Emma's Quest, Part 6: Wisdom Hunter

I wonder how many people thought Kamui was a gag character?

Markerina

The Ocarina Marketplace, better known as Markerina, was always lively with jovial townsfolk, children chasing Cuccos or pups, and upbeat music. "Ex-Excuse me, ma'am…" Killua showed a woman a photo of Unzen. Killua had taken the form of a feeble old man, hair draped over his wrinkly eyes and using a cane to walk. "Have you seen my son? He ran away from home and I've been worried sick…"

"I…I haven't sorry."

"Pardon me, young lady." He stopped a girl riding a bike. "Have you seen this boy? I'm sure he's been by."

"Nuh-uh. Sorry, old man." She kept biking.

"S-Sir, wait one moment, sir." He approached a passing Bokoblin.

"Hey-hey-hey, I don't want any trouble!" The demon backed away in worry. "Not hurting anyone, see? Just bringin' home some groceries!"

"Hmmm…" Killua watched the demon leave in sympathy before turning to a Zora. "My good fish, have you seen my son? He's a bit brash, but he's a good boy… I'd like him to come home."

"Huh…honestly, I could swear I saw someone with that getup go into the local guard station."

"G-Guard station? Ahem…thank you, sonny. Have a candy." Killua handed him butterscotch. While the Zora stared at it confusedly, the elder limped his way toward the station. "Unzen… what are you…"

"Breaking news, breaking news!" A flock of pigeon Rito dumped newspapers over the citizens. "New, new, new, new!"

Killua picked one up, thrown into shock. ZOLDYCK FAMILY PARDONED! After over a decade of allegations against them, Princess Cindy has decreed it is time to forgive them! Oh, our princess is just as gracious as her mother!

"P-Pardoned?! Why all of a sudden? What could have…" Killua clenched the paper sternly. "UNZEN!"

 Princess's Resurrection 

"BWUH!" Emma woke to a splash of cold water. "Ugh…" Her wrists were cuffed to armrests and legs to the base of a chair. She was near the railing of an indoor balcony, looking from a great window at Hyrule's twilit sky. The cold was especially intense on her two face bruises.

"Rise and shine." Cindy scowled. "You've wasted enough of my time as is."

She was just as despicable as Emma had seen in the vision. The princess blocked Emma's view of the sky, eclipsing her in her shadow. "Do you know who I am?"

"The princess of Hyrule, of course. Cindy Cortix."

Cindy slapped her. "You know what I mean. Why else were you on Earth? With Perry?"

"Sigh…yeah, I know… You're my birth-mother."

"Where have you been living all this time?"

"…With people who love me."

"WHERE?!" Cindy squeezed the chest of Emma's shirt, tugging her against her cuffs. "Where is that man? His accomplices? You know…"

"She'll never tell you, you know." Kamui was on his knees at a short, Japanese table, guzzling up gallons of Sheikah ramen, plates of Hearty Salmon, and Gerudo-grown Wildberries. "She may not be powerful, but she has a strong mind, I can tell."

"When I said you could bring a snack from the kitchen, I didn't think you meant a whole buffet!"

"That battle was exciting! I get hungry when I'm excited!"

"Ugh! Well, it doesn't matter where they are now. The fact is you're back with me." Cindy tipped Emma's chin up to her. "And you, my daughter… have been interrupting my work!"

"Why? Why are you trying to kill the demons? What did they ever do to you?!"

"Oh, I have nothing against them, really." Cindy released Emma, curving her brows passively as she stroked her fingers in a 'no' fashion. "I just think they're outdated. They were a symbol of my mom's fear. The great pirate so feared that even demons bow to her. But that fear has long since aged. The demons on Hyrule are so lax and boring now. We need new terror. I will cleanse Hyrule of its demons and make the Underworld fear me. And they will fear my new officers, the Demon Slayers! And the mortals who befriended them will grow to fear me!"

"You would kill so many for such a selfish reason?! Some of those demons are actually dying, you know, parents and families!"

"Then the ones who respawn will fear me more. And why do you stand up for them, anyway?"

"Because they're people like you or me! And they just wanted to live here in peace and make friends with the Hyruleans!"

"Who's to say they all feel that way? If Ganon really DID return, they might turn against us. Especially against my feeble old mother. Well, I'm gonna seize the throne before that happens. And you, my dear, will become the heir I always wanted. Your mind may be 'strong,' but we'll see how long that lasts."

"Your Majesty." A bearded guard spoke. "I brought the boy from the call."

"Perfect. Send him."

Emma craned her head around the chair, her face struck with hurt and betrayal. A red-eyed, spike-haired Sheikah with a big zipper entered. "Unzen…"

"So, you know his name. And it's not Myouri after all." Cindy gestured the guard to leave. "Unless that's your last name. Or perhaps… it would be Zoldyck."

Unzen didn't answer for a moment, his glare fixed. "You'll leave my family alone now… right?"

