to him quickly, taking him by surprise, and wrapped her arms around him, sobbing onto his tunic.[/color][/size]

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]Drake opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. He shut it again, and then just held Lalia in his arms, softly stroking her long, silky hair. Finally, some words came.

[b]Drake: I...don't want to lose you, either.[/b]

Then silence reigned once more, except for the soft rushing of the river mixed with Lalia's quiet sobs. Drake didn't know what to do. He knew he shouldn't have gotten that angry, though--he had been bordering on pure, mindless rage.

Then something that Sahasrahla had told him came to mind. "You can never win with hatred alone. Even if you were victorious, darkness would consume you." [i]All too true,[/i] Drake thought, and then noticed Lalia wasn't crying anymore. He slowly stopped stroking her hair, and used his free hand to gently lift her chin up so that he was looking down into her eyes. He said, in a faint whisper:

[b]Drake: I'm sorry...[/b]

Then he leaned down and gently kissed her. It wasn't an especially passionate kiss, but a soft, slow kiss. When it was over, Drake just kept starring down in her stunning blue eyes, lost in the wonder of her beauty.

[b]Drake: You're right--I'm not ready to face Agahnim yet. Link had already been through three dungeons to recover the Pendants of Virtue and the Master Sword before he faught Agahnim.

Lalia: Thank you...[/b]

She hugged him again, but this time it was a loving embrace instead of a tensed squeeze.

[b]Drake:[/b] I don't know what I would do without you.[/color]

[PiroMunkie]

[size=1][I]Voleur stopped her approaching swim to the man that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere? and rather clumsily at that. It made her laugh on the inside. Especially, since he had not even prepared to go in the water. Now all of his clothes were soaking. She just remained silent treading water, looking silently at the man. What boggled her mind is that this man strikingly resembled a Gerudo? It was not possible, though. That vile, pitiful excuse for a Gerudo, Ganondorf, is the only male of their kind. The rumor that there had been another, but she did not find it at all likely, so she just tossed it to the back of her mind. It was quite apparent that this man had become uneasy in her silence as she had not answered his question yet. She looked up to the cliff where the Octorok remained in sight, and then looked back down to the man?[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Yes, that is mine.

[I]She said this quite casually with a slight undertone of possessiveness. The man calmed himself as he had been quite tense as to what her first response to him might be. He swam backwards toward the cliff from which he had slipped from and grabbed onto it, pulling himself out of the water. It seemed like half of the lake had collected in his clothing as it all flooded back to its rightful home as he got out. He was completely drenched from head to toe. His clothes must weigh at least two or three times their normal weight. He began ringing out what he could carefully so as not to fall back into the lake, and spoke once more of the Octorok.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] From what I saw, it looked like a nice kill. I did not see a wound or anything.

[I]Voleur smirked at this. Yes, it [u]was[/u] a nice kill, but he must have been blind not to see the hole in its head. Voleur just remained treading in the water as she watched this man, who she could not let go of the fact of how much he looked like a Gerudo (he even had a scimitar similar to hers), as he continued twisting the water out of his clothes. A quick flicker of light caught her eye and drew her focus to the man?s wrist. He kept moving it so it she had to constantly adjust her position a little bit to see what it was, but then she saw it. A bracelet, but not just any bracelet. She distinctly recognized from descriptions her clan of Gerudos had always described. It was a Power Bracelet. It was rumored that whoever wore one could lift even the heaviest of objects. Of course, it was just a rumor, and it could be a bit exaggerated. It still remained a treasure, though. She took her eyes off it and put them back on the man as he finished doing what he could to dry himself. She did not want to come off as suspicious.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] So? what are you doing here at Lake Hylia?

[I]It was rather obvious this man was new to conversation, but Voleur went along with it. Even though it was rather obvious what she was doing. It is possible that he might think she is looking for something, but she decided to save time and give him a straight answer.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] I am going for a swim, and using this pure water to clean any wounds I may have acquired. Just one in specific.

[I]Voleur raised her right arm from the water displaying the lengthy gash along her forearm. By this time it was healed over enough to where skin was filling in the gap. It looked like it was a nasty scar. The man looked at it rather intrigued as she put her arm back under the water. The woman was obviously a fighter. A pain in his shoulder became eminent to him as he thought about this. He reached a hand up to it as if it was going to ease the pain. Voleur took notice of this, and was also rather intrigued. It looked pretty bad.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] How did you manage that?

[I]She asked this in reference to his shoulder wound. He took his hand down and looked at his shoulder.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] I recently woke up a Hinox? probably not the smartest move on my part. My only way out of the room I was in was to kill it. So I did, and I cannot say I went unscathed as you have noticed. Now, if you do not mind, how did you suffer that gash on your arm?

[I]Voleur was rather impressed by hearing of his defeat of a Hinox. She had heard of those things before. To hear that one had been beaten was a rarity, to be in the presence of one who had beaten one was a first. Without further thought, she told her story?[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] I have been living in the Dark World for the past few years, most of which I was lost in a wooded area. I had to put up with plenty of monsters there. Not too long ago, I had to destroy my shelter in order to escape a hoard of Deelers and eventually found my way out of the woods. Anyway, after a rather strange encounter, I made my way towards a pyramid in the middle of the land where I was sure a portal to the Light World. On my way there I had my encounters with a few smaller monsters. Then, on my ascent up the pyramid I was confronted by a pair of Lizalfos. Luckily, I was able to push them both off the edge of the pyramid with a Longshot that I have. One of them managed to hang onto the anchor and was pulled back up. It was rather enraged as I had previously shot its leg with an arrow. It managed to give me a small cut on my left thigh right off, then it was a race to the top of the pyramid. To my luck, there [I]was[/I] a portal their. That distracted me, though, and the Lizalfos was able to sneak up behind me. At the last moment I turned around with a scimitar in hand, but the surprise made me fall back. The monster grabbed me, and I grabbed it. We both fell through the portal, and somewhere in there I managed to remove its body armor and drive my scimitar through its chest. It was able to pull off this cut on my arm.

