Ohhh, boy, firefly is high on the caffeine today. So, he decided to do this. And hopefully some interesting person will come and continue it. And then we can all laugh at firefly's stupidity...ok, here goes nothing. Also, firefly doesn't know what he's doing, so Linky-kun, please forgive firefly's stupidity. Cloudy Ammonia does that kind of thing to him, ya know?


The Castle was empty-every battlement that Lennox Maculth observed was slowloy piling up with men and women, all preparing to defend a doomed city to its last, ancient brick.

"Oh, boy...we're gonna get our butts served to us on a silver platter..." Lennox murmured to himself. "Not that there's anymore silver left, with all the robbers..."

Surveying the broken landscape made his heart tear; it had only been a week since the revival of the Ganondorf, and things were already this bad. The sky tore and crackled with lightning, breaking the earth with its fury and scorching the pitiful occupants who lived under the sweltering sun.

"Cheer up, old lad," one of the veterans next to him smiled, even though he knew that they were both probably going to die. "At least we get to die doing the best thing ever; getting rid of some of these blighters."

"Yeah!" The rousing cheer of the men and women around him, slings and pitchforks in their hands, made him smile ruefully. They were all going to die. And he knew it. They probably knew it too. Shouldn't they be pissing themselves? he thought.

"Ho! Here they come!" The unmistakeable rumble of the earth was the sound of enemy feet thumping the ground while they charged toward them. Lennox felt the anxiety, the worry, the sudden surge of bile clogging his throat, and the sweat forming on his palms as they charged.

"Oh boy, we be dead." He joked looking at the seemingly endless plain of Moblins, Wolfos, and Stalfos. "Well, screw it..." He tried to relieve the tension in him through a few jokes, then yelled out a few orders to his assigned platoon.

"Alright, people, let's get this party started! Archers, along the walls, slingers, behind them, archers to aim directly into the enemy, slingers aim upward , and make sure that the oil pots are gonna splash 'em when they're right underneath us." Lennox yelled out. All the while, the archers and slingers took their positions, loading their missles into the weapons, readying themselves for the onslaught.

Poor fools. We're still fighting. Even when it's hopeless. He thought again, then gave a last order. "Lancemen, form a phalanx in front of the gate, and charge through once the gate breaks. Swordsmen, cover their backs, same with archers. And I'm going out too. This blade wants a bit of blood."

Having only seen twenty summers, he thought that he was a bit young to die. Still, he hoped his friends in Kakariko would be spared. Apparently, Ganon was going to leave them be again. Too bad for me, he thought, that I was in the Castle.

If I survive, he thought, I'm going to go back to her. I promise myself that.

But right now, it wasn't time for such thoughts. There was only the battle, and soon, his black hair would be covered in blood, his white shirt would be covered in mud and dirt, and his face soaked with sweat. He hoped that months on end of training, of aching muscles, and careful preparation would help him, give him a slight chance of surviving.

"Alright, they're going for the gate, looks like it's a big moblin outside, so get ready. Phalanxes?" He called out. At that moment, the gate crumpled and fell, and he gave what he thought would be his last order. "Charge! Archers, fire!"

Even without any missles, or projectiles flying at them, they were soon to be overwhelmed. Lennox knew this, but he didn't care. When all the swordsmen, all the citizens holding their pitchforks charged out, Lennox charged with them. His massive blade, around the same height as him, a large, powerful, monster of a weapon, swept along, killing two, three with single sweeps.

One, two, three of them lay, dishevelled corpses in the heaps. They came, he swung, they died. But they never stopped. He was tiring. Soon. Soon, he would die.

My death comes early, I guess. he thought. And then he saw...

His world came crashing down into black, as he felt a blunt object smack in the back of the neck.


When he awoke, he wondered if the Goddesses had allowed him into a little space of Hell. The faces of Hylians he knew stared lifelessly back at him, and he aimlessly wretched, violently spewing out meals as he stared at them. All dead. Why was he..

"Am...am I alive?"

"Yes." A voice answered him. Lennox turned to face the owner, and was shocked to see who it was.

"You! Why are you..."


And now, you other people can make the rest of it up! Because firefly stopped sniffing Cloudy Ammonia!

She blinked at him, seeming completely oblivious to the horrible carnage around them, kneeling beside Lennox amidst the blood and bodies. Her gown was becoming soiled by the crimson liquid, turning from light blue to a rust color.

"I felt you needed me," Andri answered, maddingly vague as she could be at times. "And so it seems I was right."

Though she appeared outwardly calm for Lennox's sake, inwardly her stomach quaked at the destruction that had been brought down upon Hyrule. She hid it though, fearing that he would immediately insist upon her leaving at once, or scorning her for a woman's weakness at the sight of a battlefield.

She tucked a strand of her burgandy hair behind her ear, dark eyes surveying his face as she tried to guess what his reaction would be. "Do not say that I should have stayed in Kakariko with Sandri while you were out here hurt and alone."

(Well, I don't know if I count as an interesting person or not firefly, but I have come. Tis your move! :P )

"Oh sure. I needed you." Lennox murmured angrily, pushing Andri away. Even though he was seriously wounded, he didn't really wany anyone's help.

Lennox staggered to his feet, while Andri watched him demurely as he stumbled a few paces, and fell forward. Andri re-appeared, looking at his worn face.

"I told you. You would need me." Andri gave a weak smile, then, tearing off some bandages, applied them to one of Lennox's open wounds. He sat up, tiredly, studying her again, trying to figure out her thoughts through her blank expressions and decided it was futile.

"What happened?" Lennox asked, pained at all the destruction lying around him.

"They took the Castle. It's full of monsters. I'd dare not go there." Andri murmured; Lennox took it as a sign to suddenly criticise her.

"Of course you wouldn't. You're a woman. Women don't do these kind of things. It's a man's job." Lennox tiredly swung his massive sword onto his shoulder, and trudged toward the Castle.

"Lennox." Andri called commandingly. "You know you won't change anything by going."

"So? I'm still going there."

"Please Lennox. Be rational. We need someone to defend Kakariko. You're our best chance."

"I'll think about it. Give you my answer when I'm finished with Ganondorf."

And Lennox continued on, ignoring Andri's last comments and trudging towards doom.


(OOC: Yes. Very good character. I'm waiting for your turn. Whoever wants to go. GO!) :D

He was halted, however, by small hands grasping his cloak. Startled, Lennox turned to Andri, surprised by the strenth with which she held onto him.

"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded angrily.

"Saving your life," she retorted, mahogany eyes flashing. "If you go after Gannondorf the way you are now, he will only kill you. I cannot let that happen."

"You are not one to tell me what to do!" Lennox countered, furious partially because of his hatred towards the Evil King, partially because of his pain. "And if I do not go after him, then who will? You? What will you do, cry and plead for him to stop?"

Hurt and anger flashed in the depths of Andri's dark eyes, but she did not release her tight grip on him. "Whether you like it or not, you will only succeed in throwing your life away to do battle with him now! I have lost my family and almost all my friends to Gannondorf's armies. You, as cold as you are towards me, are all I have left. I won't loose you too."

Lennox looked away, embarrassed for his treatment of the girl, unable to find words.

Andri let out a long, sad sigh. "Come," she said gently, tugging at his arm. "Let me take you back to Kakriko to patch you up. Once you are whole again, you can proceed on whatever path you wish."

Lennox allowed himself to be dragged back to Kakariko by Andri, and the pair stumbled in, Lennox panting heavily as he stumbled into the village. All around, worried peasants crowded around him and Andri made their way toward the healer.

"You know, you really shouldn't be so friendly with me; not if you're Sandri's fiancee." Lennox muttered, dragging his sword with all his strength behind him.

"You know how it really is." Andri replied as they made their way to the healer, who had already come out of her reclusive hut to help him.

