#comments appriciated

Focusing intently, he allowed his fire to gently laser in from his palm into the cut. There was a warmth from a source she couldn’t see, but a bright yellow glow like the sun came out from his clenched hand. When he was done, he let go and her finger had stopped bleeding. 

It looked as if her finger had been gently cartelized. Malakath let out a breath once he was done. “I believe that should suffice.”

"What are you doing?" Chione asked as he took her hand in his, inspecting her cut finger. She noted him frowning and staring at the blood. A small cut like this was not enough to maim her. Mally was acting as if she was terribly injured. It was rather endearing. "I'll be okay, it's just a cut---what?!"

The Naran woman was shocked when she felt his touch grow warm. The yellow radiating from his touch was unexpected. Yet, she did not pull away, too stunned to do so. As Mally released her hand, Chione did not realize he had fire magic, but rather thought it was some sort of healing technique. Her flesh looked slightly different around the cut, but it did not hurt. Perhaps this was why he could not heal himself, he was too weak, but now, his power had returned?

Blinking, Chione looked at her finger, curious, "How did you do that?"

“I am a prince. A lord of fire.” Malakath saw her point at her finger and assumed she wanted an explanation. He would reveal himself fully, he felt the power coming back to him. “Behold and witness me.”

Stepping back, he raised both hands into the air. Breathing the hot air around him and feeling the heat of the sun, he channeled and showed off an incredible display of fire. Rising high into the clouds, a tower of fire burned, a beacon of his power. With some alterations, he had it spread out to look like a Phoenix. Fitting, seeing he felt reborn.

Whoever Mally was, he most certainly was not a child of Nuabi, the water goddess. Startled, Chione stood up from her bench and backed away from the man, dropping her basket of fruit and peeling knife. What was this?! Was he a demigod? A fallen deity? A powerful magician? Answers eluded Chione for now, but she was more focused on not being turned into a pile of ash. While Mally had not threatened her before, she could not help but be cautious now.

Malakath stopped his display, all the flames dissipating. When he saw her reaction, he frowned. Was she afraid? She should be in awe!  Stepping forward, he held out a hand. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

Chione glanced at him, and then at his hand. The botanist still felt a little unsure. Though, she supposed logic would argue if he wanted to hurt her with such fire, Mally could have potentially done so earlier. Slowly, Chione extended her hand to take his, still cautious, but also curious. She looked at his palm and then turned it over to look at the top of his hand. Where did the fire come from? Did he just... summon it from nowhere? While the Nara was initially a little frightened, her inquisitiveness was also getting the best of her. If this man was not a child of Nuabi... what was he? 

"What are you?" Chione knew he could not understand her, but still voiced her questions. "... who are you?" Surely someone with such power was of great importance. Even so, what force could have washed him up at her doorstep in such a terrible state? "Are you a child of Atanna? Part of the blazing sun?"

He held her hand, another reaching to hold her by her shoulder. “I’m sure you’re fascinated by me. How I wish I could speak to you.”

Malakath felt his groin area burn looking at her. She was gorgeous and it was becoming harder and harder for him to deny. “In some ways it’s been nice the way you‘ve treated me without knowing who I am. There’s an honesty in that. But I’m selfish I suppose. I want you to know who I am. I want to know more about you.”

Was Mally trying to assure her with his hand upon her shoulder? It was a simple gesture, but a sweet one from such a powerful man. Chione gave Mally a soft smile as he spoke, not understanding, but figuring there were words of reassurance. Perhaps she could obtain a partial answer in regards to his fire magic.

"Atanna?" Chione pointed to the sun, trying to mimic being hot by waving her face. "You're a child of the sun? The fire in the sky?"

“Atanna?” Was that a god? He pointed to the sun and all around him. “My people were crafted by a God called Exodrum. The Father of Fire and Power. I am an avatar of power.” He pointed at himself. “I am a Hasai.”

"Ha... sa... e?" Chione had never heard of such a name before. How could clarify the meaning? Was it the name of his people? Or the name of his divine parents? She thought for a moment, then spoke. "Nara." She gestured to herself, making sure to note her horns and tail for emphasis, and then to him. "Hasai?"

At last. He had a name for her people. Assuming she wasn't a unique one of a kind. His hand went down her shoulder to around her waist. With his other hand, he gestured towards her horns. "A Nara. Hasai don't have horns. May I feel them? I'm curious by the texture."

"Nara, yes." It appeared Mally understood what she was trying to insinuate. "We are the descendants of Daidan, the first drake to rule the desert and his lover, the sorceress, Aliyah."

The sudden touch on her hip nearly caused her to jump. Chione was not expecting him to touch her so casually. Being a... Hasai, Mally left no thoughts to personal boundaries, did he? Maybe this was normal in his culture. Then once more, the man motioned to her horns and Chione turned slightly red. This was going to be harder to explain.

She tried her best, "Sensitive. Um..." Chione remembered how he grabbed her tail. She motioned to her tail, then to her horns with a bit of a flustered face. "Sensitive. Like my tail, okay?"

Was she blushing? Malakath felt a sense of pride. Of course she was. He was a specimen of his man and he would be well suited and cared for in his hands. Grinning like a scoundrel, he put on a polite face. "I'll be careful." 

Gently, his hand went to her horn.

"Rrrrrrrrhhhhrrrrhnnnmmm." Chione could not suppress the purr rumbling up from her throat when Mally suddenly touched her curved horn. It was almost an automatic reaction from the pleasurable sensation. Snapping back to her senses, a shade the color of blood flooded her cheeks as she removed Mally's hand from her horn. "I told you my horns are sensitive, okay?"

Malakath was stunned by the *noise* that came out of her. All the bravado sucked out of him. Stepping back, he gulped down that insecurity. He then turned side ways, hoping she wouldn’t know his growing ‘Royal Rod’. “That was some reaction.”

"Oh, I'm not growling at you!" Chione noticed his surprised expression, and apologized. "It's just... a Nara's horns and tail are very sensitive, okay? It's an... erogenous zone." She wanted to smack herself. Sighing, the flustered botanist ran a hand down her face, hiding the blush. "I'm trying to explain this to you and you can't even understand me."

Taking a few breaths to calm himself down, he pointed to the outside world. “I can walk. I want you to show me where I am. Can you do that?”

"... you want to walk around?" Chione was grateful he was changing the subject per se. "Sure, we can do that."

Malakath strode out towards the smell of the river, not having a worry in the world.

"Is there something you want to see here?" Chione asked, noting him looking out over the river. "Be careful. I don't want to have to fish you out of the water again."

Malakath looked around, trying to see if there were any high peaks he could look from. “There has to be other Hasai around. I’m sure of it.”

"Are you looking for someone?" Chione noticed him glancing about the landscape. Was he trying to... figure out where he was? Maybe he did not know. She did live on the outskirts of the kingdom's capital. Maybe if she showed him on a map, he would have a better idea of where he was. "Here," Chione always took a map with her when gathering plants. It was easier to mark where spots were for gathering Kamazu plants or others for selling at the market. Opening her map, the Nara pointed to the river upon it. "Aaru. Aaru River."

Map seemed to be the size of the country. Or at least the territory. He gestured his arms out to have a larger size. “I need bigger.”

"A world map?" Chione noticed the gesture of his arms indicating he wanted a larger view. "I'm sorry. I don't think I have one, but..." She picked up a stick and started to draw in the mud from the riverbank. Firstly, Chione outlined the shape of Al-Daidan. Then, she etched Danjur. After that, she drew the borders which met her home of Omisha and Malus. Labrynna and Hyrule were last. Though, the writing was in her language. So, Chione did her best to clarify for Mally. "Al-Daida. Omisha. Malus. Danjur. Labrynna. Hyrule."

Malakath watched closely. He had names now for every country on the continent! So much territory! So much land outside the empire. And there it was. He pointed to a beach that was right on the border of Omisha and Al-Daida. “This is where we made landfall tracking the traitors. I was able to travel inland, to this jungle top. I must have fallen into the river here, and traveled all the way… here. To you.”

"Oh... here? The Kemet Beach?" Chione recalled the beautiful beaches with black sand. She tried to think of how many days it would take to get to that location from her home. The Nara held up three fingers, hoping he would understand. "Three days."

Three days? Or three weeks. Either way, the prince frowned at the information. Was that by mount? Or by *walking*? The thought disgusted him. Nevertheless, that was his reality. “I suppose we have quite the journey then.”

"Kemet Beach," Chione marked the spot Mally had indicated. She tapped her feet with the stick and imitated walking, following the river. Then once more, she held up three fingers. "Three days by foot."

Though, it begged the question, why did he want to go there? Nonetheless, if Mally deserved to leave, he was free to do so. Chione glanced upward at the sky and noticed the angle of the shadows. It was time to go to the markets! She had to hurry to set up her stall or her customers would be most dissatisfied.

She told Mally, "I need to go to work now. It's time to sell my plants." This would be difficult to explain. Well, it was best to make use of the riverbank's mud while she was here. The Nara jotted a picture of the market, and her selling plants. It was noticeable that the figure was her, due to her curved horns. Then motioned to herself. "I need to go to work."

“You need to help me.” Malakath pointed to himself, then her. He then realized something. Grabbing a stick, he drew a crown in the sand. He then pointed at himself more confidently. “I am royalty. You will be greatly rewarded for your time spent helping me.”

"You... want to see the Patriarch?" Chione blinked at the drawing of a crown, misunderstanding his meaning completely. She drew a Nara with long, angular horns underneath the crown, and gave Mally a look of puzzlement. "Patriarch of the Nara? I doubt he'll see you. He won't see us common folk."

Yes! She was finally clueing into who she was! “Yes! I’m royalty! I’m Prince Malakath! Come on, we can leave now!”

"...?" Chione heard him say his own name and then gesture to the crown. Wait, was he saying he was a noble? Perhaps the Hasai were demigods and lived a mortal life, even with such power. When Mally gestured to the beach again, the realization finally struck Chione of what he wanted. "Wait, you want me," She gestured to herself, "To take you," She then pointed to the spot on her crudely drawn map. "To Kemet Beach?"

The prince nodded his head with a great amount of enthusiasm “Yes! You know the land! You will be my guide!”

Chione busted out laughing at his enthusiasm to travel to Kemet Beach. At his expression of displeasure, the Nara uttered one word with a shake of her head.

"No." Chione shook her hand in dismissal. "No, no way. There's drakes, crocodiles, and venomous snakes along the river and I don't have a boat. There's no way I'm walking there."

Malakath had certainly learned what her word was for ‘no’ over the week. He took her hand again. “I can’t afford to wait. I need to go to my people now. They need me.”

"Crocodiles." Chione etched the reptile in the mud alongside a huge drake. Then, she shook her head once more. This was the only way to get him to understand. He seemed sincere, but she was not taking him into a death trap of a landscape. "Drakes. Not safe."

“I’ve killed Dragons.”

"Are you really that insistent upon going?" Chione sounded exasperated. 

This was going to be difficult. She tried to think of a way to get him there without the river. There were sand rays, but that was a long shot. Sand rays were really picky about who they allowed upon their backs to be carried across the desert. Not to mention, sand rays required a token for their efforts. What could she offer? 

