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The Legacy of Z
Topic Started: Nov 6 2008, 10:17:55 PM (859 Views)
Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Z and Maria ran as fast as they could towards Hyrule Castle Town which wasn't too far from Kakariko Village. Z tried to keep up with Maria as she blazed through the crowds heading for Lon Lon Ranch....)

Z: Hey! Will you slow down?!

(Maria slowed down a bit and looked back at Z while shaking her head as he caught up to her.)

Maria: Are you ever gonna catch me, Z?

Z: If you slow down I could...

Maria: I'm not gonna wait for you forever, you know...

Z: *Laughs* I'll get you one day, I promise.

Maria: *Under her breath* I hope so...

Z: Did you say something?

Maria: Nothing, Z, nothing. Now I'll jog while you run yourself out of breath, that way we'll be able to keep up with each other. *Laughs*

Z: The teasing never ends.

Maria: *Giggles* Let's just get a move on.

(They hurried along, crossed the drawbridge and finally entered Hyrule Castle Town after about 25 minutes of running. The Castle Town was in it's peak of daily activity with thousands swarming the streets shopping, running errands and simply socializing amongst themselves. Even after the massacre 5 years ago, the Castle Town managed to rebuild itself into a bustling populous once again although a ghastly, parasitic aroma filled the air....)

Z: *Queasy* Ugh... Maria...

(Maria turned to Z, who's face had become pale with sickness once again.)

Maria: Z, you look terrible... What's the...? Oh...It's here.

(Maria remembered that Z had told her of how he experienced the massacre of Hyrule Castle Town...)

Z: *Queasy* ...I've got to ugh... puke...

Maria: Z, can you hold on until we get to the Temple?

(By this time Z was hunched over holding his stomach. Maria tried to grab his hand to lead him to the temple but he didn't budge...)

Z: *Queasy* I can't... ugh...ugh....move. I need to throw up.... Ugh.. just let me throw up...

Maria: Ok, just let it out then.

Z: Ugh.... Ugh.... I can't.

Maria: What?

(Z weakly stood straight up again and looked at Maria.)

Z: ...I can't. ...Just help me get to the temple...

Maria: Ok.

(Maria grabbed Z's hand and walked to the area right outside of the Temple of Time. Still, queasy Z barely moved around as they to figure out where Cicelo's hideout would be.)

Maria: Julius said something about an eye... But that doesn't make any sense. There's nothing here except for these stones. Wait a minute...Z doesn't that look like an eye on the front of those stones?

(Z was hunched over once again.)

Z: ...Huh?...

Maria: Look at these stones, doesn't that look like an eye?

(Z looked at the stones and simply shook his head affirmatively.)

Maria: So, if these are the eyes then.... Where's the hideout?

Z: Ugh..... Oh, I think it's comi... Ooooolf...

(Z vomited continuously all over the ground, it was a combination of green and red fluids mixed with bile....)

Maria: *Looking at vomit* Eww.... I hope you feel better... Eww... now.

(Z stood up, wiped his mouth and then placed his hand over his stomach...)

Z: A little... Sorry about that.

Maria: *Disgusted* It's fine...really.

Z: Ok, so what were you saying about the stones?

Maria: Look at them. Doesn't they look like they have eyes in front?

(Z studied the stones for a minute and then looked at Maria.)

Z: Uh yeah, it looks like they do. So what now?

Maria: Beats me. There's definitely no hideout around here....

(Maria stared at Z now who had begun to push the stones, though he was struggling miserably...)

Maria: Uh....What are you doing?

Z: *Struggling* Err.... Argh... Maybe's there's something under them. Err...

Maria: You look like you need help.

(Maria helped Z push one of the stones and after a few minutes of struggling, they managed to move it though nothing was underneath....)

Maria: *Out of breath* Aw...*Huff* *Huff* all that work *Huff* for nothing...

Z: *Huff* *Huff* There's three other ones *Huff* here... Maybe one of them has something *Huff* underneath.

Maria: ....I don't think I have the strength to do all of them...

Z: *Huff* I can do one more... We've got to make the right choice.

Maria: We don't even know if there's anything there.

Z: But what else could it be?

Maria: ...I don't know.

Z: Alright then. Now let's choose.

Maria: I'll choose. Cause you chose the last one and that didn't turn out well...

Z: Alright, alright. Just pick one.

(Maria studied the three stones left. And after about a minute of deciding, she chose the second one to left.)

Z: Alright. I hope you're right...

Maria: So do I...

(Together they managed to move this stone just as did the last and this time they found....)

Maria: Aw man! Nothing... *Huff* *Huff*

(Discouraged and out of breath, Maria sat on the patch of dirt where the stone had been.)

Maria: Hey! Wait a minute...

Z: Huh?

(Maria patted the dirt underneath her felt that it merely covered a harder metallic surface.)

Maria: Z! There's something underneath here!

Z: What?!

Maria: I don't know, help me scrape off this dirt.

(Z rushed to help Maria scrap the dirt off of whatever it was covering which happened to be a metal circular cover, similar to a manhole.)

Z: I think you picked the right one! Come on, lets go in!

(Z pulled the cover off and started to go down before he looked at Maria who wasn't moving...)

Z: What's the matter?

Maria: Uh... You know, we don't really know what's down there....

Z: True. But we do want to find out, right?

Maria: ...Sorta....

Z: What do you mean, "sorta?"

Maria: I mean, what if there's monsters and stuff down there?

Z: Monsters? You scared?

Maria: Duh...

Z: Finally!

(Z started laughing.)

Maria: What's funny?

Z: Now I can tease you for a change!

Maria: I'd rather be teased then dead, stupid.

Z: ...True. But uh...what are you gonna do if you don't go, just stand out here? I mean, don't you think people would think that the girl standing right in front of two moved stones would be the person who moved it? You'd get in a lot of trouble.

Maria: ...I'm already in trouble.

Z: True... But uh...

Maria: Fine, Z. I'll just come. You're embarrassing yourself...

Z: Whatever works.

(Z climbed down the ladder first with Maria coming after. The area they ended up in was a dim candlelit cave-like place with a visible door a few feet ahead.)

Maria: Aw man... This is what I didn't want to see.

Z: It's gonna be ok, Maria.

(Z led as the two of them entered the door and found themselves in another dark room, this time filled with antique warrior statues and 4 doors at the end.)

Maria: Z, there's 4 doors now!

Z: Yeah, I know. I'll take one way and you'll take the other...

Maria: Nope. We're not splitting up.... And look at those statues, what kind of loser would hideout here?...

Z: The kind that mugs little kids, now come on.

(Curious, Z touched one of the warrior statues before he headed towards the door in the middle...)

Z: This is pretty cool, actually.

(Z then headed towards the door before...)

BOOM! BOOM!

(The statue started moving and began chasing after Z and Maria who terrified sprinted for the door in the middle.)

Z: *In front of the door* Whew... That was a close...

Maria: Just open the stupid door!

(Z turned the knob but instead of leading to an exit, the door started to move.)

Z: Whoa!

(Z and Maria rolled out of the way on opposites of the door while the statue continued it's pursuit of them. Without hesitation, they ran for the next door, which did the same as the last.)

Z: *Scared* Do any of these doors work!?

(They ran for the next door as the statue was now right on their tails and again Z turned the knob but this time...)

Maria: That was close...

(It led to a way out.)

(Z and Maria ended up in another room, this room was brighter than the other two and filled with boxes, there were also no doors in this room aside from the one that led to the previous room.)

Z: My stuff must be in those boxes.

Maria: Z, even if that is your stuff, we can't go back there with that statue thing running wild!

Z: I'll have to fight it then.

Maria: Fight it? That thing's a statue, you can't cut something like that.

Z: Gotta try Maria. Now help me search the boxes.

(The two of them headed through the room toward the boxes but....)

Z and Maria: AHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(They fell through a trap door and into another room. Dazed and confused for a few moments before they finally regained their senses, Z and Maria looked around to see that they were within a jail cell inside of a dark room but they weren't alone....)
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Z and Maria panicked as they saw the shadowy figure moving towards them....)

Maria and Z: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(The figure started to run towards them now and immediately came into full view. It was a man with a machete in his hand and a white mask that had the eye symbol from the stone. As he charged at the two frightened children, he hacked away at the air like a madman. Seeing Maria frozen with fear, Z pushed her out of the way before the attacker could strike her and effectively angering the madman....)

Madman: ARRRGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

(The madman focused his attention on Z, who was looking around the cell for anything of use.)

Z: Ah.... *Looking around* Nothing... *Looks at the madman* Whoa!

(The madman had taken a quick swipe at Z's legs but he successfully jumped over the attack and ran towards Maria who was still petrified with fear. Z began to shake Maria to get snap her out of it.)

Z: *Shaking Maria* Maria, come on! Come on!

Maria: ....

Z: Maria, come on! Oh shoo...!

(The madman grabbed Maria by the arm and tossed her into the wall on the other side of the cell before taking a few more swipes at Z who again managed to dodge the attacks but the attacker was relentlessly and kept hacking away at Z who although barely was successfully avoiding the blows.)

Z: *Huff* *Huff*

(The attacker backed Z into the bars of prison cell and prepared for another attack before....)

Madman: Ooof...

(Z punched the madman in the stomach allowing an opening for him to escape from the psychotic attacker, if for only a moment and check on Maria who was knocked out but showing signs of movement. Z attempted to speed up her recovery by again shaking her but just as before the attacker put an end to this by slashing away at Z who was able to dodge his attacks until....)

Z: *In pain* Ahh..... Crap.... that hurt...

(Z had finally been slashed. It was merely a flesh wound across the chest but it left the boy wincing in pain as Maria began to wake up from her unconscious state....)

Z: *In pain* Man....

(Seeing Z staggering from the pain, the madman decided to go in for the kill, slashing at Z's back as he bent over in pain. Z cried in pain as the man's blows cut deeper and deeper into his young, smooth skin... Maria slowly opened her eyes as she was beginning to regain her senses. Z's screams however sped up her healing process as she quickly stumbled to her feet to stop the attacker from killing her friend...)

Maria: Stop!! No more!!

(Maria hammered the attacker in the back of the knee to stop him from hurting Z further. The attacker's knee buckled and Maria took this time to grab Z and move him out of the madman's range. Though still flinching in pain, Z managed to stand on his own and looked at Maria to flash a painful smile. Maria returned the gesture before the attacker charged at the two of them once again, this time with Maria pushing Z out of the way. Leaving herself open to a deep slash across the leg from the man....)

Maria: Ahh.... Ahh.... Z...

(Maria dropped to the ground and held the wound on her leg as she began to scream in pain. But the masked man had no sympathy for his young victim and prepared for another strike against her...)

Z: No!

(Seeing that the man wasn't gonna let up on Maria, Z slowly ran towards him and grabbed the arm that held the machete....)

Madman: Arrgh!! Stupid kid!

Z: *Struggling* ...That...voice....?

(Z and the madman continued to struggle with possession over the machete but it was clear that the bigger, stronger had a distinct advantage over his courageous yet weaker opponent.)

Madman: Get off of my arm you little...

Z: *Struggling* ...It...is...you...Cicelo.

(Seeing that Z was struggling, Maria slowly slid over towards the machete-wielding freak and weakly kicked him in the leg. The kick did nothing but anger the man who stomped at Maria, who continued to relentlessly kick at him.)

Madman: Argh!! Stupid girl!

(Extremely annoyed, the madman focused his attention on Maria causing his grip to loosen on his machete and allowing Z to grab it.)

Madman: *Stunned* No?! You....

(Maria stopped kicking him as it was Z's turn to toy with the attacker.)

Madman: *Frightened* ...Put....my blade down!

(The madman backed away from Z who slowly followed him, taunting him with the machete just as he had done to him. Now cornered between the wall and Z, the attacker begged for mercy...)

Madman: Please, Z, don't kill him!

Z: Take off the mask, Cicelo....

Madman: ......Ok, ok.

(The man took off the white mask revealing himself to be just as Z had believed, Cicelo, the thief. Cicelo continued to beg for mercy as Z held the intimidating machete within his hands...)

Cicelo: *Scared* You wouldn't want to hurt me....would you Z?

Z: What is this?

Cicelo: Huh? This? It's...my spot...

Z: It's a lot more than that. Tell the truth...

Cicelo: ....I don't know. Just some place.... Are you gonna kill me?

Z: Where's my stuff?

Cicelo: Huh? ...Y-y-you mean that flute and...uh... sw-sword?

Z: And my wallet.

Cicelo: Of course! Uh.... It's d-d-down the hall.... That's the real storage area.

Z: Do you have the key to get out of this cell?

Cicelo: Yes. You want it?

Z: Yes.

(Cicelo pulled the key out of his pocket and nervously handed it to Z...)

Cicelo: ...S-s-so are you gonna let me...go?

Z: How do I get out of here?...

Cicelo: ...I-in the next room... There's an exit.... Please don't kill me...

Z: You hurt me and my friend....

Cicelo: No! I.....

Z: Is there a way out of this cell without a key?

Cicelo: ....No...

Z: Good.

(Z took a deep breath and stabbed Cicelo directly through both of his feet.....)

Cicelo: Ahh.... Why....? Ahh......

(Z walked away from Cicelo who's feet had been rendered useless now. He noticed Maria trying to get up on her own with the wound to her leg and helped her up.)

Z: *Smiling* We got him.

Maria: ...Yeah.

(Z held Maria's hand guiding her as she was only able to move very slowly on her own. They reached the prison cell door and once Z opened, Cicelo screamed loudly....)

"NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

(But it was a bloodcurdling scream on deaf ears as Z slammed the door shut, locking Cicelo inside. As he walked past the screaming thief, Z remarked....)

Z: I may not have killed you, Cicelo... But time will.

(And with that, Z and Maria traveled deeper down the hall and reached the door that Cicelo mentioned leading to the storage room....)


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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Z and Maria stood in front of the door leading to the storage room and took a breather. They were both injured, tired and starving.)

Z: How's your leg feeling?

Maria: ...It hurts. But I can manage I think... Thank you.

Z: You sure?

Maria: Yes.

(Z wasn't convinced...)

Z: Walk.

Maria: Huh?

Z: If you're leg is ok, you'll be able to walk on it.

Maria: ...

(Maria took a deep sigh and tried to step forward on her own but the pain wouldn't let her.)

Maria: Ahh..... *Looks at Z* I'm so sorry...

Z: What are you apologizing for?

Maria: I figured with my leg being the way it is, it's a burden for you now...

Z: *Laughs* Look at me, I'm just as much a burden for you as you are for me. We're even.

Maria: ...I guess. *Sigh* But what about my mom? I can't go back like this without her knowing something happened.

Z: Aw man! I didn't even think about that... *Sigh* I don't know Maria. But you really need to see a doctor about that leg.

Maria: ...

Z: Don't worry about it too much. Everything will be alright.

Maria: Easy for you to say...

Z: Maybe. But there's nothing we can really do about it now anyway so let's hurry and get out of here.

Maria: ...

(Z grabbed Maria's hand once again and opened the door to the storage room. The room was well-lit, had a marble floor and walls painted creamy white, it was a sharp contrast from the other much more dreary areas in the hideout. As they walked through the room, Z and Maria saw that it was filled with an assortment of various boxes as well as treasure chests. Amazed, they both searched the boxes and chests for Z's stuff as well as any other treasures they could find.)

Maria: I found the ocarina!

(Z quickly turned around and saw Maria with the ocarina in her hand. Excited, he grabbed it from her and started playing a few meaningless notes. While he did that, Maria kept searching the boxes around her and managed to find...)

Maria: Your wallet!

(But Z didn't respond as he was too busy messing around with the ocarina...)

Maria: Z! I found your wallet!

(Z didn't respond.)

Maria: Hey! I found your stupid wallet!

(No response.)

Maria: Argh......

(Maria snatched the ocarina from Z's lips and smacked him across the face with his empty leather wallet. Stunned, Z blinked his eyes several times before he could see clearly and said...)

Z: What was that for!?

(Maria just shook her head and sighed. Z took the ocarina back from her and picked up his wallet from the ground and started looking for the Kokiri Sword.)

15 Minutes Later....

(Together, Z and Maria had turned the storage room upside down looking for the sword but it was nowhere to be found.)

Maria: Where could that thing be?

Z: That stupid Cicelo... I'm gonna go ask him where my sword's at. Stay here.

(Z started walking towards the door.)

???: I've got your sword right here.

(A figure came from the other side of the room, presumably the exit. Surprised both Z and Maria turned to see....)

Z: Gizbo?

(The figure, Gizbo, the shopkeeper/swindler revealed himself by stepping into the light of the room along with his monkey Horace. Maria backed away from them as much as her leg would allow her to.)

Gizbo: I foresaw bad things from you, kid.

Z: Just give me back my sword!

Gizbo: I paid good rupees for this blade. It's mine....

(Z grabbed Maria by the arm and moved her towards the entrance before walking up to Gizbo and little Horace, who challenged Z by smacking at his leg.)

Gizbo: Stop it Horace. Let me take care of this little pun...ahh.... Ahh.... Stop!! Ahh..... Stop it! Stop it!

(Before Gizbo could finish his last sentence, the now more confident Z had kicked Gizbo directly in the nuts before holding the machete he received from Cicelo to his neck....)

Gizbo: Listen... I'm sorry! Please... I would never...

(Z moved the blade closer to Gizbo's neck causing the frightened man to plead even more loudly...)

Gizbo: Oh no! No, no, no! I... I gave you bombchus remember?!

(Z thought for a moment and moved the blade away from Gizbo's neck.)

Gizbo: Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you good sir!

Z: Give me my sword.

(Gizbo handed Z the Kokiri Sword and attempted to stand up but Z pointed for him to stay on his knees and Gizbo did.)

Z: You have bombchus?

Gizbo: ...Y-y-yes! You n-n-need some!?

Z: Yup. Where are they?

Gizbo: In the next room, sir!

Z: I thought that was the exit?

Gizbo: It is! My c-c-cart is there, though. Take w-w-w-whatever you n-n-need!

Z: I will.

(Maria started to walk forward as far as she could before Z grabbed her hand and helped lead them both past Gizbo and into the exit. The exit area was dark and dreary like the other parts of the hideout aside from the storage room with a long ladder going up. Gizbo's cart was in the middle of the area just as he said and Z took a look at his goods.)

Z: Here are the Bombchus.

(Z grabbed a bag full of Bombchus from the cart and continued looking around while Maria simply watched.)

Maria: What do you need those things for Z?

Z: I've got a plan in my head to help a few friends.

Maria: Huh?

Z: I don't know if it'll work but...I've got to try.

Maria: ...Ok.

(Z finished searching the cart and looked at Maria, who was holding her leg in pain...)

Z: Are you ok?

Maria: ...Yes. *Sigh* ...No.

Z: We've got to get you to a doctor.

Maria: What about you?

Z: I... I'll be fine.

Maria: If you say so... Hey Z...

Z: Yeah?

Maria: *Puts head down* ...Nothing.

(Z gave her a curious look.)

Z: No, really, what's the matter?

Maria: It's no big deal.

Z: You're acting weird now. Just tell me.

(Maria stood silent, thinking for a moment.)

Maria: Uh... Why did you let that guy live?

Z: Who? Gizbo?

Maria: Yeah, him.