[I]The man was rather interested in the story as he continued focusing blankly even after Voleur had stopped talking. After a moment or two, he became aware of what was going on and shook off his trance. It had been some time that he had been clinging to the cliff, and his muscles were beginning to tire. He shifted his position and began to turn.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] Well, my muscles are beginning to fatigue from hanging on here. So I am going to be on my way.

[I]The man began his climb up the cliff as Voleur began to swim that way as she spoke in a slightly joking manner.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] I am right behind you. My skin is beginning to prune!

[I]They both made there way up the cliff, both being careful of their prominent wounds on their arm so that they did not bust open once more. A short amount of time passed before both made their way over the top of the cliff. Voleur made her way to her pile of gear and clothes and began putting them back on, the man began to notice similarities between the way Voleur was dressed and the way women he used to know dressed.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] So what do you plan on doing with this Octorok?

[I]Voleur looked up at the man as she finished securing her pant legs and sleeves to their rightful places. She stared at him with a slightly fiendish look to her and made a quick glance down to the smelly creature that she had killed some time ago. By this time, the sun had pretty much dried its body. If she did not fully kill it at first, it was surely dead now.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] I am going to see if it has any nutritional value.

[I]The man felt as if he had jolted back in surprise, but really, he had not moved. He found it uncanny that such a woman would resort to eating her kills. She was perhaps the only person he had ever knew that did this apart from himself.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] You are going to eat it?!

[I]Voleur chuckled rather loudly as she slung her quiver over her shoulder, and continued attaching the rest of her equipment.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Ha ha, yes. Do you have a problem with that?

[I]The man struggled a bit for words scratching his head.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] No? not at all.. In fact, I have also resorted to using the monsters I kill to keep myself satiated and well.

[b]Voleur:[/b] Oh yeah? ? Well, it seems we have something in common. I am quite used to it myself. It is all I could do to live in the Dark World. What have you done?

[i]The man found this woman?s character so strange, so comfortable with talking about that oddest of things. Not that it bothered him, he had just not met anyone quite like her. Not being one to disappoint, he quickly returned an answer, now settled down from the shock.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] Well, my most recent would have to be Leever ?Juice?. It is quite bitter; not the best thing to taste, but it does the body good.

[I]Voleur was now finished getting her things together and just stood talking to the man.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Leever Juice, eh? I cannot say I have tried that before? but hey! if it does the body good, I am all for it! No matter how bad it tastes.

[b]---:[/b] What about you? What have you tried?

[I]Voleur grunted in trying to recall her memory as she adjusted her stance?[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] I would have to say? hrmm? probably.. Ghoma. They are quite tasty. They taste like Cucco. I had them quite often when I was in the Dark World, and they [I]thrived[/I] in Skull Woods, which was where I was lost a majority of my stay.

[I]The man nodded at the woman?s impressive story. He had heard of Ghoma before, and ,from what he had heard of them, knew they were quite a feat. It is a possible exaggeration, but if she had been lost in those woods for such a long time, she also could have gotten used to them. He brushed all of this aside and inquired once more referring to the Octorok?[/I]

[b]---:[/b] Well, how do you plan on cooking that Octorok? I have had some experience with them before? not [I]eating[/I] them necessarily, but I have encountered a few in my lifetime. I do not think that they would be of much use to your health raw.

[I]Voleur was actually caught off guard by this; the man was right. She did not have any way to cook the creature. She thought a bit, looking around seeing if there were any resources she could use to possibly start some sort of fire or other intense heat, but to no avail.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Hrmm? You are right. I suppose that does pose a problem?

[I]Both stood in thought for a while, Voleur more than the other guy. He thought of possibilities while at the same time trying to think of the next thing to say? if anything. Both were drawing no conclusions to any problems that they might have had. Then, an inevitable and rather obvious thought shot into the man?s mind, one that he was surprised he never thought of earlier.[/I]

[b]---:[/b] I apologize, but I do not think we ever exchanged names, and yet we have been talking all of this time. I am Dareigen.

[I]Voleur gasped slightly and held her breath for a solitary moment frozen in place. The name ?Dareigen? rang so familiarly in her ears, and she knew what it was that she had heard the name from. It was on the tip of her tongue, but holding on for all it was worth. It was standing in the back of her mind, ready to open up the door to her conscious knowledge. It was there right in front of her, but just out of reach. After this quick moment, she released her breath?[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] My name is? Voleur?

[I]She stood awkwardly with an equally awkward expression to her face. Dareigen, as he called himself, simply stood giving as much of a smile as a straight face can show.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] I cannot help but notice that you look remarkable like? a Gerudo-

[I]Voleur jolted into a response.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] I am! I [I]am[/I] a Gerudo, and I must say that you strongly resemble one. Though, that is impossible, for there has only ever been [I]one[/I] male Gerudo in all of history, and you are definitely not hi-

[b]Dareigen:[/b] I am.