"Where are the others? There must be others I have to heal!" She complained. "A big battle leaves lots of wounded! I should have many people; I don't want to come out my hut just to do heal one person! C'mon, where's the other surivivors."

Oh. Great, Lennox thought. It's the apprentice.

"There are no survivors. I'm the only one." Lennox growled through gritted teeth. The apprentice, shocked, opened her mouth, as though searching for some words to say, but none came out. Quickly, she began tending to his wounds.

Lennox settled back; by the time the apprentice had finished bandaging him up, he was already asleep. Some of the other villagers carried him back into a bed, where he slept soundly.


The noise of galloping hooves woke Lennox, and he started awake and sat up. Realising he was at a tavern, he quickly opened the windows to see what was happening outside.

"Yes, the taxes are your harvests. You've got a problem with that?" A redheaded, tanned women-a Gerudo said, pointing a sword at a villager, who promptly backed away.

"And we'll take whatever women we believe are fit for training as Gerudos, and can serve as Lord Ganondorf's guard. Is that clear?" Another Gerudo said. At this, an outcry of rage erupted, to be stifled by the sound of swords being readied. All the villagers huddled back in fear, as the Gerudos slowly advanced.

"We tell you what we want. And you will get it for us. Clear?" Lennox realised that there was a whole group of Gerudos, all pillaging the village for Ganondorf.

"You! You're coming with us!" One Gerudo suddenly shouted, and to Lennox's horror he realised that she was pointing at...

Andri!

"Oh boy. Here goes nothing." Lennox muttered to himself, as he quickly grasped his great-sword handle and leaped out the window, to land in front of the Gerudo, between her and Andri.

"Oh? Some wannabe trying to defy Lord Ganondorf?" The Gerudo muttered insinuosly. "You're gonna make a fine present for our Lord when we're you're done with you. Or, at least, your head will."

As if on cue, all the Gerudos suddenly surrounded him, their scimitars reflecting the blazing sunlight that beat down upon them. Lennox just smiled grimly, tightly gripping the handle of his sword. The blade itself began to smoke, as if on fire, just ever so slightly.

"Die!" The Gerudo yelled, and they all jumped toward him. It was at this point that several things happened; one villager pointed toward the gates of Kakariko, and yelled somethign inconceivable, Andri cried out in a rare display of emotion, and Lennox's blade caught aflame.

"Ki..." Lennox shouldered his massive weapon, and the crackling fire let of smoke as the blade shone with a golden light.

"Ken..." The sword dug into the ground, and Lennox swung it around, dirt flying upward as he spun.

"Tai..." Sparks flew upward, and the blade lifted off the ground, cutting through the air. The Gerudos were unable to do anything, hanging in mid-air, jumping towards him, and they steeled themselves to make impact with his blade.

"Giri!" With his last shout, the blade spun around, arcing through all the Gerudos in a spinning slash, and killing them all in one move.

And then, as Lennox turned to the gates of Kakariko, he gasped, eyes wide, for there, standing there, was...

OOC: Lol. Weird.

Impa raised an eyebrow, glancing pointedly at the dead Gerudo, then Lennox standing protectively in front of Andri and let the bag over her shoulder slip to the ground as she placed her hands on her hips.

"Seems you had a bit of excitement while I was away, eh, Lennox?"

The young man's face turned slowly crimson, glaring at the woman. "And just where were you when all of this was happening?!" he demanded, brows knitting in a fierce scowl.

"Getting herbs to speed along your healing, my idiot apprentice," she retorted, her voice never changing in volume. "But perhaps I'll leave you to rot in a healer's bed from now on."

Lennox flushed, chagrined, but found he could say nothing as the villagers surrounded Impa, all trying to tell her exactly what had happened. But another voice drew his attention away, focusing on the newcomer instead.

"Andri!"

A huge mahogany haired man with brows permantley etched in a scowl was striding forward, closing in on the girl. She cringed, but stood her ground, forcing herself to meet the angry gray eyes calmly.

"What is it, Sandri?"

"Don't play coy, lass," he growled, a giant hand closing around her slender arm in a bruising grip. "I know you were the one who went for Lennox at that monster infested battlefield, and just now wandering around for the Gerudo to see you! Are daft girl?! How many times do you need be told that the Gerudo are partial to red haired women?"

With his free hand, Sandri tugged on a lock of her burgandy hair, none too gently. "You are supposed to stay out of their sight when they're about! If they carry you off, I get no wife, no money, no children, understand?"

"Sandri, you're hurting me," Andri protested, wincing at the painful grip on her arm.

"You deserve a lot more pain than this! You should have been punished long ago for your wandering ways, and it seems I'm going to have to be the one to fix that problem!" Sandri's eyes were cold as he raised his free hand, preparing to strike her.

( :blink: Andri's not going to be as weak and helpless as I'm making her out. . . hope no one minds Impa being here ^_^)

OOC: Hope someone else makes a character up. Like Andri's brother or something. Otherwise it's no fun! C'mon, group spirit!

Lennox coldly injected his suggestion into the conversation, before Sandri's hand could go any further.

"Let it go, Sandri." The larger man looked at Lennox's eyes, staring into them madly, then, eyeing the massive blade that was still smoking, and rent with the blood of the Gerudos, he stalked away.

"I've got someone new, too. Here, Sheik?" Impa gestured, and a young blonde haired person stepped out from behind Impa. Whoever they were, Lennox couldn't tell, because their face was covered, and they were wearing loose clothing that disguised the gender of the person. Sheik nodded politely to Lennox, before disappearing into Impa's house to, presumably, perform chores for Impa.

"So that's your new apprentice?"

"As a fighter, you still are. Sheik is my Sheika apprentice."

"Oh. I see." Lennox murmured simply.

"Was Sandri being a nuisance again?"

"Yeah." Lennox clenched his fist. He and Andri had been good friends when they were younger, all the way up to having courted each other while Lennox had begun training in the army. Their relationship had ups and downs, but in the end, Lennox had thought that his proposal to her would have had a positive reaction.

Instead, he was turned down by her father, who had already said he was marrying her off to Sandri, the richest merchant in the town, and a towering man who seemed to be a lecher of sorts. The dowry had been handsome, and Andri's father had a lot of money made out of it. The next night, he was poisoned in his sleep, and Andri's brother had been pointed out to be the culprit. He was burnt to death, and now nothing could get Andri out of this engagement.

"I see. Too bad about him."

"Too bad? Is it just that little a matter, to you?"Lennox growled, falling into step behind Impa, and leaving Andri behind. From what it seemed, Impa was in a hurry to leave Kakariko, and Lennox was wondering whether or not she intended to take him along.

"I can't do anything about it. You know that. And neither can the King." She didn't add the words that the King was dead by now. She didn't have to.

"Fine. Do you want me to accompany you?"

"Tempaorily. I have other tasks for you." Impa smiled, and led Lennox into her house.

Andri didn't wait for Lennox and Impa to disapear from sight and give Sandri another chance at tormenting her. She fled at once, light footed as a deer, quick as the shadows. Winding her way past he buildings and structures, she went to the only place she knew she could be alone to cry: the Graveyard.

Staggering, hot tears sliding down her cheeks, she collapsed in the soft grass behind the large elabroate grave marker at the rear of the plot, safely hidden from anyone who might be searching for her.

Why? she thought bitterly, her small hands tugging at her own hair. Why did it have to be Sandri instead of Lennox?

She did not know why. Though Lennox was not one to openly express his feelings in either words or actions, she had felt certain that he cared about her, at least enough to want to marry her someday. But she had been both shocked and horrifed to learn that her father had promised her hand to Sandri, and that Lennox, it seemed, had not wanted her. Her father had almost seemed to enjoy telling her that Lennox had never even come forward to ask for her, had never made any offers of marriage.

The young woman let out a shaky sigh, resting her red head back against the cold gray stone as she stared up at the dark clouds that were begining to billow over the sun. She had intended to confront Lennox about it, to force him to tell her of his feelings for her, but then her father and brother had died, and the war had started, and there had never been an oppertunity. And now it seemed, that the chance was forever lost, as much as Lennox was lost to her.

