New Add-on thingy

[Pieist]

Mersheti was stuffing his belongings in a bag. He hated to leave his life long home, but lately the dam that protected the town from the waterfall started cracking, and the constant rain hasn't been helping much.

The journal of the assassin Storrischer Esel lay on the counter. Mersheti started reading it years age, yet he still found hard to believe that his grandfather was such a cruel man. The sword that was in Mersheti's family for generations was used by him. It was that sword that almost eliminated the Royal Family years ago.

"Mersheti, get your arse down here, we are leaving now!"

Quickly, Mersheti stuffed the journal in the bag and hurried downstairs.

[ May 02, 2004, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: Lava64 ]

[chickenpotpiepie]

Cido looked down from the tree he was in at the small rabbit passing below. My weekly meal has arrived he thought to himself.

Things hadn't been going so well since the dissapearence of his fairy, Chime. They were wandering in the lost woods when suddenly a skull kid ran up and snatched her. He chased after the skull kid but lost him. He spent the rest of the days after that tracking the skull kid.

But that wasn't important right now. What was important was catching this rabbit. He picked up his spear, and was about to throw it, when suddenly there came rustling in some nearby bushes. The rabbit sprinted off. Cido jumped of the tree after it but by the time he got down it was out of sight.

He looked at the bush that had rustled. Suddenly the skull kid popped out.

"You'll never catch a rabbit like that," said the skull kid, in a mocking voice, "You have to be quick, like I was." the skull kid held out a bottle, and inside was Chime.

"Help me Cido!" screamed Chime.

"Don't worry Chime, I'll get you!" Cido shouted.

"You'll never get her, she's mine now." and with that, he vanished.

Cido screamed in a fit of rage and all the birds in nearby trees flew away. He climbed back up into the tree, and waited for a meal.

[Princess Zelda of Hyrule]

NAME: Teresina Ratchett
AGE: 16
GENDER: Female
RACE: Hylian
OCCUPATION: None of her own, but her mother, Carlotta Matakau, is a well-known seamstress.
PLACE OF ORIGIN: Born in Hyrule Castle
HAIR: Red
EYES: Turquoise
SKIN: Pale
CLOTHING: Dresses always in good repair, because her mother is a seamstress
FATHER: Justitio Ratchett
MOTHER: Carlotta Matakau
SIBLINGS: None
SKILLS: Sewing, embroidery, weaving, writing, singing
WEAPONS/ITEMS: None
PERSONALITY: Polite, but a little awkward and very shy. Sensitive; possesses immensely strong passions.
A SUMMARY OF YOUR PAST: Teresina's mother, Carlotta Matakau, is the daughter of a respected head servant in the royal household, Elizabeth Charlotte Matakau. Carlotta Matakau had been engaged to a rowdy castle soldier by the name of Justitio Ratchett. Teresina was conceived some time before their official wedding was to take place. But the night before the marriage, the young soldier disappeared. Teresina's mother would have fallen into destitution, but she was a strong character, and easily pulled her way out of grief and, with Elizabeth Matakau's help, eventually opened a successful sewing shop in Hyrule Castle Town. Teresina has grown up in a warm, secure environment with enough family to make up for a lack of a father. As a young woman, she's always in love, and she's driven almost mad by her obsessions.
AN AMBITION OF YOURS: Depends on who she currently admires or loves.

[The Yoshimaster]

OoC: PZoH, didn't Juss die in the last story?

Daevo squeezed through the heavy crowd with difficulty, aware that Hyrule Castle Town was more crowded than he had ever remembered. As he made his way to the inn, he looked over the top of the crowd to see what the commotion was all about.

It was a wagon, carrying a large statue through town. Apparently, the townsfolk were agitated by the statue, for good or bad, and the masses swelled around the wagon.

Eventually, the king stepped up on a pedestal and addressed the crowd.

"Friends!" he said. "I know you are all excited by the arrival of this excellent statue of our beloved Hero!" At this, the crowd cheered. The king waited until the cheer died down.

"But, please, allow these fine men to set it up properly in the castle. There, you may adore the monument of our triumph over evil however long you wish!"

The crowd cheered again, and reluctantly dissolved. The wagon continued on its way up the path to the castle.

Daevo shook his head and stepped into the inn. Mindless sheep... that's exactly what people leading normal lives are. They follow any powerful figure like a confused child, even to their deaths. He wouldn't be surprised if the people of Hyrule kissed that statue until it was worn to dust.

"Howdy," said the innkeeper, behind the counter.