"If you answer my questions first, perhaps. Over here." Unzen approached her in front of Emma. "Tell me, Emma… who is this boy?"

"He's…" Emma's cold gaze met his, "my brother."

"WITH WHO?! Who did Gon mate with, I want names!"

"Check our DNA." Unzen said. "We aren't related at all."

"Please, Unzen! You can't let her do this, you have to-"

"SHUT UP! I'm sick of spending my whole life waiting for a prophecy sister I didn't even know, expected to shower her with praise and love when she's done nothing to deserve it!" Cindy cocked a brow at his outburst. "I just wanted you to go back to where you were supposed to be so my family didn't have to live a LIE!"

"I'm sorry, Unzen…" Emma cried. "I didn't decide any of this, I'm sorry for intruding on you. But I wanted to talk this out, you don't understand what she wants! Are you just going to let her kill all the demons?! You're an operative, wouldn't the KND stop her?!"

"Dad didn't stop her… and yours didn't either. He didn't want to have you… and he shouldn't have kept you."

Emma's heart fell apart. A delighted smile stretched across Cindy. She wasn't sure of all the details, but Unzen's hatred and turbulent feelings were exhilarating. And she couldn't deny its effect on Emma. "I see… Alright then." Cindy faced the window. "That's all I wanted to know. Off you go then, Unzen." She wriggled her fingers at the exit. "Go and have a nice dinner with your family. You can go to a restaurant without worry now. Though, I would ask them not to slander me in public."

"Hm…about that, Princess. One of those boys is my cousin."

"Oh. Well, that's unfortunate. But that's not really your fault, is it? He's being punished for a different reason."

"True… then I guess I'll go." Unzen couldn't bring himself to look at Emma, his legs heavy as he dragged them out of the room. Kamui kept his beaming face on him until he managed to get out.

"Yahihihihi! That was operatic. He was profoundly dead inside."

It's not that Emma didn't understand… She had only just learned they were family. She shouldn't feel that close to them. But deep down, she could feel their love. Killua, Lexi, Kalluto, Alluka… they truly hoped to meet her. Her father wanted them to meet. But their kids were raised with that hope, even though they didn't really feel anything for it. Ray was the same as Unzen, except… Emma should've tried to find and talk to him. She didn't mean to hurt any of them… she didn't ask for this…

"You see?" Cindy's sick smile loomed down to Emma's level. "You have no one else to turn to but me. This despair you're feeling… you will poison all of Hyrule with it."

Unzen returned to the transport ship, sitting politely as the pilots lifted it for takeoff. She wasn't his family… She wasn't meant to be… He shouldn't have to treat her like anything special…

"I told my dad about Unzen yesterday," a spectacled boy whispered to his friends in the first grade classroom, "and he told me about the evil Zoldycks!"

"What's a Zoldyck?" a Kokiri girl asked. Unzen, his feet propped on the back desk, narrowed his red gaze on them.

"They're evil Sheikah who tried to revive Ganon or somethin'."

"Really?" Their short Deku friend looked over. "Unzen, are you an evil Zoldyck?"

Unzen flicked his ball and clogged the Deku's mouth. It took a few puffs before he could spit it out. "AAAH! Miss Canary, Unzen tried to choke me!" The others cowered away from him.

"Say, Rayji… ever heard of the Zoldycks?" Unzen asked his teammate.

"ZOLDYCKS?! Oh, no no no, I don't wanna hear about that! Mom's always sayin', 'Rayji, if you hear 'bout any Zoldycks in the KND, stay the frick away from them! They're Ganonists, I always knew they were!' Said she saw one of them when she was little, somethin' about eyes darker than any demon… I dunno who they are, but I don't want anythin' to do with 'em."

"Yeah, me either. I saw 'em in a book and… well, that."

…

"Dad, why do we gotta train in this dingy old cave?"

"We're feelin' the planet, sonny bro!" Killua grew his hair like a mop, acting like a surfer. "We're tastin' that sweet chi!"

"Stop talking like that! There's no one else down here, why are you acting like that?!"

"Heh, just got in the habit of joking around, sorry…"

"Why couldn't we just on Mushroom?! If we can't be who we are on Hyrule, why did I have to be born here?!"

"Because… this is our home, son."

"A home we're not even wanted in! Except by the pirates! Why can't we move?!"

"I told you… we're waiting for someone. Your sist-"

"I don't care! And what does letting all the Cuccos out have to do with it?! You're just crazy, just like…just like they say the Zoldycks are!" Unzen stormed out of the cave.

"Unzen, wait!"

He wanted nothing to do with them… He didn't want to be branded as some Ganonist. At least he did the family a favor and got them freedom. …But how long would it last? He knew just what would happen. His dad would try to save Emma… probably attack the princess… get them wanted all over again… He wouldn't be part of it. Unzen Myouri would be his own man from then on.

