As the Prince and Princess neared the throne room, they immediately notice a pair of guards at the entrance. This was not a common occurrence; guards tend to be asked for when an important meeting is taking place. The sight of them guarding deterred the Princess from approaching, but not Link. Zelda tried to dissuade Ziel from interrupting the guard's current job by pulling him away. But he was not backing down.
LINK POV
Link smiles at both of the guards "Good morning gentlemen… Is my King busy with a meeting?"
The guards look at the Prince and smile, and then both of them recover their serious semblance.
"Did you say anything to me?" one of the guards suddenly asks the other.
"Why would I say anything to you, you fucking moron"
"Right… but I swear I heard something, maybe my King yelled an order" the guard slightly opens one of the doors to the throne room and speaks loudly "Do you need anything my King?"
Daphnes signaled no with his hand. The guard started closing the door but very slowly.
"Just close it already or a cat may get in" the other guard says.
"It's just that I am still sore from yesterday, and the door is really heavy" the guard stops and stretches his arms pointing at the throne rom.
Gosh, these guys… they are trying to allow me entrance without giving away that they saw me.
Link smiles and enters the throne room.
The other guard pretended to have just noticed that the Princess was standing in front of him. "Good morning my Princess, allow me" he performed a quick reverence and opens the other door wide for Zelda. The Princess just grins and enters.
Once Daphnes saw the door opening again, he sat straight not knowing who to expect. Then grinned widely noticing it was his son and daughter. He requested the guards to close the door, and deny entrance to anyone.
"I must admit that I wasn't expecting you both here so soon" the King says.
Link smiles "And I must admit I keep forgetting that I do not exist. Your guards out there, they played this sketch where they pretended that I was not there, but came up with something to allow me entrance. I was amazed and impressed"
Zelda raises an eyebrow "Their acting was bad if I must say, but they found an amusing way to answer to the Prince's demand and still obey your order to ignore him. They deserve a raise"
I was about to suggest that, glad we are on the same page Princess
The King lifts his eyebrows and nods "I will consider it" he stands from his throne, walks around it and pushes it revealing a door behind "Follow me" he orders crossing said door.
Eerie as fuck, I am kind of excited.
Both royals climb up to the throne stage and follow the King. The door opened to a small garden area that could not be accessed any other way, yet it was well kept. In the middle of the garden was a small stone table that currently had a map.
"Sorry for the inconvenience of moving here, I just didn't want ANYBODY to be able to hear what we are going to talk about" Daphnes gives strong strides towards the table with the map and starts speaking "I must ask... do the both of you still want to bring two strangers from the Quantum world here?"
----------------At the same time-----------------
"Yes, my King" said Link
"Of course father" answered Zelda
-----------------------------------------------------
"I see… if that is the case, we would have to perform 2 blood transfusions, one after the other. That means bleeding you near death twice son" he sighs "And it has to be done exactly where the portal is, since they refuse to allow these aliens complete entrance to our world"
Zelda looks puzzled "But how? The portal is not easily reachable, we have to cli-" she was suddenly silenced by Link's deep stare.
"No need to shush her Raziel, I am aware there is a portal in Lost Woods, Michelle informed me of it. I don't have knowledge of where it is exactly, or if there are conditions that must be met to use it. And I won't tell the nobles about it, since it may install panic. Since we are keeping the Lost Woods portal a secret, we are using the entrance Michelle used at the beginning for this"
Michelle used to always tell me how grateful she was of meeting me, that I made things a lot easier for her, that there was a before and an after me… I think she must have followed me once and discovered the portal to her world.
*Then she lost track of you and could not find her way back from the hole, her stupidity almost turned into a Stalfos but you found her roaming around and saved her*
Details…
Link rolls his shoulders back and forward to relax a little "I was aware there was another entrance, but I have never use it myself, agent Snail told me its located on an island, do you know which island is that my King?"
The King smiles "Eventide Island, I need both of you to get there today. Zelda, I need you to tidy the place for the blood extraction"
Link's semblance darkens briefly "I have heard rumors about that place"
The King nods "So have I, have been organizing expeditions there last year, there were two bokoblin camps, but my men slowly eradicated those… the real danger is a Blue Hinox" Derrick points the place in the map "But you see, he is located more to the south of the island, and the portal leading to the quantum world is in the opposite direction" The King now point in the middle of a forest located to the north of the island "Meaning he should not be a bother as long as we don't announce our presence"
Meaning, I have to kill it. Not that it bothers me at all to do so; I am actually craving for it.
"I will deal with it" Link casually said.
Both Zelda and the King's knees buckled when Link said that.