Z: Um.... I'm not a killer, Maria. I don't kill people...

Maria: ...Ok.

(Maria put her head down again and Z looked at her funny once again.)

Z: Is that what you really wanted to ask me?

Maria: ...Yes.

Z: *Sigh* ...Alright. I've got everything I need now. Let's go.

Maria: Uh...Z?

Z: What?

Maria: You're gonna keep the machete?

Z: Um.... I guess. It might come in handy unless you want it?

Maria: Nope. Just wondering.

Z: Ok. Let's go.

(Z led Maria to the ladder but stopped right in front of it and looked at her.)

Z: Can you climb?

(Maria paused and felt her leg...)

Z: Crap.

Maria: Z... I...

Z: Don't worry about it, Maria. It's fine. We'll figure out something.

Maria: Ok. Is there anything in that cart that would be of help?

Z: Hmm... No. Not that I recall.

Maria: ...Jeez. We might just have to end up going back the way we came in then.

Z: ...I'd rather not.

Maria: Then what?

(Z thought for a moment.)

Z: ...*Sigh* ...Maria, you've got to trust me, this is going to sound crazy but I don't see any other way out of here...

(Maria's expression changed to worry.)

Maria: ...What?

Z: Alright... I think it will work. Like I said, you just have to trust...

Maria: *Nervous* Just tell me what it is!!

Z: Ok, ok. I'm going to climb up the ladder first. When I exit, I'll hold my hand out for you.

Maria: ...Huh? But how am I supposed to get up there?

Z: And now here comes the crazy part.... I want you to ride the Bombchu up the ladder.

Maria: ARE YOU FREAKIN' NUTS!?!

(Maria threw her arms in the air and shook her head while Z tried to calm her down.)

Z: I know it sounds crazy but once you get to the top, I'll grab you before the Bombchu explodes.

Maria: ...No. No. I'm sorry Z but NO!

Z: We have no other way, though, Maria...

Maria: There's another way, we'll just have to look for it but you can't make me ride a Bombchu of all things to the top of that ladder!

(Maria's noncompliance forced Z to beg and plead with his hesistent friend...)

Z: ...*Sigh* You've got to trust me, Maria... Just please, trust me... I won't let you get hurt... ...I can't let you get hurt.

(Maria looked Z directly in the eyes...)

Maria: You're serious...

Z: Yes. All I want is for you to trust me on this... I wouldn't ask this of you if I didn't think it could work.

(Maria stayed silent for a few moments and thought.)

Maria: ...Ok, Z. I trust you. I'll do it.

Z: You will!? Ok, let me climb the ladder. I'll be there, I promise...

(Z handed Maria the bag of Bombchus and climbed the ladder. At the top, he yelled instructions to her.)

Z: Ok, Maria! Once you pull the Bombchu out of the bag, set it down and quickly sit on it! You'll be fine! I promise!

(Z held his hand out for Maria as she took a deep breath and pulled the Bombchu out of the bag, set it down and....)

"WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!"

(The Bombchu, with Maria riding, shot like a pistol up the ladder and as it reached Z, it began to burn red, it was ready to explode.)

Maria: Z! Z!

(Z reached over as far as he could and grabbed Maria's arm before....)

BOOM!


Z: *Breathing heavily* I...I got ya... *Laughs*

(Z and Maria laid on the grass together, both breathing hard from the rush....)

Maria: *Breathing heavily* ...Next time.... We find another way....

(Z simply smiled as he watched the sun begin to set on Hyrule. They were outside of Hyrule Castle. Realizing this fact, Z sat up and looked around at the scenery... The Guards were all lined up in front of the castle's gates as an ominous tune rang through the air....)

Z: What's going on?

(Maria sat up and looked around.)

Maria: ...I don't know. That music is...kind of sad though. It reminds me of something they play at....

Z and Maria: Funerals...

(As they watched, several other lines of guards came out and made two huge lines on opposites sides that stretched from the gates of the castle all the way to Hyrule Castle Town.)

Z: ...This doesn't look good.

(They continued to watch as the last line of guards came out, followed by one man who walked past the guards and into Hyrule Castle Town, which was now swarmed with people all watching in awe as they whispered amongst themselves.)

Maria: We should get closer.

Z: You're right.

(Z helped Maria up and led the way as they got close enough to see the man but stayed just out of sight of the guards.)

Maria: It looks like he's about to speak.

(The man, who's face looked grave with worry and even heartbreak waved the crowd to calm down and once complete silence came, he spoke....)

Elias: I am Elias Carthington, First Attendant to Sir Carrogen IV. And... *Sigh*

(Elias paused for a long minute and took a deep breath....)

Elias: ...And it is my duty.... *Sigh* ...To tell you, good citizens of Hyrule.... That...

(Elias paused once again.)

Elias: ....That Sir Carrogen IV has succumbed to illness....And passed away.

Z and Maria: ...

(The crowd went into uproar with Z and Maria simply looking at one another, speechless....)
Edited by Bx, Dec 11 2008, 11:36:31 PM.
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(While the crowd was going mad with worry, frustration, anger, uncertainty and hope, Z and Maria looked at each other nervously.... Even children could understand the magnitude of this event.)

Maria: ...What happens now?...

Z: No idea.

(Maria sighed and rubbed her wounded leg.)

Z: That leg of yours needs to see a doctor...

(Maria continued to rub her leg.)

Maria: But how are we gonna get through that mess down there?

Z: Hmm....

(Z started brainstorming for ways to escape the city.)

Z: I...

Maria: I've got it!

Z: Ok...

Maria: We go through the Port. Nobody is probably there now and I remember the back road that the cabbie had taken us through.

Z: ...Good idea.

Maria: What was your plan?

Z: We make a running jump into the crowd and hightail it from there.

(Maria's started shaking her head.)

Maria: ...Yeah, Z, yeah.

Z: Hey, I admit it, your plan is better.

Maria: My plan is the only plan, Z.

Z: If you say so. But um... How do we get to the Port from here? Without getting spotted at least?

Maria: Uh.... *Looks around* Good question...

(Z surveyed the area, looking for any holes in the guards formation where they could sneak through. Maria did the same.)

Z: See anything?

Maria: Uh....No. You?

Z: Nope.

(Z and Maria continued to look around. As they viewed the landscape, they noticed that some guards were beginning to head back inside.)

Maria: Where are they going?

Z: You think it's over?

Maria: Could be.

Z: We've got to take the chance. Grab my hand Maria!

(Maria took Z's hand as he led them towards the break in the guards formation which was about 40 feet away from Hyrule Castle's drawbridge. They sneaked through the formation by hiding behind several trees that covered the area. As they got through to the other side leading to the Port successfully, they noticed more guards pouring out of the castle's interior.)

Maria: What do you think happened?

Z: I don't see any point in finding out. You've got to get to a doctor...and home, soon!

(Z tugged at Maria's hand beckoning for her to move with him but she did not budge, insistent on seeing what was going on as the guards had now formed a massive shield of manpower with another person now coming out...)

Maria: Look, Z! A kid!

(Z turned and saw the young boy, about his age, maybe a little older come out dressed in royal garbs surrounded by a small brigade of soldiers protecting him.)

Z: Is that Carrogen's kid?

Maria: Could be.

Z: Doesn't look like he's been crying much...

(The wall of soldiers protected the boy as he walked down the path leading to Hyrule Castle Town where Elias stood.)

Maria: Do you think he's gonna speak?

Z: Why are you so worried about him?

Maria: ....Curiosity Z, why else?

Z: ...

(Maria looked at Z, who was visibly angered.)

Maria: Is something wrong?

Z: No.

Maria: Fine. You don't want to watch?

Z: Not really.

Maria: But what if he says something important?

Z: Then we'll hear about it later, I want you to get to the doctor.

Maria: Z, I want to stay, please.

(Z let go of Maria's hand and threw his arms in the air.)

Z: Fine!

Maria: What's the matter with you!?

Z: ...Just forget it.

(Maria stayed silent as she watched the young boy reveal himself from behind the wall of soldiers to the screaming public. His eyes were a deep blue color that rivaled the color of the Great Hylian Ocean while his hair was an extremely dark brown, almost color color. To any girl, he was a handsome boy but within his face, there lacked something.... Suffering, worry, fear, sorrow; those things that one expects to see in someone's face after the loss of a parent. He signaled his soldiers off and refused to speak until he received complete and total silence, even making a soldier detain a rowdy man who would not stop yelling, "Bastard!"...)

Maria: I think he's gonna speak now, Z.

Z: ...Yeah.

Maria: Oh come on, watch, you're not jealous, are you?

Z: Hmph. But I'll watch, though.

(Maria laughed as the boy began to speak, he had an almost unnaturally deep voice for his age, it was powerful, commanding and most importantly... Manipulative...)

Boy: My name is Alvius Carrogen V. But you all can and will refer to me as "Lord". I have already set in place a plan to renovate my palace which will now and forever by referred to as "The Great Palace of Alvius". Hyrule under My rule will prosper in far more incredible ways than those of my deceased father. I will make better use of his programs starting with several modifications to the labor force to make those in it perform at an optimal level.

(The look on Z's face was one of complete anger.... Carrogen V had simply rubbed him the wrong way right from the start. Maria's expression had also changed from glimmering hope that Hyrule would see better days under a young new ruler to one of complete horror with every word Carrogen V spoke.)

Carrogen V: And though you people may think that these changes are a bit extreme or even harsh, you will see that in time, they will produce benefits for those truly deserving. Who are those that are truly deserving, you wonder? Well, that is up to you to decide. And also, to display that I am no puppet ruler masterminded by the Council that my father set up in his sovereign. Gentlemen.

(The Outlawz without Eagles, appeared with 4 noblemen in chains. Another guard had a group of his forces bring to the stage a...)

Z: A guillotine!? What the...

(The crowd along with Z and Maria watched in horror as Gein of the Outlawz set one of the men inside of the horrific device ignoring his desperate screams for a savior....)

Nobleman #1: Help me! Help me! SOMEBODY STOP HIM!! HE's a MADMAN!!!! HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(His bloody screams for help were his last, though as the guillotine cleanly sliced his head from his body...)

(Carrogen V watched with mild amusement as each man begged for mercy and pleaded for their lives the way a dog pleads for a treat from his master. But he had no sympathy and the next victim was set in place screaming just as the last did....)

Nobleman #2: MASTER! MASTER! DON'T KILL ME!!! PLEASE SPARE ME OF YOUR WILL!!! I WILL DO ANYTHING THAT YOU ASK OF ME!!!!!!!! SAVE ME! SAVE MEEEEE!!!!!!!

(As his head rolled, Carrogen V smugly remarked...)

Carrogen V: You couldn't even do the simplest of tasks.... I said to call me, "Lord" not "Master" Ha, ha, ha...

(Z and Maria were both mortified at what they were witnessing though powerless to stop it. As Carrogen V wore an even greater smile than before as his next victim was set up in the murderous device, screaming child-like requests...)

Nobleman #3: Mother! MOTHER! SAVE ME! MOTHER! PLEASE!!! MOTHER, MOTHER?!!! MOTHER!?! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(His final pleas for his mother both amused and angered the egotistical Carrogen V...)

Carrogen V: Why are you screaming for your mother? Ha, ha, ha.... Fool. If you want to scream for your maker, scream my name! Scream my glorious name to these people as you cower like a worm!

(The next victim was simply set in place. Unlike the others, this nobleman stayed silent as he was about to be murdered.)

Nobleman #4: ...........

Carrogen V: No babbling? Ah well. At least the others were somewhat entertaining.

Nobleman #4: ............!!!!!!

(The nobleman kept his silence as a tear dripped from his eye onto the blood soaked ground before his head also rolled with his fellow noblemen.)

(Carrogen V looked at the crowd, terrified of what was going to occur next.)

Carrogen V: You all are not amused? Simply unacceptable. The streets of this town haven't been painted the blood of men for 5 long years, it was overdue for bloodshed.

(Carrogen V snapped his fingers at Elias, who was also horrified at what he had seen.)

Elias: ....Y-y-y-yes, Lord Alvius?

Carrogen V: I do not need an adviser or attendant, your job has been erased. You are out of my castle as of this moment, I do not care of your belongings, they will be destroyed immediately.

Elias: What?...

Carrogen V: I do not need dead weight in my palace. Now find your place amongst these other pariahs that you see before me. You are no different, get down there with them.

(Stunned, Elias did as he was told and stood amongst the crowd of citizens watching Carrogen V's actions.)

Carrogen V: So before I take my leave, I hope that I have made it more than clear that my rule will signal a new change for this country, My country and you all will either adapt to it or be trampled by it. I do not care.

(Carrogen V's wall of soldiers formed around him and as one, they marched towards Hyrule Castle or... "The Great Palace of Alvius.")

(The citizens of Hyrule Castle Town simply stood in place, stunned by their new ruler's actions. It was like the first day of life, they feared everything and had no idea what to expect of the future....)

(Z and Maria were also shocked by these events as they stood watching Carrogen V's wall of soldiers lead him to the castle. It was an ominous night for Hyrule as a blood moon (harvest moon) shined directly in the backdrop.....)

Edited by Bx, Dec 12 2008, 01:35:04 PM.
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(After watching Carrogen V's intimidating march into the castle, Z and Maria headed down the path leading towards the Port, speaking of the events that had just taken place.)

Maria: Four men murdered in front of everyone....Awful.

Z: I know... How could anyone be so hateful?...

(With those words, a flashback of Mido's torture appeared in his head.)

Maria: What do you think is gonna happen to all of us, Z?

Z: ...I don't know. I wish I did, though. He means business, that much is true.

Maria: *Sigh* Things just keep getting worse...

Z: You're right. But the worst part is knowing that this isn't even as bad as it's going to get.

(Maria placed all of her weight down, forcing Z to stop in his tracks. Confused, he looked back at her and saw the concerned look on her face.)

Z: What's wrong?

(Maria sighed and looked him directly in the eye.)

Maria: It's you...Isn't it?

Z: Huh?

(Maria sighed again and started shaking her head.)

Maria: You're the one...

Z: The one what?

Maria: Don't you get it, Z?

Z: Maria, what are you talking about?

Maria: All of this. Everything. The whole situation, the whole you being here... They're depending on you.

Z: Who? Who's depending on me?

Maria: ...All of us. You're the one everyone is gonna look to to save Hyrule or maybe even the world from that guy...

(Puzzled, Z looked at Maria like she was crazy.)

Z: What are you talking about? I'm just a....

(Z then stopped talking and thought... He thought back about everything, especially the words spoken by the Skull Kid back in the forest and for the first time, it finally hit him...)

Z: A...kid.

(Z had finally realized that he wasn't just set out to explore the world or experience the freedom that life had to offer. It wasn't even just about trying to rescue the Sages from their imprisonment and letting them tackle the challenge of restoring Hyrule to it's former glory but that the burden of it all was going to be placed on him.... It had already been placed on him.)

(While Z blankly stared at the view around him, Maria became a little concerned about him...)

Maria: Z? Z? Are you alright?

Z: ....

(Z didn't respond and continued to think about his life as he gazed at the world before him. Now seriously concerned, Maria started hitting Z to get his attention.)

Maria: Z! Speak! You're giving me the creeps!

(Z finally broke his gaze and looked at Maria...)

Maria: Z?

Z: .....You're right. ...I never thought about it until you said that.

Maria: So...you're ok now, right?

Z: ...Yes, I'm fine.

(Maria was skeptical about his response and gave him curious looks to which he did not respond.)

Maria: Are you sure?

Z: I said yes. ...Let's keep moving.

(Once again, Z led Maria through the path to the Port, he was uncharacteristically silent the entire way down until they finally reached the Port itself.)

Maria: We're here.

Z: Yup... You said you remembered which way that detour was, right?

Maria: I think so. ...But Z, we still have one problem...

Z: What?

(Maria pointed to her leg.)

Z: Oh...Right.

Maria: You forgot? That was all you talked about a few hours ago.

Z: ...Yeah, yeah, I just... I don't know, it slipped my mind or something.

(Maria was now worried about Z's emotional state.)

Maria: Z, tell me the truth, are you really alright?

Z: *Frustrated* Yes, already.

Maria: You don't have to say it like that. Especially when I'm trying to help...

Z: ...

Maria: Fine, Z. Come on, let's just go. It's this way, I think.

Z: ...Sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. I'm just a little tired, that's all.

Maria: ...I understand. I'm tired too. And um...listen, I've come this far already on my leg, we might as well just forget about the doctor and go straight home... I can come up with some bogus story along the way. So let's just go...

Z: ...But I'm really worried about your leg being untreated for so long...

(Maria smiled.)

Maria: I really appreciate you saying that but...come on, where are we gonna find a doctor open this late anyway? We might as well just get a move on.

(Z paused and thought for a second.)

Z: ...Ok. We'll head back to Kakariko.

(Maria grabbed Z's hand, looked at him and said...)

Maria: Thank you.

(As she said that, a mob of people, presumably back from watching Carrogen V's speech rushed through the Port, all in a paranoid frenzy....)

Z: Ok, time to go for real now.

(Z led Maria through the mob as she pointed out the directions for the detour. They made it through safely and were now in Hyrule Field as the night sky had fully appeared...)

Maria: My mom is probably going nuts right now...

Z: What time do the races normally end?

Maria: Z...I just moved here, remember?

Z: ...Oh yeah.

Maria: You losing it again?

Z: I never lost it to begin with... Just thought you might have known.

Maria: Well, I don't.

Z: So what excuse are you gonna tell your mom?

Maria: I don't know... *Sigh* I'll have to say that I was stabbed by something...

Z: True. Maybe you could say you were running and fell on a piece of wood that had a long uh...sharp piece sticking out or something.

Maria: ...Considering the fact that we are kids.... It's stupid enough to work.

Z: I don't think it's stupid at all.

Maria: Sure...

(The two of them continued on their way towards Kakariko Village, which wasn't too far away now but as they got closer, a familiar though dangerous smell passed through their noses...)

Z and Maria: You smell...

(They turned and looked at each other.)

Z and Maria: Yes, I hope it's not...

(They both stopped for a moment to let the other speak...)

Z and Maria: A fire! Oh no!

(Z quickly grabbed Maria's hand and as fast as her leg would allow, they rushed toward Kakariko Village, as they neared it... They found their fear had been justified.)

Maria: Z, my mom!

Z: I know, I know. That kid must have ordered this...

Maria: Z! I just want to see my mom!

(Z and Maria headed up the stairs leading into Kakariko Village. Once they were inside, they saw that an angry mob of people had been standing in front of a familiar store that was on fire....)

Z: That's Julius's shop!

Maria: .... Z, you don't think...

Z: Let's go find out, Maria!

(Z led Maria up the way towards the shop. As they got closer, they saw that Julius had been hung to a tree by his arms while a mix of both guards and citizens beat him while they chanted...)

"You kidnapper!!"

"Disgusting man!"

"Where are the children!?"


(The mob was led by Tesla who was angrily berating Julius, who bloodied was pleading his innocence but to no avail as he was continually hammered by the mob...)

Z: They're gonna kill him!

(Maria's bum leg didn't allow them to go very fast as they climbed the stairs towards the mob site but as they came through, another much larger group charged right past them....)

Maria: Carrogen's soldiers! Z!

