While the others all focus on Laxin and allow their aggression and anger to feed into their attacks on the Hakiem general, one person present chooses rather to listen to the soft cry for help rising from the Sheikah's latest victim. Even as her sister Sheena's Ice Scimitar is forged with twice the magical potential that it would normally have, Haru finds a pair of hands being placed on her back. "Hold still for a moment," Princess Zelda's calm tone speaks to the Gerudo's ears, just before the Daughter Royale utilizes the Favor of the Goddesses. The desert woman finds the triple lights of holy energy converging around her form (16+6[Roll+INT]), and a large amount of her health is restored by the deity's blessing. Should she take another attack she'll still likely fall, but Firerova shouldn't have any trouble getting her own revenge now.

Or she could just let Icerova get that revenge for her. The furious sister sweeps forward with her freezing blade, connecting with the general without any apparent difficulty (17+1[Roll+AGI]), dealing a massive 34 DMG to the general as a result of her Enraged Spellcasting. And once again Rose's arrow slices through the windy barrier around Laxin, this time serving as more than a mere distraction as it fixes itself firmly in his left shoulder (13+5[Roll+AGI]), dealing another 10 DMG as the general lets out a shriek of pain as the shaft digs straight into his already destroyed shoulder.

His right hand releases the hammer, the gale of wind surrounding him picking up in intensity for a few moments as he grips the arrow and yanks it out, another cry escaping his grinding teeth as he feels another wave of unimaginable pain sweep through him. But he knows that the time has come to take out the outrage that this hurt causes on another of these idiots. His vision swims in and out of focus; it is taking an incredible amount of brainpower to maintain his consciousness in the face of his injuries, with the rest of that mental ability going towards the fight. Seeing is not high on his list of priorities right now.

But he sees the figure of a person, and charges towards it without hesitation. He doesn't see the impact, but he feels and senses it, and hears bones breaking as the hammer flashes out at blinding speed, catching Pyralin directly in his chest and stomach. The boy is hurled back into the far wall as darkness claims him, and even as Zelda and General Lion rush to his fallen form Shada knows that the most the two can do is stabilize Pyre; after that attack, there's no way he'll be rejoining this fight. It will be a miracle if he even wakes up in the next few hours.

Kasei's Elemental Burst suddenly burns into the Hakiem's sight - or lack thereof - taking on the best possible element in this situation: Light. The brilliant blaze smashes into Laxin's chest (7+12[Roll+SPI] vs. 20) even as the Rebel Flame's words reach his ears; he doesn't even have the mental ability to respond anymore, but as he floats back from the attack towards the center of the chamber his eyes seem to seek out Kasei and fix him with a penetrating glare of fury.

Veldam darts forward before even before Laxin can see him coming. His sword held at an angle, he leaps into the wind and brings it up over his head in a powerful attack. But the wind kicks up and propels Laxin out of the way, the Sheikah sliding to the left so that his relatively fine right side is the only part presented as attackable to the Colonel. But that isn't all, for the air itself suddenly gathers around Horren's form, winds traveling the speed of a tornado ensnaring him completely and holding his form rigid. Laxin turns to face the man, ready to smash his hammer right into his skull.

Yet in between the losing of and regaining of his vision, Laxin is startled to realize that a smile is on his victim's face.

Shada's Light Elemental Burst comes out of nowhere, utilizing Horren's distraction to catch the Hakiem right in the back (3+12[Roll+SPI]). Even as he feels the magical energy slam into him, his hammer comes around in a vengeance strike crushing the Colonel right in the chest. The breath is forced out of him and Laxin allows his unconscious form to drop to the ground, feeling some slight satisfaction . . . even as his rage continues to build. For he knows that he's starting to falter again . . . even if he has taken out yet another pest, his health is dropping. If he doesn't end them all soon, he won't get a chance to. Too bad the pain is preventing him from using any of the attacks that could end them all.

He gulps. For the first time ever, he doubts that he'll make it out of a mission alive.