[b]Voleur:[/b] WHAT!?!

[I]Voleur leaped backwards into a fighting stance with both scimitars drawn and ready to kill. She had thought the guy meant that he was the one male Gerudo she knew as Ganondorf. Even though she knew that her Revenge had told her not to face him alone, she also knew that it was a bit of a tough situation to get out of. It was possible that she could leap off the cliff and escape into Lake Hylia, but it was possible that would only trap her deeper than she already was. So she stood with a stern look about her face and solid as a rock, awaiting this? Dareigen?s? move.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] ? I [I]am[/I] a Gerudo, just as you are, but I am not the one who you think I am. I am [I]not[/I] Ganondorf. My name is truly Dareigen.

[I]Voleur stood solid for a moment as she took in the words of her possible foe, but then slightly understood what it is that he meant and lowered her guard, but keeping her scimitars in hand. Surely, if this man really [b]was[/b] Ganondorf, he would have killed her by now, or at least made some kind of move.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] ? but? Ganondorf is the only male Gerudo. You could you possibly b--

[I]Then it made sense! Of course! The name ?Dareigen? was the one she had heard in the rumor and myths of another male Gerudo! So it was true! There was in fact another, and to be right there in front her. Voleur was so shocked her scimitars dropped from hands to the grass below her, and she dropped to her knees just staring at him with her jaw dropped and eyes wide open. She tried to speak, but only certain vowel or consonant sounds erupted from her lips. Finally, she managed a few words?[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] I am? [I]honored[/I] to be in your presence?

[I]While Voleur knelt, Dareigen let out a soft laugh. Never had anyone shown him such reverence, merely for being a male Gerudo? at least, not that he knew of.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Stand up. I am nothing special to which you should grovel.

[I]A slightly flattered smile made a short way across Dareigen?s face, and Voleur rose to her feet bringing her scimitars with her placing them back at her sides. Voleur averted her eyes in thought; recalling what her Revenge had said to her?[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Two Gerudos? what are the odds?

[I]Voleur was too zoned out to acknowledge Dareigen?s words, though she had heard them. Dareigen stretched himself out looking up to the sky. Voleur shook her head with closed eyes and looked toward Dareigen, answering his rhetorical question.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Slim? very, [I]very[/I] slim?

[I]Dareigen place his hands at his sides with a questioning look to him, not understand the words Voleur had uttered.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] What?

[I]Voleur approached Dareigen until there was almost no space between them and looked up to him with eyes of worry and sadness, but no tears.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Through an acquaintance of which it is irrelevant for me to detail, I learned that the evil we know as Ganondorf intentionally released monsters from the Dark World here into the Light World approximately four or five years ago. He released them into the Desert of Mystery. [I]Our[/I] home. He had the one intent to wipe out all of the Gerudos, but I had escaped my clan, and so he was forced to change his agenda. Instead, he opened a portal as I was walking through the sandstorms that are so frequent in our lands, and I unknowingly walked into it. I blacked out from there. I was told that he [I]destroyed[/I] all Gerudos except two! You and I! He kept one in the Light World, you; and one in the Dark World, me. So that our lives would forever be lonesome. He [I]knew[/I] that a Gerudo is no good without a clan. So he got rid of all of them? Except us! We were the only survivors?

[I]Dareigen stood, partially confused by this flood of information about his race. It was unfamiliar to him, and also did not make sense to him at the time. For when he left his clan, others existed?[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] This cannot be. Back home, in my clan, others do exist. Why did he not destroy [I]them[/I]?!

[I]Voleur lowered her eyebrows in a sudden bewilderment. Her Revenge told her that all Gerudo?s except for two had all been killed! She would not lie to herself. It did not make sense. Though? as she thought, a possibility did arise?[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Maybe? Maybe he destroyed all of those of which he [I]knew[/I] were a threat to him! There probably were many innocent lives taken who he did not see as a threat, and then there were those destroyed by the beasts he unleashed. I do not know, but it does make sense to me?

[b]Dareigen:[/b] I suppose that could be?

[I]Both stood silent. Voleur backed away from Dareigen secluding herself a bit. After a few moments the uneasiness faded. Dareigen examined Voleur? then noticed something peculiar. Something she had in her left hand? He narrowed his eyes to try and better his view. His eyes could not believe what he saw! She had the Power Bracelet! Dareigen laughed on the inside. A true Gerudo thief. She had taken it off him, and he did not even notice! He decided not to say anything, for two can play at the game she was playing. He looked into the sky once more as it now was beginning to taint with pinks and oranges?[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Well, the sun is setting.

[I]Voleur broke out of her silence and looked around with her eyes only slightly moving her head as she did.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Yes? yes it is.

[I]There was a bit of a semi-awkward silence moved over them once more?[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Listen. Ganondorf may know that a Gerudo is not much good without a clan, but he [I]does not[/I] know that we have found each other. The two he saw as so much of a threat that he had us exiled so we could never meet. So let us stick together, shall we?

[I]Voleur smiled impishly. Yes? it did make sense to stick together. It would also make her not alone if she ever did come to face Ganondorf. She chuckled.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Yes, let us do that. Whoever said that what a man does not know cannot hurt him?

[I]Voleur?s smirk spread even wider across her face as the mood lightened.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] What of the Octorok?