"YOU DID WHAT?!" He pictured his father beating him into the ground. "YOU SOLD OUT YOUR OWN SISTER, YOU BRAT!"

"SHE ISN'T MY SISTER!"

"AND YOU AREN'T MY SON!" Killua dealt one final kick. "Not anymore. I'm getting her back… and I want you out of this house now."

So, there was no point in returning. Maybe he'd ask Supreme Leader to transfer him to Mushroom or something. No, Dad had associates on Mushroom, didn't he? Well, somewhere else then. Somewhere his name and family didn't matter. But news would spread. The KND might learn about Emma, how she was connected to the Zoldycks… what he did. In time, it would come back to him. And he knew if he tried to explain his reasoning to others, they would criminalize him. Criminalize him for returning Emma to a toxic mother. Those bruises on her face were fresh. Shaped like Cindy's shoe and her hand. Not a speck of love radiating from her.

"Kkkkkhhh…" he rasped through grit, quivering teeth. None of this clicked with him before he made this deal. He was frustrated… too frustrated… so, the second an opportunity came, he took the bait. He could just see all those students, whispering about the evil Zoldyck who sold out his sister, never caring about his frustration and reasons. He finally got the family their freedom… but he couldn't enjoy it. No, even his cousin had gotten in trouble. The parents weren't gonna stand for this. Their freedom would soon be forfeit. Yes… that was what Cindy planned. "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"

…

"Nnnnn-nn-nn-nnnnn, nn-nn-nnnnnnn!" Gilda couldn't carry a note well with a gag over her mouth and her own sock inside, not to mention being completely tied to a pole in the holding room. Her friends were no better off, except for being ungagged, save for Ayshe. No telling what a barbarian warrior could do with her teeth. The ship medics twisted Don's ankle back into place and put it in a cast.

"Boy, chi-blocks, Chu Ropes, how much do we need for superhuman kids?" a guard asked, he and his friend watching them outside the windowed door.

"I doubt this is enough. But don't feel bad, at least we gave them first-aid."

"Yeah, but that boy with the glasses…" Perry was glaring at him. "Is he really the next hero?"

"He does look like Cheren. And I saw Durn put the Sacred Treasures in the Weapons Storage."

"The real ones, seriously?!"

"Hush!"

"Hhhmmp…" Gilda could only keep a sock in her mouth for so long before the taste started to sink in. Tears started to dampen her askew glasses. The fear she felt from that laboratory returned… She was going to die here. That's where her mind was going.

"-shoulda been me…"

Gilda glanced over, hearing Don mumble. His head hung down at his broken foot. "Dnn?"

"When Mr. Killua threatened us… I wanted Emma to save you and not me. I'm just…I'm no good to anyone. I try to train, but I feel like it doesn't get anywhere. I haven't been any help at all!"

"Nnn-nnn!" Gilda shook her head, eyes curved angrily. "(Don, don't say stuff like that! I couldn't bear the thought of sacrificing you, neither would Emma! You've always been a help, not just in work, but being there for us! We want you to keep being there! I want you to!)

"Mmm-nn-nn-nnnnnnn!"

"Heheh…you're saying something comforting, right, Gilda? Please don't. You might choke. Sorry for making you…"

"Why don't you suck it in yourself?!" Ray shouted, the others facing him with a flinch. "You got beat up. Your leg's broken. Deal with it. Why don't you think about getting out of here instead?"

"Not much for comfort, are ya?" Perry asked.

"Huh. But if you're a Supreme Leader, shouldn't your whole KND being swarming this ship by now?"

"Sector V's treehouse has outside security cameras. I'm sure they'll figure out I was kidnapped, but it'll take a while before they find out where I am! And what about the Marzipan Pirates, Emma said you worked with them."

"We were acting independently on this quest." Don answered. "Our ship was left at the beach, so… they might figure out we went missing…"

"Case and point, we're on our own." Ray stated. "More importantly, Emma and Nezuko are on their own! So, brainstorm."

"Would be easier without guards at our necks." Perry noted. "Ugh." He struggled. "Chu Rope? What's that even mean?"

"It's embedded with Chu Jelly." Ray answered. "Blob creatures. The stickiness helps reinforce the rope. And the rope's skin itself is too thick to bite through."

"How could jelly betray me?" The leader cried. "Sigh…" All they could do is wait for the guards to leave or nod off before they tried something.

…

"HHHHEEEEE!" Nezuko was pinned down to a chair of her own, metallic needles piercing the vampire's fingers to the armrests. Her bamboo muzzle was tied against her mouth.

"Please forgive me." Shinobu said, her hip bandaged. "I'm sure you're a kind soul. But demons can't be trusted to live amongst mortals. There's no telling when darkness will corrupt them… and it will all go wrong."

"Tch…this ain't how I wanted to exterminate 'em though." Ashera said, a wrap over her arm stub. "I wanted to give 'em all warrior's deaths."

"How long until this machine is ready?"