Alpha: eliminated
Raven: 4 HP, 6 SPL
Kasei: 178 HP, 277 SPL
Pyre: eliminated
Dogura: 11 HP, 17 SPL
Tayro: 22 HP, 17 SPL
Leth: 9 HP, 11 SPL
Karuna: 19 HP, 6 SPL
Drommlin: eliminated
Polari: 12 HP, 9 SPL
Shada: 19 HP, 21 SPL
Koura: 9 HP, 21 SPL
Calla: eliminated
Denning: 11 HP, 30 SPL
Fang: 31 HP, 30 SPL
Rose: 39 HP, 3 SPL
Firerova: 29 HP, 19 SPL
Icerova: 43 HP, 10 SPL
Nogare: 69 HP, 12 SPL
Colonel Horren Veldam: eliminated
General Kamas Lion: 74 HP, 0 SPL
General Richarn Noval: unable to fight
Princess Zelda - 70 HP, 40 SPL
King Harkinian II - 100 HP, 60 SPL, 21 DEF (1 Turn)

Sovelis - eliminated
Sir Allconus - eliminated

L2 Hakiem #1 - eliminated
L2 Hakiem #2 - eliminated
L2 Hakiem #3 - eliminated

General Laxin - 91 HP, 101 SPL, Double DMG
STR - 8; DEF - 6; AGI - 10; INT - 6; SPI - 12

The blue-haired Gerudo felt no real satisfication in slicing into the Sheikah, only anger still. For all Sheena knew at that moment, her sister was still lying on the ground dying, and that was reason enough to thrust her cold weapon forward towards Laxin, even if she was wrong.

Haru, on the other side of the battlefield, was able to ignore her aches to jump back onto her feet. She said a quick thanks to Zelda before the princess rushed off to do what she could for the Hylian boy she didn't recognize. She then took the time to consider her options as the others made their attacks. I still have a few spells left in me, she thought, lighting up a ball of fire. But then she stopped. As much as she liked fire, it might not have quite the effect she wanted. She knew Light was effective against Sheikah opponents, but any element other than fire had a tendency to be weaker than normal when she casted it. Would it be enough to cover for the damage she could've dealt if the Gerudo stuck with her natural element? At the last minute, the fire dissipated and a poorly formed ball of light shot towards the Hakiem general instead. [Elemental Burst L2, Light]

That's Not My Element!:
Haru can cast spells of other elements as well (except for water and ice), but at -3 damage. Penalty to damage is taken into account after multiplying for racial weakness/strength.

Hathera, please don't let him come after me again, the young Gerudo prayed.

While Rose suspected that her sword and knife could do more damage than an arrow, she still didn't feel comfortable getting close to Laxin, especially after he easily dropped the colonel. Of course, Veldam was undoubtedly still hurting from his injuries received up in the Triforce Room, but it still wasn't a pleasant thought. So she took another arrow from the quiver in her back. And with careful aim, it also flew through the air in an attempt to bite into Laxin's skin.

The Rebel Flame glanced at his fellow allies, and smiled through his beard. "It would seem," he said, "that you are being overpowered. Soon, Laxin, soon, you will die. Understand this truth well, as it will be a final truth for you." He finished, raising his hand yet again. "Let us see, now...." He said, letting the magic swell through him once more. "I think another Elemental Burst would be nice." He mutters, letting said spell activate, and fly towards it's target; Laxin. Kasei then turns to Nogare. "I think you should help out, too...."

The Son of Greyblade looked at his hated, but for now, usefull, ally. "Fine." He said resentfully, standing up, and raising his staff.(If not staff then sword.) He looked at the battlefield, and ran in, his target was also Laxin. When he got close enough, he swung his weapon, hoping to get a good headshot in...

'Too many . . . there's too many of them for me to win . . .'

Laxin's admittance of the facts before his mind's eye sends a chill up his spine. Or maybe it's not the sudden comprehension; perhaps Sheena's Ice Scimitar piercing through his body once more is what has caused the sudden frigid feeling in his body (20+1[Roll+AGI]). As if that wasn't enough, it becomes compounded by Haru's Elemental Burst (7+12[Roll+SPI]), the shining element it has taken on dealing 17 DMG in addition to her sister's strike of 34 DMG. Rose's arrow is quick to add an additional factor to the mix, though only as a distraction once again (6+5[Roll+AGI]) as the windy barrier picks it up and hurls it away from its intended target.

With an angry roar that is bordering on primal, Laxin charges forward, aiming his hammer right at Shada. The Sheikah is not about to be done in so easily, and does her race proud as the rampaging Hakiem swings his weapon. Leaping at the last instance, she lands on top of the hurled hammer (8+10[Roll+AGI] vs. 13+7[DEF+AGI]), a retaliatory spell already being formed in her hands. At the same moment that Kasei's Elemental Burst, having taken on the form of Earth, is fired, Shada releases her own Light Burst. Knowing full well that the woman is not going to let herself go down without a fight, Laxin is expecting her attack and twists to avoid it - but at the last second he also feels Kasei's blast coming right on the course he is traveling. He quickly attempts to alter his escape vector, but only succeeds in pinning himself right between the two attacks.