"You will get wet if you stay out here weeping."

The soft, monotone voice startled her and Andri let out a soft shriek, whirling around. Perched on the tomestone above her was the person that had accompanied Impa, the one she had called Sheik.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people!" Andri retorted, placing a hand to her chest to steady her pounding heart.

"My appologies. I didn't expect to find anyone else among the spirits of the dead."

With an elegant grace that stirred something strange within Andri's memory, Sheik sprang lightly from the stone, coming to sit beside the girl. From much closer up, Andri could at last distinguish more about the person: the slender build, blond hair, crimson eyes, though the face was hidden by a scarf.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and Sheik spoke again. "Its going to rain."

"So go inside," Andri returned wearily, worn out from her emotional trauma.

"You should too."

"I don't want to."

"You'll get wet."

"Maybe I don't care."

Sheik's eyes crinkled in amusement, and Andri managed a weak, half smile, feeling a strange shiver of recognition. She knew Sheik somehow, but. . . the answer eluded her, dancing on the edges of her memory, darting just beyond reach.

"You are avoiding that man, the one with the cruel eyes?"

She nodded, her hair falling across her shoulders. "Yes."

"Beware of that one," Sheik warned, staring idly at the raindrops that had started to fall from the heavens. "He's the sort who likes to control others. Greedy for power. He'll do whatever it takes to have you, even if it means killing the black haired one."

Andri shivered, the rain shower picking up and drenching her. She didn't know how to respond. Sheik rose effortlessly, holding out a hand to her.

"If you stay too long among the spirits of the dead, you will forget to live. Come, let's get out of the rain."

For a moment the girl stared at Sheik, dark brown locking with crimson irises, and she knew instinctivley that she could trust this mysterious person. With a fain smile, Andri accepted the outstreched hand, allowing Sheik to pull her to her feet.

(Meh, we do need other people!! Someone get your rear in here!! Lol)

(Short AU for me and Alantie's amusement:

"Dude. You know that you shouldn't play games at 3:00am in the morning?" Andri whispered to Lennox tiredly, watching as he hacked away at every opponent he could in Super Smash Brothers Melee.

"Let me get the rest of the trophies, I mean, like, I so am gonna finish this game tonight, or I'll piss myself full of Coke."

"Drugs?!"

"No! Coke! The drink, dumbass!"

Lennox suddenly knocked off Fox, leaving only Marth to dispose of. Currently, he was playing as Link.

"Gotta time this right, gotta time this right, gotta time this-" Lennox kept on repeating to himself. Marth charged forward, and Link responded with his spinning slash attack, and they broke away from each other, repelled by the force of attacks. They continued dueling, blades clashing, and then as Marth came in for his next attack...

Lennox farted. A massive ripper that shook the couch he and Andri were sitting on. Andri leapt off, disgust playing upon her face, as Lennox jammed another combination and knocked Marth off.

"And the crowd goes wild!" Lennox cried.

"From the smell." Andri muttered, annoyed.

Hope that was nice and funny!)

And now for my post.


"So let's get this straight. You want me to go to Termina and rally the last of the Knuckles, before they're turned?"

"Yes."

"You know that's crazy."

"Is it?"

Lennox was arguing vehemently with Impa against going to visit the Iron Knuckles of Termina. Raging hulks of armour, their strong spirits, combined with their massive strength would make them valuable assets in taking Hyrule back from Ganondorf.

"If they become tied to Ganon, then what?"

"I'll kill them all, if that happens."

"If you could."

Lennox didn't want to have to fight the Iron Knuckles either; even his considerable strength paled in comparison to the might of an Iron Knuckle. If Ganondorf turned them to his way of seeing, Lennox didn't want to be standing in between them and Hyrule when they decided to rampage throughout the whole place.

"Well, come. I suspect that Sandri might try to intercept us as we leave; best we go quietly." Impa murmured. Lennox gathered his travelling pack, and following behind his teacher's quick strides Lennox readied himself for what might come.

The thoughts of Andri running in his mind did not overcome his need to follow Impa; he knew better than to try and disobey Impa in certain matters. Pained as he was he knew that there was no time to say goodbye to her; Impa had already stressed the importance of winning the Knuckles over to their side. Anything else was, for Impa, inconsequential.

For Impa nothing mattered, it seemed.

"But things matter for me..." Lennox murmured. His feet had already taken him outside of the village by the time he realised where he was.

"Feeling better?"

Andri looked up from her steaming cup of tea at Sheik, blinking. "A little," she admitted, managing a faint smile. "Thank you, for being so kind to someone you don't even know."

"Perhaps one day you can do the same for me." Sheik leaned back in the chair, crimson eyes closing. "And as for not knowing each other, perhaps we should take care of that problem by being friends?"

A smile crossed Andri's pale, troubled face like the sun rising over a darkened land. "I would like that," she said sincerly, and she meant it. She hadn't had any friends but Lennox growing up and with a rift between them lately, she had felt very much alone.

Lennox? A frown crossed her face as she rose, clutching the blanket around her shoulders. "Where are Lennox and Impa?" she demanded. "This is Impa's house, and even she wouldn't be so zealous as to make Lennox train in the rain with the injuries he still has."

Sheik didn't reply.

Andri closed her eyes, wincing as faint, brief images ran past her mind's eye. A road. A woman and a man. A wooden sign with the inscription Termania. Her brown eyes flew open and she whirled on the Sheikah.

"She can't take him to Termania!!"

Startled, Sheik raised a pale blond eyebrow. "How did you know? Do you see things? Like-like the Princess?" There was slight hesitation in the other's voice.

Mention of the Princess caused deep pain in Andri's heart, but she forced her voice to be steady. "I see things, yes. Mainly when they concern Lennox. I wouldn't say my ability is anything like Zelda's. She's always been more powerful than I."

"You see things concerning Lennox because your spirits are deeply entwined, ever since your childhood, correct?" Sheik didn't really seem to pay mind to Andri's slight nod, brow furrowed. Hesitantly, the Sheikah spoke again. "You speak of the Princess as if you knew her intimently. As if you were. . . friends."

Andri fought back tears that rose in her eyes, forcing her voice to be steady. "It was a long time ago."

"Tell me."

"I was one of Zelda's childhood companions, for a brief time. My father was determined to get me in with the Royal Court, so when he heard that the King was looking for girls around his daughter's age to be companions, he immediately offered me. It was the first time I'd ever had a friend besides Lennox. Zelda was a wonderful young girl, friendly, sweet, and mischevious. We would have become much closer, I'm sure but then- the Evil King came, and the King sent her off into hiding." Andri looked away, hiding a crystal tear that slid down her cheek. "And then- then came the announcement from Ganondorf that Zelda was dead."

Sheik was slient for a long moment, hesitantly placing a hand on the girl's shoulder. "I'm sorry," the Sheikah offered quietly.

(Lol, DH your AU was too funny! Lol, if I were Andri I would have beat Lennox senseless! :D)

Lennox looked up at the ritualistic temple, the simple rooms each housing suits of armour, supposedly empty and unused. In truth, this was where the Iron Knuckles were; great knights whose bloody axes sheared through anything in their path.

Impa had already left him; upon reaching Termina, she had returned to Kakariko. But not before telling him he was one of the last Knights in Hyrule, and that, in seven years, another Knight, even stronger than him, would appear. Until then, Lennox resolved to at least try and turn the tide in favour of Hyrule, so that Ganondorf would have a harder time attacking Hyrule.

Lennox walked in, calmly anticipating anything that moved to be the charge of a Iron Knuckle. But; the halls were empty, the clank of the armoured knights silenced. Where were they? he wondered.