Touching the jingling adornment one horn, it was all the jewelry Chione had left. Her family was gone. It was just her now. To part with it was nearly an unbearable thought. Sand rays adored shiny trinkets and she was sure it would be accepted. But... if Mally had to go, she could not deny him. After all, with that kind of power, he had to be someone important. Perhaps his Hasai deity would look upon her with favor.

It appeared she would not make it to the market today. The desert was just a short walk away from her own humble abode. Chione silently motioned for Mally to come with her. Returning to her home, she packed him a bag full of food to last the journey. Instead of three days, the sand rays could get him there in one. Once she was finished, she urged Mally to follow.

Malakath was pleased by this course of action. She was doing the correct thing in helping her. Once she was prepared, he followed her lead. Like it or not, she had part of his safety in her hands.

It was an odd structure to approach. There was a set of stone stairs leading to nowhere in the beginning of the vast desert. Chione stood still for a moment, taking in the surroundings. Then, she whistled as loudly as she could. A few minutes passed, but she waited patiently. It was only when the ground started rumbling horribly that she noted Mally's alarm.

"It's okay! It's okay!" Chione assured him. It was not long before the sand ray rose from the ground with a deafening echo emitting from its mouth. As the massive sand ray urged from the desert, Chione quickly knelt on the stairs to nowhere. Tugging Mally's shirt insistently, she nearly dragged him down as well. Sand rays were noble creatures, back from the times of the ancient nomadic days of her people. It was an incredible creature, larger than most dragons, but docile to most.

The gargantuan sand ray stared at Chione with those black eyes and then at Mally. It was waiting to see who summoned him. Taking off the adornment from her horn, she held it in her upturned palms as an offering with her head slightly bowed. She made sure to speak with the most elegance she could muster. 

She asked, "Please, oh guardian of the desert, will you take my friend, Mally, to Kemet Beach? I believe there are some like him there and he wishes to return home. I offer you this trinket, adorned with black opals, as a tribute for his passage."

The sand ray clicked in response, eyeing the horn adornment. Pleased with the offering, the sand ray then extended one of its long whiskers to grasp the jewelry. Then, in a flash of an eye, it had absorbed the minerals from the gold and opal. To the sand rays, precious gems or jewels were a source of energy. Then, the beast lowered its head so Mally could walk onto his body.

Malakath watched in wonder at the creature. As he walked on, he turned to Chione, offering a hand. “Come on. We need to continue forward.”

As Mally extended his hand, Chione gave a sad smile and shook her head. It was rather sweet that he wanted her to come, but she could not. She held up one finger, then pointed to her horn, then to him. The trinket was only good for passage for one.

"I'm sorry," Chione gave a soft wave to him as the sand ray started to move. "But this is where we part ways. If you come back to Al-Daida again, come by to see me. I'll miss your company."

Malakath stared like a reptile, his gaze eying the gem she sacrificed to the creature. Was that what was required? A trinket? 

Looking at his hand, the prince pulled off a Ruby ring that had been given to him by his father as a gift for his 18th birthday. He could simply get another one. He walked forward and placed it in her hand. “Use this. Come with me.”

"...?! What? No, no, no, this is yours!" Chione protested, not wanting to sacrifice the ring to the sand ray. If a Hasai was part of a divinity, even a small chance, it would not be right to take such a precious token from him! "I'll have to find a way back. It would be useless for me to go with you---hey!!!"

When Mally yanked her onto the sand ray, she saw the whisker take the brilliant ruby and break down the gem for energy. Well, so much for protesting. The stubborn man just had to get his way, didn't he? Chione gave him a brief look of annoyance before sitting down on the sand ray. She gave the immense beast's head a pat as it rumbled in appreciation. At first, the creature simply shifted through the desert dunes, getting a bit faster and faster... until with a giant flap of its wings, it started to soar through the sky.

Malakath watched in wonder as the creature took off through the sky! It was a marvelous feeling to have the air through his hair and hit his skin. Spreading his arms out, he laughed in triumph. “Yes! I’m king of the world!”

"Seems like you're enjoying your first time on a sand ray." Chione snickered a little at his awe of flying throughout the desert sky. Though, it was not a good idea to stand for too long. Gently, she tugged on his pant leg, indicating he needed to sit. "Brace yourself. When they land to get more speed, it will be bumpy."

Malakath took his seat beside her, his grin looking almost radiant. “Chione. This is magnificent.” 

He found himself staring into her eyes, a little longer than normal.

"Ramlah Rayan." Chione patted the sand ray underneath her hand, speaking in her native tongue. It was what Mally heard as she spoke due to the language barrier. She was trying to tell him what the beautiful and majestic sand rays were called. "I loved to watch them in their flocks when I was small. You should wait and see when many of them travel together. Leaping and twirling, playing like kids."

Malakath found himself just liking the sound of her voice. Was soothing, like glass he supposed. He nodded along, eying the way her hair flowed through the wind.

It only took a few hours via sand ray to arrive at the other side of the desert. Kemet Beach had black sand from the nearby volcanic mountains which surrounded the Malus border. It was a lovely landscape, providing rich fertile grounds to the borders of Omisha as well. Stopping at another stairway to nowhere, the sand ray waited patiently while Mally disembarked. Chione soothed the sand ray with a few words of praise, asking it to stay nearby so she could have passage back home.

Stepping off gracefully, Malakath took Chione’s hand. “I suppose thanks are in order.”

"Yes, this is Kemet Beach," Chione assured Mally as she carefully took his hand to steady her steps while dismounting the sand ray. "This is where you wanted to come, right?"

Malakath looked at the sand she pointed out. He had certainly received reports of black sand, but had not seen this area himself. The location his ships made landfall on were full of yellow sand, not black. He walked around, scanning for signs of his people. “There has to be someone nearby…”

Taking a breath, he looked to the sky and raised his hands. Once again, he fired a pillar of fire into the sky. The flames burned brightly and acted as a prime beacon. As his flames fizzled out, he took a deep breath, glancing back at Chione as he took a seat. “I suppose we’ll just have to wait.”

Once more, Chione was amazed by the beautiful display of fire. Yet, she then noticed the crackling underneath Mally's feet. Excited, she tugged at his arm and gestured to the striking glass forming with streaks of colorful sand.

"Look! Look!" Chione bent down to observe the formation of glass, which was speckled with the various colors of black sand. "Isn't it beautiful? This can also happen when lightning strikes sand. It takes its own shape unless molded by careful hands. This is very expensive, all the nobles have a piece."

Looking down, Malakath's eyes widened. Sand meeting fire, of course! For someone of his talents, he could craft whatever he chose! Perhaps, a gift was in order. 

Motioning her to step back, he fired a stream of fire at the sand. Carefully, and it took a few attempts, the end result was a necklace made of glass. Picking it up, Malakath could feel that it was fragile as it was dazzling, but it would hold its form as long as it wasn’t dropped. “Here. For you.”

"... you want me to take this?" 

Chione carefully took the crafted glass and stared at the marvel of such a fine piece of jewelry. There were no precious gemstones or gold embedded into it, but nevertheless, it was still beautiful. Though, she mistook the purpose of the piece. Chione thought it was a head piece instead of a necklace. So, she took one end and attached it to the left horn and then the right, a small section of the necklace drooping over her forehead. Horn adornments were very popular in Naran culture, as a way to show off and to signal status. The more adornments, the richer the individual.

Malakath watched in wonder as she placed it upon her forehead. She made her own intent behind beauty. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone, even a Hasai, as beautiful as you my dear.”

"Thank you for the horn piece," Chione knew that a sign of thanks in Naran culture was to briefly touch heads. Females were usually gentler with approach, rubbing foreheads for a moment or so, while males were more heartier, maybe even a headbutt for those who were close. She did not think it would be a good idea to suddenly do this without knowing his people's customs. The last thing she wanted to do was offend. So, she could only smile as a token of thanks for the time being. "I'll be sure to wear it as often as I can."

Malakath looked around, spotting a good tree that could shelter them from the elements. “I’m going to set up a place for us to camp for the night. It shouldn’t be too long I hope until we see other Hasai.”

Nightfall at Kemet Beach was quite a scene to witness. The setting sun made the black sand sparkle with an iridescent light. Yet, since the beach was in proximity to the desert, the temperature was rather cold. Sitting in front of the fire, Chione really wished she had brought better clothes from her modest home. Then again, she really had not planned on accompanying Mally to Kemet Beach.

Turning the fish, Chione checked to see if the meal was done and then offered the largest one to Mally. When he stared at it, the botanist then took another fish roasting over the fish and eagerly bit into it. The flavor was wonderful. 

For a treat, she had gathered a few coconuts from the surrounding palm trees. Now, that had been an amusing event. Mally had been ready to throw a fireball at one of the fruits, but Chione climbed the tree with ease. She was not sure if his sudden strident words had been from concern or surprise. With her strength, it was no feat for her to climb the tree nor to open the coconuts. The Nara simply bashed two of the coconuts to split the fruit in half.

Rubbing her arms, the Nara inched slightly closer to the fire. While she could tolerate extreme temperatures from the desert, the cold at night was not exactly kind.

Malakath was doing his best to not visibly shiver from the cold. His homeland didn’t have cold nights like these, so frigid and cold. Yet he would not look weak in front of Chione. 

He kept the fire going, making it blaze bright with a snap of his fingers every once in a while. Looking to the Nara, Malakath flexed a smile. “It’s amazing you live in a country with cold nights like these.”

"Thank you for stoking the fire again," Chione offered Mally another fish and piece of the coconut. "At least the trees block a bit of the wind."

Malakath looked around, staring up at the stars. He liked to imagine he could feel the heat, even with them so far away. Scooting closer to Chione, the Ocho scratched his chin. "I wonder how much your people would be open to becoming part of the empire."

Chione noticed Mally staring at the sky. Was he looking at the constellations? Taking a small piece of driftwood, the Nara staring outline some of the stars. Then, she connected the stars to show the various constellations in the sky.

"Daiden the Drake. Aliyah the Sorceress." Chione named each for Mally. "Amek, the Mother of All. Temsah the Great Jaws of the River."

Was she pointing out constellations? Malakath supposed he could do the same. He pointed upwards, pointing at other stars. "Ghidorat, the Great Destroyer. Mothberra, the Cosmic Flame. Both in tandem, flying in each other's path." 

Gently, his free hand reached out to grab hers.

"My father was an astronomer, and my mother sold flowers." Chione knew he could not understand her, but it still felt nice to talk. "He once gave my mother a piece of a fallen star as a gift. We buried her with it. Then I buried him with the piece of her horn." It made her sad to think of her parents. "I'm their only child, so... I miss them. But sometimes, when I look at the sky, I think they're still there. Watching from the heavens."

When Mally took her hand, Chione gave it a soft squeeze.

Malakath looked to see her expression soften. Her eyes seemed different, filled with remembrance. Something lost perhaps? When she squeezed back, he spoke gently to her. “I wish you would come with me. I know that every motion you’ve made has been one of kindness to help me, yet you seem content staying here. I could provide so much more for you.”