Daevo tossed a coin at him. "Dinner and a room," he said.

The innkeeper nodded, and began preparing Daevo's requests as Daevo sat at a table near the fire. Soon, the innkeeper brought him a hot plate, which Daevo snatched and began eating at.

"Do you know what that statue was?" Daevo muttered.

The innkeeper nodded. "That is a statue of Link," he said. "The Hero of Time. Hyrule's savior."

Daevo was blank.

"Do you not know the story of Link?" cried the innkeeper.

Daevo shook his head. "I don't care much for legends," he said.

The innkeeper sat down. "This is more than a legend. You see, a few decades back, the Gerudo King Ganondorf invaded Hyrule. A few years into his rule, a young forest boy came and did away with him. Ever since, Hyrule has been peaceful and prosperous."

"A few decades is a long streak of peace for you, then?" Daevo said, laughing darkly. He pushed his plate away and stood up. "You know it can't last long. Peace never does. Now... where's my room?"

[Pieist]

Mersheti put the bag over his shoulder and hopped on a horse. It would be 3 day journey to Hyrule, so they were bringing plenty of food and water.

Mersheti's father was taking a last look at everything. He lived there all his life, and didn't like the idea of leaving.

"I hate it that we have to leave here," said Mersheti's father, "but with the threat of the dam breaking, I have no choice."

Mersheti's father held his head down for a moment. After a while he put his head up and said:

"We better get a move on if we are going to make it in 3 days."

[ May 02, 2004, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: Lava64 ]

[PVanderbilt]

Jacob closed the door to his shack and grabbed a towel to dry himself off. He mumbled to himself as he changed his clothes.

"How can that blockhead of a Prince be related to Princess Zelda...or to the Queen Zelda...?"

Sticking his head out the window, he noticed that the rain was beginning to let up. Grabbing his dagger, he headed for the door and out to Hyrule Market Town.

As he left the walls of Hyrule Castle, he came across an enormous crowd of people as a great statue was being brought through the city.

Aahh yes.... He remembered They are building a statue to celebrate that...that Hero...what was his name?...

[chickenpotpiepie]

Cido finished his rabbit and put the fire out. The skull kid had his fairy, and he was going to get it back. At least Chime is alive and not... he didn't wan't to think of what could happen to her.

He picked up his spear and went searching for shelter. He saw a rock wall with a dark cave on it's side. Better than nothing, he thought and went inside.

He lit a stick on fire and it acted as a torch, when he saw what was in the cave he almost dropped the torch and supressed a scream. There was a dead body lying in the back of the cave. It looked like it had a pretty painful death. There were scratches all over its body and its neck was slashed.

He went closer, it smelled terrible so he backed away. Then, holding his nose, he walked up to it. It was a man, a lumberjack, who was attacked by something. He had never seen scratch marks like this before, and the claw mark were a big as daggers. Whatever killed him was worse than anything he had seen. He felt around in his pocket and found a purse. When he opened the purse he saw it was full of rupees! And a whole lot of them.

Then he heard footsteps outside the cave entrance. He quickly put out the torch and went into the darkest shadows of the cave. In the light from outside he saw a huge wolf! But this wasn't an oridnary wolf, this had to be a wolfos. He had heard about them, and how they could kill you with one bite, but had never seen them. It didn't matter how they killed you though, he knew if he stayed here he would be killed.

Cido felt around on the floor for something he could use. Ah-ha! he mpicked up a rock lying at his feet, and threw it as hard as he could out of the cave. It sailed through the air, and though Cido didn't hear it land, the wolfos did. The wolfos ran out of the cave howling a horrible howl. Cido ceased this opritunity and ran out behind it, keeping his distance. Then he turned and climbed up the tree nearest him. The wolfos evidently found the rock and started howling an angry howl.

Cido looked down and saw the wolfos under him, howling away. I guess I'll be sleeping in a tree tonight. he thought, but he never went to sleep.

[Brooser]

Lokuta yawned and pushed away the ragged blanket he had been sleeping under. He was in an abandoned house that he had been sleeping in for the past few days. The locals all said that a family of cursed Skulltullas used to live here, but left years ago. So now, he was calling it his temporary home.

He started to get up to get to the Bazaar for work, then remembered that he was fired the day before. With a dry smile he remembered what he had done...

I bet that left a mark... he thought, smiling bitterly. He had gotten in a fight with one of the other employees that he had never liked. It was the worker, in fact, that started the fight, but the owner of the Bazaar walked in at exactly the wrong time.