Suddenly, Lennox could hear chanting from the inner sanctums of the temple. Fearing the worst, he ran through, racing past the tall pillars. As he did, he heard the groan and creak of the Knuckles, but he paid them no heed; instead he ran toward the centre of the temple.

Two Witches had been chanting in low, guttural tones, their infernal intonations touching the Iron Knuckles spirits, tainting them with the hand of the Dark Lord. Lennox watched in horror as they disappeared, leaving only the Knuckles, seemingly tainted by Ganondorf, to awaken from their slumber into darkness.

"Yeaargh!" The growls of the waking Knuckles was enough for Lennox to know what had happened. The Iron Knuckles, the proud spirits of now-dead soldiers, had been enslaved by Ganondorf. Now they were just Ganon's mindless, but powerful servants.

Lennox could hear the thumping and jolting as one of them suddenly charged at him. Wheeling away, he slashed, the armour beaten and dented from the force of his strike. His next strike bit into the helmet, but the Knight brushed it off; it smacked him with a hard, gaunleted fist, and he flew into a wall.

Breathing hard, he stood again, and ran toward it. What he didn't see was another Iron Knuckle, slowly slipping out of the shadows, strike him on the head with the axe handle, and send him spiralling toward the ground.

When he awoke from the blow, his head pounded, and the Iron Knuckles had disappeared. Lennox assumed that they'd gone back to Hyrule, and looked for traces of any other remaining Knuckles. Those that were slow to waking he destroyed, and then...

"Ive gotta get back to Hyrule, or else..." Or else what, he thought. Else he would never see Andri again? That would never happen anyway; she was Sandri's soon to be bride.

Somethign else was driving him. What it was, he didn't know; he just knew that he was being driven, like a dog, ravenous, hunting the Iron Knuckles. He followed their trail to...

The village! No! Lennox thought desparately, racing in, to find Kakariko in ruins. Flames wrought themselves high in the air, ordaining their fury upon those of the flesh. Lennox watched in horror as three Iron Knuckles appeared out of the graveyard. They grabbed a man and tore him to pieces. Lennox noted with bitter satisfaction that Sandri was running from some Stalfos that pursued him; it always seemed that those who bullied coujld never stand up to a real fight.

Whipping out his blade, Lennox noted suddenly that Impa's home was on fire. So was Andri's. The only in the whole village that seemed to be spared was his own. The Knuckles had wasted this village, and left him a place for his isolation, to contemplate his failure. Now, he would waste them.

"Oi! You!" Lennox yelled, but he didn't give the Knuckles the chance to respond. Slashing right through one, and tearing a second in half along with it, he sliced through the middle of the third, and ran toward the graveyard. There, he could see three; no, four Knuckles in the centre of a large circle of Knuckles. They were chanting something, and it looked like someone was with them...

Andri!

"What are you doing Andri?" Lennox cried out, even though he knew she couldn't hear him; from what he could see, she most probably was dead. The rage, the helplessness he felt boiled over, and he ran straight at the Iron Knuckles, his blade again runing through two of them, as he kicked another straight through the circle. But no matter how hard he fought, he could not reach Andri; the massive strength that he had seemed to be matched with the endless numbers of Knuckles that reappeared and spawned from the Pit.

"Hahahaha! Young fool!" A voice cackled from beneath the Earth, a great and malicious drawl that halted Lennox in his path of destruction.

"So you'll try and save her..." The voice sneered at him. "Or maybe not!" Suddenly, the Knuckles were sinking into the ground, Andri with them. Lennox made to grab her, try and pull her back, but he grasped thin air, and his hands closed around nothing.

"Andri..." Lennox said, not fully believing she was gone. "Andri!" He scrabbled in the dirt, trying to find where she'd went. But all around him, nothing. Below him was only more dirt.

"She's been taken away. To the Dark Lord." Impa murmured softly from behind him. He hadn't even heard her approach.

"I shall leave you to grieve alone." Impa sighed, turning around, leaving him only a few words. "I am sorry. Even if I cannot understand your grief. I still am sorry for you, Lennox."

Lennox dug through the earth with his fingers, and cried, "Why! Why? I had so much I wanted to tell you, so much...Andri, I never told you, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"


At least, that was Lennox recollection of the events seven years ago. Now, he sat back in the rebuilt Kakariko, grimly remembering the events of when he was a young man.

"Knuckle! There's an Iron Knuckle in the village! Help!" Lennox stood up, his cloaked figure dragging the massive sword of his along. Iron Knuckles were his sworn enemy; each that he killed was his penance for not saving Andri, for not saving Hyrule, for failing. And this was another that would pay the price.

"C'mon big fella. Show me what ya got." Lennox growled as he stpped out into the sunlight to face the Iron Knuckle.


(OOC: WOW! AMAZINGLY LONG! NEVER BEEN ABLE TO PSOT NETHING ELSE CAUSE OF THIS!)

Darkness. It was all she had known for the past seven years. At the highest tower of the dark castle she stood alone, gazing off towards the place she knew Kakariko village to be, allowing herself to remember the dark haired young man, the vield look in his eyes whenever he looked at her. . . She shook her head; it was dangerous for her to let thoughts of those days surface, but she allowed herself to indulge, if only for a moment. . .

She could hear the screams of the dying, smell the smoke that floated from the burning houses, but her sight was strangely blurred, she could not see anything. Vaguely she recalled the rasping voices of the Knuckles, but it was not their voices that stood out most in her memory: it was the voices of two men, one in triumph, one in anguish, both crying out her name. . .

"What do you think you are doing, Mithael?"

Mithael. She allowed herself an unlady like snort. It wasn't even a proper name, merely the Hyrulian word for prisoner. It was the name she had given herself when she was taken, letting her old name fade into the past like who she had once been. Mithael was all she was fit to be called now under his captivity.

"Admiring the scenery, my lord," Mithael responded, her dark eyes expressionless as she glanced over her shoulder at the man behind her. "Is that a crime?"

Ganondorf's fingers gripped her chin in a tight, unforgiving clasp, his golden eyes cold and merciless as he stared at her. "Every thought of trechery against me is a crime whether you act on it or not," he spat, pushing her away from him.

Mithael managed to catch herself on the railing, but remained bowed, knowing that to get up would only anger the Evil King. "I would never dream of such things as betraying you."

He laughed, a sound that drove shivers down her spine even now after seven years. "Perhaps not. Only because you lack the strength, and because of the leash I have you on. You're defiance is charming, my dear."

"Is there a reason to this visit, my lord?" Mithael's voice was carefully controled.

"Indeed. The same reason I have had for years." He grabbed a handful of her hair cruelly, forcing her to meet his eyes. "Where is she?"

I-I don't know my-" She cried out sharply in pain as he pulled hard, forcing the woman to her knees.

"Do not dare to lie to me! I know you are tied to her spirit, the same way you are tied to that pathetic resistance leader, Lennox! Now, tell me where she is!"

Mithael felt the tears welling in her eyes. "I don't know!" she cried again. "You know my connection with the Princess is not strong! I only see scraps, traces! Nothing that can help!"

"I will be the judge of that!" he snarled. "Now tell me what you have seen!"

Her dark eyes became mirror like, seeing beyond the Gerudo man before her. "A-a lake- shimmering in the sunlight, with only a scattering of dwellings on the banks. . ."

The catlike golden eyes gleam in satisfaction and he released the handful of her hair, alowing the woman to collapse at his feet. "Most helpful, Mithael," he said, striding to the door. "When I return, I shall want some more information on Lennox's pathetic rebellion."

She listened as his footsteps faded away down the stone steps and sat up slowly, wincing as she did so.

"You would do well not to anger him."

Mithael scowled, looking up to the balcony railing where the Sheikah longed, polishing one of the wickidly pointed darts used as a weapon. "Everything I do angers him, Sheik."

Sheik shrugged. "So it would seem. Though it is not you he is angered with, only his own lack of ability to capture the Princess."

