Fight of the Champions

Chapter Two - Zariah

There was a moment of shocked silence. And then she cried. There had been a strange voice, and then the sky turned black, and then there was blue and then her parents were gone?! What was going on?! Were they really— gone?! For good?! Hot tears streaked across her cheeks as she sprinted towards the spot where they last stood. They were gone! Not only were her parents gone, but the floor and the thrones that used to be there were gone. She didn't know what to do. She cried.

Over the uproar of all of the people, she could hear a few footsteps approaching her and turned to see a strange looking man with bright red hair and dark skin, a Gerudo. He was staring at the spot her parents had just stood, but then he looked at Zariah. He got to his knees and joined her on the floor. He didn't do anything, just sat there next to her as she continued crying.

Suddenly behind her, she heard someone call out for attention. The man next to her got to his feet and then held out a hand to help her. She took it and wiped away her tears.

It was a Royal Guard, dressed in the traditional uniform, Zariah had seen him a lot with her mama. What was he doing?

"In sight of recent events, festivities are concluded and the castle will be closed to visitors until further notice," the guard bore a grim expression as he said this, bowed respectfully and left to go join the rest of the castle folk. There was something familiar about his voice.

The people who had come for the celebration seemed to be in uproar. No one wanted to go. Who would want to go when there was such a problem at hand.

Another Gerudo woman gave a look to the man next to her. Then he got down on his knees and faced Zariah.

"What's your name?" he asked, an urgent look on his face.

Zariah was nervous. She didn't know this man, but she decided to trust him anyway, there was just something about him, "Zariah,"

The man smiled, "My name's Aadil. I live far out in the desert. If you ever need any help or support, come and find me," he looked at where the Royal Guard stood, "I don't trust what's going on here, and I don't think that this castle is safe for a little girl like you. Although," he looked around at the other people now leaving the castle, "I'm sure that all of these people are good people, and they would be willing to help as well. Just— take care of yourself," he smiled once again and got to his feet.

"Goodbye," Zariah said softly, hoping that he wasn't right about what he said.

"Goodbye Zariah, I pray that you stay safe," Aadil bowed his head slightly and walked away.

She stood there quietly, hugging herself, watching as everyone left. A bunch of people looked over her with sympathy, but no one offered their assistance like Aadil did. Finally, the last person left the Castle and the doors were closed. Zariah took one last glance at where her parents last stood, and walked away with tears once again over her face.

Over the week that past, Zariah was struck at how strange it felt. There was no more getting up in the morning and having snacks with her papa, no more learning about legends with her mama, no more people snapping at her for wearing her favorite green tunics, no more playing with her papa, no more laughing around with her mama, they were gone. There would be no more anything with them.

She was crying a lot over the week that past. How could she not? How could anyone expect anything less from her? She had lost her beloved parents. It was sudden, she could never have seen it coming, there was nothing that could've prepared her.

Bahuma, the strange Royal Guard, had taken control of the Castle affairs. Just the day to day things, nothing too important. And yet there was always something about him, some sort of bad feeling Zariah got whenever she was around him. She felt like she couldn't trust him, at all.