Darkness Take You

Before I begin: Well... I didn't manage to get this chapter up before the week officially ended but I did get it up before Monday at least. My thanks to the people who are giving the story hits.

This chapter will be the first seriously bloody one. But no lemon yet.

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Chapter Three: Pale Moonlight Massacre
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Mila sat on the King of Red Lions and watched Link do most of the work. They were sailing east towards Dragon Roost Island, an island populated by bird-like people who call themselves the Rito. In truth, Rito were humans who developed wings after being constantly exposed to the aura of a powerful dragon named Valoo. The Rito were capable of sprouting feathers at will on their arms and using them for flight. Rito women, though generally weaker in flight, were widely considered by many to have bodies more beautiful than a regular humans. Also noted with the Rito people was that men had a greenish shade to their skin while women had pale skin.

Mila knew that Link had done some kind of business with the Rito before. She didn't know the details but it was obvious that he had if Komali was asking for his help. She knew enough about the Rito to know that Komali was the next in line to be the chieftain of the Rito people, but she found it strange that Link would know him.

It was a four hour ride to Dragon Roost. Mila and Link both managed to be quiet through the entire journey, Link focused in the boats whip staff and sail and Mila lost in thought. It had been her first long trip outside of Windfall that wasn't in the talons of a giant bird, she thought about enjoying it because she knew that it wasn't to a fortress. But she didn't smile, she stayed focus on the sea.

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Dragon Roost Island
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A fairly short Rito girl and a rough looking Rito postman were waiting for Link when he arrived. Link climbed out of the King of Red Lions and helped Mila out. Link approached and bowed to the two Rito, they returned it. He looked at them. "Quill, Medli, it's been a while." He said.

The Rito man, Quill nodded. "It was necessary that we call for you. But it may be best that you hear the problem right from Komali's mouth." Quill said.

Link turned to the girl. Her long red hair went down to her ankles and was tied back and her features seemed fairly delicate, even for Rito women standards. Mila also noticed that Rito's breasts were almost as big as hers, something that was also uncommon among Rito. "Medli, how has the prince been doing?" Link asked.

The girl shuffled her foot nervously. "Actually, I'll tell you once we get inside." She turned to Mila. "Is she a friend of yours?" Medli asked.

Mila shook her head. "No, I'm just traveling with him for a little while." She said.

Medli nodded. She turned around and started to walk towards a large cave where the Rito lived, Link and Mila followed, Quill stayed behind.

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Prince Komali's Room
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Komali was an impressive sight. His hair was the exact same cut as Link's and he also had a sword and shield and bundle on his back like Link. He also had a strong build and a gaze that seemed to see through anything. He noticed Mila. "Link, I didn't know you had any lady friends other than that crazy pirate." Komali commented.

Mila scowled but didn't reply. Link shook his head. "No, she's just traveling with me. I ruined her job and am helping her find a new one." Link said.

Komali shrugged. "I could help but we don't have any openings on Dragon Roost." He said.

Mila noticed Medli look at the floor nervously. She was acting strange. Link must've noticed too. "Medli, is something wrong?" Link asked.

Medli jumped when she heard Link's voice. She shook her head quickly and walked out of the room. Komali sighed. "She's been acting strange lately, but that's actually not why we called you." Komali said.

Link nodded. "So why did you call me prince?" He asked.

Komali looked at Mila. "You had bad timing with her. The reason that we called you was because recently a large number of Moglins started attacking the village. They attack once every week. We've pushed them back twice but most of our guards are injured or dead now. We need someone who can thin out their numbers quickly because they're constantly pushing towards this cave. They got close earlier and tried to kill an innocent girl." Komali said.

Link sighed. "You should have told me that, I would've stocked up on bombs before I left." Link said.

Komali grinned. "Remember, you told me why you would use bombs. I've already got traps set with the explosive fruits, all we need is someone to take care of the remaining numbers." Komali said.

Link nodded. "I'll help, but this doesn't fall under any favors I owe you." Link said.

Komali paused to think. "We didn't have a chance to gather up some pay for you, but I'll let you take your pick of what we have here. It's not money but we do have plenty of stuff around that you could find useful. Anything you can think of right off the bat?" Komali asked.

Link nodded and pulled the bundle off of his back. Mila watched him untie it. Inside the bundle was a large, strange looking bow. It was made from a strange looking wood and horns, she also couldn't tell what the string was made of. "If Valoo is willing, I need to borrow a hair off of his tail so that I can restring my bow." Link said.