"Hopefully within the hour." replied a short Sheikah mechanic. "We use this device to harness chi from Nature Crystals and blast the elements from the ship's cannons. I just need to calibrate it to work with this vampire's chi. Keep her restrained until then!"

"HEEEEEHHHOOOOO!" Nezuko's peach eyes burned with a lush fury.

"Please calm down." Shinobu tipped her sword to her. "You developed that fire to be able to protect mortals from demons. That's just what you'll do."

…

"We'll be at Hyrule Castle soon, Emma." Cindy tugged the child's head up by her hair, making her face the dim horizon. "You'll be where you belong… just what Unzen wanted."

"…What's your mother gonna think about this…" Emma muttered.

"I'm sorry? Mother's opinion matters? Newsflash, dear, but sometimes, the only way to achieve independence is to cut all the strings holding you."

"What?"

"Down in our hull, there's a bomb. Using materials from the supervillain Kodama's patented Star Kodama, along with Light Kegs from Flemingland in the Underworld. We'll lure Mom out, and the second she appears, we fire the Doomsday Star! The intense Light Chi will petrify her Logia Fear body, and then Kamui will swoop in for the kill! Even if her Logia doesn't solidify, you at least have a dab of Haki you can use, right?"

"Only a dab, but I needn't need much." Kamui assured. "Besides, we have those Light Arrows stored away as well. You could use those in a pinch, right? As Zelda's heir."

"Peh. Touching them seared me." Cindy waved her hand. "Why'd you even bring those treasures onboard? They were a hindrance to you."

"But they're Hyrule's legendary treasures. Won't they love seeing the new Hero of Time arrive to signify the new regime? They'd love you even more, Your Grace."

"True… or perhaps I could subjugate Perry to my fear as well. That would be better to spread despair."

"You CAN'T abuse your own nephew like that!" Emma yelled. "And why would you do that to your own mother?!"

"My cousins and all their friends rose to heights beyond their parents, and now it's my turn! I will show her my power and banish her to the Underworld, along with the demons who revere her! I intend the blast to exterminate all the demons in town… but don't worry, it won't hurt the mortal civilians. …Although it might cause blindness or nearsightedness." Cindy stroked her chin in realization. "Eh, they'll just learn Haki and get over it."

"AAAAAAAAGH!" Emma hardened her arms and legs, desperate to rise and pry the cuffs off—Cindy punched her in the nose and ceased the attempt. "And one day," Cindy resumed, "you may do the same to me. When that time comes, I'll know I'll have bred my perfect daughter."

"I… am not… your daughter…" Emma spat blood. "You're…you're such… a sad person…"

"Yes. Sadness… hatred… hopelessness… This is how children grow." Cindy faced up at the helm. "Helmsman Pokey, how long until we reach town?"

The helmsman was a portly boy with a pig nose and blonde hair covering his eyes. "About 49 minutes, 28 seconds ma'am!" he replied in a swine voice.

"Why's he driving the ship?" Kamui asked.

"Kid applied for the helmsman position and he proved good at it."

"Man, drivin' a princess's personal flagship! Suck it, Ness and Loser-cas! Spankety-spankety-spankety!" Pokey sneered.

"Now I hope those two can make it back without much trouble." Cindy thought of the remaining two Demon Slayers.

Oocca City

"HAHAHAHAHA!" The bird-folk fled the coop as Garcia's Boner gun blasted through all the cloud-made walls of the prison. "You thought you pollos could hold me?! But I ALWAYS keep an extra bottle down there! WOOOOOO!" He shot up a giant fan and ran for the gap in the wall beyond it. As he took a leap of faith into the sky, "HONEY, I'M HOOOOOOME!"

He landed smack in the seat of an aircraft with boney designs. A thin woman with short blonde hair and a white top steered it away from the city. "This is why you're the only chick for me, Paula."

"Wow, marvelous one-liner, 10 out of 10." Johnny remarked. "And quite ironic, you escaped a flock of mutant chicks to return to a monstrous chick of your own. I'm out of breath, G."

"You'll be out of breath if you don't zip it~" Paula threatened the staff with a knife. "We have to get back to the princess's ship. She says it's time for her master plan."

"Before we got captured," Johnny began, "G sure made me the master—BOOOW!" Garcia shoved him under the seat.

"This is why they had to cut our screen-time, Johnny!"

Great Plateau

Snow blanketed the plateau as the Flare Dancers posed frozen. A wave of azure flames scorched the snow away, but Silver Fullbuster cut through it with a freezing sword. An old woman with black armor and greying-black hair slashed a great flame sword, Silver suffering a burn in his attempt to freeze the fire. He then unleashed a cluster of spikes at the woman. While she combusted with fire to melt it, a 12-year girl jumped him from behind, kicking Silver with a burning foot. Silver slid away from her on an Ice Trail, pursued by Azula with rocket skis. "Run all you like, but I'll catch you!" She threw a storm of Fire Daggers at Silver. "And I'll make you tell me where your cohorts are!"