Still, when the smoke from Shada and Kasei's attacks clear, it is seen that he had raised a barrier of wind to protect himself again. While several new scars and bruises have appeared, he managed to escape the full force of the two attacks and only take half damage from each (8+12, 11+12[Roll+SPI] vs. 20). Slipping ever closer to the line between life and death, he struggles to retain enough focus to at least form some kind of attack. He succeeds enough so that he can sense Nogare's oncoming attack, and manages to twist out of the Vassal's way (8+5[Roll+AGI]).

With yet another roar, he brings his hammer to bear again - this time charging the Rebel Flame himself, smashing his hammer square into the god-like form of Kasei with all his might (9+10[Roll+AGI] vs. 8+9[DEF+AGI]) and dealing 30 DMG to him. He tries to turn around again, to unleash another strike onto the taunting Sheikah . . . but it takes all he has to simply stay afloat now.

'The next round of attacks will finish me,' he realizes as he jaw slightly drops, not from surprise but because he doesn't have enough energy to even keep his shut. 'It's all over for me.'

Raven: 4 HP, 6 SPL
Kasei: 148 HP, 277 SPL
Dogura: 11 HP, 17 SPL
Tayro: 22 HP, 17 SPL
Leth: 9 HP, 11 SPL
Karuna: 19 HP, 6 SPL
Polari: 12 HP, 9 SPL
Shada: 19 HP, 21 SPL
Koura: 9 HP, 21 SPL
Denning: 11 HP, 30 SPL
Fang: 31 HP, 30 SPL
Rose: 39 HP, 3 SPL
Firerova: 29 HP, 19 SPL
Icerova: 43 HP, 10 SPL
Nogare: 69 HP, 12 SPL
General Kamas Lion: 74 HP, 0 SPL
Princess Zelda - 70 HP, 40 SPL
King Harkinian II - 100 HP, 60 SPL

General Laxin - 18 HP, 101 SPL, Double DMG
STR - 8; DEF - 6; AGI - 10; INT - 6; SPI - 12

(Unconscious/dead people removed to get my posts' length a bit shorter)

The Rebel Flame grinned as his attack hit full force, expecting it to end Laxin for good. He smiled, but it changed to a frown when he saw that Laxin had managed to defend himself at the last second. Points for luck, Laxin. He thought to himself, and then opened his mouth to speak, only to find himself smashed head-on with a hammer, and was knocked back a bit.

"You..." Kasei said, a hint of rage in his voice, but he composed himself. "You have quite some nerve, but no matter, you will die now nonetheless." He finished, raising his hand, another, hopefully final, spell appearing in it, an elemental burst once more. "Let us see you get lucky again." He says, letting the attack fly once more at Laxin.

Nogare stood where he was, only turning to look at the battle before him.

Both Rose and Haru could easily see that the Hakiem general wouldn't be able to survive another attack. The former went over to the later to see if she was doing well. "Yeah, I'm fine," the Gerudo replied. "Still sore from that hammer, but thanks to the princess, I'll live."

The druid nodded her head towards Kasei. "He looks pretty strong, but I think you should cast a spell just in case," she suggested as she slipped her bow back into its sheathe on her back.

"Couldn't hurt." Another ball of light, a perfect sphere this time, appeared in the fire witch's hand, and it was sent flying towards Laxin to collide against him alongside the Sheikah's spell.

Sheena, still unaware that her sister was alive and the one throwing light spells at her enemy, went in for another slice.

Kasei's Elemental Burst flies forward, taking on the element of Kasei's opposite: Water. But despite this fact, his aim is still true, and Laxin feels the blanket of boiling water crash into his chest and cascade all over his form (2+12[Roll+SPI]). That does it - a full 20 DMG is dealt to a man with only 18 HP left to his name. The wind falters as Laxin's body collapses, his hammer crashing to the ground and through the floor to the chamber below, and the unconscious form is quick to follow . . . though not quick enough.