"It'd be nice if we could understand each other," Chione laid back on the leaves she had gathered earlier to use as bedding. "Maybe one day. Come, you need to rest." She patted the spot beside her. "Let's sleep."

Malakath eyed the spot beside her. Walking over and lying down, he took a breath and waited for her to lie beside him.

"I hope you sleep well." Chione slept curled up, with her knees to her chest. Most Naras slept this way to conserve heat at night. It was not long before she was snoozing peacefully.

Malakath watched her slowly shiver. She shouldn’t have had to be like this. Carefully, he wrapped his arm around her, providing body heat to the Nara. 

“You’ll be okay.”

The early morning sunrise caused Chione to stir lightly. She did not want to get up yet, even though there was work to be done. Her herbs and flowers needed to be watered and weeds needed to be pulled. True, she did miss market day, but the botanist could always sell some goods to the local apothecary. Comfortable, Chione purred slightly at the warmth, not wanting to move, and snuggled further into the source. In her half-asleep mind, she had forgotten about being at Kemet Beach.

Malakath was in deep sleep, perfectly content as he rested. His body had naturally spooned Chione, holding her closely, his arm still comfortably around her.

Talking. Who was talking? Chione grumbled softly and started to blink open her sleepy eyes... when she saw men with weapons in front of the extinguished campfire. Alarmed, the Nara jumped to her feet, nearly tripping over Mally in the process. These men resembled Mally's race, but were a different color. When they brandished their weapons at her, Chione hissed, on edge at their sudden appearance. What did they want?!

One of them stepped forward, grabbing Chione by the foot and dragging her away. As she hissed and roared in defiance, the albino skinned soldiers pressed an ax to her throat. 

Just as another raised a blade to strike her down, he was suddenly kicked away by Malakath. 

“Away you fools!!! I command it! Lay a hand on her and you won’t see another sun!”

The other soldiers were quick to obey, fast to back away from the Nara. Once he felt that they were going to stay in line, Malakath walked over to her, helping her up on her feet. “Are you okay?”

Chione yowled when one of the guards dragged her, kicking him in the balls. When the other suddenly put the weapon to her throat, she froze, leaning her head back in the sand as far as she could away from the blade. Had she come all this way to die?! As Mally saved her from being hacked to pieces, Chione was still on edge, her tail spiked and her eyes narrowed. These men seemed to listen to Mally, but she did not trust them not to hurt her. Taking his hand, Chione got to her feet, and peeked over at the intruders, standing very close to Mally. It was obvious the Nara was frightened. Her tail curled around his leg tightly to prevent him from running off as she tried not to tremble.

"Soldiers. They're my soldiers." Malakath held her shoulders, rubbing them to calm her down. Bloody Skurge. Loyal Hasai, perhaps to a fault. He turned his gaze back to them. "And I'll ram my fist through the face of any who dare harm her." 

"And who is she, that she's so important?" 

The prince turned his gaze to who would dare speak in such a term. His eyes widened when another Ocho rode towards him on the back of a Griffon. "Sister?" 

The Hasai Princess had green skin like her brother, except her hair was black with white streaks. Unlike her brother, she was adorned in fully battle armour, with arm bands that had emeralds in them. Her mount stared daggers at Malakath and Chione, ready to strike if given the command. 

"Indeed. I must say I'm... happy, to see that you are alive, Malakath." 

The prince cleared his throat, and stood up straight. Sure she was. She had a duty to look for him and bring him back home, but if he had died on this journey, that would only help her own plans as future Empress. "It is good to see family."

Turning to Chione, the prince gestured to his sister. "Chione. This is Princess Silvia. My twin sister." The prince made a motion that he and her were bonded together. "Silvia, this is Chione. She is a local that helped save my life and nursed me back to health. I would be greatly upset if anything happened to her."

Mally was trying to soothe her, Chione understood this. His words had a reassuring tone. Yet, Chione was still quite spooked from the incident. While her tension eased slightly, she stayed glued to Mally's side, eying the guards with disdain. When the woman on the griffon approached, Chione noticed the similarities between her and Mally. The beast did not seem happy nor did the lady. Who was she? Was this woman his family?

As Mally gestured to the woman and then himself, Chione hesitantly leaned forward a little and gave a few sniffs. Yes, his scent was similar to hers. The two had to be siblings. Yet, the woman had a radiating aura of malice. While Chione did not like her, she was being cordial for Mally's sake. She did not want anything negative with weapons to start again. When Mally spoke her name a few times, she tried the foreign title on her tongue.

"Sil... vi... ah." Chione repeated after him, asking for clarification if she was pronouncing his sibling's name properly. "Mally. Sil-vi-ah?"

“That’s good Chione. Silvia.”

“Mally? You pick up a pet Malakath?” The prince frowned, holding onto Chione protectively. Seeing that this was a subject to not be poked at, Silvia pointed to a boat pulling up by the shore. “Father wants to see you back at the homeland to report your findings. Immediately.”

Malakath slowly nodded, sighing. “Give me a moment with her?”

Silvia pondered this, before nodding back. “Very well. Two minutes. The rest of you, prepare for liftoff.”

Once everyone had given the prince space, he turned to Chione. He gestured to the two of them together, then the boat. “Will you come with me Chione? I know I can be good to you.”

Not protesting when Mally pulled her closer, Chione watched the woman with careful eyes. No, she did not like her. Something was *wrong* with that woman. As Silvia departed, Chione released a breath she did not release she was holding. She also did not mean to wrap her tail around his leg so tightly. It was a bit embarrassing to feel so afraid and then immediate relief. Sheepishly, she uncurled her tail from around Mally's leg so he could move freely.

However, when he pointed to the boat, then the two of them, Chione was very surprised. He wanted her to come?! Away from her homeland? She barely knew the man! What was he thinking? Those people just threatened her! No, it was bad to jump to conclusions. Perhaps things were different with his people. Something was causing all of them to be on guard. She helped him because it was the right thing to do, but was not going to follow him any further. While he was obviously important to his people, and Chione had no clue Mally was a prince, she was not ready to go with him.

"I'm sorry, but my home is here." Chione shook her head lightly, not wanting to hurt his feelings. "You are very sweet, but I know nothing of you or your people. You seem very important to them. You're a someone, I'm... a no one." She gave him a gentle nudge toward the boat. "You belong with them. I belong here."

Malakath had picked up on a few words from Chinone. Some numbers, and yes and no. Speaking in her tongue, he shook his head and held her hand to his chest. “You… are not… a no one.”

"You're sweetheart." Chione gave him a soft smile as he held his hand close to his heart. It was nice having company for a time. She was often by herself, with only her garden for company. "Go home. I'll be okay."

Malakath, placed a gold ring into her palm, shutting it close. "This is for you to give to the flying beast. You keep the glass I gave you."

The prince looked into her eyes one more time, letting go of Chione. For now. "And this, is so you don't forget me." 

With one hand around her waist, and the other gently caressing a horn, he leaned in closely, planting a warm, pillowy kiss upon her lips.

Jewelry? Why was he giving her jewelry? Oh... the sand ray, it would need a trinket to take her back home. It was so kind of him to be considerate to part with a golden ring. Chione did not want to have to sacrifice the beautiful horn adornment he made for her. It was her sole treasure.

As Mally pulled her in closer, earning a loud purr from touching her horn, Chione allowed herself to be kissed by the strange man who was washed into her life by the Aaru River. Maybe this was a way his people said goodbye or expressed thanks. She was not sure, but she supposed one of her own customs was not harmful if he wished to try his. As the kiss parted, Chione rubbed her forehead against his as a sign of affection.

"Be safe, Mally."

Malakath longed to take her. But that was not his destiny as of today. Instead, he simply made his way back to the docked boat.

Getting on board the deck, Silvia was watching him closely. “Careful brother. A kiss can lead to a bond.”

“I know what I’m doing sister. Who I choose to love is my choice.”

“Just be careful.” Silvia went over and hugged her brother. “Don’t think otherwise. I was worried for you.”

The prince crossed his arms, unconvinced. “Really now?”

“When I become Empress, I want you to see my triumph.” Least she was honest, he thought. “Is there anything I can get you Malakath?”

The prince paused, an idea coming to him. “Yes… yes I do. Go along the shore until we find another Nara. We need a local that can teach us the language of their people.”

Silvia didn’t laugh at the idea, her own mind thinking it over. “You want to see her again, don’t you?Are her people a resource, an ally, or an enemy to the Kikai Empire?”

“They are a strong people. I think they have the blood of dragons, like us, sister.”

“…Fine. We can do that.” Silvia raised a curious brow. “You know, we could pick up a few others from this continent. Could do us good to get accustomed.”

Malakath nodded. Turning back, he saw Chione taking off back into the air. Clenching his fist, the prince made a promise. “I will see you again."

______________________________________________________________

Previous Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/738965846876160000/glass-love-and-desire-ch-1-foreign-prince-in-a

Next Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/741967992284381184/glass-love-and-desire-ch-3-folded-into-the

Rinku, who was at the house to acquire some vegetable supplies, as well as additionally stay for dinner as it stormed outside, looked up from her steak dinner. “Heeeeey now. There be little ones around. What’s got the mother bear angry?”

Zannah, however, didn’t know or care less who’s house this was. She got off her horse, dragging herself to the front door, all the while collapsing to her knees in the mud once in a while to reach it.

"I sensed the mega-bitch." Zizi replied with an irritated sigh. Now, the ruler of the Empire was banging on her door. All eyes looked to Zizi and she ran a hand down her face. Might as well get it over with quickly. "Stay here. I'll deal with this. Or either I'll get lucky and the ground will hold me hostage."

Rinku frowned, cluing in swearing might be common around the household. “What mega bitch?”

Kahli scowled, moving to secure his younger children away from the door, hell, the first floor.

The Emperor herself, pounded on the door, waiting for whatever peasant lived her to open the damn door.

Yanking open the door, Zizi stood there, not even batting an eye.

"... what?"

Zannah froze like a dear in head lights. This was the last person she wanted to see. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

"I was actually asking my deity why, out of all people, that you have to show up on my doorstep." Zizi said dryly. "So once again, I ask... what? What do you want?"

Fine. No need to stand on ceremony or waste additional time. “Lead me to your sister and brother in law. Right now. I’ve suffered an assassination attempt.”

"Down the street, third left, then go down to your second right, and the castle is right there. Bye." Zizi started to shut the door in Zannah's face, but Manaco stopped her.

"Mom, you know you can't do that."

"I can do whatever the hell I want, you know what that woman did to your father, our family."

"I know that, but... it looks like she needs help."

"She can go kiss Vul'kar's ass for all I care."

"Mom!"

"Look, I'm not being a part of this." Zizi threw her hands up. "Each time she comes around, more shit is stirred up. You want to help her? Then you can. I'm out."

"Mom!" Manaco groaned, exasperatedly, watching his mother stomp off into the kitchen.

“Run off you spineless little—?!” Zannah paused, a part of her trying to recognize the blonde woman step into  view. There was a barrier of time from doing so instantly. “Do I know you?”