"Well, it looks like I'll be looking for work again..." he sighed. "Maybe I'll go to Hyrule Castle Town...there's always work there,"

He picked up his bow and arrows from the floor and started out the door.

[Pieist]

It was the third day Mersheti and his father have been traveling and they were getting close to Hyrule Castle Town.

"Remember," said his father for the umpteenth time, "we can't use our last names. Hylians are suspicious with anyone with the last name Esel."

Mersheti rolled his eyes.

"I doubt they remember who Esel the Assassin is. I mean it was like 30 years ago since he died. Plus, he was a good person for the short remainder of his life."

Mersheti's father sighed

"You know that and I know that, and several people back then knew that, but everyone else still had their house boobytrapped in case he ever tried to sneak in and kill them. Still, don't use your last name."

Mersheti just yawned as they crossed the drawbridge to Hyrule Castle.

[ May 02, 2004, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Lava64 ]

[Princess Zelda of Hyrule]

OoC: PZoH, didn't Juss die in the last story?

Yeah, he did. But this isn't a direct sequel from the last story, is it? If it is, I can figure something out...

Carlotta Matakau's house was located in the quietest place in Hyrule Castle Town, a shaded lane leading off a little way from the royal grounds. Here, the richer of the Hylian folk lived - the respected knights, the nobles, the cousins of the king, the successful merchants. Carlotta wasn't the richest of the rich - her house was considerably smaller and less elaborate than those belonging to her neighbors. But it was pleasant nonetheless. Like the other houses, it looked much older than it was. It had been built during the time when the royal palace and most of the other buildings in the Castle were restored.

Carlotta and her daughter lived alone, but had friends from the palace servants' quarters and from the lower parts of the city who would filter in and out of the house throughout the day, bartering sewing goods with Carlotta and seeking various bits of advice from her about her craft.

Teresina, the daughter, kept away from the visitors. She wasn't at all proud of her own skills as a seamstress and didn't want to be approached with any questions from strangers about sewing.

[Brooser]

Well, the story could be in an alternate timeline thing...so Juss survived after all of the time travelling stuff or something, and later went on to engage Carlotta.

[PVanderbilt]

Jacob pushed his way through the throng of people until he could get a good look at the pedestal. The King was standing upon it, trying to get the attention of the crowd. Jacob couldn't hear what he was saying, but much of the crowd could apparently. A great cheer erupted, and the King looked pleased. He continued to talk, and soon Jacob was able to make out a few words.

"...adore the monument of our triumph over evil however long you wish!"

The wagon rolled on toward the castle as the crowd began to disband.

"Now," the King continued, with Jacob well in earshot. "I imagine that you all have a lot of work to get to in order to be ready for the grand festival tonight to celebrate the erection of the statue. It will be a night truly to remember."

The King smiled warmly as he headed off toward the castle. Jacob had forgotten that the festival was tonight, and was overjoyed with the idea.

Perhaps there will be fireworks he wondered. It will be grand, I imagine, although very crowded. I hope the market will not be full of morons, as usual... At least Princess Zelda will be there. .

His thoughts lingered on her for some time. Her golden locks, her saphire eyes... Suddenly, it occured him. The entire royal family would be there, and the castle would be empty.

Damn. The Prince will probably make me stay behind and guard the stables. Oh well, I probably wouldn't of had any fun here anyways...

The rain had finally ceased, and Jacob decided to stop at the inn for a cup of tea. Opening the door, he was soon greeted by the innkeeper.

"Howdy, Jacob," he said grinning.

"Hello," Jacob said.

"I imagine you're not here for a room... The common room is kinda empty right now, though. Not that you mind, I'm sure."

Jacob nodded, and began walking toward the common room when the innkeeper stopped him.

"And one more thing, Jacob." He lowered his voice. "There's a shady lookin' character hanging around here. Watch out for him, especially tonight at the festival. I think he's plannin' something..."

"Oh.. uh, thank you... Say, do you remember the Hero...?"

"Certainly I do. I must have been about your age. It was terrible, until he came and saved us. Link... yea, that was his name... The Hero of Time, they called him..."

"Whatever happened to him?"

"Nobody knows... After he saved us he just up and disappeared... He was a... uh...one of them... Kokiri... least, I think he was. Had a fairy and dressed like one... "

"And no one knows where he is?"

"Well...almost nobody..." Again, he lowered his voice. "They say that he and the princess, or rather the Queen now... You know." He winked. "But, it couldn't work out... he was a pauper and she was the princess..."