In a flash, Laxin's body is snagged from midair. Alpha soars straight over the hole opened by the hammer, grabbing the body and bringing it back to safety. As Haru's Elemental Burst crashes into the far wall, General Noval grabs Sheena by the arm. "Calm down, Gerudo!" He has apparently recovered in the moments where everyone's focus was on the Hakiem General. "If anything, we want to take this man alive!" he announces to all present.

"He's right," Alpha calls back as he sets Laxin's unconscious form down, not a little disturbed by the expression of unbridled pain and agony frozen on his face: his eyes are wide open, fogged over but not glassy like a dead man; his mouth wide open as if to scream, but no sound emerges from it; his face covered with scars and blisters, marks of the recent fight. The caped Sheikah stands again, knowing that this time, a surprise attack is absolutely impossible. "For almost all of my life, I have wanted to know one thing: where the Hakiems' base lies hidden, so that I can take the fight to them and finally end the curse of their existence."

He turns back to them. "With a General in our hands, we can find out."

General Laxin - eliminated

* * *

The scene is the same, though the setting is several hours later. The sun is high in the sky, the noonday light shining through the windows of the practically destroyed throne room and into the eyes of the adventurers and Knights gathered before Harkinian's throne. In the interim hours since the fight had ended, a vast number of Hylian Knights had returned from their patrols of the North Castle's vast city, walls, and outskirts, drawn like moths towards the pillar of fire that had risen up from the castle in the middle of the night. Their presence had not been necessary, but it was good to know that, after spending the rest of the night scouring the entire vicinity of the castle, none of the 'invaders' (Noval had suggested the Hakiems be referred to as this, so as to keep the knowledge of the Hakiems and their true plans to as few mouths as possible), had been found remaining in the area, though their bodies were still there. A pile of nearly fifty men and women had been gathered, the majority of which had been slain solely by General Lion outside the throne room - a fact that had shocked everyone who knew of the Zora, for he was known for his pacifism rather than his power.

General Noval, General Lion, and Colonel Veldam stand directly before the dais where the King and Princess sit, giving the reports on the incident that they had been composing since the fight's end. While King Harkinian could have asked for them immediately afterwards, he had instead gotten a few of the first Knights to arrive to escort them all to spare bedrooms and baths, where each had been permitted to rest and clean up to their hearts content. Those injured to the point of unconsciousness or near death had been moved if able, and treated as quickly as possible. Now, all of the adventurers who had fought against the Hakiems are fully alert, standing a bit further behind where the three Knights speak. Strangely, Alpha stands the farthest away, apparently trying to keep his distance from the King while still remaining close enough to the group to not be too conspicuous.

". . . and once I awakened again, I realized what was going to happen if the other fighters were left unchecked - they would have slain Laxin immediately," Noval says, not bothering to turn to look at the man in question. That was the one body which had not been removed from the chambers: Laxin's. It still lies where it had fallen originally. The general had actually awoken about an hour ago; just as he had done with Segnin before, Noval had simply assaulted the Sheikah's brain telepathically, forcing him back into unconsciousness. "Realizing that we could not afford to waste such an opportunity, I awoke the Sheikah Alpha and healed him somewhat with Favor of the Goddesses; with his helped we managed to spare Laxin's life."

Their statements concluded, the three salute His Majesty as he rises from his throne. His eyes close slowly as he nods. "You three are to be commended for your efforts," he says at last. "You have likely saved the lives of millions by your actions; had you not all been present, it is quite likely that General Noval would now be a captive of the Hakiems Tribe, and that cursed Zaboorak in possession of one of the powers he seeks." He doesn't bother to explain about the Goldforce Powers to General Lion and Colonel Veldam; though neither one knows anything about all the strange things that have happened, they know better than to ask such questions at a time like this.

'As it is, Noval . . . there is only one question I have to ask.' General Noval blinks, surprised that His Majesty would have any questions he would feel the need to ask through telepathy. Scanning his mind, though, the answer is obvious.

'I'm sorry, Your Majesty . . . we have no idea what happened to Sovelis.'

* * *

"You awake?" the voice asks the Tempest as he stirs at long last. He feels his body falling for a few seconds, then impacting softly against grass.

In the southern reaches of Hyrule Field, Segnin sits back and waits for the Human to regain full consciousness. The Hakiem has done everything he can for the man, from sneaking into the throne room and then escaping with the unconscious body to carrying him all this way. "Lord Zaboorak is still interested in having that audience with you, if you want it," he says calmly.