Rinku was drying her hands from washing her own dish. Looking at Zannah again she was filled with a lonely sense of nostalgia. “Been a long time Princess.”

That title certainly jogged a memory. “Link? Princess Rinku?”

"Yeah, this is Rinku." Manaco did not wait for permission, he simply swooped Zannah off her feet. "Come on. Let's at least get you tended to before going to see my aunt and uncle. Zarazu would freak if you came into her castle that way."

“What? Young man, what are you-ah! Watch it!”

"Now this I got to see." Urboro started to stand, but Grivy pulled her back down by her shoulder. "Hey! I'm not going to choke her or anything, I just want to see what my brother is going to do."

"He's probably going to play knight in shining armor, like he does for all the ladies." Miku rolled her eyes. "And if you're not going to eat your potatoes, I am."

Grievous was, in a sense, shaking. The Emperor being here, in any state, made her extremely anxious for the near future of her family. “She’s trouble.”

Rinku meanwhile pulled up a chair, and sat comfortably into it as Manaco

set Zannah down. “What happened to you?”

“My Theron agents tried to kill me. They set up an ambush in the Ruto mountain path.”

Rinku nodded to herself, as if trying to recall the memory. “I think I remember. Elite, scary black armoured death squads of your brother. Takes me back to fighting in the war.”

"Therons got you good." Manaco placed the empress on a blanket and looked over Zannah, noticing the blood. "Forgive this, but it has to be done." He took his hands and ripped her dress around her legs, and near her back. "We have to get the material away from the wounds or you would risk infection."

“It’s just a dress Manaco.” Zannah couldn’t feel her leg anymore. Not a good sign.

"... this looks worse than I thought." Manaco observing the gushing blood. "Okay, I think you're going to require some energy transference just to keep you stable. Hold up your hands."

“I can’t do that...” Zannah didn’t shy away, but she spoke in a somber monotone.

"... why not?" Manaco asked, puzzled. "My siblings and I do it all the time if one of them is sick."

“It’s because you’re all Waku. I’m an Ocho. Not all Hasai are alike Manaco. In the same way a Vatra has different abilities than a Munja, I do not have the unique ability your father and his line hold. I can’t absorb fire to heal my wounds.” Zannah sighed, her adrenaline starting to petter out.

Rinku nodded, reading the room. “Anyone here know traditional first aid?”

"Mom... does..." Manaco had to grimace out the words. "I think Dad does too. Let me go check, I think the most qualified for this is Urboro. She's the best with the medicinal plants so she probably knows a bit of healing. I'll be right back."

It didn't take long for Manaco to go and ask his sister.

Which was met by a loud...

"WHAT?! ME?!"

Grievous shook stood between her older half siblings, having become aggressively protective of Urboro in a short time. “No. She doesn’t go near her.”

"Look, I don't like this anymore than you do, Grivy, but someone has to help her or else, Zarazu will not be pleased." Manaco felt like he was stuck in-between a rock and a hard place. "I know my aunt doesn't necessary like Zannah that much either after what she did to Mom, but we have to think of the diplomatic relationships. We don't want to start another war."

"... fine." Urboro relented, having a grouchy expression. "... but Grivy comes with me."

“Gladly.”

As they started to head to the Emperor, Rinku already had one hand on the bolt stuck in her kneecap. “When I pull this out, you might feel some momentary discomfort.” Seeing Urboro come in, the elder woman smiled. “You ready to perform kid?”

"... not at all." Urboro looked a little pale but took a deep breath. "All right. This is... this will be easy. Piece of cake." She slowly bent down and hand her hands ready, Manaco knelt down as well to cauterize the wound. "You stop the bleeding, I'm going to wrap it with aloe."

“I know a thing or two about war wounds. You’ll all do fine. Hey Zannah.”

“What?”

“Look at the bunny.”

Rinku flashed a peace sign, completely throwing Zannah off. It was at that moment she tore the metal bolt cleanly out. The Emperor had a delayed scream as the others got to work.

Manaco used his fire to stop the bleeding as his sister instructed. Then Urboro exhaled slowly and breathed life into small aloe seeds, the plant sprouting from her hand and wrapping around Zannah's leg. It was not the work of a Dusa, but it would have to do until Zannah was at the castle's medical bay.

"... since my magic is green, and she is green, maybe I can share some of my energy. Zemljas have a lot more than Vatras do, anyway."

"Says you."

"Uh-huh, says me."

"They do not.

"Do too!"

"Do not!"

“SHUT UP!” Zannah wretched, her pain at an all time high compared to the last few decades of her life. “God! Your voices are infuriating!”

Rinku cut Zannah’s voice off with a hard tie of bandages around her kneecap. “Now Zannah. I know commoners have never been your cup of tea, but be nicer to the kids who helped patch you together.”

Zannah actually blushed from embarrassment, if ever so lightly. “Oh yes. You’re too kind.”

“Say, I don’t think you’re allowed to blush in front of commoners. Or drip sarcasm with the same toxicity as a viper. Does anyone want to here the first time the Emperor here lost her composure?”

The Emperor hissed between her teeth. “Absolutely not.”

"Look who's talking, you're the one who fucked over our family royally, yes bad pun intended, and we're trying to help your ungrateful ass out." Urboro scoffed, putting her hands on her hips. "Sure, Rinku, let her lose all composure, faint in front of us 'commoners' and have a bitch fit. Go ahead, I'm waiting."

"Urboro..." Manaco groaned. "Will you please be nice for once?"

"Nice is for pushovers. Except for when it comes to Grivy," Urboro fist bumped her half-sister. "She's baby."

“Well. It was during the War of Fire. Zannah was conducting the distraction to allow her killer robot to capture my baby sister Kanisa. Well, we were two teenagers, and I sprung into action to engage her in sword combat.” Rinku methodically nodded, recalling the details and slowly speaking them allowed. “Back then, she was an uptight princess instead of an uptight Emperor. And she was a pretty good fighter too. Keep in mind this was our second duel, and she didn’t have a concept of what innuendos and throwing singles meant.”

“Please don’t...” Zannah hated not being able to go anywhere, or have the right to stop this.

“So here was, pushing me towards a ring of fire, having this aura of seductive power. In my haste, I leaned in to kiss her.”

“You what?!” Grievous couldn’t believe that a warrior would do such a thing. Zannah herself blushed more at the memory.

“That’s right. And in a switch, her energy went from dominate to a flustered and shy school girl. Turns out that at age 16 or 15 I think, she hadn’t had her first kiss.”

Urboro made a retching noise for emphasis that she did not like the idea of kissing Zannah. "I feel sorry for your lips, you must have been washing them so hard, they chapped. I think you had a better match in that hottie you were dancing with the other night. She had huge knockers."

"Urboro, we talked about this."

"You talked about it; doesn't mean I'm going to listen."

“Well, we have our histories. Don’t we Zannah.”

“I suppose we do, Link.”

Both the woman’s eyes locked with each other. In Zannah’s was a monotone angry. In Rinku’s, a regretful pity at the experiences they shared. The family suddenly heard the death cry of a horse outside. Rinku was the first to stand up, calmly walking to the rake, placing her boots on. “You kids stay inside.”

"Trouble already? Damn, they're fast." Manaco once again took Zannah into his arms and then said, "Sis, I'm going to need your help. We have to sneak her through the tunnels so they don't see her."

"Really? I really got to do this? URGH." Urboro crossed her arms with a huff. "And I just did my nails... fine... tell her if she has claustrophobia, she's going to have to suck it up."

"No need. This will be over quickly. One way or another. Just stay here and keep them out if any manage to pass my eye." Rinku patted Manaco and took her sword, throwing a green tunic on.

Rinku stepped outside, ready for action. The storm raged outside, with rain and thunder pounding the senses. Despite this, the Arbiter of the Goddess was aware of her surroundings. It was the flashes of lightning against the shine of their armour that gave them away in the rainy dark. When one launched an arrow, the warrior princess ducked low. There went diplomacy.  

Theron were surrounding the house, drawing closer. They'd kill everyone inside if they could. What they weren't expecting was a green clothed woman to step out. Too bad that there would be no witnesses. One stepped from behind a tree to fire a shot into her head. What he didn't expect was for how fast she'd move.

After ducking, Rinku drew her sword from her sheath, instantly decapitating the first solider with a clean cut. As his body fell down, another drew a shimmering guardian blade. Drops of water sizzled against the blade. Others in turn drew their own weapons. The princess cracked her neck, staring them down as rain trickled down her hood. "Last chance to leave."

With a violent swing, the Theron closest to Rinku tried to cut her in two. Instead, Rinku rolled around him in the mud, and leap into the air, slicing his backside open with a swing. Her blood cut straight through his armour, cutting his spinal cord apart. With a quick motion, she finished the man off by driving the tip of her blade through the back of his neck, piercing his throat. Taking a stance, Rinku held both hands on the hilt of her blade, waiting for the rest of the Theron to draw close. This cold night they faced the Hero of Hyrule.

Manaco managed to grab a blanket to toss over Zannah and followed Urboro out the back door.

"I'll be back soon, Grivy, got to take the package to the castle." She opened up the earth, rivaling a system of tunnels under the earth. "Can't believe I have to use these to transport her of all people."

"Look, we're doing this for Aunt Zarazu, because we don't want war."

"I know, but that doesn't mean I have to like it." Then, she jumped in the hole, and Manaco followed.

Grievous grabbed Urboro by the arm, shaking her head. Where they stupid or just wanting a death wish? "No! You can't go out-LOOK OUT!"

Sure enough, a Theron was waiting. With a launch of an explosive arrow, Grievous had to intercept it with a fire bolt, but the explosion threw her flying backwards. The Theron had the two young adults and Zannah insight, ready to kill them with another arrow, when his visor exploded with glass and blood. His body fell backwards, and Rinku was on the other side, already having another arrow drawn if she needed it. Her breath was a bit raspy, having finished the last of the attackers. The battle was a haze to her regarding time. Short engagements with tough opponents usually were. "Hey. Get back in the damn house."

Not arguing for once, the siblings went back inside the house and waited.

"She told you to wait. You are always in such a hurry." Zizi was not too bothered by the fact that there were Kikai soldiers outside. Their family had been so much, this did not surprise her too much. She sat there with her youngest one, Zaltana, and watched her draw. "Just let Rinku do her thing, then go."

"Don't look at me, it was his idea."

"Was not!"

"Was too!"

Rinku kicked the door open, helping an injured Grievous onto the couch. She had a fresh head wound now from being thrown by the explosion. When Manaco got close, his half siblings punched him in the arm. “Ass! She said to stay inside! I saved your life! All of you actually.”

Rinku shot a quip as she went back outside to check the perimeter further, “She’s not wrong you know.”

"Ow! Hey! Don't make me drop the cargo here!"

"Sorry, Grivy..." Urboro felt sort of guilty when she saw the cut on Grivy's head. "I just really don't like the idea of being anywhere near her."

“There’s trained killers outside. You didn’t even think!”

Zannah chuckled, her head woozy from blood loss. “Your schooling taught you well.”