"You're better than I expected, Blue Demolisher." Silver praised. She feeds off those demons' fire to power herself, just like how I developed my ice. I have to make sure they stay frozen.

"You should've expected more. I may be getting there in age, but I'm still Azula, dammit!" She mustered large flames in her hands and fired skyward, exploding and raining around like meteors. Her daughter, Uza leapt to kick some of the flames down to Silver. He released a cold wave into the air to nullify as much of them as he could, afterwards firing an Ice Beam to counter Azula's flames. If he could just freeze these two, he could hurry to return to the princess's ship. It was bound to arrive at the capital soon, so he couldn't let these ladies get in the way.

 Princess's Resurrection 

The prison guards were beginning to bob their heads sleepily. "Good, they're sleepy." Perry whispered. "You makin' any progress there, Ayshe?"

"Progress with what?" Ray looked. He then realized the middle of her tape gag was bent inward. She'd been grinding it with her teeth, and with one last strong gape of her mouth, it ripped.

"Beh! Finally. Now if I could just…" she bent her head down, touching the rope with her teeth, "bite this…"

"The rope may be squishy, but it's too strong to chew through."

"I may not be a true Zonai, but they trained my jaws to their level. Gyuh, gyuh, guuuuh…" She caught the rope in the incline of her chin and barely managed to bend it up enough to bring it in her teeth. "Grrr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr-rr!" Ayshe rapidly grinded her teeth left and right. Their eyes were hopeful as they noticed tearing flakes in the rope.

"Remember to visit a dentist afterward." Perry suggested.

"Getting out of here will be a miracle in itself." Ray said. "But we won't be able to save the others without getting in a fight. We should look for food and replenish our energy. We know there's a Weapon Storage, too. We need to save them and do our best to escape."

"I don't think we should escape. I feel like Aunt Cindy is planning something and we need to stop it."

"But the Demon Slayers will be on this thing, too, for all we know." Don replied. "We could barely handle any one of them, let alone all!"

"But you fought those other Slayers before, right? You should know how they work then."

"That doesn't mean we can beat 'em!"

"Oh, Ah c'n t'ke th't two-s'ord lady f' sure." Ayshe muttered. "Nnnnn…aaaahhh!" Jelly began to seep from the rope as she gave a good tug and ripped it. "Perfect. Now the next one…" Her head whipped down to catch the next rope, resuming.

"Hnnnn…" Gilda thought about that Shinobu lady's bug-controlling gas. She also thought back to Ray's remark about stepping on bugs. She wondered… how many bugs did she squish in her life? How many did her friends squish? How many bugs died in this area of Hyrule? Were their souls… lingering around her now?

"Besides, I got a good idea how that red-haired guy fights, too." Perry said determinedly. "If I can't beat someone like him, I couldn't call myself Supreme Leader… or Hero of Time."

"How naïve." Ray smirked. "I almost think you could."

On the bridge, Kamui wasn't sure if Emma was asleep with her eyes half-open or if all the joy had left her entirely. "Hmmmm…family reunions are the worst, aren't they?" He tipped his umbrella to her neck. "Want me to just put you out of your misery, dear? You brought your family nothing but trouble. You're about to watch a bunch of demons die… and Hyrule will know you as the daughter of the monster who did it. When you become princess, no one will revere you. Only fear. But that isn't how you want to live, right? At least in death, you will be free and happy. Everyone can remember you with pity."

"…"

"Well, I don't like to kill women, as I said." Kamui propped the weapon back over his shoulder, showing his back to Emma. "That's what makes this job very grueling. Still, seeing you sink to the level you are now should be just as acceptable. And besides… I'm almost considering a change in profession. Your mother is… quite the fascinating woman."

"She might never get interested in adventuring or hunting. Or even become a KND operative. She might never discover that map or the Triforce pieces. Worst case, Cindy will find her… and turn Emma into the monster she wants her to be. But for now, I trust Mito to protect her. If she's really meant to hold that Triforce, fate will bring her to them. I just…I hope she'll be happy."

She wasn't happy at all. She never should've embarked on this treasure hunt. Why didn't Gon just write her a letter about this terrible truth? Just warn her to stay away from Cindy and this awful fate. Finding the Triforce, meeting the Zoldycks… it all led her back to Cindy's clutches. No, that's not what Dad wanted at all. The Zoldycks are your family, not her. They wanted to meet you. Not all of them. What was Emma expected to do with the Triforce? Did the Zoldycks expect her to fix their situation? To reclaim Hyrule's throne and spread peace? They didn't have anything like that in mind. They could've gone their whole lives without meeting you. Only hoping you were happy and doing what you loved.

"Then why did Dad leave these clues at all? What did they want? Why couldn't the Zoldycks just leave Hyrule and live happily somewhere else? They had as many heavy hopes for me as Cindy does!"