---------------------Both at the same time-------------------
"ARE YOU CRAZY? Those things are enormous" Zelda said
"Are you deaf? I just said that the Hinox shouldn't bother us" The King assured
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Link grunts "It's not that big, its just 7 meters of beastly power but void of intellect. Not a big deal…" The Hero shifts his focus from Zelda to Derrick "I am sure the Nobles have also heard the rumors about Eventide Island. It would be accurate to assume that they will be terrified; hence, they will start making mistakes that will draw the Hinox's attention, ultimately causing an attack from that beast that could cause harm or even death. That outcome would permanently freeze legal procedures involving my brothers… I am not willing to take that risk, so I am taking the blue Hinox out"
The King sighs "But son, are you completely sure you can? The island does not allow you to enter with weapons"
Link chuckles "I am sure. By the way, anything is a weapon, it will be fine. I will be fine my Lord"
ZELDA POV
Zelda ponders a little "Eventide Island… I believe some fruits naturally grow there so we won't go hungry if there is nothing to hunt. There are also some medicinal herbs, so I could make healing potions for Raziel" she nods with a little smile.
Link turns to look at her with hostility.
"HEY, don't do that. I am trying to support you here; you obviously don't need potions for this, but I am trying to ease my father's mind" Zelda states loud.
I am actually trying to ease myself… we are talking about a Ziel facing a Hinox. I don't understand how he can speak of slaying it like it's nothing. 7 meter if raw power is something you shouldn't ignore, even if lacking on the intelligence department.
"Well, the guards I had send report lots of medicinal herbs… and ¨Brewing Arts¨ is one of your strongest subjects according to your teachers" he sighs and glares at Link sternly "You may attempt to slay this monster, but your order is to draw back if anything does not favor you during the clash, understood?" Derrick waits for Link to nod in agreement, but he never does.
"I refuse my Lord… I understand my health is a concern for you, but if I engage with the Hinox, I will not be able to follow your instruction of ¨attempting¨ anything. The word attempt to me is an act of trying without certainty of success. I will engage in battle with it but not immediately, just be certain that when I do, its because I know I will obliterate him. And then snap a picture of me next to his remains, just to give you something to brag about my King" Link ends with a mischievous smile.
Derrick growls furious at his son's reckless comment. But there was something in the Hero's eyes that made him trust his every word, something that made him believe in Link's success... So, he started roaring in laughter.
Because only Raziel can make this dangerous confrontation with a Hinox sound like it's just child's play.
The King covers his nose and mouth with his hands "Oh dear Goddesses, please guide every step and decision of my daughter, and PROTECT the fuckhead I like to address as my son" the King sighs "You are both leaving today since we cannot risk Link staying here. I will be arriving with the nobles at noon in 3 days"
King Derrick coughs covering his mouth with a closed fist "Raziel, before you leave notify those guys when and where to arrive for the blood extraction. I know that I am rushing everything without taking their availability in consideration… but keeping everything a secret much longer could easily play against us. Besides, if they really want to come, then they should be able to show that day on time at least, right?"
"I completely agree dad, you have already done more than enough, I will let them know and the rest is up to them" Link answered completely trusting both of the loops.
The King nodded "I must go back to the throne room… the Island strips you off any weapons or armor of any type, that includes your corsets or jacket if they still fit you son. Once you leave this garden, go back to your rooms, dress in casual clothes and leave behind any weapons. Then figure out a way to get to Soka Point, that is on East Necluda"
Daphnes points the place on the map.
"There should be a small row-boat waiting for you. Then head east and you will find Eventide Island… you have 3 days to prepare everything for the blood extraction, and to get rid of the Hinox. Good luck, and may the goddesses bless your path"
Derrick smiles at them, turns around and leaves Claire's secret garden. Zelda turns to face Link directly.
"You are not supposed to be here, that means we can't use the carriage. How are we going to get to Soka Point?"
Please tell me you have an idea, I run a few laps around the castle every day. BUT I STILL DON'T HAVE THE STAMINA TO RUN ALL THE WAY TO SOKA POINT.
"Well, we need to get there in a few hours, that means that running is out of question… but I did mention that I have exotic friends, didn't I?" the Prince says chuckling as he walks away typing on his cellphone.
O dear Goddesses, please let it be Epona, if it's Volvagia it means we are flying… and I don't think I can safely do that. I am still afraid of heights.
The Princess snaps out of her trance and rushes to follow Raziel out of the garden and into the throne room. The King seemed to have left the room followed by the guards.
Dad gave us an opening to exit the throne room unnoticed, we need to rush it.
Zelda takes her heels off a run out of the throne room, her cellphone vibrating with a new message. Then Link's also vibrates.
LINK POV
----------------group texts------------------
See you in 3 days, Lighter is going to take us to the entrance we have to use... I had no idea there was more than one entrance.
-Robert answered
Dude… I am shaking. Are you sure I don't need to hide my tail?
-Zid replied
SWORD agents only use the entrance Chace is taking you to, since the other one is kind of dangerous for them to use… I will further explain once you get here Rob.