"Okay, okay, I was dumb and I rushed into getting mega-bitch like Mom said out of our house, I'm sorry, do you forgive me?" Urboro didn't like Grievous being mad at her.

“Shut up." Manaco grumbled under his breath at Zannah. "Or I will drop you."

Grievous took a deep breath in and out to calm her nerves. “Just... think. For me. I don’t want you dead.”

Zannah herself reached up and flicked Manaco in the nose. “You don’t tell your elders to shut up.”

It wouldn't be soon after that Rinku came back in. “Zizi! Kahli!”

The father came down, nodding. “Yes?”

“Dead horse. Eight dead Hasai. No more in the near vicinity. You, kids. With me as back up, you now have my permission to leave. I’m getting on my horse, and you travel under me. I’ll escort from above to the castle.” Rinku immediately took command of the situation. This was survival. “And we’re leaving before more show up. Let’s move out people.”

~

Inside the castle, Leere had lost at chess... again. Ralnor was not going to just 'let' his sister win especially when she wanted such a ridiculous deal. He ran his hand down his face as Leere listed off reasons that it would be beneficial to have... that damn snake so close.

"Leere, I frankly don't care what reason you give me," Ralnor told his sister. "Or even if the deities themselves would kiss me for it, that bastard is not getting a room in the castle."

“Ralnor. He’s not going to have a place to at my wife’s ranch. Why the hell cant he have one here? It’s easier access for him, more luxurious, and he’d blend in with all the monsters that guard the castle in Father’s and Covarog’s service. Yes. He’s a pain. Yes. He can act like an ass. But he’s a friend and a partner. We work with Echidnan kind. We have to give them an ambassadors place in the castle.”

"He can stay in the damn wine cellar for all I care, he's drank half of my collection already." Ralnor was not budging on this issue. "You and I both know that if someone else saw Bonegrinder before it was time to act upon the future plans, something could fall apart. There are others out there who want him dead. And the maids here gossip like it's going out of style. The answer is no. He's safer at the ranch, regardless of whether he stays in the barn, under your bed, or slinks around underneath the floorboard." The prince grumbled. "Besides, the damn monster can teleport, why the hell does he need his own room?"

“Wait. That’s pretty good. We can transform your wine cellar into a pent house for him. Because him trying to eat my cows it more costly to my wife than wine you horde to yourself.” Leere flicked her King piece over. “He’s still an organic being Ralnor. He likes to rest, sleep, snugg- forget that last one.” They both knew Bonegrinder’s snuggles could turn rather pushy. “Ah. Here’s my check. Sunny is carrying a baby. There’s no way he’s going to stay at the ranch and possibly startle her into losing my baby.”

"I was joking, there's no way he can fit into the wine cellar, his ass... coils... body---fuck, whatever you call it, is too big." Ralnor scoffed. "And he would not try to startle your pregnant wife. He's arrogant, a prick, and crazy, but he's not going to purposely frighten a pregnant woman. Bonegrinder is an ass, but he's not that much of one."

“He’s not coming to the ranch. It’s too small. The castle is massive. We could stick him in one of the dozens of towers we have.”

"Sure, sure, we'll room him with Vaati, just so he'll get on the wizard's nerves." Ralnor said sarcastically. "And for the record, I don't want him around my kids either, but we both know that if Ukuri is talking about a snake man singing her bedtime lullabies, that isn't happening. So just wait, I guarantee you, Bonegrinder will be telling your little one all kinds of stories too."

“Your kids are fully grown adult strapping Gerudo women. Your first issue to the stop treating him like the boogie man. He gets a tower here, or he’ll be overwhelmingly annoying to us.”

"He stays at your ranch." Ralnor was not budging. "We're not going to discuss this again, I'm not having a 57 foot snake running around the castle---"

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

The prince was interrupted by loud, intense knocking. On the secret tunnel door behind his bookshelf. Irritated, Ralnor hit the switch to move the piece of furniture. "I swear to Hylia, you damn old snake, if that is you listening in on our conversation, I'm going to scale you and make you into a---...?!?! Manaco?! Urboro?! Rinku and---?! ... what the fuck, Zannah?! What are you doing here?!"

"It's uh... long story, Uncle, but can we like, talk later? Mega-bit---Zannah needs medical care."

Leere blinked, surprised by the Emperor’s presence. She was bleeding heavily from her leg, amongst other smaller injuries. It was Rinku, who’s blood covered tunic that worried her, however. “Sis?”

“Leere. Didn’t expect to see you here. But no time for catch up. Ralnor. We can’t seem to find Doctor Boo Boo. And given the high value of our guest, I think our brother should be notified.” Rinku threw her bloody sword onto Ralnor’s floor, becoming too tired to stay up in the middle of the night fighting for her life. And she felt for certain this night was going to become quite the ordeal. If not the near future.

________________________________________________________________

Previous Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/613698270411243520/fall-of-a-dynasty-ch-1-no-negotiations-this-time

Next Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/614058125382844416/fall-of-a-dynasty-ch-3-signing-the-fine-print

“No! Monsters in the dark! Monsters! Please, please don’t go! I don’t want to be left alone. Please Mr. Boveir. P-please.” The tears streamed down her eyes as she refused to let go of him. Klinge crushed the door handle subconsciously and walked away. He brought her into this mess. He allowed her to be taken by that monster.

"I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here, okay?" Doctor Boveir assured the terrified elf. "Look, I'm here tonight, along with three other nurses, all right? There's no monsters in the dark. Look around." He gestured to the medical bay, lit by candle light. "Now, you have multiple broken bones and you need to rest from your healing session."

Miranda sniffed, slowly letting go. “I-I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” She tucked herself into bed, the tears only making her more tired.

"Now, now, there's no need to apologize." Doctor Boveir patted Miranda's head. "We all get scared sometimes. It's normal. Close those eyes, and try to sleep. If you need me, I'll be right here." Once the elf appeared to have drifted off into an exhausted slumber, the doctor placed another blanket on the sheets to keep her warm.

Only Miranda wasn’t talking to him. She lied in bed, staying awake for a while listening a praying she didn’t hear anything.

Doctor Boveir was doing his usual rounds and checking on patients. The darkness hid most due to the lack of light. Though Bonegrinder had his way of moving around Hyrule castle without being seen.

"Tiny snack... little elf... if you do not behave, you will lose more than just your life." Bonegrinder's voice came from within the wall behind her bed. "Would you like for the monster to go after your mother? Your friends? Eat them while you watch? You were warned not to traverse into the catacombs, but you did not listen. Tsk, tsk, stupid little elf..."

Miranda grew bug eyed, holding the sheets close to her and over her head. “No! Please. I-I’m sorry! I never should have gone near you. Please don’t hurt me or my mother. I’ll do whatever you ask. Please, please go away. Please I’m sorry.”

"Do you think apologizing is enough for what you did?" Bonegrinder scoffed. "You have alerted the undead commander to not only Bonegrinder's presence but those of the others in the catacombs. All because of your insistence when the prince ordered you to let it go... silly elf, don't you see now that the pretty prince was trying to protect you? And here, you doubted him, went behind his back to the undead tool. If he comes after Bonegrinder, those in Bonegrinder's home... then you will be the first to die, you stupid girl." The snake threatened. "Warn your commander to stay put or you will meet more monsters who Bonegrinder will gladly share your flesh with."

“No! NO! PLEASE MR BONEGRINDER!!! IM SORRY!!!” Miranda started to frantically scream and cry again. “This silly, stupid elf is yours! Please just don’t hurt me or my mother! PLEASE!!! Oh god have mercy, PLEASE!!!!!”

Doctor Boveir heard Miranda's frantic cries and rushed over to the elf.

"Miranda, Miranda, calm down! It's was just a bad dream, you're here, you're safe!" The doctor motioned for the nurses to come over to the bed as well. "There's no... no bone-monster here! There's nothing here! It was just a nightmare, there's no such thing as monsters."

“HE’S IN THE WALLS!!! OH GOD IM SORRY!!! PLEASE! I HAVE TO TELL RALNOR AND KLINGE I WAS WRONG!!! HE’S GOING TO EAT ME!!! CANT YOU HEAR HIM?!?!” Miranda frantically pushed against the doctors.

"Doctor, she must be hallucinating from the pain or the medication."

"Administer a stronger sedative and have a volunteer sit with her." Doctor Boveir ordered. "The girl is troubled mentally. We need to keep an eye on her." He then said with a frown. "And I need to have a talk with Commander Klinge about what happened. We cannot help until we know."

“NO! YOU SAID YOU WOULDN’T LEAVE ME!” Miranda bit one of the doctors hands as she attempted to run away. “Mother! I have to see my mother!”

Seeing Klinge watching from the end of the hallway she screamed at him. “Please don’t go after him! PLEASE!!!”

Her cries of lunacy and panic practically woke the castle. Klinge was glad he was wearing a helmet, because he couldn’t bear to look her in the eye. “I’ll end him....”

"Oh good goddesses, someone sedate her, now!" Doctor Boveir had to pry the girl's mouth away from his hand and the nurse quickly gave her a shot to put her to sleep. Shaking his head, he was pissed that the girl was acting so erratic and speaking of monsters. What if she had some sort of poison in her system? What if it was a dangerous gas that she breathed? He had no answers and no idea how to treat her. "Commander Klinge!" Normally, Doctor Boveir was a calm guy and it took a lot to get him angry. "I want... no, I need some damn answers, right now! The girl is out of her mind! What happened?!"

Klinge stayed calm, a little bit of spite in his voice. “You can ask Prince Ralnor, though I’m sure he will simply tell you she’s insane. I think the King and Queen would love to know the truth as much as you.”

"... I don't have time for your mind games." The doctor dismissed Klinge's statement with a huff. "Speaking of monsters in the walls. It's bad enough the maids say the castle is haunted and now you're in on this prattle too. I don't know what this girl saw or what the devil happened when you two went into that tunnel of madness, and I have a feeling I'm not going to get a proper answer. Until she is completely better, both physically and mentally, she is not to return to her work. Is that clear?"

“And she won’t be better until I deal with her monster. You can tell the Prince, the King, and the Queen I no longer take their orders until the matter is dealt with. Now go take care of your patients doctor. Before you receive something far more strong than a bite from me.” Klinge wagged a finger of warning at the doctor before walking to Tulilaid and Kelly, who had arrived to investigate the commotion. “Captains. I have a special assignment for you.”

“Yes, Commander Klinge?”

Tulilad quickly brushed back his hair and tried to wipe off any lipstick evidence on his face that might have been left there by Kelly. Clearing his throat, he stood up straight and faced his superior. “What assignment?”

“….I need you to go on a grocery run. Cake needs a casing. Might be rats in the wall. The Queen wants to take a cruise ship out to sea.”

Kelly kept a straight face, with only a flinch of concern. This was special code used only for emergency situations. Klinge handed Tulilad as list. “I’m taking a holiday. Be good.”

Oh shit. Grocery run was a vital hush hush mission. The cake needing a casing was a VIP needing protection. Her eyes studied her surroundings. Rats meant a spy or something listening in. And the cruise ship meant taking a garrison to take someone far away from Hyrule for their own good. Klinge was really laying it on them. But it was the vacation that worried Kelly. It meant Klinge was going rogue on his own. Who knew how long. She and Tulilad had to get somewhere private and read the note.