[i]Voleur laughed slightly and looked towards the creature which she had slain earlier that day. Surprisingly enough, it had not begun to decay, or anything of that sort. Its skin must be rather tough. Especially when dried like it was.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Well, I do not mind sharing. If we are sticking together, both of us have to keep fit. I suppose cooking it could still be a problem. Though, hey, we are Gerudo [I]thieves[/I], and that castle up the road is bound to have torches hanging off it. By the time we get there, the sun will have must likely set enough to where they will be lit, and we can simply take one, and use it to make a fire, and light that lantern there at your side.

[I]Dareigen chuckled. A splendid idea. Voleur?s remarkable resourcefulness and keen observations thoroughly impressed him. Voleur picked up the deceased Octorok and found that it was not nearly as dry as it looked noticing it fall limp to her side. Its skin was rather smooth, but not without its dryness. Though it was not as stiff as a board like she thought it would be, it still had been out in the sun for quite some time. Dareigen and Voleur made sure they had everything they had to begin with and began their walk up the path back to the castle from where Voleur came. Playfully, or so it seemed, Dareigen bumped into Voleur?s left side as she giggled in the most enjoyment she has had in ages. Just then, Dareigen held up his hands in front of them, showing him securing the Power Bracelet back to his wrist. He looked at Voleur with one of those smiles that just says, ?Got ya!? as she looked up at him blushing ever so slightly with an ?innocent? little smile at being caught red-handed. With that, they continued their walk under the setting sun.[/I][/size]

[Break]

[color=crimson]Dareigen and Voleur continued to walk together from Lake Hylia. They were headed for a road with some torches dotting the sides and they hoped to take one so that they could make a fire to cook the freshly killed Octorok.

Dareigen liked his new company, for it had been long since he engaged in a conversation with anyone since he was in the village. He sighed, wondering if Voleur had thought him to be quiet, but he was just nervous, talking to a Gerudo that he would have never thought possible to find on a journey such as this.

He kicked a small stone in his path, sending it rolling along the dirt road. He look to the west where the sun was slowly disappearing beneath the horizon, giving off gleams of orange and pink as it did. The sky above him, however, was getting darker by the minute.

Desperately wanting to converse with Voleur, he tried to think up a conversation in his head as they walked along the dirt road. Finally, he thought of one subject that they both may be able to talk about...

"So.. I.. have never encountered a Lizalfos, are they hard to beat?" He asked, painfully. This was followed promptly by a short chuckle from Voleur.

"What?" Asked Dareigen.

"Oh, I just find it strange that we talk about killing and eating different monsters. No one else would want to." She replied, with another short laugh.

"Yeah.. so how were they?"

"How were what?"

"The Lizalfos."

"Oh. They are good fighters," she indicated to the mark on her arm, "as you can see. Their fighting style is not unlike the guards' at home.. or the guards that were at home.."

"Sounds like a formidable foe."

Voleur nodded and another awkward silence somehow made the air tense up. Dareigen hated these, he wanted to get to to know his new companion better, since they might both be together for a long time from now. Then, a thought popped up into his head.

"[i]Maybe she's nervous too, but just doesn't want to talk.[/i]" He considered and figured it wasn't a good reason not to talk.

After more walking, Dareigen and Voleur noticed a row of bright lights dancing in the darkening day. It was possible that these were the torches. Spontaneously they both stopped and turned to look at each other, as if they were thinking each other's thoughts.

"Hey, Voleur, we better get a move on. Night isn't the safest of times to be out." Suggested Dareigen.

"I was thinking just the same." Voleur said back, with a smile.[/color]

[Queen Asuka]

[color=royalblue][size=1]Lalia smiled and wiped her dampened face a bit. Drake had just over-reacted that's all. She didn't realize what had just happened, but suddenly it hit her, all at once. She gasped slightly, not loud enough for Drake to hear.

[i]Her first kiss![/i]

She had thought about kissing before, of course, and what girl her age didn't? Heck, she had already thought of having a family and being a wife. She felt herself turn a bright red. What would her father do if he found out???

But then, her father wouldn't find out...not anytime soon. She then sighed, remembering exactly where she was and the quest that she had set out on. She was here for Drake now. She knew her father would take care of himself. He'd be worried, but she knew he was okay.

[b]Lalia:[/b] So where are we heading now, Drake?

He sat and thought for a bit.

[b]Drake:[/b] I don't know. I've never really been out this far. Perhaps we should walk a bit farther. I believe there's a bridge across the river. We can cross there and see where to go to from there.

[b]Lalia:[/b] Alright. I'm behind you all the way.

He smiled at her and took her hand once again and they started walking.[/color][/size]

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]Walking south along the river bank, Drake and Lalia watched as the sun started to sink into the western sky, glinting off the flowing water and making it appear almost as a river of gold. In fact, it looked almost like the same river in the Dark World, when it was still the splendid Golden Land, with its rolling green hills and shining rivers.

As Drake was looking at the golden waters gurgling their way down to Lake Hylia, he realized what he had just done. [i]Did I just...? I did, didn't I? I actually kissed her, and everything went fine![/i] Trying to stay calm, he just kept walking, hoping his hand wasn't getting sweaty as he held Lalia's in his. Then a thought occured to him, which he hadn't payed much attention to until now.

[b]Drake: We should probably try and find somewhere to set up camp for the night pretty soon.

Lalia: That's right... I don't think it would be a good idea to be out in the open at night.[/b]

They looked around them, only to find that in was pretty much just flat ground around them for quite a ways, besides the river.

[b]Drake: Hmm...this could be a problem.