* * *

The three Knights bow before their king, then step back to be assimilated into the group of adventurers behind them. His Majesty nods to them all, saying, "I cannot thank you all enough for what you have done for us, and for the kingdom of Hyrule. I ask for your forgiveness . . . I should have seen through the disguise that Zaboorak used; it is my own fault that Allconus was able to open our defenses to the Hakiems, and allow their forces in here." He waves his hands at them, forestalling any comments Noval and the others would make against that point.

"You may all recall the plans made for the rumored Exile invasion; that is when I should have noticed something was amiss, for the plan that we went with was presented by Allconus. Initially I was against it, as were many of you, I am sure . . . but he spoke passionately about it, about how every person would be needed to secure our very survival, and I foolishly was convinced by his words. By Zaboorak's words, it seems, for the Zora no doubt meant to use the confusion of battle to further his own ends.

"That you came to the rescue of myself and my daughter . . . even after such treachery as that, indebts me to you. Please, step forward, any who wish to, and name your rewards. If it is in my power to grant it, and will not bring harm to the citizens of Hyrule, then I shall see that you receive it."

OOC: Try not to go too far on these requests.

The enraged blue-haired Gerudo initially struggled against Noval, but Haru snuck up behind her and said, "Just so you know, I'm fine."

The giant ice scimitar shattered against the floor as Sheena pulled her twin into a bone-crushing hug.


The three women listened as the Hylian Knights gave their reports. This bored them, especially Rose, who had thought she left debriefings behind forever.

When the king asked if they wanted anything as an award for their efforts, she nervously stepped forward and bowed. "It was through the actions of my friends and I that Sir Allconus died, Your Highness, though it was not our intentions to do so." She gulped. "I only ask that your grant us forgiveness."

Sheena, on the other hand, did not forget the reason she and her sister came forward. Politely waiting for the king's response, she stepped forward, only bowing slightly. "My twin sister and I came tonight only to retrieve the Silver Gauntlets and return them to Gerudo possession," she said, her tones slightly stiff. Unlike her Tarmian girlfriend, she was not used to presenting herself to a monarch.

OOC: Sorry about that. I just wanted to get this over with so I could get back to Eloze.

Oh, and I do believe it was the Silver Gauntlets that initially brought the Veilmist sisters into FoG VIII, no?

OOC: Okay, the above post is hereby reserved for HNS....

IC: As his spell of water defeats Laxin, Kasei looks on as Alpha saves the general of the Hakiems. The Rebel Flame opens his mouth to protest, but closes it when he realises that if he is alive, interogation is much easier, it's hard to ask dead bodies questions, after all. Kasei clapped his hands together, and let them fall to his side. "So, then, one battle is finished...." He says, as he begins to turn back to the form recognized most, his young one.

---------In the Throne Room----------

Kasei listens to King Harkinian, and smiles as the lord of Hyrule makes an offer. The elder shiekah stays where he is, at the back of the group, the eyes of guards burning into his back. Even though he had just aided in the kings recovery, all of his weapons were removed, a lot good it would do. If Kasei wanted to become a traitor, he woldn't need a weapon, other than his power. Plus the fact that he knew the King of Hyrule would not be able to give what Kasei offered; Kasei's own death.

Speaking of traitors...where is Sovelis? Perhaps they imprisoned him? Kasei thought, wondering the same thing as Harkinian.

"The fault does not lie with you, my lady," Harkinian replies after hearing Rose's request. "Again, it is with me, for not having seen through Zaboorak's deception earlier on. Had I noticed the darkness within my head advisor, steps could have been taken to cure him of the Zora's influence and none of this would have ever occurred. Forgiveness, therefore, is happily given, yet completely unnecessary.

"As for the Silver Gauntlets," he claps his hands, and a pair of servants near the doorway rush out to go fetch them, "they shall be yours as soon as my men return with them." He glances around, waiting for anyone else who would step forward. He glances at each person's face, stopping to look at each of them directly in the eye for a few seconds. Most seem to only wish to finally leave this place behind, though a few cause him to pause even longer as different thoughts cross his mind. Particularly when eyeing Tayro, surprise flashes across his features. 'Interesting . . . his eyes . . . they look just like hers . . .' Perhaps he will investigate this child further in due time.

He continues his visual tour over the group, finally allowing his eyes to rest one person. "Alpha, is it? Please, step forward."