A small smile curved Mithael's lips. "Yes. He is afraid that if any of the Hyrulians learn that their Princess is still alive, they might cause him even more trouble."

"Indeed." Sheik casually tossed the dart, catching it neatly in one bandaged hand. "Where would you like to go out to today?"

Ganondorf's binding spell on her prevented her from ever being able to hide or flee from him. If he were to call, she would be forced to answer, but since he had no need to worry about loosing her, Mithael was allowed to roam Hyrule as she saw fit.

Mithael shrugged, wiping the streaks of tears from her cheeks. "It does not matter. It's all a prison to me until the Evil King's spell is broken."

( :blink: )

Lennox spat on the armour of the dead Iron Knuckle, disgusted at how weak it was. He had slashed through it in one shot, and making him wonder why he bothered to go and lash out at such a weak opponent.

Andri...

Reminders of her flashed through his head, and his motivation came back to him. Gripping his sword tightly, he scanned the steps of Kakariko, wondering if any other opponents would come wandering to him. Finding none, he turned back, wondering what he was going to do with his "army".

The boys that had joined him were green-eyed, young and fresh, the blood pumping through their veins, and the thoughts of invincibility running through their heads. Battle would learn them soon enough. Then they wouldn't be so damn foolish...

"Hey!" Lennox turned, to look at the sandy-haired boy, maybe seven or eight years younger than him, a blade and shield on his back, running up the stairs towards him. "Are you Lennox, the resistance leader?"

"Who told you that?" Lennox asked, suddenly startled. Most outsiders didn't know the information that he was the resistance leader! Who could have told this guy? "And what do you want with our village?"

"I just was wondering if I could train with you for a bit? And I was looking for Impa." The boy smiled, a tad foolishly, Lennox decided, but still, he looked like he knew what he was doing with a sword.

"If you want to train with us, why don't I see how good you are first?" Lennox returned the boy's grin with his own, grim one. "Draw, kid." By then, Lennox blade had already marked the ground, and his blade glinted in the sunlight.

"Well, if I didn't give you warning once, I'll give it to you now." The boy drew, his face hardening into the mask of a trained warrior. "C'mon, big fella. Show me what you've got."

"Pleasure's all mine." Lennox snarled, and his blade flew forward to meet the boy's shield in a massive duel.

The walk through Hyrule field had been something she had needed very much. Her soul craved light and life though her present self was forced to dwell in darkness and death. Sheik, sensing Mithael's downcast mood spoke to her softly.

"You should not keep this persona so much around you. Let it drop for a time, be who you once were or the consequences could be more than you dream."

Like you are one to talk, she thought, but did not speak it aloud. Such words had ways for getting back to the Evil King. "My past self cannot survive in his lair," Mithael responded, choosing her words carefully. "If I dare to allow myself the relief of relaxing into that naive, innocent child, I could destroy us all."

Sheik's brow furrowed into a frown, but the Sheikah did not say anything. Suddenly Mithael stopped in her tracks, wincing in pain as she placed a hand to her brow. A pounding headache that threatened to tear her head in half had begun, and she knew what it meant.

"He calls for me," she gasped, and would have collapsed to the ground if Sheik had not grasped her arm to support her. "He must not have found the Princess."

"Relax, I shall take us back to the Evil King," Sheik said calmly, summoning the power that allowed the Sheikah to slip through the shadows that connected all of Hyrule. Dark mist rose before their eyes, but in moments it had cleared to reveal the dimness of Ganondorf's throne room.

Immediately, the pain in her head ceased, and Mithael dropped to her knees in a submissive bow, eyes downcast. She could hear Sheik's footsteps as the Sheikah backed away to a respectful distance.

"You summoned me, my lord?"

Ganondorf's chuckle sounded in her ears, making her want to vomit, but she controlled the urge. "Yes, I wanted you here for an experiment. I want you to find these items for me."

Hesitantly, Mithael lifted her eyes, and saw him beckoning for her to rise and come to his side. Her pale face was expressionless as she rose and stepped silently to his side, finding herself staring down at an aged, cracked sheet parchment that depicted drawings of seven keys, each different, each with a distinctive brilliant jewel adorning the top. "What are they?" she asked cautiously.

His lips curved into a smirk. "They are the keys that unlock a gate to another realm, a realm where a great power can be found. I have recieved word that Lennox is seeking them, searching for a way so that his pathetic rebellion can defeat me. I must find the keys first and get whatever power lies beyond the gate."

The woman frowned. "I don't know if I can find them for you, my lord. You understand how my power works-"

"I still wish for you to try. It can do no harm, can it, my lovely?"

Inwardly she recoiled from the false honyed tone of his voice, knowing it to be more deadly than his rage. Refusal would mean death. "I can try, my lord," she said at last, finished studying the images so that they were firmly implanted in her memory. "I do not know how successful I will be."

She was given leave to go, and Mithael walked wearily back to her small, dark chamber where she collapsed in a huddled heap on the thin pallet on the floor. Her slender fingers slid under the pitiful matress, fishing out a single item she had treasured for so long, kept hidden from everyone: a small, silver locket that contained only a few whisps of dark hair. She clutched it against her heart, closing her eyes as she waited for sleep to take her. A stray, pearly tear slipped down her cheek as she mouthed a name soundlessly: Lennox


Soundlessly, fluidly, a cloaked figure slipped through the shadows, keeping close to the sides of the buildings of Kakariko villiage. For a moment, the person hesitated, as if confused, then continued soundlessly to the house that belonged to the great Impa. Gliding on feet that made no sound to the window, the mysterious being slid it open and noislessly crawled inside. It was no more than a few moments before the cloaked personage emerged, carrying a silk wrapped object in black gloved hands. Carefully, reverently, the silk was parted, revealing a golden key that shimmered in the moonlight. Adorning the elbaorately designed top was a pure, glimmering amethyst. As quickly as it was revealed, the key was tucked away among the folds of the cloak, and the hooded face lifted for a moment, revealing the face beneath. Pure white, pitcure perfect with both innocence and sorrow, and porcaline smooth. A mask. The masked face was obscured once more as the theif melted back into the darkness, leaving behind no sign that it had ever been there except a single white rose on the grass beneath the window.

Lennox spun on his heel as his sword clashed once again with the boy's. Once again, he was shocked to feel his strength. How could a young man such as this one ever wield a sword with as much skill as he?

If not more?

Their breaths came short, and they panted as they tried to move faster than their opponent. It seemed as though the fight could go on forever.

Lennox tired of the sword play. Now was the best time to take out his trump card. He jumped away from his opponent, charging his energy into his sword. His spin slash would be sure to impress this boy enough to make him surrender.

Fire coursed through his blade, heating up the air around Lennox. The boy lowered his sword, but he did not look very shocked. Instead, he raised a brow with mild interest.

Fool, Lennox thought. The boy was trying to keep his cool in the face of danger.

"Kai ten---"

Before Lennox could even finish a quarter of his spin, a bright, cold blue flame stopped him in his tracks.

"Giri?" The boy offered, smirking with ever present confidence.

They stared at each other for what seemed like a tedious face-down. Lennox's face was a mask of shock, and the boy's was one of amusement.

Eventually, their blades fell apart from each other, and Lennox heaved a deep breath. The boy hardly looked tired.

"Who are you, boy?" Lennox asked.

The young man seemed to need to think, as though to remember. "Link," he finally said.

"Link?" Lennox muttered. "Just that?"

Once again, Link seemed to have to think about it. Finally, "Yes. Just that."

Lennox stared at him, unable to decide what sort of fellow this young man was. His sword skills were a match for his, and yet he looked inexperienced, youthful, perhaps even childish. His features were those of an adult, but eyes didn't lie.

Eyes never lied.

"Link," Lennox repeated. The young man nodded, leaning forward with almost childish curiosity. "Where did you learn that technique?"

The blonde boy seemed to ponder this. "I don't know. I don't remember."

