"Screw you guys, I'm going home."

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[Jewel's quite tired of this

Comments

[excuseuprincess]

[There is only one possible reaction for this:]

[Bwuh.]

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[Some distance from the castle, Jewel flops down to sit on the grass of Hyrule Field. After a moment she stretches out, lying on her back.]

I know you're there...I'm not sure who's there exactly, but I know someone is, so you may as well either come and attack me or come and sit.

[excuseuprincess]

[Fair enough! Midna saunters over, drops her bundle of not!twigs firewood on the ground by the princess and sits down heavily.]

Why, Princess, how forward! Heeheehee! But really, are you new here, or did you really, honestly just walk on out of there this time?

[jewel_of_hyrule]

A bit of a twist ending to this particularly strange fairy tale, isn't it, Midna?

[Jewel turns her head to smile wryly at her friend.]

Yes, believe it or not, I just walked out of captivity. It's probably some sort of trick, but I don't even care. It feels good to be outside even just for a little while. Have I missed much? I don't even know how long I've been gone, to be honest.

[linkshaia]

[Unaware of how time has proceeded differently for the kidnapped Princess, to Kakariko, it's only midway into the fourth day since Jewel vanished. The first day, plans were made. The second day, preparations were made. Yesterday, Linksha and Harper entered the castle to try and rescue her. And today, Linksha is practically climbing the walls (as best he can, with a couple fractured ribs) trying to figure out just what the HELL went so horribly wrong yesterday.]

[So when the current lookout sounds the call that someone's approaching, Linksha goes running out, heart for a moment soaring with the hope he can now go back and retry what he so royally botched up yesterday. When he sees Jewel, he runs to her, thinking everything will be alright, now. She's still just at the village square when he starts calling for her.]

"SIIIIIIIIIS!"

[She's not bloodied or bandaged, so he tackles her -- albeit gingerly, and with much wincing -- and presses his face into the crook of her neck, eyes already going teary.]

"What--?! How?! W--" [He looks

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[For a moment, all she can do is sag against him, embracing tightly.

Then the words sink into her consciousness, and she pulls back to look Linksha in the eye.]

What do you mean, where's Harper? Isn't he here?

[linkshaia]

[... She's playing dumb, right? This is a prank they've joined forces on, isn't it?] "... That's not funny, Jewel. H-he's the one that got you out, right? ... Wasn't he?!" [He's trying not to panic, but it's not working very well. It hurts even to breathe, right now, and the fact he's close to hyperventilating makes it just this side of unbearable.]

[jewel_of_hyrule]

[Jewel shakes her head, fear clawing at her mind.]

I...escaped. I haven't seen Harper since before...before I was taken. Linksha, what are you talking about?