Alpha, standing in the rear of the formation, allows his shoulders to slump; that is the only sign of his annoyance visible to the others, as his cape has been fully drawn around his form and his hood drawn over his head. But he does step forward, making his way through the crowd until he is standing directly before His Majesty. Harkinian looks at him for several long moments, hoping he will raise his head. But the Sheikah's gaze remains firmly fixed on the floor. "You are Keyru Varaudo, student of the Golden Sheikah, Zaris Valyan, correct?"

". . . I am."

"It has been . . . seventeen years since last we met, correct, Mr. Varaudo?"

Alpha still does not look up. "Indeed, Your Majesty."

A few moments of silence. "I . . . I wish you would have come before me sooner. It has been some time since you returned to Hyrule, and I would have been honored to help you and your master once again." Pause. "How is Master Zaris doing these days?"

A few moments of silence. "As far as I know, he is well, sir." He finally raises his face up, looking sad. "You can understand my reasons for not meeting with you, I assume."

"Of course. The . . . the tragedy of Sereta is not one I would wish to recall either, if I could help it."

Another long stretch of silence blankets the room, while Shada turns away and begins wandering off to the side. As she does so, Noval turns to the rest of the group and explains in a whisper. "Seventeen years ago, the Hakiems Tribe attacked Alpha and Shada's hometown, Sereta Village. Zaris was staying there, but after a few of the Hakiems were killed they went on a rampage throughout the entire place. The entire place was laden with explosives, and once the assassins had all evacuated destroyed it utterly. Alpha and Shada . . . are the only two known survivors of that incident.

"Alpha was taken by Zaris, and the pair escaped the Hakiems for a few days. They made their way here; His Majesty welcomed them to stay for as long as they needed, but they departed after a single night." Noval's face was one of sadness as well. "I have . . . never felt the same kind of . . . despair . . . that Alpha had that night." He looks back to where Alpha stands silent. "I imagine that that is the last memory he wishes to think about."

Alpha gives Harkinian one last look, then turns back and walks directly through the crowd. He is almost to the door when Noval's voice interrupts the silence, not wanting Alpha to leave just yet. "Your Majesty, I think now is the prime time for us to awaken Laxin, and learn what he knows." If anything can keep Alpha here, that is it . . . and the ploy succeeds, for he halts his steps and turns back to them while Noval walks over to where the Hakiem lies.

Kasei narrowed his eyes as he looked on. Gauntlets, eh? He thought. And Alpha's name is Keyru? Some interesting information. He also suffers from the loss of his hometown. How sad, now I know why he has such lonesome eyes... Kasei turned, as Alpha was about to leave, but stopped. Kasei turns his attention also to the defeated Laxin. Should the General attempt anything, Kasei would be ready. "Hang on a second, was he checked thouroghly? As a soldier, he might attempt a suicide when he awakens. Maybe he has pills or an explosive somewhere on him." The Rebel Flame called out.

Rose merely bowed deeper upon hearing the king's reply. Sheena also bowed, but it was the same slight inclination as before. "I thank you on behalf of the Gerudo race."

Rose withdrew back into the crowd next to Haru; the oldest of the three women (including the years spent frozen in time) remained close by the throne for when the servants returned with the prize of the Gerudos. The fire loving twin, hidden for the most part by the crowd, tapped her foot impatiently. She wanted nothing more right now than to get out of the castle. After a small length of time, she whispered to Rose in Gerudic, "What are your plans now? Staying with this group, right?"

The human female sadly shook her head. "No," she whispered back. "I can't keep on doing this, now that I know Zaboorak is capable of possessing people. I...I don't want to take another innocent life."

"Look, I’m guessing these Hakiems, whoever the hell they are, aren’t going to take kindly to you killing their own kind; they’ll hunt you down. You might as well fight back.”

“I can’t fight back anymore!” Rose hissed. She sighed. “Forgiven or not, the guilt is too great for me. I just want to grow wings and fly far away. Some place where they cannot possibly find me.”

“We don’t know how far their reach is.”

“Then I’ll fly until I come across a new land.”

“Don’t you mean ‘we’?”

The druid looked over at her friend, confused. “We?”

The Gerudo nodded. “You know Sheena; she’ll fight Death to follow you anywhere. I dare say she cares more for you than she does for me.” Haru smirked. “And, well, you know that we need to stay relatively close to keep our power over our respective elements under perfect control. Besides, we’re twins. That’s a bond you can’t break.”