"You don't remember?" Lennox exclaimed, fighting hard to keep his countenance. What sort of circus freak was this? "What do you mean you don't remember? How could you forget something of this importance?"

Link looked as though he wasn't sure what to say. Lennox let out a pained groan, rubbing his forehead.

"Alright, boy. It doesn't matter. You said you wanted to join our resistance group?"

"No," the young man had the gall to correct him. "I want to train, that's all. And I want to see Impa," he added, as a reminder.

Lennox examined the boy from head to toe. "Impa, huh. Well, it's up to her to see whether she has the time or not for kids like yourself."

"She'll have time for me," Link confidently declared, looking sure of this. He even said it with a patient smile, one that almost said he had all the time in the world.

Did he?

"Fine then. You better come in through the gate. We don't want you attracting any enemies from the plains and all."

With a grin, Link followed a slightly dumbfounded Lennox through the gates of Kakariko.

(Note: I might not update very often. But you can keep the story going without my constant input. I'll just drop by from time to time. Whenever I'm not sleeping, that is.)

"C'mon kid. You're a pretty good swordsman." Lennox growled tiredly, bringing the kid into the Kakariko village. Some of the younger men were eyeing Link, wondering who he was, and why Lennox had brought him in. Some seemed to remember him, some seemed to wonder who he was. Link, for the most part, ignored them.

"Was there an Iron Knuckle here?" Link asked as they walked toward Impa's house. Lennox gazed at the imprints the Knuckle had left, and asked Link how he knew. "The footprints. And the dent in the ground there indicates that the whole thing was split in half. Did you do that?"

"Yeah." Lennox murmured.

"You're a lot stronger than I thought. You were holding out on me, weren't you?" Link stated. Lennox smiled grimly, but didn't answer, and instead opened the door to Impa's house, to find...

. . .the house was in utter chaos. Lennox could feel his jaw drop as he stared in numb shock at the mess that surrounded him, feeling Link peeking around him to get a look. Paintings on the walls were askew, drawers pulled out from desks, the sheets yanked from the bed, and countless objects on the floor. Even some of the floorbordes were pulled up. Impa was kneeling to gather sheets of parchment littered on the ground around the fireplace, glancing up momentarily at the two men.

"Don't just stand there," she snapped at the two who were still gawking. "Make yourselves useful!"

Link, blinking, obeyed immediately. Lennox, with a slight scowl at being adressed like a child followed at a slower pace. Within a few minutes the house was in a more reasonable order, and they could at last sit in the wooden chairs clustered around the table.

"What happened here?" Lennox inquired of Impa.

She glared at him, her temper clearly short indeed. "What does it look like?" she growled. "My house was broken into!"

Link's sapphire eyes swelled, but he didn't say anything, glancing instead to the other man who seemed to be struck dumb.

"But how?" he stammered. "You put wards on your home to prevent such things! Was anything taken?"

"Whoever did it had some knowledge of magic," the Sheikah woman informed him, sipping at a cup of tea to soothe her nerves. "There is no other way they could have gotten inside. As for what was taken. . . Lennox, I'm afraid the Shadow Key is gone."

Hands slammed down on the table, causing the cups to rattle. "No!" he shouted furiously, dark eyes blazing. "It was Ganondorf for certain! When I get my hands on that Gerudo-"

"It was not him."

"What?" Lennox stopped his tirade, whirling on her. "How could you possibly know that?!"

She rose, walked across the room to retreive something, and threw it on the table before him. Lennox blinked, staring down at the white rose that lay innocently in front of him. A frown wrinkling his brow, the man picked it up, confused.

"I don't understand."

"I found it under the window the theif must have used to get in. A calling card, if you so choose to call it. The symbol of the one who took it." Impa returned to her seat, gazing at Lennox as the man brought it closer to his gaze for inspection. "Ganondorf would never use something like a white rose for his symbol. If he chose to leave one at all."

"It-its dying," he murmured.

And indeed it was true. The petals were stained black, the bloom drooping, which should not have been happening. Roses were magical plants in Hyrule, able to weather famines and droughts, lasting years after they were plucked. But this sad little flower was. Strange, it was almost as if its purity was being contaminated, chocked by some evil. . . A sharp pain assaluted his finger and her stared down numbly at the sharp thorn that had peirced his flesh. A drop of scarlet blood welled up, slipping down his finger to stain the white petals.

"It still could be one of his followers," Lennox argued.

"Perhaps," Impa agreed, though she sounded doubtful. "In any case, we had better redouble our efforts to find the Keys before Ganondorf does."

"Alright! Let's go!" Link had leapt from his seat, sapphire eyes blazing with the fire of adventure.

Impa stared at him, then Lennox. "Who is this?"

"Well. . ."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Mithael stared down at her hands from where she sat at Ganondorf's side, resisting the urge to yawn. It was the Evil King's custom to have her sit in at all of his councils and meetings, in case something should spark a vision. However this day she was exhausted and restless, unable to consentrate on anything that was being said. She knew that all must see the palor of her face, the dark circles around her eyes, no matter how hard she tried to hide it. When at last the meeting was over, she rose gratefully to go, but a cold hand closing around her wrist stopped her.

"Yes, milord?"

"What is wrong with you?" His voice was abrupt, clipped and cold as it always was. "Are you ill?"

"I don't know, milord," Mithael returned, blinking her dark eyes. "I did not sleep well last night. Perhaps I am coming down with a cold."

He released her, golden eyes staring at her unblinkingly. "Perhaps. In any case, do not overtax yourself. You must be able to search for the Keys." Seeming to loose interest in her, he waved his hand, giving her leave to go.

She curtseyed and hurried away, intent on returning to bed. She had spoke nothing but the truth when she had told the Evil King of her fatigue, and she did indeed feel ill, but she was sure it wasn't a cold.

"You are killing yourself."

Sheik's voice caused her to jump. "Do not sneak up on me like that!" she snapped.

The Sheikah appeared unruffled, stepping out of the shadows of her room to watch the girl collapse onto her thin pallet. "Ganondorf is streaching your powers too far, particularly when he knows in most cases you are of little help to him. With the exeption of the Princess- and Lennox."

"There is little I can do," Mithael responded listlessly.

"You have become a wraith." Sheik spilled elegantly down beside her, crimson eyes veiled. "You are fading away even as I watch. Soon there will be nothing left of your bright spirit, only a shell left to serve Ganon."

"I'm not ready to give myself up yet."

"You may not have a choice."

Mithael looked away.

AU: For my enjoyment. I think?

"Lemme see you NOD YA HEAD!" Lennox yelled, crowing in the middle of his room to the time of the music, nodding his head. In a very noob-like fashion.

"I'm dangerous, I'm-" Lennox suddenly tripped over. "Agh!"

"Yes. You're very dangerous. To yourself." Mithael murmured, while Andri giggled behind her.

OOC: Now my post.


"This is Link." Lennox muttered. "He said he wanted to see you."

Impa's eyes were bulging as she viewed the young man before her. He smiled pleasantly at her, then turned to Lennox, and asked "What's happening? Did something bad happen?"

Sighing, Lennox thought to himself, Link' just as bad as a ten year old. No idea about emotions or anything.

"Yes. Something bad happened. I've gotta go fix it." Lennox looked at Impa, who nodded, for Lennox to prepare to hunt whoever had stolen the Key.

"I'll leave you with Link?" Lennox asked, as he grabbed some rations hastily, and shoved them into his pack.

"Yes. That'll be all, Lennox. Leave. Quickly."

Lennox moved as fast he could, determined to trail the thief while the path they'd left was still fresh. Arriving outside of Kakariko, Lennox looked for any sign of where a thief might've been.

"If I was a thief, if I was a thief, I would go to..."

"Lon Lon Ranch."

Lennox whirled around, to be confronted by three large men, all riding horses. All dressed up in armor. And all of them with drawn swords.