~

The Undead filth was becoming a thorn in his side. The criminal heads, his ‘Hive’ as he called it, were bringing him multiple complaints. Evidently, this commander was declaring war on him and his brood for what happened. This was nothing new to the Anagari. Sooner or later, there would be a mistake. Then, he could take advantage of the situation. A man with revenge on his mind was liable to act irrationally. The second prince could not control the undead like a puppet, despite Bonegrinder’s insistence that he be kept on a leash. Still, it was not Ralnor’s fault that Klinge would not behave. The prince was too soft to use necromancy magic to keep the bag of rotted flesh under his thumb. So Bonegrinder waited patiently, listening and watching… until every person was in place.

As the Hive gathered, Sheer-Kahn trotted in. He was an old and ancient creature. With four hooves he walked with a clack of every step. His upper body had two powerful arms for carrying his weapons of choice, a massive sharpened club and a bow that shot arrows the size of small tortoises. His main was silvery white, with a grey body. He was a Lynel.

In times much older, he might have been King here. But Hyrule’s darkest corners now held creatures far more adaptive then him. As powerful as he was, not even he could move an immovable object. He took his place and waited patiently. Here, his code name was Hades. For if anyone sought death by angering his master, he’d send them to the Underworld.

“Sheer-Kahn… my loyal friend, my trusted warrior.” Bonegrinder motioned for the Lynel to come into his personal chambers. He had the deeper sections of the catacombs suited for living. No one under his command wanted anything more than they needed. Every need and want was catered to within reasonable request. One thing was for sure, Bonegrinder took care of those who were loyal to him. Certain areas were nothing short of luxurious, despite being underground. The Anagari took a slow inhale of his pipe and let the smoke float out of his nostrils. “The undead filth has been a thorn in our garden for quite some time now, hasn’t he?”

Sheer-Kahn nodded. “More so now that he has discovered your presence. He’s always taken care to destroy the criminal element that has been created by you, even if only unintentional and previously unknown to your presence,  simply because it is ‘the right thing to do’. Now he’s targeting the infrastructure himself.”

“He doesn’t realize that what we do effects not just our brood, but those under us, those we take care of, the rejects no one wants.” Bonegrinder’s underground empire was ran to benefit some of Hyrule’s most unfortunate. Those who had nowhere else to go, came to the Hive for a home. However, Bonegrinder ran the underground organization like a tight ship. There was no room for error. A threat to him was threat to all under his command. If Klinge wanted to play dirty, then he could do so as well. “This old snake won’t have the others suffering because of it. The three he keeps close to him… the half breed, the kid elf, and the small guard. We need to bring them here.”

“They are in the heart of the castle. That could prove to be difficult.” Sheer-Kahn took a bow. “But nothing is below me. What would you have me do?”

“If the little elf is taken… the others will follow.” Bonegrinder slithered up to Sheer-Kahn, his claws holding up the Lynel’s chin. “You are strength and might incarnate, trusted friend. Nothing you put your mind to will ever fail. Though it is not unnecessary to ask for help when it is needed.” He then gestured to the figures in the dark. “Morowa and Negasi will accompany you if you wish it?”

Sheer-Kahn thought it over. Klinge needed to be distracted and taken away from the castle. Hades’ existence could not be made publicly known to the general population, so he couldn’t enter the castle, but he could take Klinge’s attention away. “Will you listen to my plan my friend?”

Sunny moaned as she started to wake up do to slight shifting on top off her. She felt Leere’s thighs brush along her own, their breasts squeezed together as blanket held both of them in union. Opening her eyes she registered surprise as the Princess shared the same emotion.

They both had expected the other to be long gone.

Leere stared blankly down at Sunny, raising her body up a bit to get a better look at her. Her dark chocolate hair dropped down, almost covering her crimson eyes. “Uh, hey. You sleep well?”

Sunny replied by blinking blankly back. “Yeah. I did.”

“You were really good at what you did.”  

The ranchers cheeks flared up in a blush. Smirking, she spanked Leere’s bum cheeks, getting the same flush out of the Princess. “You as well~” Leere was about to say something more when Sunny rolled on top of her, kissing her deeply. “I like how you stayed around sugar.”

Leere felt incredibly weak being naked under this much taller woman. It wasn’t like her to be speechless. “O-of course. I didn’t want to be rude. We shared a very intimate night. That’s something to be respected.”

Sunny felt her heart flutter. Leere was far more mature than other woman she had encountered on a one night stand. “Thank you. That means quite a lot.”

She got off Leere, getting up to get changed. Taking a breathe to let the afterglow settle, Leere stood to get changed as well. “So…that brings the question. Do you want to do this again? And if so, more then just a ‘nights rest’?”

Sunny paused at that, looking back to Leere. “Do you usually ask woman you sleep with to go steady?”

The Princess wasn’t sure how to take that tone. Did she come across as pushy? “No. I don’t often try to get attached as it is.”

“How so?”

“My line of work is…” Horrific. Terrifying. Able to give her nightmares that question infect her sanity. So many thoughts went through her mind at the adventures of confronting all the evil she has. And the people she lost to them. “…dangerous. And it has affected those I’ve gotten close to. So when I indulge in my pleasures on journeys, I tend to leave them behind.”

Sunny was more intrigued now how she fit into this. “And what makes me different?”

“I’m staying in Hyrule for a while. Maybe indefinably. It’s my home. So-“

“So you thought you’d find a relationship in the first person you bedded?”

Leere grew stoic at the interruption, unsure how Sunny felt about her now. “Like I said, I don’t do this often. And I’m wanting to try and start a new chapter of my life. Perhaps meet someone like my siblings have.”

The truth was harsh, but Leere was envious of her brothers and sisters. She was the only one to be purely adoptive. She had the love of her family of course, and she was always grateful of that, but there was a union the Gerudo siblings had. A special bond she couldn’t get in on. She felt isolated because of it. A part of the blame laid on her for never being around, but that was the nature of her work. Everyone had gotten married, a few even having kids on the way. Leere wanted a life that could leave her darkness behind.

Sunny studied Leere, trying to finalize her feelings on her. “How old are you Leere?”

“Fifty-Six.”

Sunny was taken aback by that. This woman did NOT look like she was in her fifties “You look so-“

“Youthful? It’s magic. It’s helped me keep my appearance so young.” And that magic weighed on her psyche, helping her darkness caress her mind.

“Huh. No wonder you’re mature.” Sunny finished getting changed, with Leere right after her. “How about this Leere. We let this time we have together fester. Think about it. I’ve got some more deliverers to get to, but if you’re serious about this, then I can see you again. Perhaps the coffee shop next to Malo Mart?”

Leere wasn’t sure how to take that offer. Had she been to pushy, merely having Sunny put her down easy? Nodding, she decided that whatever fate gave her with Sunny, she should accept it. “Very well. I’ll be around there tomorrow evening.”

Sunny nodded in agreement. “Well I better be off. Milk doesn’t deliver itself.”

Leere left first, saying goodbye to the bar keep and paying him a large sum of rupees. Walking around town she observed her surroundings like a spirit, simply floating from place to place, ignoring the people around her, and them ignoring her in return. Despite a wonderful night previously, she felt nothing now. Her eyes almost glossed over as she let time flow by. Whispers sang into her mind, asking for her to give into more carnal desires. The Princess’ vision swirled together, the demons in her mind telling her that the woman she met wouldn’t see her again.

Suddenly, a puppy brushed against her leg. Snapping back to reality, Leere noticed the sun had started to set. She allowed herself to be completely absent minded for almost a whole day. Gods. She did it again.

Sighing, she picked the little black lab up and scruffed his fur. “No tag. You a stray?”

The little puppy only barked.

“They say Black Dogs with fur as corrupted as a night sky with no stars, like you, bring bad luck. Demons even.” She smiles, scratching behind his ears. “You’re no demon, are you? Don’t worry, I know what demons look like. Smell like. Feel like….you’re no demon.”

Setting him down, she started to walk away. The little puppy bounded after her. Leere looked behind her, raising an eyebrow. She wasn’t usually able to gain the trust of animals so easily. With a chuckle, she shook her head. “Well if you’re going to follow me, you best keep up. I’m sure my younger sister can find you a home. She’s a little crazy on the animal hording. You got a name?”

The puppy barked again, tripping over his own legs as he kept up with her. Leere raised another brow. “How about barks?...No, that’s a terrible name. Alakazamkadabra? Has a ring to it.”

Turning back to the puppy, she saw him run off back towards the town. Even it must have thought her humour was terrible. Leere raised a hand in concern. “W-wait! Where are you going?”

And disappearing over a corner, the black pup was gone, leaving Leere alone once more. Why did the presence of even a stray make her feel more secure? Perhaps it was time she got a pet of her own.

Arriving back at the castle she made small talk with the guards, only to run into Rinku. She was gearing up some equipment into traveling bags. “Hey Leere! Where have you been all day?”

“Me?”

“Yeah you. Getting some fun?~” Rinku slyly repeated herself.

“I was out and about. I need a break after my last…adventure…are you heading out?”

Rinku patted her bag. “Yeah. Heard about an infestation of Skulltala’s that need to be eradicated a country over.” Seeing Leere’s body language, Rinku softly placed a hand on her shoulder. “You going to be ok while I’m gone? Do you want to come with me?”

Leere held the hand Rinku placed on her. “I think I’ll be ok. I actually met someone last night. We’re going to see each other tomorrow evening hopefully.”

A small blush hit Leere’s cheeks, incredibly easy for Rinku to spot out due to how pale she was. A large grin filled Rinku’s lips as she hugged Leere. “You did get some action! She cute?~”

Leere scowled as her face burned up. “Yeah. A nice pretty blonde full of shut the hell up before I kick your ass.”

“A blonde? No wonder you like her!” Rinku tussled Leere’s hair to tease her. “I’m happy for you Leere! Really. I hope it goes well for you.” The warrior princess gave a soft smile, the light wrinkles stretching with her lips. Age was inescapable, even for her.

Leere gave a sad smile back. Rinku was someone she always secretly admired. A small part cursed herself for cheating time by using cursed magic to stay youthful. It was cowardly in the presence of her ‘sister’ and best friend. Or at least that was how Leere felt. Yet, she couldn’t help it. “I hope so as well. Truly. Be safe.”

“As long as you stay safe for me.”

Rinku hugged Leere softly. Leere closed her eyes and hugged her back.

~ After a restless night of tossing and turning, only acquiring five hours of sleep, Leere decided to leave the castle at the first stroke of sunrise. The Princess rose from bed and started her morning routine. Grabbing a banana from her fruit bowl she pinched the top, carefully peeling it into four. With her breakfast acquired she took off her undergarments and stepped into her tub for a cold shower. After getting out she finished up her bathroom activities, hurrying back to her room.