"You know that's not true."

Emma looked up. Who was talking to her? What was this voice in her head? …A plane of darkness and a golden sea of light. Her boots sloshed in the shallow liquid. A golden-haired beauty smiled kindly at her from afar. "You're… Zelda."

"Yes! Well, a Zelda. There are many of us, but we're all connected by the Triforce. And most of us thought we were bound by a forced fate. Destiny is confusing and frustrating. And you were not raised like most of us. I cannot say for certain what your fathers had in mind for you, but I do know… the Triforce chose you. It only chooses those of us with a strong mind and sound heart. Those who know to do what's right. And you know that your parents, family, and friends truly love you, no matter what you choose. They may not have wanted Hyrule's fate on your shoulders. But you know that you're a strong and kind person…"

Emma glanced at her reflection… it turned into Gon, whose eyes wept in pride. She looked up, and Zelda was suddenly closer, her eyes full of compassion. "You know you cannot allow this misjustice to proceed. You know you've got to stop her. Even if they didn't want you to be Hyrule's hope… you want to be that hope for them."

"Why would I want that?! It's…It's too much!"

"Because you love your family… as you love the peoples of Hyrule and the universe. It's a feeling inside you… not because of the Triforce or reincarnation, but because you love this world from the depths of your heart. I believe… that's all your father wanted you to learn." (Play "Ocarina of Time Medley" from Smash Brawl.)

She was right. No matter what her parents expected of her, no matter how her brother felt… Emma knew Cindy couldn't have her way. That's all that mattered. If she could just break free of these cuffs… muster her Haki… she would put an end to Cindy's plot right then.

"Well, Kamui? Any developments?" Cindy returned, munching a pie.

"No. She's quiet as…oh?" Kamui picked up a glimmer of resolve in Emma's irises. But more than that… her hand begun to glow. "Princess! Look at this!"

Cindy hurried over. Her eyes shot wide. "It can't be! You… Why do YOU have the Triforce?! The Triforce never appeared for me! Have you had this all along?! SPEAK!" Cindy kicked her. Emma hacked, her fierce glare meeting her mother's. "Gonna play the quiet game?! Well, know what I think? You're unworthy of the Triforce! I'll cut your hand open and pry that thing right-"

"AAAAHHH!" Porky screamed. "INCOMIIIIIING!"

Cindy and Kamui whipped around. One of their ships was zooming straight for the bridge. "SPANKETY-SPANKETY," Porky jumped out of the seat and down to the lower level, "SPAAAAAANK!" The ship crashed dead into the helm, causing the craft to wobble and steer uncontrollably. "Waaaaaah!" Porky cried on the floor. "I scraped my knee! Mommyyyyyyyy!"

Irritated by his whining, Kamui focused his glare on the boy responsible, leaping down from the wreckage. Hope sparked in Emma's tearing eyes. "Unzen… you came back."

Unzen's gaze was still dead and cold. He still didn't like her… and blamed Emma for brainwashing his conscience. "This could only have gone two ways." Cindy hissed. "Either you would tell your family what you did and they would try to attack me, giving me incentive to arrest and peg them as traitorous criminals again… or you would hide from your family out of shame and never be seen again. But what would possess you… to throw away the freedom you were desperate to gain?"

Her Scare Stare focused firmly on the Sheikah, and he was responding to it clearly… and yet, his fear boiled up with a different reaction. "I hate my other father for getting us in trouble… I hate Emma for being the special sister I was supposed to love and cherish. But most of all… I hate you for screwing up our lives in the first place. All I want to do… is tear up the bitch responsible for all this!" Unzen hurdled his Super Ball, but Kamui dashed to block it with his umbrella. Unzen threw the ball down as it ricocheted around the bridge rampantly, aimed for Cindy's head, but Kamui whipped out a shield to bounce the ball back along its trajectory, surprising Unzen as it hit his jaw.

"Now now." Kamui twirled the Mirror Shield on his finger. "Kids shouldn't play ball indoors." Unzen growled and dashed for the Yato, but just as Kamui swung at him, "SHAVE!" Unzen zipped to his right and kicked Kamui in the jaw.

The prisoners gasped as alarms started blaring. "Uh-oh! We set off an alarm?!" Don wondered.

"No, the ship's rocking!" Ray said. "Someone's attacking it! We have to take advantage of this!"

"W-What's happening?!" The guards started awake.

"HEY!" The other looked inside the cell. "THAT ONE'S ESCAPING!" He quickly unlocked the door, seeing Ayshe squirming to pry her right arm from the loosened rope. "STOP!" He stretched a halberd. "STAY PUT OR ELSE!"

Ayshe yanked her arm free and swiftly yanked the soldier over by his axe. "OOOAAAAG!" She grabbed his face and squeezed it as blood seeped out.

"Undo our ropes or he'll know what it's like to be jelly!" She threatened the other guard.