"Unfortunately..."

"...we doubt that you..."

"...will ever go there."

"Oh?" Lennox smiled devilishly. "You looking for a fight?"

Drawing his sword, the gleaming blade glinted in the sunlight.

"You got one."

Sheik disengaged himself from rough exercise after rough exercise. (this comes from my memory of all those things Impa taught me...) He quickly threw dagger after dagger into the Redeads, splitting their flesh asunder as they dissolved in putrid flames. (Redeads were amazingly annoying...)

"Are you here again, Sheik?" Ganondorf smirked, as the Redeads revived, their corpses swaying from side to side.

"Yes. Just practicing." Sheik answered. (I still shudder to think of Ganondorf)

"Have you found the Hero yet?"

"No." I-wait, wait,-Sheik answered.

"I've sent some of my men after Lennox. Go find Andri. I want you to extract as much information about the Keys as you can from her. She's not in her room." Ganondorf enjoyed giving him tasks that took a long time.

"You enjoy this don't you?" Sheik asked. "This sadism?"

"Of course. Go." Ganon said, chuckling ruthlessly. Sheik complied, and in a flash, disappeared.


O Goddesses, that's so weird to talk about yourself in third person perspective...

"What are you doing?"

Mithael glanced up, sparing a look at the Sheikah before turning her attention to the bundle of vegetation she held. "The aromas of these plants are supposed to be beneficial for colds and other ailments," she returned before burrying her nose to inhale the fragrences deeply. "You well know I've been ill these past few days."

Sheik frowned, crimson eyes glittering. It was true that the girl had looked ill, but she had been raised among fresh air and sunlight and never had been sick before. It was quite unusual and made the warrior uneasy.

"Anyway, why are you here?" Mithael's dark eyes lifted from the bundel she held momentarily. "Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on events?"

"Ganondorf wanted me to, 'extract' more information about the whereabouts of the Keys from you."

The young woman pulled a face, her eyes narrowing. "Oh Goddesses, he is a fool."

"You are just discovering this?" Sheik returned in a lightly bantering voice.

She shook her head, her hair glittering like flames in the sunlight. "No. But I had hoped he would have become wise enough about my abilities to know what I can do and what I cannot do."

"Perhaps he isn't mistaken. You remember you told me in private that if you believed the Shadow Key to be anywhere, it would be at Impa's home?" Sheik fixed Mithael with an unblinking stare. "Ganondorf recieved word that the Shadow Key was stolen from Impa's house the other night."

The herbs slipped from her fingers, her eyes huge as saucers. "You mean. . . what I said was true?" When Sheik nodded, she shook her head, eyes still wide. "It's mere coincidence," she protested. "Anyone could have figured that one out! Twas easy!"

"If the Evil King were to hear of it, he would not think so." Sheik knelt down beside the girl, taking in her pale face, her overbright eyes, and placed a bandaged hand to her forehead. "You are burning up with fever. You should be inside, resting."

Mithael clutched at Sheik's hands. "It was a coincidence!" she insisted, her eyes wide with a flicker of fear. "Please, do not say anything to him! Please! If he thinks I am withholding information, he will-"

"There is nothing to tell," Sheik soothed, gripping the girl's trembling hands comfortingly. "It is as you said, a mere coincidence. No fear, Mithael. Now, let me take you home?"

"It is not home," she murmured softly, tears glistening on her cheeks as she allowed herself to be drawn to her feet. "I have no home anymore." Her dark lashes fluttered as she looked up at Sheik. "I fear you were right though- I am becoming a wraith. Soon there will be nothing left of me. Do not let yourself go the same way Sheik."

There came the familiar flash and in mere seconds they were back inside Ganon's Castle, in Mithael's dark, gloomy chamber.

"I remain myself because I cling to the memory of those I love and who love me," the Sheikah retorted. "You would do well to follow that example."

She smiled bitterly. "There is no one left in this world who loves me," she whispered as the Sheikah helped her into bed. "No one."

Sheik bit down on his lip, a worried scowl marring the smooth skin of his brow as he stared at her. There wasn't much time left. Mithael was fading, Ganondorf was on the move, the Keys were being stolen and . . . and the hero had emerged again. He had to alert his comrade to how precious little time remained before. . .

Sheik turned from where the girl lay, stepping out into the dark hallway and happened to glance out the window. Night had fallen.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lon Lon Ranch was quiet in the light of a half moon. The black cloaked figure paused, pocaline face glancing up at it momentarily. Half darkness, half light. Very fitting. Even more fitting if the darkness was swallowing the light.

Fluidly, soundlessly, the theif slipped through the shadows towards the barn, mind intent on one thing, the treasure the ranch owners were said to keep well hidden: the Key of Light. But something made the mysterious person pause, shrinking further into the darkness as the sounds of someone approaching grew louder. . .

(Mmm, yes. Mucho good. But just a word, no capturing the theif. That is a no no! *shakes finger* At least, not yet :D. All in good time, all in good time!)

"Pfft. Blood annoyances. Only good thing they did was bring me a horse." Lennox muttered, swinging onto oneo f the horses of the now-dead servants of Ganondorf.

The resistance-what resistance?-might've been able to use the horses, but then again, they were so porrly trained that he might as well not have bothered. Setting them free, he began the trip to Lon Lon Ranch.

By the time he'd reached there, the crescent moon had risen high into the night sky. The darkness of Ganondorf had ate the light away, leaving behind a cold, chilling and unearthly light.

Lennox pushed the gates open, hand on sword, when-

CHINK!

"What the-" Lennox swept the blade out, knocking the daggers away from him, and found the source of the weapons; a figure, now bathed in moonlight, who'd stepped out of the shadows. Fluid movements carried them through the night air, to the windmill.

"Hey! Stop! Dammit..." Lennox swore under his breath, and ran toward the windmill. As he approached the spinning blades, he grabbed a grappling hook the was twirled around his belt. It was short, but all he had to do was hook it into the blade closest to the ground, and let the windmill carry him up to the top, where the thief had disappeared to.

"Hey! You!" Lennox's sword was still drawn, and as the image of the thief suddenly appeared in range of a swipe, he slashed, cutting the air and creating a gust of wind, while the thief nimbly dodged away. And, as the thief stepped into the moonlight, a face could be seen. Lennox froze, shock seizing his every limb in a vice like grip.

"You! It's you!" Lennox screamed, a bloody haze of rage covering his eyes.

(OOC: Alantie, you do know you'll have to control the thief. And he/she needs a name. And Andri needs help. Must I create another character?)

(Yes, I control the theif. But. . . you can't see the theif's face yet!! MWAHAHAHAHA!! You can create another character if you wish, but I assure you that Sheik will take good care of Mithael/Andri. :D Well, as good as possible. poor dear :( )

A white, porcaline mask was all that could be seen where the theif's face should have been. Innocent, childlike and genderless, a sharp contrast to the black cloak and garb that swathed the slender body. But what had drawn Lennox's attention was the shimmering gold Key adorned with a yellow diamond that was clentched tightly in an onyx gloved fist.

"You're the theif!" Lennox spart furiously, taking another step nearer. He was enraged, fury blazing like liquid fire through his veins. These Keys were the only way he had to revenge Andri, the only purpose he had left in his life. "Give that to me!!"

The figure didn't speak, merely shook its cowled head slightly. This defiance only made him even more angry. He suddenly realized that the theif had put more distance between them, and was readying to escape, desperatly, he shouted out, trying to delay to give himself a chance to capture the elusive being.

"Tell me who you are!"

Once more the head shook in a negative motion, then in a single swift motion, threw something at Lennox before turning and leaping off the windmill. The man caught the object out of reflex, staring down at yet another dying white rose. But this time it was different. Around the stem, attached by a black ribbon was a snowy card with words penned in flowing black ink. Masked Moon

By the time things registered, it was too late; the theif, Masked Moon, had escaped, taking with him the Key. His grip tightened reflexively, crushing the card in his clentched hand and snapping the delicate stem. Gone. Yet another chance to avenge Andri lost. Who knew how many Keys Masked Moon had succeeded in collecting. Worst still, Lennox had to admit that it didn't seem as if the thief was with Ganondorf, but then, it didn't seem to be with his side either. There was only one option: Masked Moon had to be caught.