Lalia: Wait, I think I see something down the path! I think it's a grove of trees or something.[/b]

It was in fact a small grove of trees, with the path running through the middle of it. The pair stopped as they came to it, and looked the tall, broad leafed trees bunched together in a few clusters on either side of the path.

[b]Drake: Well, this looks to be about as good as we're going to get. It should work, though.[/b]

Stepping into one of the clusters of trees on the western side of the path, they made their way to more or less the center of it and stopped. Indeed, they were no longer out in the open, as they could see nothing but trees all around in the tightly packed grove.

Drake cleared a patch of ground of dead leaves, and looked down. [i]Well, at least we won't have to sleep on a bunch of roots sticking up from the ground,[/i] he thought. They sat down on the ground, a bit of barely alive grass the only thing growing in the area besides the trees.

[b]Drake: So, where should we head for tomorrow?

Lalia: I don't know, I'm not even sure what's around these parts.

Drake: Hey, that reminds me... Sahasrahla gave me a map before I left! Lets take a look at it, maybe we'll be able to get an idea for where to go next.[/b]

Drake pulled a rolled up map from his tunic, and spread it out on the ground. On the left half was a map of the Light World, and on the right was a map of the Dark World. Various names were written next to some of the locations, and Drake noticed that a large building called the East Palace wasn't too far away.

[b]Drake: Hey, maybe we should go to the East Palace. I think that's the first big dungeon that Link explored, so maybe we'll be able to handle it.

Lalia: Maybe. Or we could go to Lake Hylia. It doesn't look like too hard a road to get there.

Drake: Yeah, just over a bit of a hilly area... Hmm, a dungeon, or a lake? It looks like there are a few caves around the edges of the hills over on the south and east sides of the lake, too. I don't know, it seems like either would be a good destination. Where do you want to go?[/b][/color]

[PiroMunkie]

[size=1][I]Dareigen and Voleur continued their trek along the beaten path as they came closer and closer to those lights they saw in the distance. Both began to narrow their eyes to try and see through the lurking darkness. It was still plenty of light out, but the dramatic contrasts the sun?s position had casted made things much harder to identify. As they drew closer, they could make out that those dancing lights were, indeed, torches, and behind the light of the torches, gray brick could be seen.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Well, it is a castle all right.

[I]Voleur nodded in agreement. It was the castle they were looking for: Agahnim's Castle. She looked up top, looking for any silhouettes of soldiers that might be patrolling. From what she could see, there were none. Though, like the last time she was here, there did not seem to be any either. By this time, Dareigen and Voleur were only within several paces of the main bridge of the castle. Voleur put her hand out in front of Dareigen stopping both of them.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Well, obviously, it probably would not be the best idea to just waltz across their bridge.

[I]Dareigen nodded, he was pretty sure the castle are around the bridge was set up so anything crossing it could easily be hit.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] It would probably be the best to go across the river, but it is too far to jump and swimming across may make too much noise. Not too mention the current may pull us off course.

[I]Voleur chuckled lightly.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] ?Us?? ? We only need [I]one[/I] torch, so it is only going to take [I]one[/I] of ?us?.

[I]Dareigen gave Voleur a questioning look. She made sense, but there still was the problem of getting across and back. Unless?[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Do you have a plan?

[I]Voleur smirked and looked up at Dareigen with a slight sense of arrogance.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Of course I have a plan. You obviously do not have any means of which to get across that river, so I am going.

[b]Dareigen:[/b] ? And you [I]can[/I] get across?

[I]Voleur unclipped something from her side and brought it before both of them. It was her Longshot. Dareigen?s eyes widened in revelation as her plan became a bit more clear to him.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] I am sure you know what this is so I shall not go into those details, but I can use this to get me across. Now, it will not grab the brick of the castle, but I can stick it in the ground on the other side, and it will pull me over.

[I]Dareigen was pleased by this. It was a splendid plan? as long as everything went well, of course. Before he could say something in agreement and set this plan in motion another predicament popped into his head as he realized once more that the sky was darkening. The sun was almost set.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] ? Where shall we go after you have gotten the torch? The sun is almost gone, and there are rumors of fallen warriors emerging from the grounds at night. Now, I am all for a good fight, but it has been a long day and I could use some rest.

[I]Voleur tried to say something in retort to this, but found that she had nothing to say. The fact that they had no shelter was quite a problem. Both stood in thought for a moment or two, but then Dareigen remembered something, and jogged a bit back down the path to see around the trees. Yes? in the distance he could see it, barely, but he knew it was there.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Once you have the torch we can sprint across this grass here down into the Swamp Ruins. It maybe a bit dangerous, but I have recently been there so I know what to expect, so it should be a rather smooth run. In the ruins there is an old Watergate. I was in there before I found my way to Lake Hylia. We could stay there for the night? ? You do not have anything wrong with getting a bit dirty do you?

[I]Dareigen figured she would not from what he already knew of her, but there was always courtesy in asking. Voleur laughed with a wide smile as she handed the Octorok to Dareigen.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Not at all. We all get a little dirty sometimes.;)

[I]Dareigen took the Octorok in hand picking up on her sexual connotation as Voleur jogged off towards the river bank. Dareigen chuckled a bit, shaking his head, as a he retreated to some nearby trees to keep himself partially hidden.