Komali went over to a chest in his room and opened it up, pulling out a bowstring. "Way ahead of you. I've also stocked up on arrows, so when they attack you have that option." He said.

Mila stopped paying attention to the conversation and walked out of the room. She understood as much as she needed, Link was going to help the Ritos against a bunch of Moglins. She then noticed Medli who was now pacing and muttering incoherently. Mila couldn't understand any of it. She walked to Medli. "Hey, what's wrong?" She asked.

Medli again jumped. "Oh... sorry, I'm just..." Medli then sighed. "It's nothing." She said and walked off quietly. Mila shook her head. She had a few guesses on what was going on, but she didn't want to be direct.

Link and Komali then walked out of the room, Komali was disappointed about something. "C'mon Link, you know how much I've been training! At least let me help you!" Komali said.

Link shook his head. "I am not trusting you with my bow when you can hardly bend the string and it would be suicide for you to try and wield a heavy-weight sword like mine." Link said.

Komali sighed. "Fine, I'll hold the fort and kill anything that gets past you. Sound good enough?" He asked.

Link again shook his head. "No, what I want you to do is to take the bombs I have, divide them among you and Quill and drop them on the Moglins that are manning cannons. If you aren't careful with them than we may have a cave in." Link said.

Komali nodded and quickly dashed ahead. Link stopped to talk to Mila. "Did Medli say anything?" Link asked.

Mila shook her head. "No, something is bugging her though." Mila said.

Link sighed. "I bet you already can guess what's wrong." He said.

Mila shrugged. "I got a guess, but isn't she a little young for that?"

Link laughed. "No, she's actually older than Komali. Rito women rarely look much older than you do now." He said.

Mila sighed. "So just what is your plan?" She asked.

Link shook off his smile quickly. "Mila... I'll actually need your help." He said.

Mila cocked her head. "Why my help?" She asked.

"I need someone to keep an eye out for any ships approaching. Komali and Quill will be helping but they'll be busy." Link explained.

Mila nodded. "Fine, I'll help." She said.

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That Night
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In the two hours before sunset Komali and Link and another Rito man checked on a large number of traps and also helped get the Ritos who couldn't fight into hiding in Komali's room which was well hidden. Mila was watching from a wooden balcony attatched to the mountain. Based on it's design, she guessed that it was actually used for the postmen for a spot to land and take off when they were flying.

She pulled out the telescope Link loaned to her and focused to the east which was where the Moglins were supposed to be coming from. She saw the silohette of a ship but it was going slow, she couldn't see it's sail but she did see figures moving on it. "The ship is close!" Mila shouted. One of the Ritos, Quill, landed on the flight deck and took Mila's telescope and focused.

"It's them, they'll be on us in about an hour." He said. He gave Mila the telescope back and took flight, shouting out what he just said to everyone. Mila sighed. This was the last thing that she wanted to be doing. She left Windfall just to help a mercenary help a bunch of bird people that she didn't even know. Most hardly even acknowledged her existence, Quill was the only one and that was probably because he knew that he'd need her help. She looked back towards Link. He was doing surveillance using a Picto Box, looking in Mila's direction. She noticed him then drop his Picto Box, yank out his grappling hook and then dart in her direction. What for?

Mila looked in the direction that Link did and then noticed a bird in the distance. She looked at it through her telescope and then went cold with fear. It was a Helmacroc, the same kind of bird that kidnapped her years ago. She let out a scream, but no one heard her. The bird seemed to spot her and let out a strange cry and swooped down at her. Mila fell back, the birds talons raked her shoulder as it swooped by. She continued to scream as she clutched her shoulder. The bird flew around and started to dive again when Link tackled it out of the air, leaping off of a tree sticking out of the mountain that he had tied the grappling hook to. He slammed the bird onto the ground, pulled his shield off of his back and slammed it down onto the birds neck, cutting off it's head. Link walked over to Mila, she was pale and cold as if she was dead.

"Mila, are you okay?" Link asked. Mila didn't reply, she went silent when she noticed that the bird was dead. Link checked her wound and whistled. Quill soon appeared and noticed Mila.

"What happened?" He asked after noticing Mila's shoulder.