"Eeeeek!" Fearing for his friend's life, the soldier went to untie Ray first. The Zoldyck would wait no longer to kick both soldiers senseless. He pulled off Gilda's gag next, the girl spitting her sock out. Ray untied Ayshe, who helped untie the others. Ayshe offered to carry Don as they rushed out of the prison. "Let's rob the lunch room first, then get some weapons! The attack should have the other guards in disarray!"

"Hey, Don!" Gilda began. "What I was trying to say is, no matter how strong you are, you're always helping by just being there with us! I don't ever want you to say something like that again, because I want you with us always!"

"Thanks, Gilda… I'll try not to let you down, promise!"

The alarm drew Shinobu and Ashera into alert. "What's happening out there?!" the former asked.

"I'll go check it out!" Ashera raced off.

The kids KO'ed guards up the hall as Perry took one of their swords to make the job easier. Most of them were rushing to the bridge, giving them more leeway to work. Fortunately, the Weapon Storage was on the way to the lunch room, convenient for hanging their gear up while they ate. "Sweet, here's my stuff!" Perry reclaimed his Gilded Sword, bow and Light Arrows, Hookshot, and sheathed Master Sword.

"Why would that guy bring those onboard?" Ray wondered.

"Maybe Aunt Cindy wanted them for something. Hey, where's my shield?!"

"Hey, Fire Arrows!" Don grabbed the quiver and bow as well. "At least I can still use my arms."

"Yeah." Ayshe took some steel daggers.

The team raided the lunch room afterward and grabbed a quick bite. They saved some for Emma and bloody raw meat for Nezuko. "Alright, intruders," Ashera broke in, "I know you're in there! Huh?" She seemed surprised to find the group. "Hey, they were in here!"

Ayshe passed Don to Ray and immediately pounced the woman into the hallway. Ashera kicked her off, grabbing her sword to twirl and counter Ayshe's swift swings. "You're missing an arm?"

"Don't show any pity for me! Let's do this, sister!"

"'Guess we'll leave her to it." Ray figured. "You're pretty heavy, you know."

"You should eat more." Don remarked.

"Hey, lady, where's your friend at, the bug girl?"

"Shinobu? She's in the lower floor, down the stairs up the hall and two doors down."

"Let's go!" Ray led the group. "I bet she's guarding Nezuko!"

"What?!" Ashera realized her mistake. "DANG IT!"

"You guys take care of that!" Perry ordered, taking a different route. "I saw the guards run this way! I'm willing to bet Emma's up here! And whoever's attacking."

"I just hope they're allies." Gilda said. "Good luck, Perry! Please save her!"

The lower level was filled with camouflaged Sheikah, but Ray swiftly maneuvered to punch and reveal their positions. Don was set on the floor as he tried to shoot the Sheikah with arrows, and Gilda could sing for Flame Spirits to fly from the arrows and do extra damage. The skirmish lasted about two minutes before they hurried into the indicated room. Nezuko was being hooked to an energy machine. "THERE SHE IS!" Gilda exclaimed, Don already shooting arrows at the machine. Ray rushed to engage Shinobu, dodging her swings and waiting for openings to strike her face.

"I had a feeling you'd escape!" Shinobu said, slicing open her bug cages and using her gas to guide their direction.

"Cree-nee-nee-nee-nee! Cree lee lee, LEE lee leeeeee!" Gilda sung at a higher pitch.

"Gilda, that isn't your song." Don said. "Did that sock hurt your lungs or something?"

"That tone sounds like… insects chirping!" Shinobu gasped.

Ghostly insects materialized out of the air and intercepted Shinobu's swarm. Some phased through to bite and sting the swordswoman, phasing through her clothes as she angrily tried to poison them. Worse was that Ray's Lightning Kicks were zapping some of the bugs out of the air, even during his fight with the Sheikah mechanic. It actually reminded Ray of a story his mom told him, something about her and Dad riding a flock of giant fireflies. "That's all I needed!" Ray stole the mechanic's wrench after clocking him and ripped the nails pinning Nezuko's fingers out. "Here, Nezuko, eat this!" Ray fed her the hunk of bloody meat to replenish her strength.

"HUUURR!" Nezuko quickly leapt to the room's exit. "Everyone else safe? What we do now?"

"Could you take Don and cover the rest of the ship?" Gilda answered.

"You don't want me here?" Don asked, feeling hurt.

"Those other two Slayers could be on the ship somewhere. I know that talking skull guy was imprisoned by the Oocca, but you never know. I'll always want you here with us, Don, and right now that means making things easier for Emma."

"Heh, right." Don smiled, embarrassed of his own insecurity. "Call if you need me!"

"Uh-huh!" Gilda thumbed up. Nezuko lifted Don on her back and raced off.