*~*~*~*~*~*

"Do you understand what I'm telling you?!"

Mithael blinked, resisting the urge to scream, settling for a heavy sigh. "Yes, my lord, I do. Someone else has been stealing the Keys. The Desert, Light, and Shadow Keys have been taken. We must find the Water, Forest, and Fire Keys first."

Ganondorf was pacing in front of his throne chair while she stood before him, hands clasped. She wore a veil today, sheer and black, to help disguise the palor of her skin and the alarming dark circles under her eyes. She knew that if he noticed at all that she was becoming even worse in health, he would chastise her, perhaps even hit her as if being sick was somehow her fault.

"Yes!!" he stomped his foot, so hard that the decorative plate nearby crashed off its pedastle into a thousand shards, but the Gerudo man did not notice, whirling on her. "Why haven't you been able to locate them?!"

She blinked. "You know how my powers work, my lord. I cannot help what I can see and what I can't."

His hand flashed out, slapping her hard across the cheek. Mithael fell to the floor in a huddled, heap tasting blood. She stayed down; getting up would mean being hit again.

"Damn you," he snarled. "Worthless girl!" He punctuated his words with a kick, causing her to cry out. "You had better try harder! Don't you dare come to me again without some shard of information, or I will not hesitate to execute you! Is that understood?!"

"Y-ye-"

Her words were cut off by another vicious kick to her ribs. Inwardly she shrank in fear, a terrified little child as tears ran down her cheeks.

"My lord!"

Footsteps, and the assault stopped as Ganondorf turned. "What is it now, Sheik?"

"I've recieved word that Lennox's rebellion are planning on attacking one of your outposts near Death Mountain. Reports state that rumors are going around that the Gorons possess the Key of Fire."

"Excellent! I will go ralley the troops." Ganondorf's footsteps faded, leaving Mithael on the floor with Sheik.

In an instant the young Sheikah had knelt beside the girl helping her sit up. "You are hurt."

"It's been worse," she whispered, allowing Sheik to blot at the blood trickling down her chin.

"On top of your sickness it is worse," he returned flatly, crimson eyes narrowed. "You are going to get yourself killed."

"It doesn't matter. I have nothing left anyway-"

"Don't you dare say that!" Sheik became angry at once. "What about him? What about Lennox, And-"

"Don't say that name!" she shreiked, yanking herself away from Sheik. "Do not call me by that name! I cannot be her again until this is over! I forbid you to call me that!"

"I wouldn't have to if you would remember yourself," was the icy retort, though the bandaged hands were gentle as they helped the girl up. "You must not allow yourself to be cut off from your past."

"I know," she whimpered, allowing herself to be dragged back to her dark chamber. "I know"

(graaahhh, so much angst for the poor girl! :( )

Eranei sighed, looking at her travelling staff with annoyance. It had blood on it from her last encounter with the bandits that sometimes haunted the fields. She continued her journey toward Kakariko, annoyed at the fact that she was constricted to a long jounrey near to a river, in order for her to get water.

Suddenly, a knife floated into existence before her. She smiled at the tiny thing, floating in mid-air. Even warded with magic, it was no match for the magic she could conjure. Letting it drop to the ground, she continued on her way, but was abruptly stopped by a figure, holding out their hand, as if asking for something.

Whoever it was wore a mask of porcelain white, and they were unidentifiable. They held their hand out again, and Eranei just shrugged.

"No money. See?"

In response, the person attacked her.

Sheik appeared at the Death Mountain outpost, teleporting there in a flash of light. Quickly, he ran up the mountain, towards the outpost where Ganon's moblins were.

"There are a group of men coming to attack you! Quickly! To arms!" Sheik called. The moblins, knowing of Ganon's secret advisor, were quick to act on his advice; they pulled their weapons out, and stormed down to defend their outpost. What they didn't see was Sheik lob a bomb with a dagger in it, right behind them. The bomb exploded, stunning the group of them, and Sheik threw a bunch of daggers into their burnt bodies, killing them.

Sheik was about to teleport back to the castle, when, far off, he felt the presence of a powerful magic.

"No...impossible!" Sheik muttered. In a flash, he was outside the village. In front of him, two powerful magical entities duelled each other in a battle of power and socery.

"Impossible! They're too powerful, they'll..." Sheik rushed forward, aiming to end the fight as fast as he possibly could.

Sheik grabbed for the first person he could, which was Eranei, yanking the girl clear off of her feet as he planted himself between her and the masked person. His timely appearance seemed just what was needed to end the fight. The cloaked figure gave up the battle at once, fleeing swiftly and silently into the darkness.

"Get outta my way!!!" Eranei shrieked, her eyes blazing with fury as she struggled to get around the Sheikah. "That theif stole something of mine!!! LET ME AT HIM!!!"

"What?!" Shocked, Sheik kept a firm grip on the girl's upper arm, forcing the clear gray eyes to meet his crimson ones. "You must be mistaken. . ."

"I'm not!" she cried indignatly, her nose wrinkling in anger. "It was a family heirloom given to my mother by King Zora himself." Furious, Eranei slammed the butt of her staff into the muddy ground, not hearing the sharp intake of breath from Sheik at her side.

Impatient and irritated, Sheik gave the girl a shake. But what was it, girl?!"

"My name's Eranei, not girl," she retorted, clearly short of temper. "And it was a gold and silver key with a sapphire on the top. I wore it around my neck on that chain." She gestutured to a glittering gold chain that lay on the muddy ground, broken. "That theif grabbed the key and yanked it from my neck."

Sheik could only stare at her. She obviously had no idea that her family trinket was the Key of Water, and that now only the Fire and Forest Keys were left to be recovered. It held only sentimental value, and she did not see its true power as that to open a gate that would lead either to destruction or salvation.

AU: For our enjoyment Alantie...

"As for you, Private, if you mention a word of this to anyone, I'll feed you to the cat thing here. Understand?" Mithael hissed, annoyed.

"Uhh...sure..." the private murmured, half in a fit of pity, and in a fit of laughter.

Lennox felt a growl of pure hatred emitting from his throat. The cat suit that Mithael had dressed him up in was not to his liking.

"Yum..." he gritted out.

And now, back to my post...


Lennox hurried toward the village, hoping to somehow get into Death Mountain. His massive blade dragged behind him, it's hilt grasped firmly in his hand. He'd just reached the foot of the stairs when he heard it.

Or rather, them.

Four Iron Knuckles, each one a dark ochre, stood imposingly, waiting to spell doom for him. They each stank of blood, human, animal and otherwise, and their axes, each glinting with the spark of polished steel, called him to battle.

He did not hesitate.

Lennox ran at the first one, timing his strike to co-incide with the Knuckle's swing. He aimed a kick towards it, striking it toward the ground, and dug his blade into the ground, uprooting the earth into another two Knuckles with such brute force that they stumbled backwards.

The last of them, however, suddenly rushed in from the side, throwing his armor toward Lennox. The move surprised him; Lennox was hit by the armor, and, off-balance, was suddenly winded as the massive behemoth of raging armour crashed into him, and sent him flying across and into the river.

Lennox stood up, spitting blood out of his mouth. Pulling the sword out of the water, he laid the flat part of the blade upon his fist.

"This was my own variation to the move Impa taught me," Lennox growled, as a spinning light circulated around the blade. The water gleaming on its surface hissed wickedly, as though some unknown power ran through the metal.

"See ya' in the next life," Lennox smiled grimly, and then there was a flash of white light.

When the light had receded, all that was left were a few charred and broken remains.