Looking herself over in the mirror, Leere studied her reflection. If she looked at herself closely with the lens of truth in her minds eye, she could see the wrinkles her body was supposed to have. The age of a woman who had lived as long as she had. Some people used makeup or hot springs to stay young. She warped souls of the evil living and dead to prolong her youth. It wasn’t like she went out of her way to do so. Sometimes her reaction to stay alive was using magics that benefited her in more ways than one.

Turning away Leere put her clothing on. Her lighter civilian garb, her necromancers necklace, and fingerless leather gloves. After applying a dash of eyeliner, Leere took a brush to comb her thick hair. Once she was done, she allowed herself her one positive thought of the day. She was a damn fine pretty woman. Leaving her room, she gave her hair a flick. “Good. Now hold onto that positivity for the rest of the day.”

Somehow, she was able to relatively hold onto it. Walking through town today, she tried to not look like some crazed stalker looking out for Sunny. She occupied herself by talking to townsfolk, asking about their lifestyles, and if their was anything the royals at the castle could do to help. Watching a street performer trying to fix his guitar, she helped him tune it out for him, even giving him tips on wear to find string replacements if he needed them.

After all that it was a matter of waiting. Sitting at the coffee shop, Leere ordered a glass of water and perched herself in anticipation. God. When was the last time she even attempted to date someone? Rinku? That was her teenage years, decades ago. A co-worker? No. Too much danger. Had it really been that long?

She suddenly felt her back getting tapped from behind, with Sunny quickly taking a seat in front of her. “There you are! You haven’t been waiting long have you?”

She showed up. She actually showed up! Leere felt her cheeks flush a bit from the excitement of the situation. “Not at all. I’m surprised that you arrived.” Leere quickly noticed how rude that might have sounded. “-so early! Did you finish your shift quickly?”

Sunny cracked a smile. Leere was right when she said that she didn’t do this often. “I finished ten minutes ago with the last of my paper work. I’m glad you showed up too. Hard to imagine a Princess like you has much free time.”

“Ah, you found out about that.”

“Your name seemed familiar, so I asked around. Sure enough, your name was known locally.”

“So Sunny, you want me to start talking about myself I assume?”

“That would be ideal, yes.”

Leere cleared her throat with the water she had ordered. “Well, as you might know, I am the adopted brother to King Covarog and the rest of my family in the castle. I’ve was raised by Zelda and Ganondorf since I was ten years old. I’m the oldest child under them too.”

Sunny ordered a de-café and chuckled. “Shouldn’t that make you the Queen?”

Leere quickly shook her head. “Me? Oh no. Rinku had more credibility than me, and she turned it down for similar reasons that it never interested me. Being a commoner, I never had any claim in the first place. Hell, as much as I loved being a princess, pretending to be happy and royal, my past has always made sure I’ve been cursed…”

Sunny saw the light almost leave Leere’s eyes, and she settled her carefree nature down, more attention given to Leere as she continued. “You saw the marking on my back?”

“Yes. The red ink is very strong.”

“I wouldn’t expect it not to be. The magic I refer to keeping me young Sunny is the blackest of magics. I was born a necromancer, and given forbidden knowledge to the most dark magic in our world. That tattoo is a cursed sacrificial marking.” Leere felt her sins and demons crawl up her back just thinking about them. “I’ve tried to use my knowledge for good, to follow my adoptive families example, but I always find myself being pulled towards evil. Evil that torments me, evil that tries to corrupt me.”

Sunny nodded slowly at this new information. “Do you think you’re evil Leere?”

Leere flinched. A part of her did. “I try to not think I am. I’ve saved this world from hidden evils that threaten to come forth from the deepest depths of darkness. Yet, I’ve killed plenty of people. I’ve taken pleasure in it, even using their lifeforce to keep me sustained, like some demented vampire! Worse, by letting people get close to me, I’ve gotten friends tortured and killed. All because I encouraged them to be part of my world. Or they just got unlucky enough to be ensnared by evil wanting a piece of me! I feel like I’m a curse to those who get close to me. I-“ Leere stood from the table. The voices in the back of her mind whispered to her. She saw flashes of the dead friends that she felt responsible for. What in the hell did she think she could accomplish by coming here? She was always meant to be alone. To be empty. Just being here, cruel fate would kill Sunny. “I made a mistake coming here.”

Before she left, Sunny took her hand. Leere was taken aback by the concern in her face. “W-what are you doing? Didn’t you hear me?”

Sunny didn’t let go, instead only squeezing harder. “Sit down.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not going to let go until you do.”

Leere felt the sweat drip down her brow now, but did as she was told. Sunny still held gently onto her hand, and spoke softly to Leere. “You’ve had a troubling life, haven’t you Leere? What you told me here was incredibly brave.”

Leere felt her mind race. What was this woman doing? Why did she stay with her here, comforting her?

Sunny chuckled, her voice not breaking. “These people you killed. Where they evil?”

“Yes…”

“And do you regret saving people?”

“Never.”

“And, it seems, that you want to leave those hardships behind now? To find inner peace?”

Leere nodded, becoming more and more comfortable as Sunny talked her down. “Yes.”

“Then in my book, you sound like one of the good guys to me. A hero even.”

Leere’s heart fluttered at that. She stopped fidgeting when Sunny cupped both her hands on Leere’s own. “So if I let go, will you please stay with me?”

The Princess starred at Sunny in deep contemplation. This woman wasn’t scared by her. She wasn’t disgusted by her. She stayed with her. In all her emotions, all Leere could do was laugh. It was a rather pathetic laugh in hindsight, sounding like a child, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think I would get so personal on our first date. I never expected anyone to care so much like you have here. No. I won’t run away.”

Sunny let her laugh, giving a laugh herself, and gently let go. People around them thought they were absolutely bizarre. “It’s no problem. I’m guessing you’ve never had the chance to express these feelings outside of family have you?”

“Not even to most of them. I keep things bottled up to myself.” Leere put a hand over her forehead after Sunny let go to hide her embarrassment. “Great. Local loon raves about her PTSD in front of gorgeous woman.”

“I think you’re being too hard on yourself.”

“Maybe…”

Sunny snapped her finger, a new idea coming to mind. “You acquire any treasures on your adventures?”

Leere looked up, a smile finally curling her lips, glad that Sunny was changing the conversation. “Mostly books and ancient texts.”

“Filled with dusty cobwebs?”

“Most of time, yes.”

“Gross. I hate spiders.”

Leere chuckled at Sunny sticking out a tongue in a half hearted disgusted look at the thought of them. “You know, sometimes I found big ones with massive hairy bodies~”

“Oh god. Please don’t.”

“And you can’t forget their big fangs and many eyeballs squaring in on you~”

Sunny visibly scrunched up, tapping the table to get rid of her shivers. “Gross, gross, gross, gross, gross, gross, gross! I HATE spiders! So nasty!”

Leere laughed once more in good fun. “Glad I don’t have to deal with them anymore. So Sunny, I think it’s only fair to know why someone as charming as you is doing in the milk industry.”

Sunny finally received her drink, taking a sip as she thought it over. “Well, I was born into the business. Lon Lon Milk is a mighty fine and proud organization that does its best to give the best quality milk all across the country and to neighbouring civilizations that wish to know the joys of our product.”

“And you just so happen to make super milk when the mood fancies you.”

“Trade secret, but we use fairy nectar in our ingredients for our vintage milk, Chateau Romani. Great for love making, keeping your adrenaline up on adventure, and, if you’re a magician, your magic reserves boosted.”

“That’s amazing!”

“Darn well better be! Its our most expensive product, and hardest to create! I had to spend a good decade of my childhood learning the alchemy to get it right!”

“So you’ve always been in the business?”

Sunny nodded proudly. “That’s right! A family dynasty to rival the great Dragmires! The power of ranch raised horses, delicious plump piggies, and righteous milk FUELS this country!” She gave a huffy frown after though. “Just a shame that dat Orana woman has got a zoo full of exotic critters though. Kids rather see a big ol Kitty or Griffon or another than ride a pony now a days. Pa was also concerned when those dragons first showed up, but they turned out to be nothing more than big fat happy scaly puppies.”

Leere had to stifle a laugh. When Sunny got excited, it was unquestionably clear that her accent shined through. “Yeah, Orana really loves her animals.”

“It’s a good thing that our ranches are far apart. Last thing I need is some giant jungle snake slivering in into my cucco’s pen.”

“So for you where you fall into the family business?”

“Well, that’s a big question. I make sure all the production that needs to be shipped out is in order, then I go into town for our clientele that wants their milk delivered and unload boxes of product to our biggest customers, like the Milk Bar. I take feed back and listen to what the people like and don’t like. When I’m at the ranch I help out by looking after the animals. Lot of paper work to be done too.”

Leere nodded, taking another deep drink of her water. “Sounds like you could lead the business all by yourself.”

Sunny sighed lovingly thinking it over. “I put a lot of work into her. However, I’m not the only one. Lot of hard working good folks put their all into the business. And I hope to make them all happy.”

“You expecting some sort of promotion soon?”

Sunny smiled with deep pride and satisfaction. “Pa is getting old. Said he was going to step down from management, that he wants a brand new, younger hard working perspective.”

“And you fit his requirements perfectly.”

“Yes I do! Without me, I don’t think we’d get anything done nearly as perfectly as we do now!”

“Well Sunny, all the hard work has certainly payed off for you. You do all the heavy lifting too~?”

Sunny gave a cheeky smile. “Magic or not, you can’t fake the figure you got as well. For a Princess, you’re a fit gal yourself.”

Both woman laughed some more, followed by a moment of peaceful silence and clarity. As they stopped, the two of them looked into each others eyes. Sunny saw passion in Leere’s red eyes. Leere saw peace in Sunny’s blue eyes. A spark sizzled between them, and their hearts began to beat an extra step. The rancher was the first to break the silence, but did so slowly. Her voice was like a lullaby sang by an angel to Leere.

“Do you want to go for a walk with me by the country side? I know I really nice hill to watch the sunset at.”

Leere nodded, her mind becoming more and more at peace. This invitation made her chest feel warm, something she didn’t often have, but enjoyed immensely regardless. “I’d like that very much.”

Leere put down a large bag of rupees and took Sunny’s hand, leaving the cafe. Taking her horse cartridge, they carted out the gates of castle town. The two discussed the little quirks of their family. Sunny had two brothers and two sisters, with her being the oldest as well. They shared jokes on how the oldest siblings were obviously the best, and the greatest ways to tease younger siblings. Her mother passed away from the attack by Vul’kar. Now at the age of 35, she was doing her best to lead by example. Leere was surprised she didn’t hold any ill will to users of dark magic, or magic in general. “What about your family? They don’t hold any grudges against the Lorliedians?”

Sunny shrugged. “Why should we? They didn’t make those monsters kill all those people. The Queen and King got nothing wrong with them as far as I’m concerned. Most Hylians love em, despite a few worries that they attract danger. But if you want to put blame on people, you put them on individuals. Not the whole group. Judge by actions of individuals, and you will avoid looing like an ass. I judge that you’re a good person Leere.”

Leere patted Sunny’s thigh. “I’m really starting to believe you’re a good person yourself.”

Once they arrived at the hillside, Sunny stopped the cart and stepped out. Walking to the other side she offered a hand to Leere. “Watch your step.”