(Soldiers from the castle led by Manson of the Outlawz, the sole Outlaw amongst them, violently attacked the mob without prior warning screaming...)

"Lord Alvius does not accept mass outbreaks such as this in his country!"

(The soldiers viciously put down and detained most members of the mob while Z and Maria yelled that they were alright though their pleas for the violence to end fell on deaf ears as the soldiers crushed the mob and detained all involved including both Tesla and Julius, who was now in critical condition after suffering a bloody beating from both parties. Seeing her mother in chains and being led away, Maria crawled on her knees as fast as she could to the soldier that held her mother in chains...Manson.)

Maria: *Crying* Please! ...That's my mother! You can't take her!

(Tesla though beaten badly looked at her daughter and gave a wide-eyed smile even though Manson was still dragging her away despite Maria's pleas....)

Maria: *Crying* You can't do this! You can't do this! Stop! Stop! Stop!

Manson: Argh...

(Frustrated with Maria tugging at his leg, Manson smacked her directly across the mouth sending her to the ground. Tesla tried to speak before Manson dragged the chain across her neck so hard that gagged and lost the air to speak... Z, who was trying to stop one of the soldiers from taking Julius focused his attention now on helping Tesla.)

Z: Stop!

(Z pulled out his Kokiri Sword and flashed it at Manson, who annoyed simply grabbed Z by the arm holding the blade and squeezed so tightly that Z lost feeling his arm and dropped the sword and to his knees in pain.... Manson continued on his way as Maria who had since recovered attempted to stop him once again.)

Maria: *Crying* Please don't do this! Let my mom go! Let her go!!!!!!!!

(Maria punched at Manson's legs to make him stop but they did nothing but anger Manson who was about to strike the child when another soldier locked Maria's neck in chains and began dragging her away along with the others....)

Maria: No! Z! Z!! Z!!!

(Z, still grieving in pain heard the cry for help and saw that Maria was being dragged off. Though he still had no feeling in his arm, Z grabbed the Kokiri Sword with his left hand and ran to save his friend.)

Z: Get away from her!

(Z slashed at the soldier who had chained Maria, cutting his unarmored thigh. The soldier stopped dragging Maria and attacked Z with his lance, landing a violent blow through the boy's left shoulder.)

Z: AHHHH!!! ....No...

(Z's left shoulder had been rendered almost useless with his motion range now being limited to simple thrusts which he used against the soldier, landing a few blows of his own, sending the soldier to his knees in pain. Seeing this advantage, Z grabbed the end of the chain that Maria was locked to and slowly but painfully dragged her towards him. The soldier attempted to stop him but Z used his right leg to kick him in the chest giving him enough time to successfully bring Maria to his side.)

(Z turned to Maria, who was crying hysterically and yelled for her to crawl to safety. Maria did such and the soldier attacked Z from behind, stabbing him in his left leg now. Z grabbed at his leg but was able to turn to the soldier and made a soft, though painful thrust through the soldiers genitals....)

Soldier: Ahh..........Ugh.......

(The soldier made soft screams for pain as he dropped to his back grabbing at his private area. The last of the soldiers were beginning to pass through the area as they saw their fellow man in pain. Angered, they turned to Z, let go of their chained citizens and charged at him. Z turned to run but his wounded leg forced him to slowly jog as the soldiers, who were hindered from running very quickly because of their armor began to catch up with him. But Z continued to run as fast he possibly could in his condition until he reached Maria, whose eyes were flooded with tears, and grabbed at her chain painfully dragging her along with him....)

(Z was heading for Death Mountain and although he was still a few yards away, he could see that the gates were shut. Panicking as the guards were gaining on him and his leg was giving out, Z stopped for a moment and with the feeling in his right arm back, pulled out a Bombchu....)

Maria: *Terrified* WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?

(Z didn't respond and simply tugged at Maria while he placed the Bombchu on the ground and sat on it, zipping them towards the gate but as it got closer, it began to turn red....)

Maria: Z! Z!

(Maria went into a frenzy as the Bombchu, now next to the gate.....)

BOOM!


(Exploded sending Maria and Z flying over the gate and effectively out of the soldiers reach though both were burned and flinching every second while on the ground.... Seeing this, the soldiers simply gave up on the chase and turned around.)

(Z and Maria were both out of it but breathing as they laid there...Out of it.)
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
45 Minutes Later....

(Z began to move around more frequently as he was starting to wake from his unconscious state. Blinking his eyes rapidly, he saw the peak of Death Mountain dominate the scenery. Seeing this, he attempted to quickly stand up but the soreness in his body only allowed him to move at a very slow pace....)

Z: *Trying to stand* Ugh... Ah.... Crap..... *Huff* *Huff* Ugh!!...

(Now on his feet, Z saw Maria laying about 5 feet away from him, still completely out of it with the chain around her neck. Concerned about her safety, Z moved as quickly as he could towards her and felt her chest to see if she was still breathing.)

Z: Maria? Maria!?

(Z hit her chest a few more times and finally got a response...)

Z: *Sigh* ...Thank goodness.

(Maria was still alive but in critical condition. The blood loss from her leg combined with the bombchu explosion as well as the shock from her mother's capture left had left her completely incapacitated. Realizing this, Z unloosened the chain from her neck and tried to lift her up to carry her the rest of the way but fatigue caused by his own wounds wouldn't allow for it....)

Z: ...What am I gonna do? I can't just leave her here...

(Z tried to lift her up once again but this time ended up just stumbling to his knees from the pain. Upset with himself and the situation, Z beat at Maria's chest to try and wake her up....)

Z: WAKE UP! Come on! Get up! You've got to! Don't do this to me, Maria!! Not now!

(But it was no use. Maria's body desperately needed medical attention and she wasn't going to wake up without it. Again, Z tried to lift Maria up, this time giving it everything he had in his body but still, he only managed to carry her up to his knees before losing his grip...)

Z: ...I guess... I guess I have to....

(Reluctantly, Z began to walk up Death Mountain's path leaving Maria's unconscious body where it was. But as he walked, he looked back at his friend, just laying there motionless, and then noticed the chain that he had unloosened from her neck.)

Z: Hmm....

(Z walked back toward Maria and grabbed the chain. He thought for a moment and then began tying the chain to her good leg. Once he was finished, he tugged at it and saw that he was able to drag Maria's body successfully though slowly up the mountain. Not wanting to scar her body, Z took off his shirt and put it on her to allow for extra padding while moving up the mountain. He dragged her slowly up the mountain for about 30 minutes before reaching a sign saying....)

"This way to meet a great fairy that lives at the top of this mountain..."

Z: Huh?... That's weird.

(Though initially put off by the crossed out sign, Z decided to head up to see this "fairy" for any help that it could offer. But he saw that getting up there was going to be a bit of a challenge...)

Z: ...Now how I am gonna manage to climb up this thing with her?... Hmm...

(Z looked at Maria and checked to see how she was holding up. Once he saw that she was ok, he started working the rocks surrounding him to come up with a somewhat prehistoric-looking pulley system that allowed him to raise Maria up to the platform he was aiming for without much physical work on his end. As he latched Maria up on the pulley, he maneuvered around to make sure that she got up there safely, which she did.)

Z: Yes! *Laughs* Now it's my turn.

(Z climbed up to the platform where Maria was at and pulled her across to reach a long, wide path leading to a huge wall that lead up to the peak of the mountain.)

Z: ....Jeez... *Sigh* This is gonna be tough...

(Z began to drag Maria across the path when....)

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE


Z: ...What the....!?

(The ground began to shake before...)

BOOM!

(It began to rain down fiery rocks from Death Mountain's crater. Z quickly backed up with Maria to get out of the range of the rocks and simply watched as the rocks burned the landscape around him....)

Z: ...Now this!?.... What else can go wrong in a day?...

(As the rain of rocks from the crater stopped, Z looked around to see if there was any other way to cross. But he saw nothing that would help him, he knew that he couldn't just run across and using a bombchu would be pointless but he saw no other ways across without being scorched. But he didn't act on any of these impulses and simply used his ocarina to reach his mother...)

Z: Mom?

Ruto: ...Z? Z, is that you!?

Z: Yes.

Ruto: You're safe.... You hadn't spoken to me in a while, I thought something had gone wrong....

Z: Sorry, mom. But things have changed....

Ruto: What do you mean?

Z: That Carrogen IV guy died... His son has taken over and...

Ruto: Carrogen IV died?.... My goodness.

Z: Yes... But his son...He's a maniac.

Ruto: He can't be any worse than...

Z: He is mom... I know it. He murdered 4 of his father's men for no reason, right in front of everyone in Hyrule Castle Town...

Ruto: You are serious....

Z: But that's not why I called mom. Death Mountain...

Ruto: You're not by the crater are you?! It's extremely hot over there! That thing erupts every few minutes!

Z: ...Tell me about it... But yes mom, I...

Ruto: Z, get out of there!

Z: No... I've got to reach the top... Don't tell me to stop mom because I'm going to go anyway. I just need your help....

Ruto: Z...

Z: Come on, mom, do you know of any way to avoid the fiery rocks or any other way to reach the top?

Ruto: Z, please get out of...

Z: MOM!

Ruto: ...

Z: Fine.

Ruto: *Sigh* ...I don't know if it'll work but... play these notes on your ocarina and maybe the fires will stop...

(Ruto told Z the notes.)

Ruto: ...Bye, Z.

Z: Thanks mom...

(After finishing his conversation with his mother, Z began playing the notes to the song and instantly, clouds filled the sky...)

Z: *Looking up* ...It's raining?

(A heavy downpour of rain suddenly appeared causing most of the fires on the ground to disappear. The rain also meant that if another eruption occurred, he would be more secure from getting hit with fiery debris....)

Z: ...Now's the time, I guess.

(Z put his ocarina away and began dragging Maria across the area. Two eruptions occurred before Z reached the wall leading up to the Death Mountain peak but they aside from a few minor scares from nearly being hit, they posed no real threat to Z or Maria. Now at the wall, Z faced the task of getting up there with Maria....)

Z: This is gonna be tough...

(Z checked on Maria to see if she was alright, which was and then took the chain off of her leg and latched it around her wrist. He then tied the long part of the chain to one of the planks on the wall and began climbing. His plan was to climb ahead of Maria and then lift her by the chain up to a certain point and tie her to each "checkpoint" plank. Managing to do this after about 2 hours of climbing, Z lifted Maria over the wall and saw two entrances before falling on his face from fatigue...)

10 Minutes Later...


(After taking a breather, Z stood up and walked over toward the sign in front of one of the entrances which said that this entrance led to inside the crater. This wasn't the one he wanted to go in so he dragged Maria by the chain inside of the other entrance which led to a fountain...)

Z: This is it!

(Excited, Z pulled Maria's chain as hard as he could toward the fountain before....)

"And just who might you be?"


(A hulking Zora had appeared inside the fountain, with a dangerous looking sword in hand....)

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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Though completely drained of any drive to continue, Z reached for his sword and nearly pulled it out when....)

Z: Holy....!!!

(The Zora had flung his sword directly at Z's head, just barely missing by inches before he stood out of the water and spoke....)

Zora: Just looking at you, I'm somewhat impressed by your willpower.

(Z was still shaken by the fact that he had nearly been killed by the Zora's blade and didn't respond but the Zora continued to speak...)

Zora: You've obviously been through hell just judging by your appearance. Bloody wounds both old and new, I mean it's written all over your body, you have endured many hardships. And then there's the girl, look at her. Did you drag her all the way up here? Ha, ha, ha... How the hell did you manage to do that? I'm very interested in miraculous stories so please, do tell.

(Z regained some of his composure and looked at the Zora directly in the eyes, he had remembered him from both the Kokiri Forest and the execution in Hyrule Castle Town. Those facts alone told him that he was in extreme danger especially in his condition...)

Zora: You look me in the eye but you do not tell your story? Even when I ask? That's pretty rude. Heh... Well, I suppose I'll change the subject then...

(The Zora started walking towards Z, in response, Z grabbed his sword and held it at him as he walked. Amused, the Zora simply walked past Z and grabbed the blade that he had hurled at him only minutes ago and then walked back toward the fountain and began speaking again while he touched the water with his hand....)

Zora: You know, this is the only place where there's any kind of water on this mountain... I'm guessing you read the sign and thought that a nice fairy could you up, huh? Ha, ha, ha... Stupid kid. Didn't you notice that the nice little line I had put through the words on the sign? Didn't you think that meant something?

(Z began to breathe heavily as the adrenaline started rushing through his body...)

Zora: ...You know, being in this place isn't so bad I suppose... I mean, I could have ended up like Gein and drew the short stick. Bundy and Manson were lucky bastards, though.... Well, I guess Bundy was only lucky until his little accident. Ha, ha, ha... The fool blew himself up with his own bomb. A great story he told and although I'd love to share.... You were rather stingy with your remarkable tale so I'll simply do the same....

(The Zora sipped some of the water and then quickly glared back at Z who gulped silently as the adrenaline continued to flow through his veins...)

Zora: You obviously have a little girlfriend there and that would have been such a good story to tell the kids, grandkids but.... ah... let's just kill the theatrics, I'm Gacy!

(Gacy launched his sword at Z again who was prepared this time and rolled out of the way. Gacy then slowly walked toward Z and lunged at him with both hands but Z countered with a hard kick to the Zora's shin. The blow didn't do much in the way of harming him but it did allow Z some time to stand up and analyze the situation....)

Gacy: Heh, heh. I should have expected at least a bit of fight from you.

(Gacy walked slowly toward Z, who was ready to strike, but instead of attacking Z, he faked a punch and grabbed Maria's chain and held her up in front of Z to taunt him.)

Gacy: This your little friend? What is she to you?... She's obviously got to have some importance if you dragged her all this way up here.... Ha, ha, ha... But you know what kid? I love a good hero story as much as the next guy so tell you what, I'll string your little damsel in distress up here and while she hangs, we'll fight for her! Ha, ha, ha...

Z: You're crazy!

Gacy: Ah... Now that got you talking. Hmm.... I want to make this even more interesting. So I'll tell you what. 10 blows. The first one to ten blows wins the spoils, your little friend.

Z: ...What?

(Gacy tied the chain around Maria's ankles and hung her to a little hook on the ceiling of the room.)

Z: Put her down!

(Z attempted to attack Gacy but the big Zora smacked him away before he could actually connect...)

Gacy: One for me.

(Z slowly stood up and grabbed at his leg, he was beginning to feel excruciating pain in it once again. In his usual fashion, Gacy slowly walked up to Z and delivered one extremely hard punch to Z's head, knocking saliva out of his mouth and sending him straight to the ground.)

Gacy: Two.

(Gacy slowly lifted Z up by his neck with both hands and threw him into the wall.)

Gacy: Three.

(By this time, Z had reached his limit, he couldn't take anymore but Gacy continued his attack by slowly and painfully digging his boot into the wound in Z's leg.)

Gacy: Four.

(Tears were rushing uncontrollably from Z's eyes as Gacy just pounded at Z's stomach for his next attack.)

Gacy: Five... I'm at the halfway mark, where are you at, Z?

(Gacy toyed with Z by lifting him up and placing his lips only inches away from the still unconscious, still hanging Maria...)

Gacy: And you may now... kiss the bride!

(Gacy nearly put their lips together before pulling Z away and tossing him into the wall once again like a little rag doll....)

Gacy: Many apologies Z... I just realized that I'm not certified to marry lovers just yet. Ha, ha, ha... Oh but that's six for those keeping score.

(Gacy laughed as he continued his assault on Z by kicking across the cheeks while he was down....)

Gacy: Seven.

(Gacy started snapping his fingers like a maniac before lifting Z up by the neck once again with his left hand and bitch slapped him with the right....)

Gacy: Eight!

(Gacy then slowly and carefully set Z down and placed the boy's back across the wall before spreading his legs and then simply stood there, watching for a moment as Z sat there, completely unconscious from the beating...)

Gacy: ...*Sigh* This is nine. And you know what.... This one may just end up killing a few potential babies... Ha, ha, ha!

(Gacy walked to the other side of the room, directly parallel to Z and then charged at Z before delivering an unspeakably vicious kick to the little boy's private area....)

Gacy: That's nine. And now....for the grand finale!

(Oddly enough, Gacy knelt down in front of the battered Z, lifted the boy's wrist and started striking himself with it....)

Gacy: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine..... Now we're even....

15 Minutes Later.....


(Z laid there bloody and unconscious from Gacy's violent assault.... The chain that held Maria was still hanging in place but without the girl's body and Gacy was no longer in the room.....)


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Bx
Notorious
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1 Hour Later....

(Z let out a loud, agonizing scream as he squirmed around in pain while trying to stand. He had just woken up from the beating and he was feeling the effects of it for the first time. Limited to a slow crawl, he saw that Gacy wasn't there and that Maria was no longer hanging from the chain. His breathing had become heavy as he crawled toward the fountain, noticing a piece of paper floating around. Z grabbed the paper and it read...)

"If you're actually reading this, I guess it means you're still alive. A miraculous story in itself, one for the ages, eh? Regardless, I bet you're really wondering who the won the match, aren't you? Well, that doesn't really matter. All that matters is that I'm getting a much needed trip to a better environment, more suitable for a soldier of my caliber. But I'll cut to the good part for you anyway, the status of the girl. I didn't take her but I just wasn't going to give her to you, that wouldn't make for a good story, would it? But yes... The girl is close but is she alive, that's the real question.... Turn to the back for the answer. Ha, ha, ha...."

(Z flipped the wet note over and saw the rest of Gacy's message.)

"The girl is inside of Death Mountain's crater. Without special equipment, a normal man or boy wouldn't last more than a minute without burning alive from the scalding heat... Not exactly a cool place to be. Ha, ha, ha.... Like my joke? But yes... She's somewhere inside of the crater but where? Where you ask? Before I answer that, let's do a little inner reality check, we'll say. How long have you known this girl? Is she a lifelong friend, one that you've known for years, one that has been there for you when you've needed her most? Or is this girl simply a little puppy-like crush? Someone that you've known only for a short while that you've suddenly become infatuated with for the most superficial of reasons? But you're a child, you believe in destiny, two hearts destined to be together, a lovely tale, I admit that I love those myself but... Ah, what if that's not the case? What if she is simply a whore out to use you like the rest of them.... Then what do you do? Ha, ha, ha.... Have I got you thinking? Find the next page for the rest of it..."


(Z found the next page and began to read....)

"Do you still want to go after this girl? Do you still want to put your life in danger for this girl? Think about it for a second. But let's make it more interesting... Your girl is somewhere inside but the real question that you should be wondering is not whether you really care about your little friend but whether you should trust me. There's two scenarios... And don't worry, your girl is in that crater, that's a fact. The variable, however is whether the little bitch is still alive. Oh...I bet that one got your blood boiling, I slandered the girl of your "dreams." But let's not lose focus, friend... Anyway, one scenario is that you go down there, search for the girl and find her burnt and cooked alive... An obvious trap laid by yours truly because there's no way in hell that in your condition you'll make it in and out of there within 1 minute... And for the other scenario and the grand conclusion... Turn to the back page."


(Z turned to the back page and read...)