Rose smiled; was this the first time the human smiled since she sat down with Shada the day before. Was it the day before that she sat with the Sheikah, or was it the day before that? The Tarmian shook her head. It wouldn’t matter soon; as soon as she could, she was leaving Hyrule behind forever.

OOC: I say that if Tayro isn't the next poster, we bombard Portugal with Holy Hand Grenades of Antioch.

OoC: Nah, Brother Maynard. We shall not lobith the Holy Hand Grenade. We will bang together two halves of an empty coconut and ride forth through the land of Mercia, and invade this...'Portugal'...Or fly on an African Swallow.

Alpha wrote: * * *

"You awake?" the voice asks the Tempest as he stirs at long last. He feels his body falling for a few seconds, then impacting softly against grass.

In the southern reaches of Hyrule Field, Segnin sits back and waits for the Human to regain full consciousness. The Hakiem has done everything he can for the man, from sneaking into the throne room and then escaping with the unconscious body to carrying him all this way. "Lord Zaboorak is still interested in having that audience with you, if you want it," he says calmly.

* * *

Am I dead? Did they kill me in the battle? Sovelis asked himself, lost in the darkness of the Void after the attacks that had ended his pitiful life. Well...I guess I should be waking up again sometime soon. The endless cycle of death and rebirth until the end of time. Such is my curse and my power.

You awake? He heard a voice calling out from the darkness, as if beckoning him back to his beaten, burnt, and half frozen body...

Sovelis would have had the air knocked out of him if he had any in his lungs. The Tempest's eyes shot open almost as soon as he hit the hard dirt of the field, and he gasped for air at the same moment. Fresh air... Means that I got away somehow. his thoughts raced as he forced his tattered body into a somewhat-upright position. "I am now...and I'm lucky to be in one piece with that rough handling you gave my body while I was dead." Sovelis croaked, his throat dried out and his chest protesting with every breath that he took.

With an almost inhuman will, he forced himself to his feet and stood up to face the one that had brought him away from the Palace. "I...I guess I should be thanking you." the toasted immortal grumbled as his body began the slow, and very painful process of healing itself with the power that had been sealed in it so long ago. "Za-whosit? Oh...right. The freak that I made a deal with...alright. where is he then?" Sovelis asked, looking around with blurry eyes for this Zaboorak that was in charge of the Hakiem...or, So he thought.

Gazing into the image within his cauldron, the mysterious wizard feels his shoulders slump in defeat. 'So it has come to this . . . no matter what, I am sure that he won't be able to keep himself from following the path once he notices it . . .

'Before they can learn the truth, I must kill him myself.'

* * *

"Your concerns are indeed valid," Noval replies to Kasei as he kneels beside Laxin, "and have been taken into account already. Several of my own RER officers have searched his body, and found nothing. Not only that, but he is a Hakiem, and the value they place on their members' lives is immeasurable. I doubt we have missed anything, and this suspicion is further supported by their desire to continue living."

A servant reenters the chamber, approaching Haru and Sheena and holding out the legendary Silver Gauntlets to the pair. Normally now would be the time where King Harkinian or Princess Zelda would give some short words about making sure that the gauntlets stay out of the wrong hands, as they could grant Ganon's servants unimaginable power. However, both members of the Royal Family have joined the rest of the group, Alpha included, in gathering around the fallen form of Laxin.

"Still," Noval says quietly, "there is no way to know what a Hakiem General is capable of. Even now, he could have some trick up his sleeves. Remain on your guard, everyone."

Noval extends two of the fingers on his right hand and places them onto Laxin's forehead. In the previous attack, which had rendered Laxin unconscious again, he had scrambled the man's mind in such a way that it would take days for him to recover naturally. But for a telepath to undo the damage is a simple task -

Laxin's crimson eyes flash open.

In an instant he tries to rise, only to be forcibly reminded of the injuries he has sustained in the past battle. He collapses back to the floor, unable to do anything more than grunt in pain and stare at Noval with outrage in his eyes. "Hello, General Laxin," Noval calmly mutters. Laxin doesn't respond; Noval hadn't expected him to.

"Hurry, General," the King says with an air of dignity in his tone. "We can't afford to waste any time."

"Of course, Your Majesty." The Hylian closes his eyes, focusing his telepathic energy into interrogating the man lying there.