And yes Zid, I am sure you don't need to hide your tail, the people here may stare, but won't mind it at all. I am turning my cellphone off; see you when I see you.
-Link texts back
-----------------------------------------------
After sending that last text, the Prince turns off his cellphone and runs to hell, catching up to Zelda in the middle of the stairs, he passes by her saying "In 10 min I will create a diversion, use it to get out, and take a change of clothes" the Princess nods.
Link finishes climbing the stairs and dashes to his room. He leaves his cellphone on his desk, grabs a black sleeveless undershirt and stores it in his trousers. Then runs out of his room to Nana's kitchen.
A few minutes later, Ivanna was cleaning some beef stomachs for cooking, when Link entered the kitchen. Making use of his mastery at walking without making a sound, he casually approached the tray Nana was using to place the cleaned organs, and frowned.
Damn, this could have worked, but I needed it to be well-dried to inflate it and produce a decent pop. I don't have time to dry one.
Link was about to turn back when he noticed a stack of bamboos in the corner. Nana uses them as fuel for the fire when cooking, since it burns hot and clean. She lets them dry and then chops them for later use… but these were new and very green bamboos. The Prince smirks evilly.
PERFECT
Link grabs a chef knife that was being used from the table and heads to the corner where the bamboos where, and he carefully picks one and walks out of the kitchen. Ivanna turns around to deposit more clean stomach on the tray, but something felt different. She starts looking around but couldn't really pinpoint anything. Then looks at the table and couldn't find her knife. But she just rolls her eyes and chooses to dismiss the whole thing.
Link entered one of the King's studies, placed the bamboo on the desk and used the knife to cut it into a size that could fit on the fireplace but was still sealed on both ends by a node of the bamboo. He ignited the fireplace and threw the bamboo piece into the fire, 2 minutes later…
BBBBBOOOOOMMMMMM!!!
The sound of glass breaking and screams from the maids was immediate. Link rushed to open a window in the study, and chuckled when he heard Ivanna threatening to skin alive the fucker who had caused her to drop a glass jar. Then he heard the quick march of the guards approaching. Link uses the window to exit the study before the guards arrive.
Raziel gets to a partially hidden spot at the frontal garden and looks around for Zelda. He then notices the Princess climbing down from her window using a sheet rope; she was wearing boy clothes that consisted of a white tunic, grey trousers and brown boots. She started to look around for him and when she finally finds him veiled by a tree shade, she smiles and dashes to the entrance.
Of course, Zelda is more than capable of climbing down her window. That is how I met her now that I think about it. She must have climbed down her window, and trying to avoid the entrance guards, she thought she could climb the steep hill surrounding the entrance and ended up falling on top of me. A very stupid mistake on her part to think she had the physical strength to pull that off. But given that she was a little fucked up in the head, and ended up meeting me… I think the goddesses actually still favor her.
*Difficult not to hate her for that reason isn't it?*
The guards that were supposed to custody the entrance had left their place, due to the commotion of the somenthing bursting loudly. So, Link rushed behind his Princess and both of them managed to get out without being spotted. Once the entered the Market, Zelda pulled on his arm.
"That felt easy, but I am sure it wasn't. Please tell me you where the one who caused that loud sound?"
Link half smiles and nods at her. He then plucks out a blade of grass. He then signals for her to follow him out of the Market. Once they cross the drawbridge door and are out in Hyrule's field, Link pulls out the grass blade and starts whistling a known melody. Zelda recognizes it as Malon's song, since you can hear the red head randomly humming it or singing it. Soon a horse neigh is heard as it gallops towards them. It had a shiny reddish-brown coat and a stunning white mane, tail and feathering.
Epona starts smelling Link and begins to jump around Link like a love-struck filly. Link was boisterously laughing, his eyes started to fill with tears, but none rolled down his face. After kissing the mare's forehead and rubbing her mane, Link climbed on her saddle with ease, he then extended a hand at Zelda to help her mount.
"Left foot on the stirrup, I will pull you up behind me. On your way up, you land your right foot on the other stirrup around my girl"
If you dare to kick Epona, or landing heavily on her back. I swear I will fucking pull you off of my beautiful mare by the hair, and you will have to find a way to get to Soka Point by yourself.
Zelda put her foot on the stirrup and grabbed on Ziel's hand as he pulled her up. The Princess actually balanced her weight on he left leg as she slowly descended into a sitting position; she slowly removed her left foot from the stirrup for Link and smiled.
"I was not lying when I said I have been following the exercise regime you left for me" Zelda boasts as the Hero retakes the left stirrup dumbfounded.
It was very considerate of her to descend slowly and avoid causing harm on my equine girl.
"Then those legs of yours are not just for show, they are bigger because they got stronger… congratulations" Link says making Zelda blush at the compliment.
Then the Hero produces a small yell that signals Epona to start galloping.