Voleur arrived at the side of the river and held out her Longshot. With a slight popping sound, the anchor and chain shot across the gap and pierced deep in to the ground on the other side. It stuck, and immediately pulled Voleur across landing safely and easily on the other side. Wasting no time, she ran on her toes to the castle pressing her back against the wall laying as flat as she could. There was a torch not far above, but it was too high to reach by just standing. Quickly, Voleur sprang into action leaping into the air and grabbing the holder of the torch that protruded from the wall. Voleur pulled herself up and let go with one hand, and used it to remove the torch from its holder. After this, she dropped herself back down with torch in hand and now with her Longshot in the other. She made her way quickly back to the river and shot the anchor back across. She was pulled across, but right as she began to clear the river, the anchor slipped from the ground and Voleur crash into the side of the dirt wall that lay on one side of the river. Holding on, she threw the Longshot forward on to the ground and dug the bottom of the torch in to the ground sending a small shower of sparks down upon her. Dareigen watched from the trees getting a bit nervous. Voleur grabbed the grass with her free hand and dug her feet into the dirt of the wall pushing and pulling herself up. She got herself a majority of the way over the wall and let out a sigh of relief. She had almost dropped into the river, blowing their cover. Laying around the ground, she picked up her Longshot and put it back at her waist. As she stood up, an arrow whizzed past her body and stuck into the ground beside her. She jumped to her feet as this was followed by indistinct shouts from the castle, but she knew that she had been seen. Just as always, though, she was not going down alive. Voleur sprinted away as a small shower of arrows, three or four at a time, began to fall all around her. She had a few close calls, but once she cleared the path she was fairly out of range as their shots became less precise and less accurate.[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Dareigen! Let?s go!

[I]Dareigen emerged from the trees already beginning his run with the Octorok in hand. He came up along side Voleur and the both made their way across the grassy area down towards the Swamp Ruins.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Do you think they will chase us?!

[b]Voleur:[/b] I do not think so, it was just a torch and we are already too far ahead! I am pretty sure they can see where we are heading, though! So we might run into them? or [I]something[/I] of theirs later!

[b]Dareigen:[/b] Right!

[i]Both never lost their speed or direction, making it straight across the plain and to the entrance to the Swamp Ruins in a matter of time. Both stopped and were breathing heavily from their run. While they were at this pause, Voleur went to a grassy area and ripped out a handful of the grass with her free hand. She walked back to Dareigen as she light the tip of the grass on fire with the torch. She knelt down beside him and used the flaming grass to light his Lantern. That way, if they were to both become separated in the coming darkness, they would both have light. Voleur dropped the grass to the ground and put it out with her feet. Both rested for another moment, then turned towards the Swamp Ruins?[/I]

[b]Voleur:[/b] Are you sure this is safe?

[I]Dareigen smiled lightly, and turned his head towards Voleur.[/I]

[b]Dareigen:[/b] No, not really, but as I said, I was here earlier today. I know my way around enough, and I know the hazards. So, as long as we stick together, we should be fine. Besides, if we do get followed, they will probably have a relatively difficult time getting through here.

[I]Voleur nodded, and, at that, they both slowly walked into the Swamp Ruins?[/I][/size]

[Queen Asuka]

[color=royalblue][size=1]Lalia sat looking at the map. A dungeon or a stroll around the lake? She definately didn't like the idea of the dungeon. There was no telling what types of creatures were in that area. She shuddered, thinking about what happened in the cemetary.

[b]Lalia:[/b] I think I want to go to Lake Hylia. Just the thought of that dungeon scares me. Maybe we should go there later.

[b]Drake:[/b] You really think so?

She nodded. He smiled.

[b]Drake:[/b] Well, I do trust your intuition. You've gotten us out of many tight spots already, and it's only been the first day.

She smiled a bit. The sky was a deep blue color as nightfall set in. The wind blew just a bit, a nice summer breeze. It was a little more colder at night though, and Lalia moved over closer to Drake. She leaned her head over on his shoulder, looking down at the map still.

[b]Lalia:[/b] I bet everyone's already noticed that we're gone...especially my father.

[b]Drake:[/b] Yeah, I know. It's such a small village, everyone knows each other and each other's business.

[b]Lalia:[/b] I wonder if anyone thinks we've eloped?

She laughed a little. He did, too.

[b]Drake:[/b] Knowing some people, that's definately a possibility.

[b]Lalia:[/b] Do you think anyone may have come after us?

[b]Drake:[/b] I don't know...maybe they have. But obviously, we didn't see anyone today.

[b]Lalia:[/b] And don't you wonder how Kiln and Amy are?

[b]Drake:[/b] Yes, I do. He was having those episodes...I didn't want him to be alone, either. I'm glad you thought to send Amy after him.

Lalia yawned a bit.

[b]Drake:[/b] Are you tired? I'm sure you are. It's been a long day...

[b]Lalia:[/b] Yes, I am...I didn't sleep a wink last night and I've been walking all day...

As she said that, she layed her head down in his lap and smiled up at him.

[b]Lalia:[/b] I'm going to get a bit of sleep then. Goodnight, Drake...

And at that, she closed her eyes, her soft lashes coming together, and immediately fell into a deep sleep.[/color][/size]

[Desbreko]

[color=indigo]Drake let a small smile spread across his face as he cradled Lalia's head in his lap, running his fingers through her long, soft hair. [i]I didn't get much sleep last night either,[/i] he thought as he yawned and felt his eyelids start to droop. Slowly and quietly, so as not to wake Lalia, Drake took out his folded cloak and spread it over her like a blanket before laying back and closing his eyes. Soon he was fast alseep next to Lalia, lost in his dreams.