Jacob pondered these words as he walked, quite downtrodden, into the common room to get a cup of tea.

[ May 02, 2004, 05:39 PM: Message edited by: TheLizardman ]

[Pieist]

The guard at the drawbridge stopped Mersheti and his father.

"Say your names and what buisness you have here." said the guard.

"I am Intelligenter," said Mersheti's father "And this is my son Mersheti. We are here looking fo..."

"Your last names please?"

The guard cocked his eyebrow as Mersheti's father was silent for a while. Then finally he spoke.

"We are from a distant country, and our last names aren't really translatable in Hyrule."

The guard still looked suspicious.

"If that was the case, how come it took you a while to answer?"

"We just lost our homeland to a dam break," said Mersheti "and don't like to think about it."

The guard then smiled

"I understand, now state your buisness so I can let you pass."

"We are here looking for jobs." said Mersheti's father.

The guard wrote several things on his clipboard. Then he lifted up his head and said,

"Welcome to Hyrule Castle Town."

Mersheti and his father then crossed the drawbridge to their new home.

[The Yoshimaster]

With his ear at the door, Daevo could hear everything.

"Watch out for him, especially tonight at the festival. I think he's plannin' something..."

Daevo chuckled softly. "Is that what these people do when they think?" he thought. "Invent conspiracies about wandering strangers? Well, I won't do anything, unless there's a good price involved. At least these suspicions will give me some solitary time."

Daevo sat back in his chair. He was almost certain that he would not go to the festival. The only thing do to aside from pushing one's way through noisy, drunken, idiotic townsfolk is to eat, and he had already eaten.

He pondered like this, leaning back in the chair, for several hours, until the sun began to set. The festival would start soon. A few people were out there, and were already making loud noise. "I won't get any sleep with all the commotion," Daevo thought bitterly.

Suddenly, he heard the inn's door open. He jumped out of his seat and pressed his ear against the door to his room. He could hear several men speaking with the innkeeper. He picked up various fragments of the conversation.

"...for murder...seen him?...in his mid-twenties, wears mismatched... and pieces of armor... foul-looking... mind if we search the building?"

Daevo moved away from the door, cursing silently. He quickly filled his pack, gathered his weapons, and was out the window.

[Princess Zelda of Hyrule]

Carlotta heard a rattle at the door. And then loud knocking. She sighed and put down her work. She went to the door, but before she could reach the knob, it had already been flung open.

TERESINA: The door was stuck, Mother. Again.

CARLOTTA: Where have you been?

TERESINA: I was watching them erect that statue in the Town Square.

CARLOTTA: Don't you have better things to do with your time?

TERESINA: Not on a day like this. Mother, today's a festival!

CARLOTTA: I'm not feeling particularly festive. I have plenty of orders to fill, and tonight -

TERESINA: Tonight I'm going to watch the fireworks. And I heard that the whole Royal Family is going to be here! I'll wear my favorite blue dress, because I want the Prince to see me in it. And for my hair, I'll...

CARLOTTA: Teresina, haven't we discussed this before? Your grandmother is coming tonight.

TERESINA: I'm sure she'd like to watch the fireworks with me.

CARLOTTA: Teresina, your grandmother is old. She won't be going to the fireworks. Or to anything.

TERESINA: Not even to see the Royal Family?

CARLOTTA: She lives in the palace. She sees them everyday.

TERESINA: Not even to watch the dancers or the jugglers or the -

CARLOTTA: Nothing.

TERESINA: Poor thing. I should make her a cake or - oh, she can't eat cake, can she? I'll make her something.

CARLOTTA: How very kind of you.

TERESINA: But whatever is, it has to be quick, and it can't be messy. I have to find out what I'm going to wear tonight when the Prince sees me.

CARLOTTA: Teresina, must we go through this again? You are not going to the festival. You are staying here with your grandmother and me.

TERESINA: But, why?

CARLOTTA: I need all the help I can get. Your grandmother can hardly help herself.

TERESINA: But I'd get in the way! She doesn't want children around, does she?

CARLOTTA: You're not a child. You're a young woman, and your grandmother and I both need you here.

TERESINA: Mother!

CARLOTTA: There will be other festivals.

TERESINA: I'll kill myself!

CARLOTTA: That's what you said when I wouldn't let you wear that low-cut dress in the Temple, and look at you - you're still alive. Unless you're a ghost.

TERESINA: You're not funny, Mother.