"And the other scenario is the happy ending.... You find the girl, she's alive, maybe not well,probably well done but not well in the usual sense but anyway, you've found this girl and you're able by some odd chance to get out of there alive and tell all the little kids this grand story... So what will it be? Have I got you thinking? Well let me add one more point... In the event that the girl is alive, I'll tell you this... She's in a place where it is possible to get out of there and the crater within the minute, believe me, I've tested it. Just more food for thought. And I bet that little clue has your head really spinning.... If you don't go and she's alive, then you've killed her anyway and if she's dead anyway and you go then you've killed yourself. So I lied.... It's actually three scenarios, the one where she dies, the one where you and her both die and the one where you both live. And that's all I have for you, buddy. Think about it but don't think too hard, the answer might just be right under your nose and remember, you can trust me.... I've only lied once.

-J. Gacy, Outlaw"


(Gacy's name had been written in blood as Z finished reading the note, thinking about his chances and whether Maria was even alive...)

Z: ...*Huff* *Huff* ...If what he's saying is even true.... *Huff* *Huff* ...Ah....

(Z tried to stand but the pain was too great to bear as he crawled out of the fountain and sat on the floor to think more...)

Z: ...Jeez. *Huff* *Sigh* ...Is it really worth it? ...I don't know her that well... ....This is, this is my life we're....

(Z paused for a second, thought hard and started crawling out of the room. Outside, he saw that the skies had cleared and he took a deep breath and entered the crater....)

1:00 minute remaining....

(Z's chest was tightening even more as he crawled down the steps and entered the boiling hot surface of the crater. Z looked around for any signs of Maria as both the sweat from his forehead dropped as well as the seconds remaining on the clock...)

41 seconds remaining...

Z: ....Gacy *Huff* *Huff* said... it was...close.....

(Z started weakly patting the ground for any type of sign of Maria but there was none, his body was almost done.... But he kept searching for anything around him while his eyes became heavy from the unbearable heat...)

22 seconds remaining...


(The heat was burning through his skin. Realizing that he was nearing his end, Z started making a desperate crawl back for the exit but even as the clock was reaching it's final seconds and his eyes were closing against his will he noticed a small rock oddly placed in the middle of the ground....)

Z: ....*Huff* *Huff* *Huff* ...That r...ock....

8 seconds remaining...

(Z weakly extended his arm and pushed the rock out of the way revealing a small hole. With only 3 seconds left, Z reached inside of the hole and dragged the rest of his body in the hole as well, effectively escaping danger and landing on....Maria.)
Edited by Bx, Dec 19 2008, 01:25:30 PM.
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Bx
Notorious
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(Z realized he had landed on Maria and sprung up as quickly as he could in his condition. He looked at her and checked to see if she was still breathing. She was, now somewhat relieved, Z looked around the area he was in, it was an odd contrast to the rest of the crater as the area had a small pool of water as well as plant life growing. Seeing the water, Z got up and washed himself with some of the water before sitting down for a breather....)

Z: Oh boy... This is gonna be tough... *Looks at Maria* ...I'm glad you're ok, though... Even if you can't hear me right now. *Sigh*

(After a 15 minute break, Z stood up, took a deep breath and with all his might, lifted Maria up and allowed the mysterious platform to raise them back to the scorching surface of the crater....)

Z: Man... It's getting hotter....

(As his sweat poured, Z quickly made for the exit well before the minute was over due to the close distance between the hole and exit. Outside, Z looked up and noticed that night was falling. Tired and stressed, he carried Maria back inside of the Great Fairy Fountain, where he laid her peacefully on the ground and sat on the steps leading into the actual fountain.)

Z: ...Man. I'm beat... *Sigh* ...I don't know if I can take another surprise...

(Z put his hands over his face and stayed like that for a minute before looking at Maria.)

Z: ...I feel so bad for her... Everything...*Sigh* Everything is my fault. If she didn't meet me, she'd be living a normal life with her mom right now... Her mom... *Sigh*

(Z looked at the floor and shook his head...)

Z: Why am I doing this?... No. I know why I'm doing this... But why, why have I dragged her into all of this?... I'm only 10. But I don't feel like a 10 year old anymore...

(Z paused for a moment and then started speaking again.)

Z: ...I guess I'm not the only one feeling hopeless, though... What about all of those people? In Kakariko, in the forest, all of Hyrule must be feeling a little scared now but maybe I can help them.... And maybe I can't do it all now but, but someday... Someday maybe I can be a part of change. I don't know if my mom sent me out here to fill my dad's shoes but even if I can't save Hyrule now, I can start the change that will.

(Feeling a little better, Z stood up and then noticed the Hylian crest that he had been sitting on.)

Z: Huh?... It's the symbol of Hyrule. I just realized that... Oh yeah, this was supposed to be a fairy fountain. So... Hmm...

(Z thought for a minute and remembered something that his mother had told him years ago when he was still a toddler...)

Z: That lullaby... Maybe this is what she was talking about?

(Still unsure, Z pulled out his ocarina and played Zelda's Lullaby. Immediately, he heard an echoing laughter and saw that the fountain was starting to glow....)

Z: Did that do it?

(Within the mesmerizing glow, a woman-like figure appeared in the air above the fountain, smiling down at Z.)

Z: Are you...?

(The floating woman extended her arms and immediately a warm rush filled Z's body...)

Z: Ohhhhh.......

(As the rush went through his body, Z stared at the fairy as she pointed at Maria.)

Great Fairy: ...The girl...

(Z stopped staring at the fairy and looked back at Maria.)

Great Fairy: ...The girl...

Z: You, you want Maria?

(Feeling completely refreshed, Z walked over to Maria, lifted her and carried her to the Great Fairy, who extended her arms in the same fashion as she had done with Z toward Maria. Maria began to open her eyes as Z watched in amazement as his friend was beginning to regain consciousness....)

Z: ...Maria? Are you...?

(Maria's eyes found Z's and the two of them stared at each other for a moment while the Great Fairy disappeared back into the fountain.)

Maria: Z...What happened? Where are we?

(Overjoyed, Z just burst out laughing as Maria looked at him puzzled...)

Maria: ...? What's so funny?... Why are you carrying me?

(Z stopped laughing and put Maria back on her feet.)

Z: I'm just... What you said was funny, that's all.

Maria: ..Uh...You sure? And why were you carrying me?

(Z explained everything to Maria, who was simply amazed at everything Z had done.)

Maria: Wow... That was pretty...pretty cool...

Z: Yeah. I guess it was. How's your leg?

Maria: Huh? My leg? Um...It feels fine actually. That fairy really did a good job...

Z: Yup.

Maria: You ok, though, Z? You seem happy but kinda sad at the same time...

Z: ...No, it's... *Sigh* I'm happy that you're ok now. But I'm...sorry.

Maria: ...About what?

Z: ...

(Confused, Maria was about to question Z further before she realized...)

Maria: Oh. Hey, listen, don't... It's not your fault. ...Please don't let that bother you...

Z: Ok. I'll try.

Maria: Good. So where to now?

Z: Amazing.

Maria: What?...

Z: You just...Forgive me like that.

Maria: Z, I told you, it's ok. We'll figure something out, you saved my life, you're my friend, there's no way I could be angry at you especially when you haven't done anything wrong!

Z: ...Alright.

Maria: Now where to?

Z: Even though I know we both feel good now. It is night time and I think it would be good if we got some rest.

Maria: ...So you want to stay here for the night?

Z: Yeah.

Maria: This is probably the safest place we could be too. I suppose we don't have any pillows? *Laughs*

(Z shrugged his shoulders and smiled before the two of them called it a night...)

The Next Morning (7 a.m.)


(Maria woke Z up.)

Maria: Hey! Come outside. Check it out.

Z: *Groggy* ...Huh...? Wha...?

(Maria shook Z even harder.)

Z: Uh.... Alright, alright... Jeez.

(Z got up and headed outside with Maria to see what she was talking about.)

Z: *Looking around* ...What is it?

Maria: You don't see it?

Z: See what?...

Maria: That rainbow!

(Z looked around again and saw the rainbow. It was hanging over Kakariko Village and dominated the scenery below the mountain...)

Z: Oh. It's pretty cool.

Maria: It's more than that Z.

Z: And why's that?

Maria: Cause it's a symbol.

Z: Of what?...

Maria: That everything is gonna be ok.

Z: Oh...

Maria: *Sigh* I just thought you might have wanted to see it.

Z: Well, I did. It's really cool and everything...

Maria: But you wish I had let you sleep, right?

Z: No... No, not that....

Maria: Well, whatever. You're awake now, so where are we going now?

Z: The two of us together can't do much about Hyrule's situation but with more help, more experienced help then maybe we can get Hyrule back on track.

Maria: So what are you saying?

Z: Even though we've both been through a lot, we're still just little kids and the guys out there are all very vicious, very good warriors. We've gotten lucky a lot Maria, I know it doesn't seem like it but if we weren't, we'd be dead right now...

Maria: You said that already, just spit it out Z, what's your plan?

Z: Alright, I want to free my mom and the other Sages.

Maria: But that means that we would have to go all the way back to Johan?

Z: I know.

Maria: Z...I don't know... That's such a long way away.

Z: If you don't want to come, you don't have to. But I'm not gonna lie, I'd prefer to have some company...

Maria: Z... *Sigh* You know I'm going to come regardless.

Z: ...

Maria: Ok. So you plan on hopping on a ship?

Z: Not exactly.

Maria: Z... You're not...

Z: I want to get over there on my own boat.

Maria: But how?... Do you even know how to control a boat?

Z: No. But I don't know...

Maria: I think it would be better if...

Z: Hopping on some ship doesn't seem smart. I've gotten into trouble with two of those big Zora guys we saw killing those noblemen. They're obviously linked to that Carrogen V. Who knows if some price is on our heads...

Maria: ...I didn't think about that.

Z: So see? It's not just some boating fantasy of mine, we might just have to get our own boat.

Maria: But where?

Z: I don't know. Steal a ship maybe?

Maria: Not smart, Z.

Z: I know. But hmm....

Maria: What about that lake?

Z: Lake Hylia?

Maria: Yeah.

Z: But it's just a lake, Maria. No boats would be over there, I don't think...

Maria: Maybe. But fishermen would be!

Z: Huh?...

Maria: A fisherman might be willing to lend us his boat for a while.

Z: And why would they do that?

Maria: Cause I've got rupees that I'm willing to fork over.

Z: Oh... Ok. I get ya, now.

Maria: Good, so we should be on our way now.

Z: Getting down this mountain is a lot more complicated than it looks....

Maria: Maybe. But my leg hasn't felt this good in a while and I'm ready to put it to work.

Z: Ok...We'll see...

(Z and Maria started climbing down the mountain. They managed to avoid the rocks spewing from the eruption on the way down and reached the area where the path leads down to Kakariko and up to Goron City. Z looked around and saw the sign about Goron City.)

Maria: What are you looking at?

Z: Goron City, you want to go check that out first?

Maria: ...Not particularly. Why? Is there something there?

Z: You never know.

Maria: Alright. Um...Let's check it out then.

(Z and Maria started heading up for Goron City when....)

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE


Z: ...The ground's shaking....

Maria: ...That's from the eruption, right?

Z: ...No. The eruptions aren't that....

Z and Maria: Oh sh....!!!

(A huge flaming boulder was blazing down the path, heading straight for Z and Maria as they started running down the path toward Kakariko praying that they could somehow get out of the boulder's path....)

Maria: *Huff* *Huff* We're not gonna make it...!

Z: *Huff* No!

(Z looked back at the flaming boulder and saw that it was right on their tails and gaining speed as the two of them were running out of breath due to being tired from climbing down the mountain.)

Z: Whoa!

(Maria looked to the sides of the mountain and saw a small opening...)

Maria: Z!

(Z saw the opening as well.)

Z: I know! We've *huff* *huff* to get in there!

Maria: Grab my hand!

(Maria extended her hand and Z grabbed, as they both rolled into the opening in the side of the mountain escaping the flaming boulder's death-ridden path. Out of breath but back on their feet, Z and Maria take a good look at the flaming boulder and notice something odd about it as it crashes into the gate leading to Kakariko and is sandwiched between the mountain.)

Z: ...It's stopped.

Maria: That's a weird boulder...

Z: That's because it's not one.

Maria: Huh?...

Z: It's a Goron...An exceptionally large Goron.

Maria: But...Why was it burning like...

Z: ...Those monsters. We can't get through Kakariko Village now but...

Maria: ...I've got a bad feeling about this.

(Z and Maria headed out of the little opening they were in and headed back up towards Goron City....)

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Notorious
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(Z and Maria looked back at the flaming Goron as he continued to burn.)

Maria: ...Is he alive?

(Z shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.)

Maria: But if he is, don't you think he might need help?

Z: Even if he is alive, there's nothing we can do to help him. We can't even get near him. But honestly Maria... I think he's gone.

(Maria frowned as the two of them continued walking up the path to Goron City. As they stood outside of the entrance, both of them were surprised that the entire area was completely empty.)

Z: It's strange...

Maria: Yeah. That big Goron came from down here.... Something had to have pushed him and to push something that big...

Z: You'd need a lot of people.

Maria: *Sigh* ...That makes me even more worried about what could be in there...

Z: ...

(Although they had their concerns, the two of them walked inside of Goron City and saw that it was basically a slum filled with trash everywhere, relatively few Gorons and plenty of guards.)

Maria: ...This place looks terrible... Did those guards do this?

Z: I don't remember anything about Goron City from when I lived in Hyrule so I wouldn't know but yeah, this place looks like crap.... But there's plenty of guards around here so we better watch our step.

Maria: But Z... What are we looking for here?

Z: Nothing. We have to get to Lake Hylia. I know that Goron City, the forest and Zora's Domain are all linked together. If we can find that link, we can make it to the forest and head down to Lake Hylia from there.

Maria: Ok. I understand.

Z: So like I said, we move carefully.

(Z and Maria did their best to avoid the guards, managing to get down to the second level of the city where they heard people talking. Frightened, the two of them hid behind a statue located on the stairwell and listened in to a pair of familiar voices...)

Eagles: ...He was like a father to me, in some respect. I didn't agree with everything he did but... he was still a decent man.

Elias: And that's why I can't allow you to continue on this path, Eagles. You're, you're a symbol, a symbol of the old way. The way Carrogen IV intended.

Eagles: No. I wanted Hyrule to burn... Or at least that's what I thought I wanted until I realized that what we were doing, what I was doing was simply becoming the monsters that I had hated... I was never a symbol of him or his ways because he never understood that, he never realized that this is wrong...

Elias: ...

Eagles: You don't subjugate people, innocent people, to pay for someone else's mistakes.... That's not justice, that's cruelty. Our relationship was strained because of that very fact but even still, he was my friend....

Elias: Mine too. But the route you're taking... Drinking the way you are, it's a sickness. You're killing yourself!

Eagles: *Laughs* You think I'm drinking because I'm trying to get over my friend's death? ...That's the last of my problems and yours too. That kid of his is insane. But I know I don't have to tell you that.

Elias: ...*Sigh* But even still, you're a valued member in the military. You're the best, you're far from expendable so long as you don't allow yourself to be.

(Elias pointed at Eagles' bottle of liquor.)

Eagles: You're a funny guy but this is the only thing that's keeping me up right now.

(Elias shook his head.)

Eagles: And to answer that little statement about being expendable, I recall very vividly hearing that the little son of a bitch beheaded four of the councilmen that his father appointed in front of the entire Castle Town. Believe me, whether you're on little Carrogen's hit list depends on how well you kiss ass.

Elias: Or... How well you can kill people. And you do that very well, Eagles. You said it yourself, he's psychotic, he wants to surround himself with killers and you do it better than anyone else.

Eagles: And now to clear another misconception up. I've killed people but I'm not killer, don't compare to little Carrogen or.... Nothing.

Elias: You were about to talk about the Outlawz, weren't you?

Eagles: ...Don't call them that. And I have nothing to say about those guys, nothing at all, so don't push it.

Elias: ... Ok.

(As Z and Maria continued to listen in, they heard footsteps coming down the stairs...)

Elias: But my point Eagles, is that regardless of how you may feel, you're still a symbol of those who believed in Carrogen IV. ...People like me.

Eagles: You're wasting your time, I...

"Exactly. But you're right Elias..."

(Eagles and Elias both turned around to see a soldier dressed in gray armor standing behind them.)

Eagles: Aston...

Aston: Hello, Eagles and how's the house search going, Elias?

Elias: ...

Aston: Tough times, I understand. *Laughs* But as I said before.... You are right Elias. Eagles is a symbol, you can't take that away from him but he's a symbol of the past. Unwilling to flow with the great changes that Lord Alvius will be unraveling to the world in due time.

Eagles: Funny. I remember you saying the same thing about the old man.

Aston: Make no mistake about it, Sir Carrogen IV was a progressive leader far ahead of his time but Lord Alvius takes it to another level. He will be the mind that leads us into a new, more prosperous, more dynamic future. It's the beginning of a new era.

Eagles: Is that so?

Aston: You're not an old man, Eagles, not yet but look at you. You're talented, I'll give you that. And I've always respected your abilities but I've always despised you as a person. You're not the half the man that Carrogen IV thought you were and he was only just beginning to realize that when he died.

(Angered by these words, Eagles stood up and looked down at the shorter Aston with a cold, menacing stare....)

Aston: That's right Eagles. You had a nice run but it's over. The legend, the aura, it's gone. And that little stare of yours puts no fear in my heart. I've looked into death's eyes but when I see you, I don't see death I just see a man dying.

(Eagles continued to stare Aston down but he still showed no sign of intimidation. Z and Maria watched in shock from behind the statue as these two soldiers were about to go at...)

Elias: You two should stop this. There's no reason for a fight! Why are you even here, Aston? There's no reason for you to be in Goron City!

Aston: I don't believe you have the status to even be talking to me without using a subservient tone.

(Elias put his head down and stopped talking...)

Aston: But to answer your question, I'm on assignment. A few of my men and I had to take care of a little Goron problem, well little in a figurative sense anyway. Biggoron had to be taken care of, even if he was the greatest smith in the land.

(Z and Maria looked at each.)

Z: Biggoron... I've heard that name before.

Maria: You have?

Z: Yeah... But look!

(Maria and Z focused their attention back on Eagles and Aston.)

Aston: I can't stop you from doing anything, Eagles but... Heh. You might not want.... Ooof...

(Aston fell to the ground as Eagles shattered his bottle of rum over his head. In his angry rage, Eagles began to stomp Aston's head into the ground. With Aston groggy, Eagles pulled out his butterfly knife and held it to the fallen soldier's neck nearly slicing it before pulling back....)

Eagles: *Breathing heavily* ....Push your luck again, I dare you.

(Eagles turned to Elias, whose face was shaking from fear...)

Eagles: Find a home and try to lead a better life. That's my only advice for you.

(Eagles walked off toward the exit that led to Kokiri Forest while a group of guards rushed to Aston's aid. Elias ran for what was once Darunia's room and escaped from the guards who tended to Aston and carried him off for medical attention. Stunned, Z and Maria simply looked at each other in disbelief before heading for the exit to Kokiri Forest while the guards were out of sight....)
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Bx
Notorious
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(Z and Maria reached the Lost Woods a lot sooner than they had expected. Never having been in a forest before, Maria was fascinated by the lush green surroundings while Z was having flashbacks about his previous experience in the forest with Bundy....)

Maria: You ok, Z?