Link's face was serious. "She panicked and forgot to whistle when she needed help. I figured that she wouldn't be able to fight it but I didn't know she was so afraid of Helmacrocs." Link said.

Quill pulled a strange colored potion from his back and poured it directly onto Mila's wound and wiped it off, Mila only noticed the pain go away and Link. Forgetting herself, she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder, letting out frightened sobs. Quill sighed. "Link, those creatures set up nests around here and hunt at night. She'll be an easy target up here. Maybe you should stay with her." Quill said.

Link put his hand on Mila's head and spoke softly. "It's gone Mila."

Mila came to her senses after a minute and realized what she was doing. She let go of Link and shivered for a quick moment. "Sorry." She muttered, picking up her telescope and looking back in the direction of the ships. It was close now, she could clearly make out the pirates.

"Mila, maybe you should go inside. That probably wasn't the only--" Link started to say, Mila cut him off.

"Forget about it, I'll be fine. I said I'd help you, I'm not going to break that promise." She said with some sternness. Quill took flight, Link pulled out his bow and nocked an arrow. Mila looked at him. "What are you doing?" She asked.

Link took aim but didn't pull the string back. "As soon as the ship is in range I'll set it ablaze." He said. Mila then noticed a strange glow at the tip of the arrow. What was he doing? She knew not to question it though, she saw magic before and decided that Link must know a few tricks. She focused.

"Link, how far can that bow of your shoot?" She asked.

Link squinted and looked forward. "They're in my range now, but it will be best to let them get a bit closer so that they begin to launch smaller boats. I'll light the main ship on fire, with less men aboard they won't be able to put the fire out." He said. Komali landed on the balcony carrying Link's Picto Box and grappling hook.

"What's going on? I thought you were going to attack on the ground." Komali said.

Link shook his head. "No, I need to keep Mila safe from Helmacrocs. Once I'm sure that the enemy won't send any I'll leap down and fight with my sword. Until then, I'll help you and Quill sink the main ship and boats as they approach." Link said.

Komali nodded and shrugged a quiver off of his back. "Keep this handy, it's a good size one with fifty arrows. When you run completely out of arrows--" Komali was then cut off by Mila.

"He won't, I can see plainly now, he has more arrows than there are pirates by about two arrows to a pirate." She said. Komali focused his eyes, his sight was strong enough to see.

"I see. I'll tell everyone else to get ready." Komali said. He took flight, Mila focused on the pirates.

Link, without lowering his aim, then decided to ask Mila a question. "Mila, when you hugged me--" Mila cut him off before he could finish the question.

"Forget about it please." She said. Mila felt some regret in doing that herself. But there was another feeling she felt in the insane fear while she was holding onto him that she did not want to explain to anyone until she understood it herself.

Link noticed the pirates approaching and took aim. "Tell me when they've launched their small boats, I'll start shooting then." He said. Mila simply nodded.

After about twenty more minutes of waiting, Link let out a shrill whistle and then pulled back on his bowstring and fired. Watched through her telescope. About thirty pirates had gotten off of the main ship, fifty more were left and were heading for their own ship when Link's arrow hit, the arrow exploding into flame as it hit. The fire spread rapidly, Mila heard Link quickly fire another arrow, this one hit the ships sail and set it on fire. She then saw Quill and Komali in the sky, they were both carrying bombs and started to drop them. Mila was more focused on the main ship, the fire soon completely consumed it's deck, several Moglins on the ship had tried to jump overboard but drowned in the water, several burned to death. Moglins were known to be terrible swimmers, and now they were out of their element as Link's arrows set their ships ablaze, the fire or water making them die. As the main ship began to sink, Mila focused on the smaller ships. Komali and Quill were using strange bombs, they exploded when they hit the water or the Moglins or their boats. But despite the effort, she noticed a few reach the shore. She then heard a loud caw and spotted another Helmacroc. Link noticed it also and fired an arrow. This time, instead of bursting into flame, the Helmoacroc was incased in ice as the arrow hit.

Link dropped his bow and grabbed his sword and shield. "Mila, how many made it to the shore?" He asked.