CARLOTTA: No, I'm serious. Let me see if I can stick my hand through you...

TERESINA: Don't touch me!

[Pieist]

As the Esel family entered the town, fireworks burst into the the air.

"I wonder whats going on?" thought Mersheti.

His father looked at the sky for a little bit. Then he turned his head and spoke to Mersheti.

"We really shoudn't waste time looking at the sky. We need to find an inn to stay in."

The two men walked around looking for an inn suitible for them. They had a lot of cash on hand, so they decided to pay for the best one.

Mersheti asked his father if he could go outside. He said yes, only if he would carry a blade.

Mersheti didn't really like carrying a weapon along, but he desired to see what was going on. After putting the sheathed sword on his waist, Mersheti stepped out of the hotel into the town.

[PVanderbilt]

Jacob sat back and downed his tea. The common room was pretty empty, but he didn't mind. Time was marching on, and he was reluctant to return to the castle.

His thoughts swam throuh his head, with no real rhyme or reason. Now, he thought of the Hero, and the statue, and now of the Queen. Is it true what the innkeeper had said? Jacob did not that particuarly trust the judgment of the innkeeper. He was very untrusting, and often jumped to conclusions too soon, but still he wondered. Certainly, that comment about the stranger was false...

The door to the common room creaked, and opened as two large, armoured men entered.

"Excuse me, have you seen a foul-looking man wearing mismatched pieces of armour? Probably in his mid-twenties?" they asked him.

"Uh...no, no I haven't," Jacob replied.

"Thanks anyway," they said as they exited.

Jacob was beginning to consider that perhaps the innkeeper was right, that this man was up to something, when he heard the first firework explode outside. It was later that he thought. Quickly, he headed for the door.

[ May 03, 2004, 05:21 PM: Message edited by: TheLizardman ]

[chickenpotpiepie]

The wolfos had gone back to his cave. After waiting an hour, Cido finally decided it was safe to climb down.

He returned to his search for Chime when he heard music. It was a nice little tune, he hadn't heard it since Saria had left them. He followed the song, very nervous that the wolfos was following him.

He went into an opening and saw the skull kid standing on a vertical log. Chime was in a bottle at his feet. Luckily the skull kid hadn't seen him. Cido slowly crept closer. At one point the skull kid stopped playing and looked around like he had heard something. Cido ducked behind a bush and the skull kid went back to playing. Cido got within throwing range of him and readied his spear. Hopefully his aim would be true, and give that horrible skull kid his just deserve.

Whoosh! The spear soared through the air. The skull kid saw it at the last second and jumped away, vanishing into thin air. Chime was still on the log.

"Thank goodness you found me. Now get me down and open this bottle." said Chime.

Cido hadn't thought of what he would do once he got rid of the skull kid. How would he get her down without hurting her.

He went to retrive his spear, maybe that could help him.

"Um, Cido, do you know how your going to get me down?" Chime asked.

"Quiet, I'm thinking." Cido replied, crossly.

Maybe I can pole vault up there. It's to tall and slick to climb. I'll try vaulting. he thought. Then he grabbed his spear and backed up some, for a running start.

"Cido, don't do that. You'll get yourself killed." Chime complained.

"I know what I'm doing" I hope. And with that Cido ran forth and struck his spear into the ground.

But the ground didn't hold the spear. The spear flipped out of the ground and stuck into the stump, point down. Cido flew behind it and grabbed on to the side of the stump. With some difficulty he pulled himself up.

Then out of the underbrush, the wolfos appeared. Cido opened the bottle that Chime was in, and Cido pointed to the wolfos. Chime flew down and looked at it. The wolfos snapped at her but she was to quick.

Chime flew back and reported, "If your planning on attacking it, you should know its claws are its strongest point. Try attacking its side or even its hind legs."

"If you think I'm going to fight that thing, then you have been in that bottle too long." Cido replied, "You know what it did to that lumberjack."

"No, I don't." Chime replied.

"Well that's beside the point. Just look at that thing. Those claws can cut through anything, belive me." He had a vivid memory of the corpse and shivered.

"Well how else do you suppose we get down?"

"We'll just wait for it to leave. How long will it hunt the same food."

[The Yoshimaster]

Daevo walked deep into the festival crowd, and was immediately lost to anyone seeking him. Every few minutes he casually glanced back at the inn, to see if the search party had left yet.

It was getting dark. The royal family had just arrived, and was greeted by enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. Rolling his eyes, Daevo turned away and bought a beer at a vendor.