Z: Huh? Oh, I'm fine.

Maria: Ok. You just look like you've got a lot on your mind.

Z: No, no, I'm just trying to figure out which way to go.

Maria: You don't remember?

Z: Uh...not exactly.

Maria: ...Just don't get us lost...

Z: Don't worry about that.

(Although not exactly sure which way to go, Z led the way as he and Maria continued to talk.)

Maria: What do you think happened to that tall Zora guy?

Z: Not sure. But that was the guy Maria.

Maria: What guy?

Z: The guy who captured my mom and I.

Maria: You sure?

Z: Yup. That wasn't the first time I've seen him either.

Maria: I see. Well, to tell you the truth Z, he didn't seem like such a bad guy.

Z: Maybe he's not. But I still want to stay out of his way. You saw what he did to that guy back there.

Maria: Yeah. He could've killed that guy if he wanted to.

Z: Exactly.

(As they headed deeper into the woods, Maria became concerned that they had just been walking in circles in this whole time...)

Maria: Z? You sure we're heading in the right direction...?

Z: Uh....Probably.

Maria: Probably!? That means we're lost!

Z: Calm down. We're not....

Maria: Shut up Z! I'm gonna lead the way now.

Z: ...Alright.

(Maria took the lead and after several more minutes of walking, they reached a new area in the forest with a small pond.)

Maria: See? I got us out of there.

Z: Had you just given me more time...

Maria: We'd still be back there! Just admit it. You were lost.

Z: ...

(Maria noticed the pond and walked to it. She began washing her face with the water but while scooping up some water, she noticed a small opening at the bottom of the pond. Curious, she looked back at Z and called him over.)

Maria: Z! Check this out!

Z: Huh?

Maria: Just come over here!

(Z went over to the pond and immediately noticed the opening.)

Maria: Where do you think it leads to?

Z: Hmm... Remember, the forest, Goron City and Zora's Domain are all connected so I'm gonna assume that that leads to Zora's Domain.

Maria: Cool. So can we check it out?

Z: But Maria we're trying to go to Lake Hylia, if we go to Zora's Domain that's putting us farther away from the lake.

Maria: But we've been everywhere else, why not see what's going on over there? Isn't that where your mother is from?

Z: Yes but...

Maria: We could even find a boat over there and not have to go to the lake. You never know, Z.

Z: *Sigh* You're not gonna give up on this, are you?

(Maria smiled.)

Z: Ok. We'll go. You can swim right?

Maria: I'm not even gonna answer that.

(The two of them dived into the pond and swam into the opening. As Z had suspected it led to an area of Zora's River just outside of Zora's Domain. After getting out of the water, they were both mesmerized by the waterfall dominating the scenery.)

Maria: The waterfall is beautiful...

Z: It is. I don't remember much about Zora's Domain from when I lived here before so this is as almost as new to me as it is to you.

Maria: Seeing this almost makes me not want to go inside.

Z: Why do you say that?

Maria: Because every place we've been to so far has looked almost lifeless.

Z: I see what you mean.

Maria: But still, I didn't come here to just see the waterfall. I want to see what Zora's Domain actually looks like. Lets go.

(The two of them ran across the land bridge and stood on the plaque with the old engraving and read it.)

Z: The Zoras must have only wanted Royal family members to come to this place.

(The engraving was meaningless now, however since Zora's Domain had been opened to the public since Link's defeat of Ganondorf all those years ago. Z and Maria jumped over to the entrance and entered Zora's Domain.)

Maria: Oh my God....

(The natural beauty of Zora's Domain left both Maria and Z in awe. Zora's Domain was still the watery paradise that it had always been despite the drastic changes throughout the rest of Hyrule. But once they got over the beauty of it all, Z and Maria began to realize that something just wasn't right....)

Z: *Looking around* Um, Maria... Do you see anyone?

(Maria looked around as well.)

Maria: ...No.

Z: I didn't think so.

Maria: No guards, no people, no anything. Z, um... Maybe we should get out of here.

Z: Hmm... Maria, I have to admit, a part of me wants to find out just what is going on here.

(Maria frowned and sighed.)

Maria: Well, I can't stop you. Even though I think this is a really bad idea.

Z: Let's go.

(The two of them walked through most of Zora's Domain, searching for clues as to why the entire area was empty but they found none. Discouraged and even worried, the two of them headed up to the Royal Chamber.)

Maria: Hey, Z. It's kind of a weird question to ask especially now but I just realized it, aren't you a prince?

Z: Huh?

Maria: Isn't your mom the queen of the Zoras?

Z: Um... My mom was the queen of the Zoras. She gave up her title around the time she had me. So no, I'm not a prince.

Maria: Well, by right you are.

Z: Maybe. But it doesn't really matter now anyway.

Maria: I guess.

(They reached the Royal Chamber and just like the rest of Zora's Domain, it was mysteriously empty.)

Maria: This is really strange, Z... I'm getting really worried.

(Z tried to remain composed but the eerie scene made him very concerned, almost scared.)

Z: Ok. We'll check back here and if there's nobody there either, we'll get out of here.

(Maria sighed as the two of them went down the path leading to the area where Lord Jabu Jabu once rested. While walking Maria noticed a strange object floating down the path. She picked it up and inspected it.)

Maria: Z, what do you think this is?

(Z looked at the object in Maria's hand.)

Z: Hmm... Kinda looks like some kind of hook. Hand it over to me.

(Maria handed Z the object. He looked at it some more and then pressed in the handle of the object, causing the hook to fly out the socket on a long chain.)

Maria: Whoa!

Z: It's a hookshot.

Maria: Pretty cool. But what was it doing just floating around like that?

Z: No idea. But you found it, so it's yours now.

(Z handed the hookshot back to Maria, who put it away. The two of them then continued on their way, finally reaching Zora's Fountain where they saw....)

Maria: ...Oh my God...

(The entire area was flooded with dead Zora bodies just floating everywhere. A macabre massacre as a complete contrast to the rest of the domain's beauty. Terrified, Maria refused to go any farther.)

Maria: Z, I can't... Please. Don't make me...

Z: Ok. Just stay here then, I'll check it out.

Maria: No! You can't leave me alone like that....

(Z was just as scared as Maria but he wanted to find out just what had happened to the Zoras. But at the same time, he didn't want to leave Maria by herself if she was scared.)

Z: Ok. I'll stay then.

Maria: Thank you! Let's just get out of here, Z before something happens...

Z: Maria look around you, something has already happened. But I can't just leave here without finding out what.

Maria: But why not?

Z: For my mom's sake.

Maria: ...

Z: Now I won't leave you by yourself but I can't run away either.

(Maria thought for a moment, took a deep breath and then spoke.)

Maria: Ok. Ok Z, I understand. We can check it out together.

(The two of them walked through the area, jumped into the water and looked at the dead Zora bodies. They had all been mutilated in the most disturbing ways, each victim's body had been more gruesome than the previous one. The water in the fountain was a deep brown color, like dry blood.)

Z: These people were killed days, maybe even weeks ago. ...It doesn't make any sense.

Maria: Z... I can't lie. This is too creepy for me...

Z: Alright. Well, I guess we can go now. Aside from the violent cuts on their bodies, I can't tell much from here.

(Z and Maria started to get out of the water when they heard quick slicing sounds moving in the water. The sound was coming from different directions, it was like someone was cutting the water...)

Maria: What is that, Z?!

Z: I don't know but get out of....AHH!!!

(Something grabbed Z and pulled him underwater. Terrified, Maria jumped out of the water and looked back at sea of bodies to try and find out what happened to Z. She saw nothing.)

Maria: Z... Oh no... Oh no.... No, no, no... Z! Z!!!

(Maria kept shouting for Z as his head rose out of the water. Seeing this, Maria ran to jump back in the water to get him but stopped herself once she saw three Zoras surround him in the water. Maria started to shake as the Zoras circled around Z like sharks....)

Maria: *Shaking* ....Wh..o... are those...peo...ple?...

(The Zoras stopped circling around Z, who was watching them with fear written in his eyes. Maria didn't know what to do to help her friend as she watched one of the Zoras go underwater again while the other two got closer to Z...)

Maria: Oh no... I can't stop them. But he needs my help.... Oh...

(Z let out a loud scream as the other Zora who was underwater reappeared. Hearing his screams made Maria even more nervous but also sparked an idea.)

Maria: This hookshot. Maybe I can reach him with this.

(Maria pulled the hookshot out, aimed it at Z and let it rip. The hookshot missed Z and instead hit one of the Zoras in the back of the head. Angered, the Zora focused it's attention on Maria and the others followed suit by going underwater leaving Z alone now. The Zoras sliced the water rapidly as they swam towards Maria who was shaking with fear. Once the Zoras got close to the land, they stopped and stayed underwater. Z took this opportunity to start swimming toward Maria himself.)

Z: Maria! I'm coming!

(Z actually managed to reach Maria, much to his surprise. The Zoras appeared to be gone...)

Z: You ok, Maria?

Maria: Yeah, Z. Lets....

(At that moment, the three Zoras flew out of the water and landed on the surface right in front of Z and Maria....)

Maria: ...They're...girls?

(To Maria's surprise, the attacking Zoras were female. They had an eerie blank look on their face as well as large ominous looking scars on their chests in the shape of a cross. Z pulled out his sword and unleashed an attack on the Zoras as the battle began....)

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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Z lunged with his blade at the three Zora girls, slashing one in the chest across the cross-shaped scar. While that one flinched in pain, the others hopped over Z and went after Maria.)

Z: Maria!

(Scared, Maria put her hands over her head while Z rushed to her aid with a vicious attack on both of them, using a twirling horizontal slash. The two Zoras fell to the ground and Maria was safe.)

Z: Maria, let me take care of them. Stand over...

Maria: Z!

Z: Huh?

(Z turned around and saw that the Zora he had hit before was charging at him. In response, Z gripped his blade in his hands and was prepared to strike as the Zora got closer. With the Zora now near him, Z slashed and the Zora fell but it wasn't Z's sword that had hit her...)

"My women..."

(Behind the Zora woman who just died in front of Z was the image of another Zora....)

Z: Who are you...?

(The Zora stepped closer and showed his face, a face Maria could not forget....)

Maria: You!!

(Maria rushed forward and attempted to hit the man before he slapped her to the ground. Z immediately rushed to help her back up while the familiar Zora walked toward the other two Zora girls who were on the ground, squirming in pain...)

"Women... Good for only one thing."


"AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"


(The Zora stabbed both women directly in the heart with his two spears and then walked back toward Z who had helped Maria to her feet.)

Maria: ...You... My mother...

???: Oh... I remember you. Both of you.

Z: Who are you?!

???: Just call me Manson.

Z: Manson? You're one of those Zoras...

Manson: No. I'm THE Zora. Ha, ha, ha... But... You did good or my women did bad. It doesn't matter either way.

Z: So all of these deaths, this is your doing?!

Manson: I never touched any of them. Heh. The only deaths that I've actually caused are the three just now.

Z: But they helped you!?

Manson: So? They did what was in their hearts.

Maria: Argh!!

(Still furious, Maria attempted to go after Manson but Z stopped her.)

Manson: *Laughs* Cute. You would have made a nice playmate, girlie. But that woman, that was your mother, eh? *Laughs* Interesting...

Maria: Where is my mother!?

Manson: Couldn't tell you. My job is to deliver the groceries. What the boss decides to do with them is entirely up to him.

Z: Liar!

Manson: Why would I lie? Listen, kid, I'm a manipulator not a murderer. At least not on the scale that these women were. Ha, ha, ha. To be honest with you, I never read it from them.

Z: Read it?

Manson: You see that's my game. Killing people is a messy job but the artwork that comes after it like what you see before you is beautiful.

Maria: You're insane!

Manson: It's people at their most fragile. You see what people truly are at that moment just before they die. Don't believe me? Heh. I'm sure you two were there to witness the deaths of those noblemen in Hyrule Castle Town and when each of them died, they left a true mark of their character. One that is imprinted in the mind of those who witnessed forever.

Z: ....

Manson: I don't know why you two came here but you can go. As I said before, I am not a killer, I simply enjoy the artwork of it all.

Maria: You are a killer. You're the worst of them all. At least the others know and admit to what they are, they accept it. You run away from it like a coward. That's all you are, a coward.

(Manson was visibly wounded by that remark and he displayed a twisted smile soon afterward.)

Manson: ... Well, fine. If we're going to play that game. *Laughs* I watched her die. Both of them... They really did care about you, they screamed your name while each of them limbs were being severed off one by one. Ha, ha, ha....

Z: What are you talking about!?

Maria: ....

(Maria's expression changed to complete blankness and her hands began to shake.)

Manson: *Laughs* They were very interesting people... Well, not really. They were quite boring actually. Their deaths anyway. The actions that came before, however, were at lot more...physically pleasing. The way those guards handled them, the way they used their resources to penetrate right to the source of their screaming.... It was wonderful. But their deaths, so boring because they continuously screamed your name...."Maria!" *Laughs*

(Maria didn't respond. She was completely numb with shock, confusion and fear. Z tried to snap her out it but it did no good while Manson continued to talk.)

Manson: ...That's what happens when you have a smart mouth. Ha, ha, ha... Women. They're only good for one thing.

(Manson walked past Z and Maria and dived into the water. Z grabbed Maria's hand and tried to pull her towards the exit but she didn't move.)

Z: Maria... Please.

(Maria didn't move.)

Z: I'm sorry. I'm sorry for you loss. I don't understand what you're going through but you being like this doesn't help anyone.

Maria: ...Z.

Z: What?

Maria: My mom....

Z: We'll get him back. But first we've got to go.

Maria: ...Yeah. Sure....

(Maria's emotional state was fragile but she walked with Z out of Zora's Fountain and back into Zora's Domain. As they walked down the steps to the main area, Z tried to cheer Maria up by telling jokes by they didn't help and the two continued toward the exit in silence. But as Z looked back at the domain, he noticed something peculiar in the water...)

Z: Maria, do you see that?

Maria: ...

Z: Ok. Um, I think I see another opening like the one that got us her in the water.

Maria: ...Why do you care...?

Z: Because that might be a faster way for us to get to Lake Hylia.

Maria: ...

Z: Alright, just come with me.

(The two of them dived in the water and clearly saw the opening.)

Z: It's definitely another opening, let's go through it.

Maria: ...Whatever...

(Z and Maria both swam into the opening and found themselves just as Z had suspected, in Lake Hylia...)

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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Z and Maria reached Lake Hylia, it was nighttime and all was quiet with few if anyone around. Z and Maria got out of the water and looked around.)

Z: See? I was right.

Maria: ...

Z: Come on, Maria, are you still worried about what that guy said?

(Maria gave Z a harsh glare.)

Z: ...I'm sorry. Look, I... Maria, I want to...

(Maria focused her attention away from Z and looked toward the entrance leading to the fishing hole.)

Z: Maria, I'm trying to talk to you! Why are you being so rude...?

Maria: Because someone is over there.

Z: Huh?

(Z turned around and saw him....)

Z: He's here too?

(Eagles was sitting by the lake alone, watching the moonlight and drinking a gallon of rum straight from the bottle...)

Maria: ...Z, what do we do?

Z: What do you mean?

Maria: We can't just avoid him.

Z: But he's not after us! Maria, are you ok!? Listen, I understa...

Maria: No! You don't. Z, after this I'm done with you.

Z: What...? But why?

Maria: ...

(Z started to frown and put his head down while he spoke.)

Z: But I thought we were friends?... You don't want to be friends anymore?...

Maria: ...

Z: Fine. Be that way.

Maria: ...

(They both looked back at Eagles and saw that he was looking in their direction but hadn't moved.)

Z: I think he heard us.

Maria: *Sarcastically* You think?

Z: Argh...

(Eagles turned his head away from Z and Maria's direction and looked into the night sky once again while he took another sip from his bottle. Both Z and Maria stayed silent for about 3 minutes after that before Z spoke again.)

Z: Listen, if you don't like me anymore, that's fine but....

"AHHH!!! Damn it!"

(Z sharply turned around to see that Eagles was rolling on the ground, screaming in pain. Someone had pelted him with a series of arrows from a distance. Shocked and concerned for their own safety, Z and Maria ran for the lake and dived in while Eagles continued to get hit with arrows...)

Z: What's going on....?

(Maria stayed quiet while Z hopped out of the water after he was certain there were no more arrows being fired. What he saw when he got out was Eagles, full of arrows all over his body, crawling with everything he had toward the Lake Hylia exit. Maria had now gotten out of the water and watched him as well.)

Maria: You're not going to help him?

(Z looked at Maria coldly.)

Z: So now you want to speak?

Maria: ...You've tried to help everyone else. But I guess if you tried to help him, he'd just end up dead anyway like everyone else...

Z: What's that supposed to mean!?

Maria: You already know. I'm not gonna explain anything to you.

Z: But I don't understand!

Maria: Well, figure it out!

Z: ...You know... I really... I really thought you were my friend. But I guess I was wrong...

Maria: Whatever, Z. If you were really my friend, you'd understand but you don't. You don't have a clue.

Z: ....

(Z just looked away. Because of their arguing, they hadn't noticed that Eagles had left Lake Hylia. With nobody out this late at night and tired from travel, the two of them had to spend the night outside but didn't say a word to each other as they made their sleeping preparations and went to bed.)

The Next Morning....

(Z had woken up early the next morning to the sound of a rooster's crow. Strangely enough, he was awake before Maria and rather than try to get her attention like he normally would, he simply walked past her and watched the sun rise over the horizon. He thought about everything, everything that had happened since he reached Hyrule and even before then. His future dominated his thoughts, though, and with each passing memory all he could think about was how it would affect him in the future and what exactly did the future have in store for him. Deep down, though, Z was hurting from what he felt was the loss of his friend, his only true friend in Hyrule and what ate him alive more than anything was the persistent thought or fact, that he knew there was no way for him to rectify the situation...)

(Maria yawned as she began to wake up. Z turned to look at her and then quickly turned away. Maria, in return, sighed and shook her head. In her heart, she knew that she was not angry with Z and that he was only the victim of her anger because he was the only person she could take her frustrations out on. But rather than admit this fact, she chose a more stubborn path and continued to give her friend the cold shoulder...)

(The two of them continued to sit in silence as the hours passed and Lake Hylia filled with visitors. Seeing this, Maria stood up and began speaking with men and women, asking about boats while Z did the same. The two of them had no luck in getting anyone's help until Maria met a middle-aged man willing to rent his boat for the right price....)

Maria: I have 500 rupees, sir. That's all I can do for now.

Boat Owner: Hmm... I don't know. I built the boat myself and 500 rupees seems a bit cheap.

Maria: But we're only renting it. One time and we'll bring it right back.

Boat Owner: Is that so? And you said, "we're" so there's more than one of you?

Maria: Yes. My uh....

(Z appeared just as Maria was about to call out for him.)

Z: I'm her classmate. My name's Zeno but you can call me Z. I don't know if Maria told you or not but we're renting the boat for a school project. The project is to see how the sea life of the Great Hylian Sea interact with one another and the only way we can effectively do this is by taking a boat out to sea.

Boat Owner: So why hasn't the school funded this project?

Z: Because we're just taking a little more incentive in doing this project. My grade in the class isn't so hot and Maria here is a bookworm.