Mila then heard explosions. "About ten did, but it sounds like they're not managing well." She went to the other side of the balcony and noticed seven of them charging, three were covered in burns, one was missing an arm from explosives traps. But they were still rushing. Charged into the cave, Mila watched as Link emerged from another entrance in the path of the Moglins. Mila then got an idea. She dropped the telescope and grabbed Link's bow and the quiver. Mimicking his movements, she nocked and arrow and tried to pull back on the string. The resistance was huge but she still managed to pull it back far enough for a decent shot. She released, the arrow flew through the air and drilled into a Moglin's skull. She then noticed that Link was just standing there, not moving. She drew another arrow from the quiver at her feet but waited and then noticed that the earth on the path the Moglins were charging up was disturbed. She then saw why as the Moglin in the front stepped on it, it was another bomb trap. The bombs explode, three of the Moglins were shredded, another was blown back. The last three still charged, splattered in blood and burnt. Link then rushed, his shield forward, his sword glittering in the moonlight. Link swung down, the Moglin in front of him raised it's spear to defend itself, but it was futile as the sword cut through the spears wooden handle with ease and then cleaved the Moglins skull. Link then darted forward, impaling the second Moglin on his blade in the gut. He quickly jerked his sword up and then yanked it out, the Moglin fell over clutching at blood and entrails from the brutal wound. The last Moglin swung at Link, he nimbly dodged the spear, rolled behind the Moglin, and then leapt into the air, spinning with his sword out. The Moglin's back was sliced open and it fell over, the wound deep into it's spine. Mila dropped the bow when she saw the Moglin that was blown back, it's head hand been dashed on the rocks that it was blown into, it was dead. Mila dropped Link's bow and the arrow and fell back, landing on her rear. She looked at her left hand. Although she only fired once, the string had cut into her hand and it was bloody.

Back in the cave about half an hour later, Link was wrapping the wound on Mila's hand. She bit her lip as he did. Link laughed a little. "I never would've imagined that you could fire a shot off of that bow, let alone one that would fly in such a perfect trajectory into a Moglins head." He said.

Mila didn't smile. Even though it was just a Moglin she felt some guilt about killing it herself. She didn't show it, but she felt some frustration for killing it. Komali walked into the room, he was apparently exhausted from all the flying. "Well... Link, I checked on everyone. No casualties, with your help most of the pirates were dead before they reached the shore." He said.

Link finished tying Mila's hand. "Thank her. If I tried those shots from the ground more than twice those numbers would've made it to the shore. Even if it wasn't intentional, she did help us." He said.

Mila looked at her hand and sighed. "I'm amazed that you even have your hands with the way you were firing that." She commented. Link pulled off his gauntlet and looked at his hand.

"I admit, I'm still not completely capable to use that bow discipline free." He said. Mila saw blisters on his palm from the bow.

Quill walked into the room. "Prince, we're beginning the clean-up. We've checked, there's no other approaching ship." He reported.

Komali nodded. "Link, you two can take my room. Go ahead and get some rest, you've done more than enough for today, and so did she." He said. Mila looked at her hand again. Link got up and cracked his neck.

Mila then remembered her shoulder and checked her dress. It was hanging loosely to the left where she was clawed, her breast was lightly exposed. She sighed. "Link, where did you hide your ship?" She asked.

Link then snapped his fingers. "Now I remember!" He said. He walked off for a minute. Mila thought for a moment about what that was about, but Link soon walked in with a few Rito garbs. "These should fit you fine. They're a lot more comfterable than the dress." He said.

Mila took them from him and looked. It was a dress similar to Medli's. Link also brought her a pair of boots, Mila then remembered her feet and checked her soles which surprisingly were in better shape than her hands. Link left the room and Mila quickly changed. She paused to take look at her body. Whatever Quill had done to her shoulder made the wound heal up but there was still some dry blood up her arm. She looked around and spotted a cloth and a fountain, she quickly dipped the cloth in water and wiped the blood off. She then put the dress and boots on. A minute later Link walked back in carrying two canteens and a large sack of dried meat. He paused when he saw Mila and again his face went red. Mila scowled. "If you're going to do that even when I'm dressed modestly, please just say what you think out loud." She said.

Link quickly regained his usual face and set the canteens and food on a table. "Okay, you want me to be honest?" He asked. Mila nodded, Link sighed. "Fine, I think you're pretty." He said simply. This time it was Mila's face that went red. Link sat down and opened up the sack. "C'mon, you'd be surprised how good lizard jerky is." He said. Mila sat down across from him. Unlike Link, she wasn't fast to recover from the blush.

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You'll find out what is up with Medli in the next installment. Please write a review, good, bad, or ugly, just as long as it's constructive.