His dreams were once again troubled, however, just as the night before. This time he seemed to be walking through dark, stony corridors, when he suddenly felt an immense feeling of terror. He started to run, glancing behind him, a growing darkness seeming to be overtaking him. As it engulfed him, he stopped, and he now seemed to be standing in a small, darkened room. He heard a deep laugh to echo from the walls, and then he was falling, falling, tumbling over and over, tensing for an impact that he knew must eventually come. Then everything faded to a blinding white, and he thought he heard voices, faint whispers, as if off in the distance.

Drake awoke with a gasp and sat up suddenly, grabbing his sword and jumping to his feet, and Lalia woke with a start from Drake's sudden movement. He looked all around him, as if trying to see a hidden predator through the trees.

[b]Lalia: Drake, what's wrong?[/b]

Her voice was shocked and tinged with panic, as she quickly got to her feet. Turning around to face her, he realized where he was and what he was doing. Letting out a long sigh of relief, he sheathed his sword, and sat down, wiping sweat from his forehead.

[b]Drake: Nothing...just a bad dream. Everything is okay. Sorry for startling you.

Lalia: Are you sure you're okay?

Drake: Yeah...yeah, I'm fine now... Did you sleep well?

Lalia: Okay, I guess.[/b]

Lalia's tone of voice was still a bit worried, but Drake seemed to have returned to his normal self, as he stood up again and gathered up his cloak which had been thrown aside when Lalia got up. Folding it up tight and stowing it back in a pocket, he smiled at Lalia in the early morning sun shining down through the treetops.

[b]Drake: Good! We've got lots of exploring to do today![/b]

Lalia finally smiled back, and took his hand, giving him a little kiss on the cheek at the same time.

[b]Lalia: I'm ready when you are, Drake.

Drake: Good. There should be a bridge a little south of here where we can cross the river, and from there we can head farther south to Lake Hylia.[/b]

Gathering up their things, the two stepped out of the trees, and onto the path into the sunshine. As they walked, they ate a little breakfast, enjoying the cool, late spring breeze rippling across the surface of the river. If all went well, they should be able to reach the shores of Lake Hylia by late afternoon.[/color]

[Queen Asuka]

[color=royalblue][size=1]Lalia and Drake walked along, Lalia yawning a bit here and there. She wasn't at all the lazy type, but her sudden abrupt awakening was a little disturbing. She rubbed her eyes a bit and Drake looked over at her.

[b]Drake:[/b] Are you still tired?

[b]Lalia:[/b] Only a little. I'm still worried about the dream you were having...

[b]Drake:[/b] I'm fine, I really am.

He stooped down to pick a small white flower growing in the grass at their feet along the path. He gently pushed her blonde hair to the side and tucked it behind her ear. He smiled.

[b]Drake:[/b] You don't have anything to worry about, I promise.

Lalia sighed a bit. He frowned.

[b]Lalia:[/b] Well, it just worries me, regardless. Like Kiln and his horrible visions. I'm not really sure what happened to him, but maybe both of you were seeing the same thing?

[b]Drake:[/b] I don't THINK that's the case. But don't worry, please?

He stopped walking and put his hand under her chin. She looked at him, her blue eyes showing signs of fear.

[b]Drake:[/b] You're scared, aren't you?

[b]Lalia:[/b] ....Yes. I am. But please don't make anything of it. I can tell you are afraid, too.

He wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace. She sighed a bit and hugged him back. He released her, taking her hand, and they began to walk once again.

[b]Lalia:[/b] So where exactly are we heading anyway? Besides Lake Hylia, I mean...[/color][/size]

[The Vampire: Ed]

[b]OOC: Sorry for not RPing here for a while, but I pretty much exhausted myself with my first RPs and used up most of my ideas right away instead of stretching it out like I should have. Anyway, no excuses. Just an apology. Sorry.[/b]

The sun had risen, and it was morning. Sairo's journey would start this day. Diana awoke early, and quickly gotten out of bed to rush into the main room. There she watches as Sairo sleeps quietly in the chair he sat in the night before, his father's sword rests on his lap. It is a wonder that he didn't cut himself during the night. Diana had only known him shortly in his waken state, but grew to care for him greatly as she watched over him in his long slumber. Tears began to fill her eyes as she bit her lip to keep from crying out loud. Diana let Sairo sleep a little longer, and went to make tea for him so it would be ready by the time he would depart.

Sairo began to stir as the smell of freshly made tea filled his nostrils, he awoke with sleepy eyes and blurry vision. Looking to the fire place a fire is blazing brewing the tea in a large pot, the fire shimmered on Diana's face in the dimly lit morning light. The flames shown Diana's beauty off to Sairo fully, he looked at her in a different way now. Before she was just the one whom looked after him, but now he had began to care for her as much as she cared for him.

Suddenly, Diana turn looking at Sairo smiling and speaks trying to sound happy. "Good morning!" Diana filled a cup with tea, and approached Sairo to hand it to him. Sairo sat up, and accepted the tea replying with a "Good morning." of his own.

As Sairo took a sip of his tea, a sniffle came from Diana as more tears built up. Sairo put the tea down on the table, and stood up taking Diana in his arms hugging her. He once again tried soothing her worries with the words "Everything will be okay. Shhh...don't cry."