Boat Owner: An odd pairing by your teacher.

Z: Tell me about it. So whaddaya say? Care to help out a couple of students?

Boat Owner: Hmm... Well, it is for education and I suppose you children are our future so I'll let you borrow Tammy for a day.

Z: Great. Maria, hand him the rupees.

(Maria started to hand the man the bag of rupees but he refused.)

Boat Owner: I couldn't possibly steal 500 rupees from a couple of students. Take the boat, free of charge. It's already stationed in the port of Hyrule Castle Town. It's a red boat with white lining across the sides and also the name "Tammy" is written across the side in black letters. Take this letter and show it to the guards at the port. That's how you can gain access to my boat. Those guards will also watch you two as you go along the coast, if you try to pull anything funny, they will arrest you and your fate will be left up to the higher power himself.

Z: Higher power?

Boat Owner: Lord Alvius. Now I see why your grades are subpar. Good luck and remember what I said will happen if you pull any foolishness.

(Now with a boat ready for them at the port, Z and Maria ran for Hyrule Castle Town. As they ran through Hyrule Field, Maria started to speak with Z.)

Maria: That's the second time you've lied with a straight face to get what you wanted. *Sarcastically* Have you always been such a liar?

Z: You forget to mention that it's also the eighth time at least, that I've saved your butt. But by your thinking, I guess you should be dead by now since everyone I try to help ends up dying...

Maria: ...

(With no response from Maria, Z kept forward as the two of them continued to run all day across Hyrule Field, finally reaching Hyrule Castle Town just as the gates were about to close. The streets of the town were still field as the early evening hours begun but the look of the castle town was beginning to change with the increased guard patrols and the statues and other decorations being built in Lord Alvius's honor. Regardless, Z and Maria ran through the town and reached the port where they immediately spotted the boat amongst the others there. The two children approached the guard waiting by the gate, ready to hand him their letter....)
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(The guard stopped Z and Maria as they were approaching him...)

Guard: What are you children doing out here at this hour?

Z: We have a letter.

Guard: A letter? Let me see that.

(Z handed the guard a letter, as he read, suspicion grew on his face.)

Guard: Hmm... And you say this is from the boat owner?

Maria: That's what he said.

Guard: And which boat is it?

(Z pointed to "Tammy")

Guard: I see. Well... I suppose I can't do anything to stop you two. But be careful and don't try anything stupid.

Maria: ...

(The guard allowed them through the gate and they walked over to the boat. The boat itself was pretty small and was not much larger than an average fishing sailboat. There was room for maybe 4 people comfortably and since it was just Z and Maria, they both had plenty of room. While Maria got immediately got on the boat, Z made preparations such as getting the sail hoisted up. As he was doing that, he tried making conversation with Maria...)

Z: So why are you still with me? You're obviously angry with me...

Maria: Hmph.

Z: You didn't answer the question.

Maria: Because I've got nowhere to go. You know that already! I'm here by myself with nothing and no one.

Z: ....

Maria: It's not an easy thing to swallow. You've still got at least one parent... What do I have now, Z!? You heard what that guy said.

Z: But... I couldn't stop that Maria. What could I do in that situation?...

Maria: ...I'm not blaming you for my mother's death.

Z: Then why are you so upset with me!?

Maria: ...Forget it.

Z: What? I'm trying to get to the bottom of this!

Maria: Honestly, just forget it. It's not worth talking about now.

Z: But...

Maria: Come on.

(Z stared at Maria for a moment before he finished his preparations on the boat. The guards were intently watching them but they took no notice of it. Now that he was finished, Z waved for a guard to come over.)

Guard: Yes?

Z: I'm ready to launch.

Guard: You sure?

Z: Yes.

Guard: Ok.

(The guard called for several of the others stationed there and together they each positioned the boat for launch.)

Guard: Get in the boat, boy.

(Z hopped in the boat and the guards pushed them off, they were out to sea now. A strong wind blew them forward and the two of them watched the guards as they prepared to take off for Johan.)

Z: You think they're gonna catch us?

(Maria didn't answer. Z looked back at her.)

Z: So you're just gonna be silent this entire trip?

Maria: ...

Z: Fine.

(The guards didn't seem to notice that Z and Maria were heading out of visibility from the port. With no trouble from the guards, Z relaxed and sat down as the wind steered them to the west....)

Z: Well, we got out of that. *Sigh* That had me worried. There's no way this boat could stand up to one of Hyrule's famous battleships or something.

(Maria rolled her eyes. Z saw her and became infuriated.)

Z: What's gotten into you!? I'm trying to be nice and you're just being impossible!

Maria: You.

Z: What?

Maria: You. You've gotten into me.

Z: ...Shut up.

Maria: That's what I've been trying to get you do.

Z: Argh...

(Frustrated, Z just sat down and kept quiet as the wind continued to blow them to the west.)

One hour later...


(Communication between Z and Maria had come to a complete halt. The boat was silent and the two of them sat on opposite sides, staring into the lonely night. Bored, Z pulled out his ocarina and began playing a few simple notes but even this ticked Maria off.)

Maria: Can you stop?

(Z stopped playing his ocarina and turned to Maria.)

Z: What?

Maria: The ocarina. Please stop. It's nerve wracking.

Z: No. There's nothing else to do.

Maria: You're unbelievable! You're so unbelievable!! I swear, you're just so inconsiderate of other people. I just can't take you!!

Z: Then why did you get on this boat with me!!!?

Maria: Cause I don't have any where else to go! Don't you get it!? My mom is dead! Dead, you understand that?! She's not coming back! She's not...

(Maria paused.)

Maria: ...not coming back....

Z: ...

Maria: ....

(Z stayed quiet and Maria put her hands over her face, she was crying. Seeing this, Z walked over to her and patted her on the back to calm her down. Before he could say anything, Z heard the water raging to the east... A ship was coming in their direction, fast.)

(Maria took her hands away from her face and looked to see what was causing the raging waves. She looked at Z, who was also focused on the raging waters.)

Maria: What...?

Z: *Sigh* It's one of those two things.... A really big sea monster or a big ship and there are no monsters in these seas.

Maria: What? So it's a ship?

Z: Yup. A battleship...

Maria: *Nervous* So what does that mean?

Z: That's what I'm trying to figure out.

Maria: Hyrule wouldn't send a battleship out for us, would they?

(Z shrugged his shoulders.)

Z: Well, it won't be long before we find out. That thing is coming in fast...

(The battleship finally came into plain view. It was at least 5 times the size of their small ship and 20 times faster and traveling directly behind them....)

Maria: It's coming for us!

Z: You're right. Here take my ocarina.

(Z handed Maria his ocarina and headed for the back end of the boat to grab the rod holding the sail.)

Maria: What are you trying to do?!

Z: I've got to manually steer this boat out of the way. I don't know what this battleship is doing but it's gonna destroy us if we don't do anything!

(Z maneuvered the sail and steered the ship to the far left, out of the battleship's range. But the battleship started going faster as pulled up right beside the small boat and blew tons of water all over Z and Maria as their little ship was nearly turned over because of it.)

(Soaked and unable to stand on the rocking ship, Maria started to crawl toward Z's end of the boat but he waved for her to stay on that side.)

Maria: *Breathing heavily* Why...!?

Z: *Breathing heavily* If you...come over on this side.... The weight. We need your weight on that side of the ship or... or...the ship will turn over... Just stay there!

(Z did his best to keep steering his boat away from the battleship but it was no use, his ship was far too slow and too small to stand up to the power and speed of the battleship. Although the ship was rocking wildly, Z maintained his composure while maneuvering the ship out of the battleship's range but even this wasn't enough any more as the guards on the battleship started tossing out spears at the little boat.)

Maria: Z! Z! Please! I have to get over on your side!

Z: No! The ship will turn over! Just, do your best to avoid getting hit!

Maria: But I can't! I need your help!

Z: If you get over here, we're both done!

(The battleship moved in closer and was now right next to them, drenching them with furious waves from the side of the ship. Z swallowed some of the water from the waves and began to choke. He fell to his knees and then on his stomach gasping for air. Maria ran to his safety to try and help him but right after she got his windpipes free, a rope came across her neck....)

Maria: Z!!!!!!!!..... Ugh....

(Maria had been dragged into the battleship with the rope wrapped around her neck. Slow to react, Z got to his feet to try and get on the battleship but before he did so, he noticed that the people on the ship were the Outlawz. Startled, Z dived into the water to try and get on the ship but it did no good as the battleship simply rammed into the little boat, destroying it completely. Z's fate was unknown....)

Part II End


Edited by Bx, Dec 31 2008, 12:34:49 PM.
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
Part III: Miracle

Z: And that ends the coldest story ever told.

(Z rose from his seat, the children sitting around him who listened to his story also stood up and followed him as he walked towards the window of the room he was in.)

Gary: Wait! That's the end of the story?... But what about the 6 Wise Men that the kid was trying to free and Maria, what about her?

(Z turned to the group surrounding him and looked at the boy.)

Z: Use your imagination and make up what you think happened.

Gary: But...

Z: Or... Maybe the ending hasn't been written yet.

Gary: But... That's...

(Z waved the boy off and looked out at the window once again. The wind was blowing furiously as the ship chugged through over the Great Hylian Sea, heading east towards Hyrule. Five years had passed since the night of Maria's capture and Z was on a luxury ship from Johan heading to Hyrule.)

(The children surrounding him were getting frustrated with the cliffhanger ending to his story and all stormed off together back to their rooms except one, a girl no older than 17, Diana....)

Diana: The ending hasn't been written because you're still writing it.

(Surprised, Z turned and looked at the girl.)

Z: What makes you think that?

Diana: Because it all fits. That's no fiction story that you just made up, that story is your own, isn't it?

(Z looked away from the girl. But she didn't stop speaking and started rubbing his arm and got closer to him and whispered in his ear...)

Diana: You know... I think it's sweet. And sexy.... A guy who nearly gave his life for the person he loved or thought he loved.

(Z pulled away from her advances and started walking back towards his seat but she followed after and continued speaking.)

Diana: But I also think it's stupid. *Laughs* You were 10 years old, you weren't in love. You had a little crush.

(Z didn't respond but Diana continued her advances and began massaging his shoulders. Annoyed, Z pulled her arms off of him and Diana's obsession turned to anger...)

Diana: So what do I have to do? Do you want me to dress up like Maria? Do I have to pretend to be her to get your attention!?

(Z ignored her and walked back toward the window and looked out while Diana persistently followed right behind.)

Diana: You're im...

Z: All she wanted was for me to care.

(A puzzled look appeared on Diana's face as he continued to talk while staring out at the ocean...)

Z: ...I was too selfish and too young to understand it back then.

Diana: Huh...?

Z: That's why she was angry with me. Because once she found that her mom had been killed, I was so intent on getting to Lake Hylia and finding a boat so I could save my mom and the others that I never took the time to let her wounds heal... I gave half-hearted responses like, "I understand Maria" and "I'm sorry for your loss Maria" but they never meant anything and then to top it all off, when she needed me most, I blew it.

Diana: ...

(Z paused for a moment while watching the ocean and then began talking again.)

Z: The sad part is that Tesla was never killed. ...Manson had lied to us. Remember, I said that he described himself as a "Manipulator" and his little story was nothing more than him trying to pull us apart. He succeeded, I guess.

Diana: ...But how do you know that?

Z: I've got my sources inside of Hyrule.

Diana: So then where is Maria?

Z: I don't know.

Diana: And you're traveling all the way to Hyrule to try and save her? That's ridiculous, she's probably already dead!

(Z stayed silent for a moment before responding.)

Z: I'm not going to Hyrule to try and find Maria. I have other reasons for going but I'll say this... I plan to resolve my personal business while I'm there.

(Z pushed Diana aside as he headed for the exit but she stopped him from leaving by tugging at his arm.)

Diana: You're crazy! It's December 20th. Five days till the Great Winter Festival and all of Hyrule is suffering from the worst blizzard it's seen in nearly 60 years!

Z: Exactly why I'm going now.

(Z pulled his arm away from her and left the room as the ship neared Hyrule's coastline....)
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Z watched from the deck of the ship as it approached land. Hyrule was only a few more miles away and the bitter cold from the blizzard kept all but Z away from the deck while he stared at the water below him...)

Z: Almost time.

(The ship was now only 2 miles away from land and Z began to breathe heavily while he watched the coastline. Diana, the girl obsessed with him appeared on deck behind him.)

Diana: *Shivering* ...Wha...t are... y-y-you do-doin....g up....he-here?

(Z turned and saw that her entire body was shaking.)

Z: Go back inside. It's cold out.

Diana: *Shivering* B-b-b...ut you're... ou-out here!

Z: Not for long.

Diana: ...Hu...h?...

(Z took off his coat and handed it to Diana, who accepted it instantly.)

Diana: ...Are you-you cr-cr...azy!?

Z: I can't answer that yet.

(And with that, Z lunged himself over the railing and dived into the freezing ocean water and began swimming towards Hyrule. Z was about a mile away from the coast and although he was an extremely fast swimmer, he knew his limits and swimming through the brutally cold water tested them tremendously....)

15 minutes later

(Z reached Hyrule's shore, which was completely white with snow. Everything was white, it was a weather anomaly, all of Hyrule even it's driest, hottest regions were covered with snow. Z marveled at the rare scene of a snowy beach for a moment before realizing that he needed to get into a warm area fast. The wet areas of his body immediately frosted while he ran through the back alley of what used to be Hyrule Castle Town. The town itself had rotted into one of Alvius's many slave sites and was also prominent battleground site for the two warring sides...)

(Z took no hesitation to enter an underground passageway located beneath what used to be a shady Bombchu shop in years past. He ran through the passageway as quickly as he could and finally after successfully dodging a few stray Dekus he entered a rusty door where one man was waiting.)

Rauru: Excellent timing, Z.

Z: *Out of breath* Yeah...

(Rauru pulled out a large quilt and tossed it to Z, who was starting to shiver from being out in the cold so long...)

Z: Thanks.

Rauru: How was the ride over? I won't even bother asking about the swim.

Z: Aside from a stalker I made it out ok.

Rauru: A stalker?

(Z shifted his eyes to the ground.)

Z: ...Nothing worth talking about.

Rauru: If you say so.

Z: Yeah. So how far does this blizzard extend?

Rauru: It's incredible. It covers all of Hyrule.

Z: Even the desert?

Rauru: Yes. Nabooru contacted me about it. Several other Gerudos were originally alarmed by it but have since calmed down.

Z: And what about everyone else? How are they doing?

Rauru: As well as can be during times such as these. The evacuation efforts are going as well as expected for the most part.

Z: For the most part?

Rauru: Yes. Alvius' forces destroyed 4 of our ships heading out just yesterday. They've caught on to what we're doing. I expect more violence and bloodshed for future efforts.

Z: I see.

Rauru: But now that you're back from Johan, the morale of our supporters may raise.

Z: Maybe.

Rauru: The Son of Link provides hope for us all.

(Z sighed at that remark.)

Z: Anyway, can we realistically reach our five day goal?

Rauru: That's entirely up to you.

Z: Come on Rauru, I don't want to hear that.

Rauru: I don't know Z. Is that what you would prefer to hear?

Z: Just honesty. That's all.

Rauru: I was being honest when I said what I said.

Z: Ok. So do you have my sword?

Rauru: Yes. It's been sharpened and cleaned. Here.

(Rauru handed Z a long blade.)

Rauru: Appropriately dubbed "Justice".

(Z took a few slashes with his sword before putting it into it's case on his back.)

Z: And the bow?

(Rauru handed Z a large bow as well as a quiver of arrows. Just as he did with the blade, he placed both on his back where the sheath for his sword was.)

Rauru: Lon Lon Ranch.

Z: What?

Rauru: Lon Lon Ranch, that's where your mother along with Saria and Impa are as well others who follow us.

Z: But why Lon Lon Ranch? I only left for a month. And before I left, I recall you all saying that the ranch was a high-risk zone. What happened?

Rauru: Attacks. Alvius's men have destroyed nearly everyone region aside from the desert.... Lon Lon is the last stronghold that we honestly have.

Z: All this occurred in the month of my absence?

Rauru: Yes. I don't believe in coincidences, not of that nature anyway.

Z: So you think this was planned?

Rauru: I think it was a message. A direct and clear message to all of us, most notably you, that Alvius knows what we're doing and will suffocate all against him until we either submit to his will or die.

Z: ...

Rauru: I guess you should get going.

Z: What about you?

Rauru: I'll be fine. The blizzard has helped us in many ways. The number of patrolmen in town have decreased because of the inhuman conditions out there. I don't know how long this thing is going to last but we've got to use it to our advantage, the gods are smiling down on us.

Z: ...Yeah. Later, Rauru.

Rauru: Good luck.

(Z started to open the door to leave when Rauru stopped him...)

Rauru: I guess you didn't find what you were looking for in Johan.

(Z held the door open for a moment before responding.)

Z: I guess that tip was bad.

Rauru: Yes.

(Z walked out of the door but after walking only a few feet, he felt the ground begin to rumble, it got louder and louder with each second. Concerned, he went back into the room and saw Rauru looking around with a nervous look on his face.)

Rauru: You feel it too.

Z: Yes.

(Rauru's expression changed to panic.)

Rauru: Z! Look out!

(Z turned around and saw a group of armed soldiers led by an old Zora foe heading straight for him....)

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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Z started to charge at the incoming squad with only his sword but Rauru stopped him.)

Rauru: Z! Don't do that! Get behind this crate!

(Z looked back at Rauru, who had taken cover behind a large crate, and nodded his head before taking cover himself. The enemy forces were charging fast down the corridor leading to the room.)

Z: How did they find out about us!?

Rauru: I don't know... But this attack at this very hour is no coincidence. Did anyone see you?

Z: No.

Rauru: *Sigh* Ok.

(Rauru barely lifted his head above the crate, just enough to see how close the enemy was before ducking down again and looking at Z.)

Rauru: There aren't a whole lot of them. Not as many as I had thought.

Z: I can take them out with my bow.

Rauru: No. That's unnecessary. I can handle the guards, you take care of that Zora.

Z: What are you going to do about the guards?

Rauru: You'll see. ...But in the meantime, get to Lon Lon Ranch as quickly as you can or you'll freeze to death out there. Put this coat on.

(Rauru handed Z a heavy brown coat with a hood. Z took no hesitation to put the coat on while Rauru stood up in clear view of the enemy.)

Z: What are you doing!?

(Z peaked out from behind the box and saw that Alvius's forces were being led by his old nemesis from the forest...)

Z: Bundy?

(Bundy, with his axe in hand led the men into the room when Rauru lifted his arms into in the air. Z watched as the men attempted to attack Rauru until they all saw what the old Sage was creating right above them....)

Guards: My eyes... Ah, my eyes!

(Everyone in the room including Z shielded their eyes from the blinding light above their heads. Rauru had created a massive bundle of light particles so strong that the heat given off from it could be felt within the eyes of everyone in the room. Knowing the dangers of the energy ball he had created, Rauru looked down at Z to warn him.)

Rauru: Zeno, get out of here! Immediately, go to the location we had spoken of, I'll take care of these men!