Silver Fullbuster tried to freeze most of his burns to mitigate the pain, but even Azula's skin developed scars with how much she was burning off the frostbite. The demolisher began to channel a bolt of lightning, and as he prepared to avoid it, he heard crawling in the snow. He stomped the ground and channeled a freezing wave to freeze Uza solid. "Don't!" He leapt and bent the snow off, revealing her frozen state.

"GRRR!" Azula halted the lightning.

"I don't wish harm on either of you. And that's why I hope you'll save her." He sent Uza flying across the plateau at great speed along a constant Ice Trail. Azula growled and boosted after Uza. Silver, seeing Cindy's flagship nearing the capital, surfed his own trail to reach it. Simultaneously, Garcia's craft was nearing it from the other side.

Castle Town

"Mommy, let's go to the playground next!" Gia pled, already running ahead with Lizu.

"Sweetheart, it's getting late, aren't you tired?"

"No tired!" Lizu jumped. "Let's go playground!"

"YAAAAY!" Both kids pressed ahead. They passed by Fyer and Iza, whom were on leave from Watertop Land after the deaths of their friends and coworkers. They smiled at the wholesome children, though it also hurt them, thinking of their friends.

"Yaaaaarrrr!" The Bokoblin and Lurelin children sailed above town on their Octo Balloon raft. "The sky pirates are takin' all yer booty!"

"'ey, look, me hearties!" a Bokoblin pointed. "That be Princess Cindy's ship!"

"Headin' straight for us, eh? We'll get all her loot, AHAR!"

The ship

Unzen knocked Kamui's shield arm off-kilter and slashed metal strings from between his fingers. The strings barely cut through Kamui's skin before he clutched his umbrella in his teeth and used the free hand to grab the strings. He swung Unzen upward and slammed him on the floor, but Unzen chucked a ball with Cinderella's slipper depicted. Targeted at Kamui's feet, the Yato jumped, just slightly feeling the blast as it exploded. His whole act of rebellion continued to anger Cindy. Her fearbending was supposed to make people scared to oppose her, yet it was heightening Unzen's resolve to hurt her! She should've known… fear drives people to hurt those they despise.

Kamui shot bullets at Unzen, the boy Shaving to evade. In the smoke, Kamui tried to ambush Unzen from the left, but the Zoldyck reacted with a Finger Pistol to his gut. "That Rokushiki's too many steps under Oathbreaker's." Kamui bashed Unzen's head and sent him sliding against the wall. The Yato approached the Sheikah with a smirk. It would be a shame to finish such a promising young lad.

"Kamui, look out!" Cindy yelped.

Perry lunged at Kamui with a jump strike, but was sadly deterred by his own Mirror Shield. "YOU took it!" He back-flipped from Kamui's swings and surprised him with an arrow, which he prompted blocked with the shield. Unzen bounced another Super Ball once more, Kamui hearing it and raising the shield to block it. However, the ball's trajectory was deceptive. It slipped past the shield, hit the floor, and shot up to suddenly fling Kamui's shield arm upward. Perry sniped it with an arrow, flinging the shield out as it slid toward the wall. Unzen Shaved to grab it, throwing the shield like a Frisbee to bounce off Emma's chair and return to Perry's hand. "Heheh!" Perry smirked. "When Emma said you were her brother, I thought you'd be nearby!"

"Hmph." Unzen huffed.

"This is why we never came to any gatherings!" Cindy snapped at her nephew.

"First comes… rock…" The princess glanced down, hearing Emma's mumbling. "Rock…Paper…" The Triforce was highlighted well against her black, hardened hand. An orange-gold aura burned around it. Cindy hadn't realized she'd been mustering her chi all this time. "ROCK!!"

Emma tore free of her constraints before Cindy could blink, and her daughter's fist smashed the dead center of her face. The dumbstruck heiress reeled backwards and off the railing, colliding with the bottom level of the bridge. "Cindy…" Emma stood proudly on the ledge, Cindy facing up at the sun-haired girl in seething anger. "It ends now."

"Emma, catch!" Perry threw her a bag of food. "Eat up before you fight!"

"Thanks, Pear! Thank you for the meal!" She savored the food quickly. "And… Unzen…" Her expression fell slightly at him. "What you said… really hurt me. I hope we can talk about this calmly… after we win."

"…yeah…"

Emma jumped down to Cindy's level. "Go help her, Unzen." Perry ordered.

"What?!"

"I don't know what happened between you, but I think you should help her. And I bet you want to punch out Aunt Cindy, right? Besides, I forgot to give Emma these." Perry tossed a quiver of Light Arrows.

Unzen caught them. "You want me to leave you with this creep?"

"Him?" Perry met Kamui's bewildered frown. "Yeah, I can take him. I got a good idea how he works now."

"Yahi…" Kamui chortled.

"You're as dumb as you were back then." Unzen scoffed. "Fine. Your funeral." He jumped down after Emma. Left alone with Kamui, Perry stood against the Yato with renewed faith and courage. …The sword on his back wriggled.