| abstract
| - Meanwhile, Dezla was just arriving back at Hyrule Castle. Out of curiosity, she was going to see the Ordonian swordsman that had managed to kill one of Zenai's guards. She came into the dungeon area and, after some searching, found the cell she was looking for. Inside, Link was curled up cat-like on the straw bed, sleeping. This must be him, Dezla thought to herself. But he can't be more than a teenager! And he's so...scrawny. But...kinda cute... She leaned in closer and noticed the nasty injury on his left shoulder. Damn that Zenai, she thought. One of his guards must have stabbed him! I hope it's the one that got killed. For some reason, Dezla found herself looking at Link's left hand (which was draped over his face). It would have been quite unimportant were it not for the fact that a very familiar symbol suddenly began to glow on the back of it. Dezla gasped, and suddenly noticed that the back of her right hand was glowing with the same golden symbol. Is it possible...? He's been chosen by the gods, too...? thought Dezla. Suddenly, she heard the sound of a heavy iron door being opened and slammed shut. It would be one of the guards making his rounds. I have to get out of here, Dezla thought. Taking one look back at Link, she ran off. Morning finally broke on the Plunderer's camp. Lank was exhausted. Being tied upright to a wooden pole was a very poor way to sleep. Even worse, some of the more nocturnal Bokoblins and Moblins had taken to poking him with sticks whenever he tried to doze. But now, Lank was the only one who was awake in the whole camp. "I...need...sleep," he mumbled to himself. He allowed his head to droop against his chest, and managed to fall asleep. But not for long. The camp was beginning to stir with drowsy life. Hoggart, who was nearby, walked over to Lank and poked him in the chest with a pointy stick. "No more badgers, please, I'm full," Lank mumbled. Hoggart poked Lank again, much harder this time. "Ow!" Lank yelled, jerking from his fitful doze. Hoggart grinned nastily. "Had a nice snooze, eh?" he asked mockingly (he was one of the ones that had harassed poor Lank in the middle of the night, after all). "Ugh...you wouldn't let me sleep last night..." "Ah ha ha ha! Yew shoulda just tried to ignore the poking!" "How could I?" Lank asked. "You nearly poked me in the eye!" Hoggart just laughed and walked away, shaking his head and snorting. Lank sighed. "What would Link do in this situation?" he asked himself. He'd escape and kick all of their butts, that's what, said a voice inside Lank's mind. "I wish I was brave and tough like my brother. Then I could get outta here and help him get away from Zenai," Lank said to himself. Ah, but if your brother's so brave and tough, why is he in the dungeons of Hyrule Castle in the first place? the voice retorted coolly. "It's because Zenai's a jerk!" Lank answered loudly. This got some of the Plunderers to stare at him. Lank felt his face grow hot with embarassment. "I need to stop talking to myself," Lank said to himself. Meanwhile, inside of a dark and creepy castle, a tall, powerfully built man was looking out a large, open window. He seemed to be waiting for something. Suddenly, a Darknut came running into the room. "Master Ganondorf!" he said. "He's back! And he says it's urgent!" The tall man (Ganondorf) looked around. "Really?" he said. He followed the Darknut out of the room and into the hallway. Standing there, flanked by two more Darknuts, was the black-cloaked, draconic stranger. "It's him, Master," said the stranger. "The Hero of Time, the one that holds a part of the Triforce! I could sense the power in him! He's locked up in Hyrule Castle!" "At last," said Ganondorf. "We've found the Triforce of Courage." He looked at the back of his left hand, where the Triforce of Power glowed. "I only need him and Zelda...then Hyrule will be mine!" Ganondorf looked at his black-cloaked messenger again. "You've done well, Kotuumath," he said. The black-cloaked stranger, Kotuumath, grinned his sharp-fanged grin. "I never fail to please, Lord Ganondorf," he said. Meanwhile, back at Hyrule Castle, Link was sitting quietly on the straw bed, terribly bored. And worried. He was worried about his friends back at Ordon Village, he was worried about Epona, and he was especially worried about Lank. The little munchkin was very headstrong and stubborn (just like Link sometimes) and he had a bad feeling that Lank would stray from Ordon Village and attempt to travel to Hyrule Castle and stage a rescue. Hyrule Field was dangerous enough during the day. But during the night, the monster population exploded, especially with Stalhounds, Poes...and The Plunderers. They wouldn't think twice about taking someone like Lank hostage, perhaps for ransom, or just for sport. The thought of his little brother in the hands of those murderers and thieves brought both anger and guilt to Link's heart. The anger that only an older brother could feel. Guilt, of course, because he could do nothing to help Lank. Link's left shoulder throbbed fitfully, but he ignored it. "When I get out of here," he said to himself, "The first thing I'm going to do is go hunting. Moblin and Bokoblin hunting."
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)