Diana looked up at him, and smiled as best she could replying "I believe you, but I still am concerned with your safety. I don't want you to go, but I know this is what you have to do. So, while you were sleeping I took it upon myself to gather a few things for your journey." Sairo smiled and thank Diana as she walked to a small closet in the corner of the room. Throwing it open she pulled out as dusty sack apparently fill with objects.

"I retrieved these from the shack out back where I hid your sword. These belonged to my husband before Ganon murdered him. Your armor was rusted, and would have been useless to you. However, I remembered my husbands armor. You seem to be about the same size as he, and I knew it would fit you well." Diana said as she struggled to remove several pieces of armor all black with red trimming, and visa versa on some pieces.

"Thank you, Diana. This will be quite useful." Sairo replied trying the armor on. Each piece seemed to fit perfectly, and seemed to be made just for him. Diana was indeed right, he was about the same size as he husband was. Fully suited, Sairo draped an old red, and black cape over his shoulders to complete the knightly look. Sairo's long white hair swung freely as he looked about at himself, and moved a bit to get a feel for the armor. "I feel as though this armor was meant for myself. Your husband and I must have had a lot in common." Sairo said.

Diana nodded and replied with a quickly "He did." before turning and removing a few more items from the sack. She pulled out a hammer, a bomb bag obviously filled as well, and a hook shot. "These were also my husbands. He collected these things, I guess just as souvenirs. Well, except for the hammer. He used it to built this cabin, and I figured it would be useful to you if you need to make camp or something. Oh, and one more thing!" Diana said as she walked to the cabinet where she keeps various foods, and removes a bottle filled with a red liquid.

"When you are injured, just use this and you will have your health restored. I hope this stuff will be of help to you in your journey." Diana said with more tears in her eyes. Sairo hugged her again, and spoke. "Thank you....for everything. I would have all ready been dead if it weren't for you, I all ready owe you my life. Please do not worry about me. I will hunt Ganon down, and end his reign of terror. Once my quest is over, I will return to you."

"Do you really mean that?" Diana said crying against Sairo's chest. Sairo held her head and turned her face to look at his he smiled looking into her eyes and spoke. "I do. I promise to return to you."

With that Sairo turned to leave, and Diana watched sobbingly as he opened the door and stepped out leaving her sight. Diana sat down in the chair looking exhausted, and spoke to herself. "Please, Sairo, be safe and return to me."

Thus began Sairo's quest....

[Charles]

Several days passed since the incident. The Lost Woods disappeared behind the weary travelers like a bad dream. When they emerged from the fortress of trees and seas of brush, Samantha's eyes glowed with new courage and vigor. Despite the fact that she could not grow physically due to her Kokirian heritage, her spirits and physical strength had increased significantly.

Her clothes were smeared with foliage, and bits of dry leaves speckled her matted hair. Both she and June were left wondering why Wolves couldn't be vegetarians. For a brief moment, the small fairy began to consider pursuing an office job in Hyrule. There just weren't enough perks in damp, wild dog infested forests.

June cradled her sore arm, which was now wrapped in a small sling. No larger than the menacing wolf's razor sharp teeth, she had taken matters into her own hands; she was a small firecracker. June had huffed and puffed and tugged and pulled with every ounce of strength she could summon up on the wolf's tail, but with little result.

The hungry hound could barely feel her touch. Her tiny hands were lost in a mess of fur, and reappeared smelling dreadfully foul. Her nose was [I]still[/I] scrunched up, as if it were trying to jump off her face in an effort to escape the odor. That's why her face turned greener than Sam's tunic when she realized what she had to do.

June shook off the past as Sam's words penetrated her thoughts.

"[font=Kristen ITC][color=green] I can't believe you bit down on that thing's tail[/font][/color], she giggled.

Fairy June's face reddened and steam shot forth from her ears with a whistle.

[size=1][color=red]"Argh,[/size][/color]," she shouted, the taste of dirty mongrel resurfacing in her mouth, [size=1][color=red]"I wouldn't have had to do that if you hadn't choked!"[/size][/color]

Samantha removed her cap and held it to her nose, mocking her companion with a look of disdain. Her motions were exaggerated, like a childish dance.

[font=Kristen ITC][color=green]"I hope there's a vendor that sells breath mints at the sanctuary we're visiting[/font][/color]," she said, her voice muffled by the hat.

A small sheet of dust began to blow from the ground, plastering the adventurers underneath a new layer of dirt. At least it was warm filth, though.

June couldn't help but to laugh; a breath mint sounded good. Well, a breath mint and some tonics to soothe the persistent pain shooting up and down her arm. She took a mental note: A tree trunk can be awfully hard when an angry wolf flings a tiny person into one. June would think twice before biting another large animal's tail. [I]Especially,[/i] an animal that obviously hadn't bathed in quite a while.

She was still a little surprised at how quickly her partner in crime, Samantha, had reacted. The hesitation and fear that stiffened her muscles melted immediately when she saw her friend in danger. In true heroic fashion, she unsheathed her sword in one, quick motion and brought it down with unbelievable force, force June didn't think Samantha would be able to muster.

Sam's blade landed only a glancing blow, merely slicing a few whiskers from her four-legged enemy's muzzle. Unscathed but infused with fear, the wolf had scampered off into the forest, never to bother the two girls again. That night, Sam learned that no feat facing her could be as powerful as her attitude towards it ... for that would always determine her success or failure.

Now, the fabled sanctuary lie ahead, their next destination. Neither adventurer was sure what they would find when they reached the mysterious place, but they eagerly anticipated the challenges it would present.