(Z continued to cover his eyes while he got up and ran for the exit while the guards inside had all fallen to their knees due to the intense heat from Rauru's energy ball. Z stopped covering his eyes once he reached the stairs leading back up to the interior of the old Bombchu shop. He took a short breather before rolling out of the way of someone swinging an axe....)

Z: Bundy...

(Z stood up and looked at Bundy who was standing right before him, smirking.)

Z: How did you get out of that room.

Bundy: Good to see you again....Z. But I left as soon as I saw what the old man was going to pull.

(Z pulled out his blade and watched Bundy circle around him.)

Z: How did you find out about that spot?

Bundy: We've been on to your game for a while now. Heh. You can't escape Lord Alvius' watch. People will continue to die if you clowns continue this little liberation plan of yours.

Z: How exactly have you been "On to our game" as you say?

(Bundy started laughing.)

Bundy: If only you knew. Regardless, that little swim of yours was impressive. How far was that, a mile? A mile and a half? Regardless, I enjoyed watching it.

Z: You...were watching?

Bundy: Of course. I've told you already, we know everything and you're a bigger idiot than I had originally imagined if you believe otherwise.

Z: But how?... What's happened?

(Bundy started breathing heavily while his movement around Z, slowed....)

Bundy: *Breathing heavily* I remember.... I remember that day.... That Bombchu. *Laughs* It ruined my reputation amongst my men. Amongst my friends. I had to tell them, lie to them about being blown up by your little Bombchu. I told them that my own bomb had exploded on me because of a foolish mistake. Me, a high ranking officer in the army blown up by my own bomb. Do you know what that does to the morale of your men?! Do you know how they looked at me from that day on!?

Z: As a loser.

(Bundy stopped breathing heavily and stopped circling at that remarking. He just stared blankly at Z and started speaking again.)

Bundy: Yes. Yes, they did. But had I told them the truth... It would have been just the same if not worse. Blown up because of a Bombchu in a child's bag.... Argh!!!

(Bundy slammed his axe into the floor right at Z's feet.)

Z: You made yourself a laughingstock, no one told you to go checking my things.

Bundy: I agree. But...I'd rather believe the twisted lie I've built over the years in my head. It makes the embarrassment far more easier to deal with. *Laughs* But isn't it ironic? That a Bombchu caused this entire mess and now it will all end in what was once a Bombchu Shop?

Z: I guess it is. I didn't even realize it to tell you the truth.

Bundy: Now we can enjoy ourselves!

(Bundy started swinging his axe like a madman at Z, who countered by slashing at the axe itself knocking Bundy back and allowing Z to strike with a few stabs to the Zora's stomach. Bundy felt the blood dripping from his stomach and then took a huge swing with his axe that Z barely dodged with a quick roll to the left.)

Bundy: You're better than before.

(Z stood up and tried to regain his composure but he was immediately attacked by Bundy who was now using a combination of quick jabs along with axe thrusts. Z felt the wrath of a few of these jabs and shook off the sting before Bundy could thrust his axe into his midsection. Bundy threw a few more jabs but Z backed away from them and in the process slashed at his enemy's legs, leaving a massive wound that extended from Bundy's left leg to his right.)

Bundy: ...Damn you!

(Bundy stopped his attack and felt at his legs which were bleeding excessively. Z used this opening and gave Bundy a few hard rights of his own sending him to the ground. Groggy from the blows, Bundy attempted to stand up but Z gave him one last present, a Bombchu he had found lying around which he laid directly in the path of where Bundy was laying. Bundy saw the little explosive coming at him and screamed...)

Bundy: NO!!!!!!!!

(Z left the old shop before the Bombchu connected with Bundy but after a few steps of walking, he heard...)

BOOM!!

Z: Bastard.

(Now that he had beaten Bundy, Z started running out of the old Castle Town, which had broken statues of Alvius lying everywhere, the entire city was just a massive ruin. It was still snowing heavily and freezing outside of the Castle Town but luckily for Z, it was only a short walk to Lon Lon Ranch but with the snow about knee high deep, even a short walk felt like an eternity. But Z finally reached Lon Lon Ranch and entered...)

Edited by Bx, Jan 4 2009, 10:11:20 PM.
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Like every other area in Hyrule, Lon Lon Ranch was covered in snow but unlike other areas it was filled with people, all sorts of people of different races, backgrounds and statuses, it was the home of the anti-Alvius movement. But because of the large volume of people within the relatively small confines of the ranch, it was very crowded and tents were set up all over the place for refugees most of whom were inside them due to the cold. Z managed to get around the tents set up around the entrance and entered the house of the ranch which was also crowded with people.)

Saria: You're back!

(Saria immediately ran to Z and gave him a hug before Impa and Ruto came downstairs to greet him.)

Impa: You've grown up more since you left.

Z: I guess.

(Ruto stayed behind and watched him before speaking...)

Ruto: ...How are you?

(Z felt his mother's distant attitude towards him and immediately became concerned.)

Z: Mom, are you ok?...

(Ruto gave a weak smile and replied.)

Ruto: Yes. I'm fine. Just glad to see you, that's all.

(Impa slightly shook her head at Z after Ruto's remark. Bothered by this, Z questioned his mother further.)

Z: Mom, I can tell something is wrong already. Just by the look on your face, what's the matter?

(Again, Ruto gave a weak smile.)

Ruto: Z, I've already told you, I'm alright.

(Z let out a frustrated sigh.)

Z: Ok. Ok.

Impa: Well, anyway, come sit down Z.

(Impa took a seat around the table and Z did the same. Saria also sat at the table with them while Ruto went back upstairs without saying a word.)

Z: What's happened?

Impa: *Sigh* She just can't take this. Everything is starting to get to her especially now that it's all coming to a head.

(Z sighed.)

Z: Yeah.

Saria: The fact that nearly every Zora in Zora's Domain was killed by those monsters eats away at her every single day. She feels guilty about what happened, she thinks it's her fault.

Impa: We tell her it's not but obviously that does no good.

(Z just sat quietly listening.)

Saria: And then there's you to top it all off.

Z: Me? What do you mean "me"?

Saria: She's a mother, Z. Think about how she must feel knowing the pressure that's been put on you and the fact that every time she looks as you, it could be the last.

Z: But she doesn't have to worry about that... I know this is a dangerous situation we're in but...

Impa: And that's why she won't tell you this herself. She knows that you wouldn't understand, that you'll think that she's just trying to baby you but it's only because she cares.

(Z sighed again.)

Z: But I know that.

Saria: Sometimes you don't show it, Z. You get very frustrated with her at times.

Z: ...

(Impa saw that Z was putting some hard thought into what they had said and decided to change the subject.)

Impa: But anyway, you can't let that bother you too much. That's an issue that can be resolved easily, we need to focus on the more pressing one at hand.

(Z looked up at Impa and nodded his head.)

Z: Yeah. Yeah, you're right. And speaking of which although I hate to be the bearer of bad news, things seemed to have soured a little bit.

(Both Saria and Impa's facial expressions changed to concerned curiosity.)

Saria: What do you mean?

Z: I met Rauru before coming here at his little hideout in the Castle Town after arriving and things went well until... We got a visit from some of Alvius' goons led by the Outlaw member, Bundy.

Impa: Are you serious?...

Z: Yes. But luckily Rauru had a little trick up his sleeve and was able to eliminate the threat from the guards.

Saria: And what about the Zora?

Z: I had to take care of him.

Saria: Really? You...Killed him?

Z: As far as I know, yes.

Impa: Impressive from a fighting standpoint but he became the first man you've ever killed, correct?

Z: ...Yes.

Impa: ...You feel ok? Not suffering from any type of shock or sickness or anything like that are you?

Z: ...I'm fine.

Impa: Ok. I'll take your word for it.

Z: But what he had said is what alarmed me the most outside of the fact that he knew of Rauru's hideout.

Saria: And what was that?

Z: He basically said in so many words that Alvius knows of our plans and that we have no chance to succeed and keep our lives.

Saria: He was probably bluffing...

Impa: Yes. It was probably just a coincidence that all of this occurred...

Z: I might have agreed with you had he not also said that he was watching my swim over to the shore. He also knew the distance of my swim, something I don't think he could have guessed had he not been watching.

(Saria and Impa both let out nervous sighs.)

Z: Rauru doesn't believe that all of this has been a coincidence and I'm inclined to agree. Only a man on a death wish or a man on a mission would stand outside in that kind of cold to watch someone swim to shore. My question to you guys now is what do we do now? Bundy may be out of our hair now but I'm pretty sure that was only the beginning.

Saria: ...

Impa: Honestly, Z, what else can we do? You've been out there, this ranch is completely full. We have other place to go other than the desert but it's not as if we can just pack ourselves up and go as one large party. We're easy-picking that way.

Z: So you're saying that we stay with our evacuation plan?

Impa: I'm saying that there is nothing else to do. Hyrule is completely ruined, everywhere including the desert for that matter just to a lesser degree is in shambles. It'll take years for us to rebuild. We've successfully managed to send off 2 ships with refugees.

Z: Just two?

Saria: We only started just two days ago, remember? Getting ships has been a challenge for one thing and the other...

Z: Ships have been getting destroyed.

Impa: Rauru told you?

Z: Yes. He said Alvius' men destroyed 4 ships yesterday but he also said that our plans were going as well as to be expected. When he said that, I thought that a solid majority of these people had already been sent off. And now you guys are telling me that we've actually lost more than we've saved....

Saria: Be reasonable, Z. This is one extremely difficult task that we're facing. He has a military backing him, full of well-trained soldiers willing to serve their leader's every whim. Competing with that is next to impossible when most of our supporters are average citizens who have been scared to death by this inhuman monster that we're trying to get away from.

Z: Ok. So can we reach our goal? Can we get everyone evacuated to safety within these next 5 days?

Saria: 4 and three quarters to be exact.

Z: Yeah, so can we do it? Realistically.

Impa: This blizzard is a double-edged sword Z. It's detrimental to our efforts to get people on ships when travel is brutal in these conditions but at the same time, it also allows us some wiggle room from any of Alvius' attacks but if what you're saying is true about them knowing what our plans are then maybe this doesn't help us at all.

Z: It's funny. Rauru thought exactly the opposite. It makes sense though, you being the Sage of Shadow and him of Light.

(Impa rolled her eyes.)

Impa: Anyway. Z, I'm afraid our plans won't change and we'll try to evacuate everyone within our set time frame but who knows what'll happen between now and then. My suggestion to you is to just be ready for anything.

Z: I understand that.

Saria: Yes. Be very careful. The actions of that Bundy guy seem to indicate that Alvius wants you dead under any circumstances.

Z: So what's the plan for today? Are you guys gonna give it another go at getting some of these people on a ship out of here?

Saria: Yes. We're doing things a bit differently, though this time. We're actually going to try and neutralize the guards in the castle town with as little force necessary before heading down to the port.

Z: And you guys still want me to try and free as many slaves throughout Hyrule as I can and get them over here?

Impa: Yes. We've gotten a majority of the slaves out of their bondage but there were a few who were recaptured and are being put to work at Death Mountain. Alvius has had them working to turn Goron City into his own personal shrine honoring himself. Darunia is there now.

Z: Why?

Impa: Anger. He's furious about what they're doing to his home.

Z: He's alone?

Impa: No. He took a group of Gorons with him. Hopefully, they're all alright.

Z: I hope they're doing ok.

Saria: We may not be here when you get back so just be careful.

Z: Is my mom going with you guys?

Impa: No. Not this time.

Z: I won't bother her then.

Impa: ...

Saria: Oh and Z, did you ever find what you were looking for in Johan?

(Z put his head down before answering.)

Z: ...No.

Saria: But what about that tip you said you received?

Z: No good, I guess.

Saria: ...I'm sorry to hear that.

Z: ...Good luck.

(Z walked out of the house and back into the cold where he was approached by a man.)

Z: Julius? Hey. How's it going?

(Julius, the man who was once a beggar during Link's childhood and the store owner who's shop had been burned down due to Z and Maria's disappearance. Because of that, his reputation had been soiled in the eyes of some even with his innocence proven and his presence among the refugees was a bit unsettling and unwanted from these people.)

Julius: I've been managing.

(A furious man opened his tent.)

Man: Get away from my tent, you filthy pervert!

(Julius sighed and shook his head.)

Julius: ...We should find another spot to talk.

(Julius led Z inside his tent, which was near a group of horses.)

Julius: I remember when this was just a small family-owned ranch run by Talon along with his daughter Malon. Compared to now, those were good days even if I was still a beggar at that point. *Sigh* At least I still had my reputation as an honest beggar...

Z: You have it pretty rough.

Julius: Some have asked for my forgiveness while others would seem to simply have me strung up on that tree again.

Z: You and I both know that you're innocent Julius, don't let them get to you.

Julius: Yes. You and I both know... But those were good days, yes they were. Talon and Malon both left Hyrule around the time of your father's death, they left the ranch to the other worker, Ingo. Unfortunately, Ingo wasn't as...how shall we say, honest as his former boss and the ranch was run to the ground only to be bought by a businessman and turned into a gambling site for horse racing.

Z: Why are you telling me this?

Julius: For one thing, I just felt like filling you in on some of the history of this little ranch and the other is that it goes to show that if something so honest, so pure as Talon and Malon's Lon Lon Ranch could be corrupted into something so slimy then anything or anyone can if put up against the worst circumstances.

Z: I see.

Julius: Yes. Well, since this is a ranch and I'm sure you're heading off somewhere, why not take a horse? The ones you see by my tent are all well-trained.

Z: Thanks a lot but a horse can't travel that fast in this type of weather, can it?

Julius: Not really but it'll get you to wherever you need to be faster than you could. You said it yourself, the weather is brutal out there, you want to get to where you're going as fast as possible and the best way you can accomplish that is with a horse so take one.

Z: Alright.

Julius: You know how to ride one, right?

Z: Yes. And once again, thanks a lot. Be safe.

Julius: You do the same.

(Z left the tent and approached one of the horses, it was a pretty light brown one. He started petting the horse before he tried getting on it.)

Z: There, there girl. That's a good girl, now stay just like that.

(As Julius had said, the horses were well trained and the one Z had chosen allowed him to get on it's back.)

Z: Ok. Now that we've got that out of the way, we just need to avoid hitting these people in their tents.

(The horse galloped at Z's command and together they managed to avoid stomping any of the tents located all over the ranch and were now out in the snowy Hyrule Field but the conditions had gotten worse and it was essentially a whiteout, visibility was zero and Z had to go on only instinct towards the direction of Kakariko Village to reach Death Mountain...)
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Going only on instinct, Z galloped the horse towards Kakariko Village. The whiteout conditions made it impossible to see anything that wasn't directly in front of you and the knee high snow made horse-travel a real pain as well but like Julius said, it was faster than on foot.)

(Despite the harsh conditions, Z was moving along at a decent pace until...)

Z: Whoa..!

(He was flung off the horse and sent face first into the snow. Due to the poor visibility, Z couldn't see that the terrain he was moving the horse along had a steep ditch and when the horse's leg lost it's balance, Z had been tossed into it. A bit shaken but otherwise alright, Z got up and checked the horse's left front leg.)

Z: You ok girl? Ah...That leg of yours looks alright.

(Z petted the horse's head and then saddled himself up again and galloped off towards what he believed to be Kakariko Village. After a few more minutes of travel, Z stopped the horse, the snowfall had become too heavy and going any farther would be just be dangerous. Z got off the horse and stood in the snow trying to gauge how far off he was from Kakariko Village.)

Z: Hmm.... *Walks around* ...It's not use. The snow is too heavy to see anything. *Sigh* And it's too cold to just stand out here...

(Z reluctantly got back on the horse and headed in the direction he had already been traveling. With the blinding snow in his eyes, maneuvering the horse in the right direction was becoming a troublesome task as Z battled the biting cold, the frost building up in his eyes and the challenge of controlling the horse.)

(A huge blast of wind sent Z's horse stumbling out of control and Z fell off once again.)

"Eeeeh!!!"

Z: Crap.

(Z picked himself up and saw that the horse had lost it's footing and was laying on it's side deep in the snow. Z walked over to the horse and checked it's condition.)

Z: Oh no... No...

(Z felt the horse's left rear leg. It was broken and in these weather conditions, there was no way to get any kind of help. Z was faced with two options, both leading to the same end. But before deciding, he circled around the horse thinking out loud...)

Z: ...*Sigh* What am I supposed to do? I don't want to just let her...

(Before Z could finish his sentence, someone had grabbed his blade from his sheath and stabbed the horse directly in the neck, killing it.)

???: That is what you are supposed to do.

(Stunned, Z turned to see Nabooru standing behind him.)

Nabooru: And if you cannot do such a simple task then maybe you aren't cut out for this.

(Nabooru handed Z his sword back. He took it and immediately questioned her.)

Z: Why did you kill that horse like that!?

Nabooru: Because it was the humane thing to do.

Z: Humane?... No. That was just a killing.

Nabooru: The horse was going to die regardless. It's leg was broken and nobody would be coming out here to save it. Honestly, had you even dared try to get help for this horse, would you have been able to find it again in these conditions? I don't think so.

Z: ...

Nabooru: Life is about choices, Z. And sometimes the best choice isn't necessarily the most morally acceptable at least from a superficial standpoint. You must learn to accept the decision you make be it right or wrong and go with it from there. You want Hyrule's freedom, correct?

Z: Of course.

Nabooru: Then you must realize that it will come at a high price for us all. People will die, people have died needlessly on both sides for that very reason. Everyone has choices to make and what's "right" and "wrong" may not exactly be cut and dry when you're forced to make those choices.

Z: ...I understand.

Nabooru: Ok. Well make sure you understand this as well. We don't always make the "right" choice. We're not supposed to, we're flawed creatures who strive for perfection within a world that is far from perfect. The situation we're in now illustrates that point perfectly.

Z: You're right. I should've known what to do.

Nabooru: No need to feel shame. You have a heart, a big one at that and that's a good thing. It's what makes us who we are. Besides, you're still young. You may be a bit more experienced than the average 15 year old but you're still 15 years old, you have your whole life ahead of you to learn and grow with your experiences. This situation is just one of them.

Z: ...Thanks, Nabooru.

Nabooru: No problem. But I've got to ask, why are you out here?

Z: Huh? Oh. Impa and Saria told me to head over to Death Mountain to help Darunia free the enslaved people there.

Nabooru: Is that so? Well... I hate to break it to you but you're a little ways away from Death Mountain.

Z: What? Where am I?

Nabooru: About 10 feet away from entering Gerudo Valley.

Z: What!? But...how?

Nabooru: Uh...It's pretty easy to get lost in this snow Z. I mean, me stumbling upon you was a minor miracle.

Z: But it's such a long walk now...

Nabooru: It would be, yes.

Z: Crap... *Sigh* So where are you heading Nabooru?

Nabooru: Lon Lon Ranch.

Z: But what about the Valley? I hear it's still in decent shape.

Nabooru: That it is. Getting through the Haunted Wasteland is a death trap for those soldiers though our fortress is no more.

Z: But how were you able to escape capture? Aren't more soldiers still in the area?

Nabooru: Yes. But because of the snowstorm, nobody can see anything and slipping past people especially when you're as agile as I am is not a challenge at all.

Z: I get it. So why are you going to Lon Lon Ranch?

Nabooru: I'd like to update myself on the status of our situation. Of course if I really wanted to, I imagine I could just ask you and save myself the hassle of going all the way over there.