~~He stood in a maze once more, eyes searching down the path before him and the passageways that diverged from it. Laxin's mind had become open to him without much struggle, not that that mind had much strength left to give to defending itself now.

He started to walk. Well, walking wasn't the best way to describe it, for he moved down the walkways in bursts of speed, like a ray of light that could turn and even stop at a whim. He stopped whenever he came to an intersection, determining which route would lead him further into the realm containing information about the Hakiems Tribe.

Today's events
Battle
Fighting
Swordsplay
Weapons
Hammer
The Galeforce technique, his signature attack
General Virschiera, his teacher and predecessor
The Hakiems Tribe

'Excellent, now to find the path leading to the base's location . . .'

He stopped all of a sudden. He was at a three-way stop . . . but he could sense a fourth pathway ahead of him. Ah, so he was beginning to reach Laxin's mentally defended areas. A sword of light appeared in his hands, and Noval was swift to slice through the guarded doorway.

Important information

Another 'hidden' path. He sliced through it in no time and was off again in a flash.

Personal secrets
Embarrassments
Information given by Zaboorak

He paused. He should focus on the hideout's location, but . . . he couldn't pass up the opportunity. His allegiance was, after all, first to the legacy of Golden Hylians who had trained him and made him the person he was today. He could fight the Hakiems, or fight Zaboorak, the true enemy. Zaboorak's information it was.

The Wind Majesty Style
Aerial Explosion
Other Worlds
Xragons
Source of Magics

All of it was very interesting . . . but he stopped cold when he saw the next path.

Wraith

Not to mention the fact that someone else was standing there . . . someone besides Laxin. "Do not travel this path, General." The man was a white-colored spirit, shrouded by a cloak that his mental form wore. "I will not force you to stay away from here, but I implore you: do not continue this way."

"You know who I am?"

"I do."

"Then you know I cannot stay away from this information." Now Noval actually tried to turn away; he was not surprised to find that he could not even forcibly turn himself away. The desire - the NEED to know - about Wraith was too strong. He couldn't stay away no matter how much he wanted. No matter how much this man threatened him, whoever he was.

He took a step forward.

The white man suddenly blasted him with energy, pushing him backwards a few steps until he rammed into the wall behind him. "Do not force my hand, whoever you are!"

The reply was . . . sad. "You have already forced mine."

Just like Zaboorak's mental connection to Harkinian, Noval suddenly finds himself in a maze that is shattering. "NO!" he cries, realizing what is happening.

But even for one with the Hylian Goldforce, it's already too late.~~

Noval literally is hurled back, ramming directly into Koura and the people standing beside her. She manages to keep from falling as she tries to support the General, but her attention is distracted as Laxin begins to writhe on the ground. His body glows a violent red as his form shakes, as though in an earthquake. A bloodcurdling scream, even more horrifying than the one Zaboorak had undergone when being assaulted by Noval, erupts from his lips.

The group can only stare on in horror as Laxin's body morphs. His skin becomes shriveled and wrinkly as the seconds pass, undergoing a . . . an aging process. In a matter of ten seconds, the man has aged an equivalent of 100 years . . . which is made all the more disturbing by the fact that he obviously only had 80 more years of life left in him. In the final two seconds, his body cracks and disintegrates, bones and skin turning to dust.

The translucent image of the mysterious wizard appears above the pile of dirt. "I warned you, General . . . I warned you . . ."

And then he is gone, leaving the group with the final image of sheer terror on Laxin's face burned into their memories.

Sheena slightly bowed as she accepted the gauntlets from the servant. "Thank you," she mumbled. Once she was with her sister and Rose, she gave the ancient artifacts to the latter, who placed them carefully into her bag.

"Come on, let's get out of here," Rose whispered, still using Gerudic. The Gerudo did not argue, only followed. Once outside, the group of three heard Laxin's dying scream, though they did not know it was him. In an unspoken agreement, they guessed that it did not result from an action of the Hakiem general; he was pretty much disabled.

"Which way do we go after we drop off these gauntlets?" Rose asked, speaking in her friends' native tongue. "I'm leaving these troubles behind for good."

"We'll decide that when the time comes," Sheena replied as she watched her favorite druid transform into a dragon. She frowned, but said nothing as she mounted, Haru climbing up behind her.

In a matter of seconds, they were a speck in the sky.

OOC: And so Rose leaves FoG. Coming in Part IX, Sheila Rantil!