As soon as the royal family sat in their designated seats, the fireworks began. Everyone turned their attention to the brilliantly colored explosions in the sky.

Daevo was staring at the sky with mild interest, when a stranger tapped him on the shoulder.

"I need your assistance," the stranger said. "The reward will be great."

Daevo looked at him. The stranger's voice was deep, hoarse, and he spoke with a thick accent. He wore a hooded cloak, hiding his face. "What?" said Daevo, startled.

The stranger pointed at Daevo's shoulder. "You wear the mark," he said.

It was true; on his shirt, in the spacing between pieces of rusted armor, Daevo wore a peculiar stitching, signifying that he was a mercenary. It was how those in the underground business recognized him.

Daevo nodded. "Ok," he said. "Who do you want me to whack? The king?"

The stranger shook his head. "We must not be seen," he said, grabbing Daevo forcefully and dragging him into an alley.

Once they were alone in the dark alley, the stranger removed his hood. Daevo gasped.

"You're... a Moblin," he said.

The Moblin hushed him fiercly. "The task I am about to give you will have no initial victims," he said. "Rather, it is a theft. And being so, it requires that you take as few lives as possible. I need you to sneak into the castle. Specifically, into the Princess's room. There, she keeps something very special. An ocarina."

Daevo shook his head. "That place will be heavily guarded," he said. "Even with the festival, there are always..."

"Listen to me," said the Moblin. "There is a secret passage through the moat, to the courtyard within. There, you can climb into one of the windows, into the princess's room. Now, listen carefully."

------

Daevo's clothes were drenched and covered with wet leaves, but he had made it into the courtyard. In fact, it had been a relatively easy task. It was pitch black outside, most of the guards had retired for the night or gone to the festival, and all guards on duty were watching the fireworks. Child's play.

He threw a rope around a parapet, and climbed up the wall, and snuck in through the princess's room.

The room was lavish, and glamorously decorated. Daevo guessed a million rupees were put into designing her room alone. But he focused on the task at hand. He glanced around the room, and his eyes set on a blue and gold decorated treasure chest beside the bed.

"Zelda's not that stupid," he muttered. He set himself to tearing the room apart, seeking his bounty. At last, he discovered a false floor beneath the princess's bed. He opened it up, and inside was a box made of thick steel, double-locked. He rattled it; inside, he heard a large, hollow, ceramic object.

"This thing must be special," he thought. "They took a lot of precautions. Too bad."

Daevo leapt out the window and made it away with no more trouble.

[ May 03, 2004, 08:28 PM: Message edited by: Yoshimaster Sees All, Knows All ]

[PVanderbilt]

Jacob sighed as he walked into the open market. Much to his chagrin, he had lost track of time. It was already evening, and the festival had begun. Jacob wandered through the crowd, all the while worried that the Prince would be angry.

Who cares? He reassured himself. The Prince is an idiot.

Still, Jacob could not help but wish that he was back in his shack, enjoying a quiet evening at home. Jacob did not enjoy big crowds, especially those composed of people that he knew. As he attempted to manuever his way through the crowd, Jacob caught sight of the Royal Family.

The King was warm and happy, as always. He was a cheerful fellow, and ruled fairly enough. But then again, his rule had never seen anything but peace. He had a beard, that was probably once black, but was beginning to show signs of grey. Beside him sat his wife, the Queen Zelda.

It was she that had inherited the throne when her father passed on, not long after the kingdom was saved. She was a mysterious woman, and was seen little, but was usually very kind and soft-spoken. She had married the current king when she was very young, and most agree that she made a good choice. Jacob saw her rarely, but still he could tell that tonight she looked... differently. She seemed paler than usually, and rather depressed. She tried to smile as much as she could, but her eyes revealed no joy.

Her daughter sat beside her. The Princess Zelda looked and acted like a smaller version of her mother. Jacob saw her rarely, as well, but he always savored those times when he did. The Prince was not too keen on it, but Jacob didn't care.

The Prince sat beside the King, and he seemed overjoyed. He bowed low over the swarming masses of people, as they cheered him on. Jacob simple grimaced. He couldn't stand the Prince's arrogance, nor anything about him. He turned away in disgust, and returned to the festival.

Looking around, he could see nothing but morons.

Hmmm.... He thought. I wonder where Carlotta and her daughter, Teresina, are tonight. I could use some intelligent conversation before the night is over.

Jacob began to walk back to the castle, when something made him stop.

Well... maybe just one more hour. Perhaps something fun will happen.