Z: True.

Nabooru: But I'll spare you the trouble since I really just want to go to Lon Lon Ranch and see how everyone is doing.

Z: If you say so.

Nabooru: Are you still going to head to Death Mountain?

Z: That was the plan, yeah.

Nabooru: Then you might want to use this.

(Nabooru pulled out a small gem that was glowing a faint green color.)

Z: Uh...What is it?...

Nabooru: It's a warp gem.

Z: Warp gem?

Nabooru: Yes. This little stone here can teleport you anywhere you want to be.

Z: Really?!

Nabooru: Yes but don't get too excited, this stone is about out of energy and I guess it has maybe one more use left in it. Unless you want to go through this winter maze, I'd suggest using it.

Z: But wait a minute. What about you? You said it yourself, this is a winter maze. How are you going to make it to Lon Lon Ranch?

(Nabooru smiled.)

Nabooru: I'm a Sage, Z. I'm all-knowing.

Z: ...Ok.

Nabooru: But seriously, Z. Don't worry about me. You just take care of yourself on that mountain. Going up in clear conditions is bad enough as is, I can only imagine what it must be like now.

Z: Good point.

(Nabooru started to walk off but Z stopped her.)

Z: Hey! You never asked how my ride over here was.

Nabooru: Quite frankly Z, I don't care. You're here, you're obviously ok, why worry about that?

(Z smiled while Nabooru waved him goodbye and disappeared into the snow. Z looked at the warp gem and began thinking out loud once again.)

Z: ...If only I had this all those years ago.

(Z took his eyes off the gem and then looked at the dead horse with Nabooru's words ringing in his head. He snapped himself out of the trance he was in and finally used the warp gem choosing his destination as Goron City.)

(After a brief moment, Z arrived in Goron City. The interior looked nothing like he had remembered, there were statues and relics everywhere all with either Alvius' face or namesake located somewhere on them. It was sickening seeing Goron City like this but Z couldn't help be somewhat relived that he was out of the cold although the drained lifeless feeling within Goron City wasn't much better.)

Z: *Sigh* Man. This just isn't right...

(It was quiet and under normal circumstances, that wouldn't be a cause for concern but because of the danger of the situation and being told that Darunia and a group of Gorons were here fighting Alvius' men, Z was alarmed by the silence. He looked down at the ground floor and saw that no one was around but he did notice the door to Darunia's room was open. He quietly went downstairs trying to avoid any type of confrontation with enemy soldiers but there were none, the exterior of the city was totally empty, no soldiers, no slaves and no Darunia. Z made a run for Darunia's room and entered.)

Z: ...Whoa.

(Darunia's old room was a disaster. Blood was splattered all over the walls and the statues and pictures of Alvius' likeness on them were torn, destroyed and also covered with blood. Z noticed that one of the statues looked as if it had been pulled down from a position where it would have covered the secret entrance leading to Death Mountain's Crater. Curious, Z entered and found...)

Z: Darunia!

(Darunia turned and looked at Z. He was surrounded by the group of Gorons that Impa and Saria had mentioned as well as a single human. They all had grave looks on their faces...)

Darunia: Z! You're back!

(Darunia and the others walked to where Z was standing and began speaking.)

Darunia: What are you doing here?

(Z was sweating heavily as the extreme heat inside of the crater remained unchanged despite the winter storm but he continued to speak.)

Z: Saria and Impa wanted me to come here to assist you in freeing the enslaved people here.

Darunia: Really? Well... There's no... Wait a minute. *Notices Z's sweating and heavy breathing* We should go inside.

(Z gave Darunia a thumbs up and they both, along with the other Gorons, went back inside of Darunia's old room.)

Darunia: You see this place, Z? Look at it! Look at the mockery *Picks up a broken Alvius statue head* that this bastard has turned my room into! That he's turned the home of the Gorons into!!

(Darunia started hurled the broken statue head at the wall, it shattered into pieces.)

Z: Darunia. I know, I know you're angry and you have every right to be but what's happened here? Did you guys get rid of all of Alvius' forces? And what about the slaves?

(Darunia calmed down a bit before speaking again.)

Darunia: *Sigh* The troops got rid of themselves.

Z: Huh?

Darunia: We were fighting earlier and apparently one of those Zora elites came by and all of the troops stopped fighting with us and ran down the mountain. We chased after 'em but they escaped. We figured it was a win for us.

Z: And the slaves?

(All of the Gorons put their heads down including Darunia.)

Darunia: *Sigh* They tried to fight with us but... they were immediately slaughtered by Alvius' forces. We could only save one.

(The human that was with them had approached Z. It was a man with a face from Z's past, Elias.)

Elias: ...I am Elias. Darunia has told me many great things about you.

Z: ...I know you.

(Elias looked suprised.)

Elias: ...How? I, I don't believe we've ever met.

Z: We haven't. But I've seen you before.

(Elias' face turned red and he put his head down...)

Elias: Yes. *Sigh* Many people know my face. Oh, the humiliation that that monster put me through.

Z: You're talking about when Alvius fired you in front of the entire Castle Town during his speech?

Elias: ...Of course. I've fallen hard, friend. Very hard....

Z: ...

Darunia: Elias used to be the right-hand man to Alvius' father, Carrogen IV.

Z: That's quite a fall.

Elias: ...I am paying for Carrogen IV's sins because of my role in all of this. What a fool I was. But it was necessary for me to see the error of my ways.

Z: Elias. In Goron City, five years ago, you were there when that really tall Zora attacked that General of Alvius' forces weren't you?

(Again, a look of shock came across Elias' face.)

Elias: Y-yes. But...How do you know that?

Z: Because I was there.

Elias: No. You're kidding...

Z: Nope. My friend and I saw the entire thing play out and we saw you run off to try and escape from the guards but I guess they caught you.

Elias: Yes. That was when I was captured and subjected to this life... *Sigh* I can't believe you were there to witness all of that.

Z: Yeah, it's crazy.

Elias: I feel good things from you already, Z.

(Z looked away at that comment and Darunia began speaking again.)

Darunia: Z, how is it out there?

Z: Complete whiteout. Visibility is none.

Darunia: Really? How were you able to get here then?

Z: I got lost and luckily I ran into Nabooru who gave me a warp gem which I used to get over here.

Darunia: I see. If conditions are as they say you are then we may as well stay here until it clears up a bit.

Z: Darunia, going back to what you had said about the fighting, you say that one of the Zora elites came and the soldiers just left and went down the mountain?

Darunia: Yes. That's exactly how it happened. It was strange but they were completely focused on getting down the mountain for whatever reason. Why do you ask?

Z: ...Bad feeling.

Darunia: That seems to be going around.

Z: You can say that again. But just why were you guys inside of the crater?

(Darunia's facial expression completely changed to one of blank fear.)

Darunia: ...No uh... particular reason. Just um...thought it would be safer in there. ...Plus we had a heat-resistant suit for Elias here and you know um...

Z: Is something wrong?

Darunia: No...

Z: You sure?

Darunia: Yes.

(Z looked around at the other Gorons and Elias, all had the exact same expression that Darunia had on his face. Something was wrong but Z chose not to press it and changed the subject.)

Z: You guys are just gonna wait here until the storm calms down a bit?

Darunia: I don't see what else we can do. You're not going to do the same?

Z: ...Probably not.

Darunia: Well, I guess you'll be ok with that warp gem.

Z: ...

Darunia: What?

Z: It's no good anymore. The last use was to get up here.

Darunia: I see. Well, that could be pretty bad then. You should wait with us.

Z: As much as I'd like to, I don't think I can. Impa and Saria are planning to lead another group of people out of here for evacuation early tonight.

Darunia: Early tonight? I heard about those 4 ships, are they sure that's a wise thing to do?

Z: Impa's not gonna change the plan.

Darunia: I see. Well... *Sigh* I suppose there's no reason we can't help. Those soldiers are gone and nobody's here anymore anyway so...

Z: Alright. It'll be nice having some company for a change.

(Darunia smiled.)

Z: We should head down now.

Darunia: Z. Before we go, I want to give you something.

Z: What?

Darunia: This.

(Darunia handed Z a hammer.)

Z: Why are you giving me a hammer?

Darunia: That's not just a hammer, that's the Megaton Hammer. A weapon of great power. I believe it would be best suited in your hands, think you can handle it?

Z: Yeah. And I've got a place for it behind my back as well.

(Z placed the hammer behind his back below his sword sheath, bow and quiver.)

Z: A strange gift but thanks.

Darunia: No problem. Lets go.

(Darunia and Z led the others out of Goron City and into the whiteout on Death Mountain. Going down was an extremely dangerous task but no one knew the mountain better than the Gorons and Darunia as well as the others scouted the terrain and assisted Z down the mountain safely after a few hours of travel.)

(They were now in Kakariko Village or what was left it. The entire site had become a ruin much like Hyrule Castle Town although Z and the others couldn't see much of it. Regardless, it was a nasty mess of scraps from houses and other structures that had been destroyed in battle. Z and the others moved through as safely as they could in the tough weather until....)

BOOM!!

"AHH!!!!"

(A bomb had been hurled their way, killing a few of the Gorons. They weren't alone in the village, in fact, they were surrounded.)

Darunia: They're here! It was a trap!

Z: ...This is what I was worried about.

Darunia: Z! I don't think they can actually see us but we should get behind some of these ruins for cover. Everyone, take cover!

(Everyone did as told and more bombs were hurled their way, which they were able to avoid safely as the voice of a past enemy echoed in the wind....)

"Now this is gonna make for a great story!"


Z: Gacy.

(Gacy was leading Alvius' troops in their attack on Z and the others. A harsh battle had begun...)
Edited by Bx, Jan 6 2009, 04:24:24 PM.
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Bx
Notorious
[ * ]
(Gacy could be heard in the distance commanding his men to start using the cannons. Hearing this, Z and the others moved behind another set of ruined houses while the explosions from the cannon-fire rang in their ears.)

Darunia: ...Z, we're trapped. If we move from here, the blast from those cannons will slaughter us!

Z: I know. But Darunia if we just sit here, we're sitting ducks.

Darunia: But if we can't just go out there and give ourselves away.

Z: They can't see us, though. It's a risk and...

Darunia: A risk!? It's suicide!

BOOM! BOOM!


(Another explosion rocked the area and the Gorons along with Elias were starting to panic. They were scrambling around like madmen.)

Darunia: STOP MOVING!!!

(Most of the Gorons stopped dead in their tracks but a few continued to run around until...)

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


(A massive blast blew the scrambling Gorons to dust and the debris as well as smoke from the explosions began getting to everyone. Their coughing had alerted the enemy to their presence and Gacy took no hesitation in using this to his advantage.)

Gacy: Z! A lifelong friend of mine suffered an untimely end because of your actions! I allowed you to live so that together we could make our story more intriguing, more intense but you took it too far... You went over the limitations that I placed in my story and now it is time for the climax, the hero takes revenge for his fallen ally! *Laughs* When I think of it that way... I'm almost glad he's dead! Fire, boys!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

(The enemy soldiers sent a barrage of cannonballs in the area where Z, Darunia and the others had been located.)

Gacy: ...Huh?

(Gacy looked at the soldier next to him with a confused look on his face.)

Gacy: Where were the screams?...

(Z and the others managed to move away from the ruins they were behind because of Gacy's foolish monologue prior to the blasts. They had actually moved forward away from the ruins and were crawling towards Gacy's men in separate groups.)

Soldier 1: Commander Gacy, uh... do you want us to go in and check the area for survivors?

(Gacy became angered.)

Gacy: Survivors!? Survivors?! Argh.... They all survived you moron! Just fire the cannons everywhere!

(The soldiers immediately started firing more cannonballs in the direction of where they thought Z and the others were at. But aside from the explosions, nothing was heard or seen and Gacy became more infuriated while Z and the others were flanking their enemies on both the right and left sides using the soldiers footprints as a means of telling them where they had been at as well as where they were at.)

Soldier 1: Sir, are you still against searching the blast sites?

Gacy: Nothing's changed! Continue firing! Oh, Z.... You haven't outsmarted me. Not in the least. All units except for those stationed at cannons spread across the area. I have a feeling as to what they're trying to do. Z! I know you can hear me and this is good... Very good, it makes the ending that much more spectacular! And you know what they say, a story is only as good as it's ending!

(The troops did as Gacy had commanded and spread out across the area. The flanking plan that Z and the others had adopted was thrown out of the window in favor of direct, face-to-face confrontation with the enemy.)

(Darunia was double-teamed by a group of soldiers but one of his Goron buddies saved him once he bashed both of their heads together causing their skulls to crack. Z's mobility had decreased due to the weight of the Megaton Hammer on his back but his overall effectiveness in combat remained intact when he put two enemy soldiers into the snow with a vicious slash to their chests, it didn't kill them but it rendered them useless for battle while he tried to find Gacy in the thick snow. But before continuing he saw Elias in trouble.)

Elias: Help...!!

(Two large guards had surrounded the much smaller Elias and were beating his head in with their fists until...)

CLONK!

(Z smashed the two soldiers heads in with the Megaton Hammer and checked Elias.)

Z: You ok?

Elias: *Shivering* Th-th-thank you so much!

Z: No problem. You should g...

Elias: Look out!

(Z was violently thrown into the snow from an enemy behind him. Z shook off the effects of the fall but he was immediately kicked in the gut while he was on all fours trying to stand. Though his stomach was stinging, he successfully staggered to his feet and turned to see that the person attacking him was none other than Gacy.)

Gacy: *Laughs* You look for me, I find you. The typical case of the hunter becoming the hunted! A common theme found in many of histories best novels and one that... Ouch!

(Elias had picked up a fallen soldier's spear and was stabbing Gacy in the back. Angered, Gacy quickly turned and snatched the spear out of Elias' hand.)

Gacy: You're that reject Lord Alvius disposed of prior to his coronation! And now as any great hero would, I'll take care of the traitorous dog that my sovereign....

(Elias began pointing down while Gacy was speaking.)

Gacy: Huh?

(Gacy looked down and saw a bomb at his feet. As it was getting ready to explode, the Zora tried to make a run for it but...)

CLONK!

(Z slammed the hammer into his face before he could escape, Gacy had been sent to the ground and fell directly on the bomb just as it exploded. Elias had since run away and Z now tried to find Darunia. Z heard more fighting in area south of his position and headed there, passing severely wounded and dead soldiers as well as Gorons along the way...)

Z: Darunia! Darunia!

(Z called out Darunia's name but he got no answer.)

Z: Darunia! Darunia! DARUNIA!!

(Again, no answer. Concerned, Z went into the thick of where he had heard the fighting coming from but when he got to the area, he saw only the aftermath, many dead soldiers and a few wounded Goron. Z questioned the Gorons about Darunia's whereabouts but they were either unsure or too injured to speak or care.)

Z: *Sigh* Where he is?

(Z continued walking blindly through the area while he called out for Darunia.)

Z: Darunia! Darunia! Where are you?!

(Again, no answer...)

(Z started waving his sword in the air hoping that Darunia would see if he was nearby but he got nothing. He continued waving it in the air but....)

Z: AHH!!!

(An arrow pierced Z's raised forearm which caused his sword to fall out of his hand while he grabbed at the arrow and screamed in pain.)

Z: AHHH!!!!! Son of a... AHH!!!

(Z tugged at the arrow but the pain was too great for him to try and pull it out. Not even a minute after, Z saw a blue hand grabbed the arrow from behind and pulled it out...)

Z: AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Z grabbed his forearm and hunched over in pain, he knew who was behind him but the pain kept him from retaliating. And with that the blue hand that had pulled the arrow out then stabbed Z in the back with it.)

Z: AHHH!!

(Z fell to his knees.)

Gacy: You should have *Huff* *Huff* known that... *Huff* this wasn't over.... A little bomb isn't going to stop me. *Laughs* I respect the work that you and those Gorons did to my soldiers, impressive stuff altogether but in my story, the only remarkable comebacks come from...Ugh.... Ugh...

(Gacy was being strangled from behind. With the pain subsiding a bit, Z turned and saw that it was Darunia who had him in the suffocating choke hold. Gacy's eyes rolled back into his head and he took one last gasp for life when Darunia dropped him on his back and assisted Z to his feet.)

Darunia: How's that arm?

Z: ...Not good.

Darunia: Put some of this on the wound and wrap it tight with a piece of this cloth.

(Z took the healing ointment and cloth and did as Darunia said and took a few deep breaths while he looked at the defeated Gacy. Elias appeared with three other Gorons and handed Z his sword.)

Z: Thanks.

Darunia: That was one tough fight. I wasn't sure we were gonna get out of this one a few times. Still can't see a thing past my feet but I'll assume that this battle is done. Their commander has been taken out at the very least.

Z: Yeah. He was nuts...

Darunia: A real basketcase that guy was. All of that story talk had me uneasy, I wasn't sure what he was gonna do next.

Elias: ...That's Gacy for you.

Darunia: After hearing the guy speak, I guess the whole retreating of the troops were just the tactics of a psychopath even though it did lead to a trap. But I'm convinced that was just a random act.

Z: I'm not. Something real funny is going on.

Darunia: Why do you say that?

Z: My gut is telling me that this whole thing was a planned ambush.

Darunia: Well, obviously Z but...

Z: I don't mean for you guys. I mean for me.

Darunia: Come again?

Z: I don't think it's a coincidence that when I'm told to go up to Death Mountain, a group of soldiers are called down to Kakariko by one of their elite commanders to set up an ambush.

Darunia: But Z, it could just as easily have been an ambush for us like it was.

Z: But why would they then run away in the first place? And then the sudden appearance of Gacy to lead them out of there like that. You said it yourself, they were focused on one thing, getting down that mountain at any cost.

Darunia: ...It does make sense. *Sigh* But then what does that mean?

Z: Either we're being watched or this is all one hell of a coincidence.

Darunia: But in this storm, how could anyone watch us? The only way the enemy could know our plans is if they're near... Wait a minute. Do you think there is a spy among our ranks?

Z: Could be. I don't see any other explanation.

Darunia: But who?...

Z: ...No idea.

Darunia: ...We shouldn't jump to conclusions just yet. And for now, that scenario is only a theory, I don't want to believe it just yet. It would be so detrimental to our cause.

Z: I hope I'm wrong too but I've had a weird feeling about everything since I got back.

Darunia: ...

Z: It's dark already. We should try and get to the port and see if Saria and Impa are there. Let's move.

(Z and the others started moving all but Elias, who was still gazing at Gacy's body.)

Darunia: Elias, what are you doing?

Elias: ...

Z: Elias?

Elias: ...I just never thought I'd see the day when Gacy would fall in combat.

Z: Huh?

(Elias turned to Z.)

Elias: He seemed to know you. Had you met before?

Z: Eh....Yeah. We met on worse terms... Worse for me, anyway.

Elias: I see. An "Outlaw" until the end I suppose.

Z: What?

Darunia: Guys, we should really get going! It's already nighttime!

Elias: I can explain on the way, Z.

Z: Yeah, you do that. I'd like to know a little more about these guys....

(Z and the others made their way through Kakariko Village and were now heading towards the Castle Town ruins, along the way, Elias and Z spoke....)
Edited by Bx, Jan 7 2009, 09:57:54 AM.
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