“I could get down myself.”

“Yeah, you could, but this way I get to hold your hand.”

Leere blushed, a smile catching her by surprise. Damn. Sunny was good. Stepping onto the grassy field, the two of them walked together up the hill. Behind them was Hyrule Castle, and in front of them, the glory of the sun setting down behind the mountain range. They both sat down, hand in hand. Leere took in the calm air, her pinky finger rubbing Sunny’s. “This view is amazing.”

“I love it. Able to take in the view of the land and just breathe.” Sunny felt at peace just being here. The air was warm and soft. The winds of Hyrule held life in every gust. “Leere, I want to thank you for opening up to me.”

Leere blinked in surprise. “What? Why are you thanking me for that?”

“Because it means that you trusted me with that knowledge. Or at the very least a part of you trusted in yourself that you could have something happy in your life.”

“I…I just vented my worries Sunny. It wasn’t fair of me to do that to you.”

“Well, that’s ok too.”

Leere gripped Sunny’s hand, feeling embarrassed by her own embarrassment of never really doing this before in her life. For gods sakes! They had sex! Why was wordplay so difficult? The words came out with just as much doubt. “Sunny, I-… I like you. A lot.  Thank you for going on a date with me. It meant a lot to me.”

Sunny found the older woman’s shyness to be absolutely adorable. With a giggle, she smiled with a warm charm. Even her pearl white teeth made Leere feel like she was in the presence of an angel. “You want to know something?”

Leere let out a worried chuckle. Why did her heart have to race like this?! “What?”

Sunny leaned in, held Leere’s cheeks softly, and gave her a warming kiss. “I really like you too.”

The Princess was bugged eyed as Sunny pulled away. Now that she was stone cold sober, and not having any witty catchphrases to rely on, she felt just like a teenager again. “Wow….”

“You…you want to do that again?” Sunny was worried she might have put Leere into shock.

Leere shook herself back into reality and nodded. “Yes. Yes I do.”

“So Ms. Leere~ Can I expect to see you tomorrow?”

“Indeed you will Sunshine.”

Leere and Sunny held one another as they embraced each other under the sunset for another loving kiss.

https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/175643251451/filling-the-emptiness-ch-1-warmth-in-the-night Previous Ch. 

Taking a step forward a wave shot from the Beacon, hitting her and Carlos. Her headache turned into a stabbing pain, and they heard a hiss of wrath come from the tear. “DO NOT INTERFERE!”

Leere glared as her vision became blurred. “No! I will NOT fail here!”

Standing up she readied her weapon, when a shot ran out, the bolt of a crossbow hitting her in the head. The Princess well backwards onto the floor bleeding. Ichabod smiled from ear to ear as his mark went down. “Fall Demon! FALL!!!”

Carlos screamed in anger at her being shot. Retaliating he fired at Ichabod with his flintlock gun. The mad scientist gasped as the bullet ran through his chest. Stepping back his eyes fluttered as he felt the bullet hole. “N-No. Not yet.”

Ichabod activated a button on a console close to him. Carlos ran to check on Leere, the Beacon shouting at his mind with incoherent speech. It all hurt so much, but he wanted to make sure Leere was ok. “Please. Please, please, please be alive!”

Leere’s eyes opened slowly. Blood was dripping down her face from the bolt hitting her skin. “What? Carlos?”

“Yes. W-we need to get up Leere.”

Her vision was blurry, but she could make a shape coming up behind Carlos. “Carlos! L-look-“

But it was too late, his body was pulled back violently as his guts fell onto Leere’s chest. Carlos gurgled blood and words as the abomination loomed over him. “Goodbye Carlos.”

Multiple voices echoed as the Beacon used the Abomination as a source for the sound, mimicking all of Carlos’ loved ones. Carlos reached out for Leere as he was torn apart by the bladed arms. His head was sliced in half like a melon, brain matter spreading out on the floor. Leere crawled away in absolute disbelief and fear of her friend being massacred. She was all alone now.

“C-CARLOOOOOOOS!!!!”

The abomination stepped over his victim and silently did a slow, but firm power walk towards Leere. The crack in space sparked, and with a quick implosion of sound, fiery discord exploded outwards. Her surrounding swirled with chaos and madness around her. Pieces of metal too close to the rift started to fly into it. Her own clothes took a breeze, fluttering to the rift.

Ichabod smiled with blood now trickling out his mouth. “Heaven is upon us! Heaven! Is! Here!!!”

Leere rose to her feet and looked inside the rift. Her eyes had images that her brain desperately tried to process but couldn’t fully. She might have gone mad right there if she wasn’t already formed by years of horror. What she made out were things crawling outwards. Massive, colossal spirits.

Looking down she saw the abomination move to swing downwards at her. Snapping back to what little reality she had, Leere jumped backwards. The monster took its blade arm out of the floor and clashed both its limbs in a sharpening motion. Leere summoned a Redead to try and grasp it, but it just cut it apart with a motion downwards on the undead’s torso.  

Not giving up Leere rose up to active her scythe. The Shiekah energy blade cut open the flesh of her attacker, but the Abomination kept moving forward, its skin reforming almost instantly. Its knee cap was cut apart with a quick twirl, but that was all it would let Leere accomplish. With a furious display of motion it cut down on her hilt, and using great force, cut her scythe in two. Leere couldn’t stop herself from having chest sliced open.

Falling backwards she felt her mortality slipping. The abomination towered over, crushing the hilt into paste under its foot. Taking her blood Leere wrote symbol into the floor. “Well. Come and finish me you ugly motherfucker.

The abomination obliged, thrusting an arm to penetrate her. Leere mustered her strength and rolled to the side. Taking some of her own blood she threw it at the monster just as it stabbed her pentagram. Leere took a breath, and began her blood magic.

Making large hand motions both the pentagram and the blood on the target glowed. It stepped towards her, but stopped when she made a gripping motion at it. With wrath in her eyes, Leere slowly squeezed her fists. With her blood connection she now had total control of its flesh to toy with as she wished.

Its bones shattered and blood vessels exploded inside it. The abomination shook and shuddered as its eyes exploded into a pile of puss. Leere didn’t stop there. Bring both hands together the monster squished into a ball, more bones breaking and blood leaking out. Fury brought her hands together, squishing it on itself, a large pile of blood pouring out onto the floor under it. She twisted her hands side to side, snapping what was left into more pieces, but finally shaping it into a spear of sharp flesh and bone. With a scream, Leere took her new pile of flesh, and chucked it hard into the Beacon.

Ichabod couldn’t believe what he was seeing.  This damned devil woman was killing his angel! How!? How was she able to defy God?! When she threw the angel at the Beacon time stopped for him. All his work. All his progress for Diana. Why couldn’t he stop her!?

The sounds of madness scream and clawed at Leere to stop. Threats of death. Promises for a better life. She didn’t care. With a gleam of justice on her face, she made her mark. The Beacon cracked. And wails of insanity went through the Divine Beast as every possessed being felt there connection shattering.

“No! NoOoOoOoOoO!!!”

The demons screamed, so close to entering the new dimension for conquering. If they could not enter, then they’d take their saboteur with them to hell. All the remaining creatures ran to the Beacon as it started to break apart.

Leere looked to Carlos’ corpse. “I ended it. Like you wanted.”

Looking up she saw Ichabod on a balcony above her. Her rage ignited once more as she ran towards him. Ichabod became instantly terrified by her, this bloodied woman chasing after him. He looked once more as the Beacon took one more piece of energy, then detonated. The shards exploded all over, his dreams scattering with them. The crack in space imploded, and vanished, as if nothing had occurred. He had to rebuild.

Turning around he opened the door to escape. He didn’t get far when he felt his spine get torn into by Leere. She dug her knife as far as she could into his back. Pulling out she stabbed into him once more, this time in the shoulder, tearing his muscle apart. Ichabod elbowed her back in the face with his good arm, and desperately swiped at her with his bladed claw tool. “STAY BACK!!!”

Leere moved around his strikes, her movements keeping her one step ahead of him at all times. She didn’t need magic to finish off this disgusting piece of shit. It was more than simple to use a knife to cut his mortal coil from this earth. Ichabod made tried to throw some chemical gas at her again, but Leere caught his hand, and stabbed through his palm.

Ichabod cried out in terror and pain. “No! I can’t die yet! I need bring Diana here! I need-“

Leere cut him off with a stab to the chest, pushing him against a wall. Ichabod gasped as his lungs filled with blood. “N-no-“

Leere pulled out, and a twitch in her eye, she thrust her knife into him again. And again. And again! And again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again, and again!!! On her final slash she cut open his throat. Ichabod’s eyes rolled back as all the pain brought him peace, if only for a moment. Collapsing, Ichabod shook and spasmed. Diana. He wanted his Diana.

Leere ended his life with one more stab to the brain, silencing all his thoughts. Her hands trembled as her whole body was soaked in blood. With this man dead no one would ever replicate what happened here.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Ding.

Her thoughts were then cut off by a massive explosion.

Looking at her pocket watch, Leere could only smile at fate. “Of course its been two hours….”

Dragging her feet forward to move, Leere felt the Divine Beast shake as hot volcanic water started to cleanse the filth that contaminated it. Her powder keg had blasted apart the engine room, enough to bust a hole into the massive colossus. She made her way to the welcome centre where all this first started for her. She saw the neck had strained itself upwards. Mustering her strength she walked the hallway. The one guard that had been stationed at the end of course died. Why couldn’t at least someone else made it out.

Turning around she saw the water start to rise, the screams of all the remaining reanimated crew making a choir of pain and suffering. She opened the final door to see the boat waiting. There was of course bad news attached to her not being stranded. Some of the creatures were trying to get on board. The Captain and the men were doing their best to keep them away.

With no emotion Leere raised a hand, summoning her Dead Hands one final time to grab all the remaining creatures, and pull them screaming into the boiling water below. Leere reached for a rope that the Captain threw her. Getting up onto the deck one of the crew men visibly jolted seeing her. An emptiness was in her eyes, and her body was covered in blood and guts. Her pale skin stained by the very vile and evil she experienced, patches of red encrusted deeply.

The Captain motioned for the crew to move out. The boat chugged and pushed out of the mouth. He turned to her cautiously. “Princess Leere….what happened?”

Leere didn’t give an answer. She looked onward as the Divine Beast sunk beneath the waves one last time. Its massive head shone in the sunset as it fell deeper and deeper, until finally it was gone from sight.

Carlos had been so happy to come here. All of the people that died here must have, even Ichabod at some point. Did all their souls find peace?

“Mamm….what did you see down there?”

“…..Something I’d give anything to unsee.”

Leere’s silhouette cast over the ship as she watched the sunset settle. An orange light cast above the waters, the darkness beneath the waves silent and foreboding. The colour also had purple hues. To be honest it was quite the sight. And all though the last of sunlight brought her warmth she did not feel it. In fact, she felt nothing at the moment. Nothing but an lonely emptiness at the bitter victory of living.

https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/171920844236/beacon-to-damnation-ch-5-source-of-madness Previous Ch.