Chapter One: Curses and Unloving Villagers

It was cold, damp, and muddy from the earlier rains. Shinta sighed and looked up, cursing softly as it started raining again. He was really starting to hate this place but he still had some unfinished business to take care of near here. Of course if he had just listened and killed that…..thing…in the first place like he was told he wouldn't have had to come back to get rid of it. When he first came here and fought it he'd felt bad for it so instead of killing it like the shaman told him, he locked it away. Now, as a result of his stupidity the shaman had paid in blood. It was all his fault. But how could they expect a twelve year old child to kill something as it lay there helplessly looking up with sad, pathetic, pitiful eyes?

Three years earlier

Shinta had been found by the villagers of Carth. They had taken him the village shaman for directions on what to do with the child. The shaman had hailed him as the Deliverer from the evil being that'd been plaguing their village for years since the Gods War. No one knew where the creature had come from, all they knew was it fed on the villagers and any who fought it was brutally murdered and their bodies torn apart and scattered around the creature's domain. No one had even been able to close enough to see what the creature was either. They were all to scared. That's where Shinta came in. He was, so the shaman said, god-sent and would deliver them all from the creature. Only one problem. He didn't remember everything about his past. All he remembered was his name and how to fight.

That's how he ended up on the trail toward the creature's lair. Alone. Utterly and completely alone. This was not new in the weeks he'd been spending in Carth. No one wanted anything to do with him. Not even the shaman. True, the shaman might have taken the time to explain what they knew of the creature right before they sent him to fight it. But at least they could tried to befriend the lonely 12 year old. It hadn't taken him very long to reach the lair. Or very long to defeat the creature. That's when the problem arose. He just couldn't bring himself to kill it. So he locked it away in some dark corner of the universe. He never thought that with such powerful spells as what he put on the seal it would escape. But it did and it killed the shaman.

Present day

Shinta entered the tavern. He was traveling toward Carth and was still in some strange land that he really didn't care about. He just wanted out of the rain and a place to dry off. /And some dry clothes./ he thought as he looked through his pack. He sighed and went over to the barkeep. This was also the only inn for awhile. He found himself looking up at someone sitting on the floor in a daze. Shinta blinked as the big man looked down at him.

"Well well well….what have we here? A day-dreaming greenie? Why don't you go some place else…..like the stables!" he said as Shinta started to frown. He was starting to get annoyed.

"Ladies first." Shinta said brushing himself off as he stood up. "After all I don't need to knock down innocent bystanders to get my thrills." The big man's face turned a nasty beet-red color as Shinta brought up an excellent point. At this point everyone was completely silent. Even the people who had just walked in. Yep, the really familiar people we all know from the Legend of Zelda. Only it was just a few guards, Zelda, Link, Sheik, and Impa. Now as to why they were traveling was the same reason Shinta was heading for Carth. And the only reason they were even in a tavern at all was because it was also the only inn around for miles. And they had just walked in as a fought was starting to brew.

"Listen greenie—" the man started before being interrupted by the much smaller 15 year old.

"It's not very nice to call some one who knows more about weaponry than you a 'greenie'. I have a name. It's Shinta. Use it." He said still having to look up at the man.

"You need to show some proper respect for you elders 'greenie'." He said in a mocking tone. Shinta sighed. This was going to get nasty soon if something wasn't done.

"If you insist on being rude I'm going to have to do something…..that I'd rather not." Shinta said as he gave the man a warning look.

"And what could you do? Bite me?" he starting laughing as if he was the funniest things in the world. Maybe that's because he thought he was the funniest thing in the world. Shinta's amethyst eyes narrowed. Then in one swift move the man was on the ground gagging due to being hit in the throat. Hard. His gang members just first at him then at Shinta. Who gave all of them a deadly glare.

"Anyone else have problems? I'm cold and I'm tired. Now if you don't mind I'm going to my room." He started up the stairs and about halfway everyone heard a sneeze and Shinta came back down muttering something about the fact that he might be catching a cold. Shinta walked back over to the man who'd been giving him all the trouble, who was also feeling better now, and kicked him in the shins. Then he turned back around and went up the stairs.

Up in His Room:

Shinta shook his head as he started pulling all his stuf out.

"This is taking to long…." He muttered before just dumping everything out. When he had everything out of his pack he put it all near the fire to dry. Then sat down to wait for his food to be brought up. It didn't take to long. Of course the tavern was having problems with hiring people and so they didn't have enough people. So the maid who brought up his food was also showing Zelda and her people to a room. Shinta opened the door before the girl could even knock. She kinda smiled.

"I brought your food up." She said handing him the tray. Shinta nodded. "Do you need anything else?" she asked.

"Thank you. No I don't need anything." He looked behind and suddenly handed the tray back. "Hold that for a sec. I think my maps are starting to burn. Crap." He left the door open as he went over to the fire revealing he had laid all his stuff out in front of the fire to dry out. He had opened the window and put whatever was burning out the window. Where a loud sizzling was heard. He shook his head. He came back over smiling while wringing out something that looked like some strange type of material. He laid it out on the table on his way back toward them, revealing that it was a map. A very strange map of a very strange place. That's when he noticed the Hylians.

"Sorry about that. Where are you headed?" he asked kinda smiling. Zelda smiled back while the head of the guards with her glared at Shinta.

"We're headed toward a village called Carth. And you?" Zelda said.

"Really? It just so happens that I'm headed in the same direction. Same place really." Link raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you going to Carth?" Link asked. Shinta stopped smiling.

"I have…..unfinished business there. And some one to visit." He said. "Hey! Why don't you guys join me for dinner? I never really have company to talk to. What do you think?" Zelda smiled.

"I think it's a wonderful idea. Impa. Can we?" her bodyguard thought for awhile before nodding.

"Good. I think I might finally have some dry clothes. I'll meet you downstairs." Impa shook her head. "Where?"

"Our room. Much quieter."

A Few Hours Later:

Everyone was sitting around the table chatting and just having a good time. Of course they were all talking about everything other then Carth. Before Shinta decided to ask.

"So what's for you in Carth?" Shinta asked. Every one looked at him.

"We're investigating the rumor of this creature that's been feeding on the villagers." Sheik said causing Shinta to almost drop his cup. This caused most of the Hylians to look at him strange.

"Is something the matter Shinta?" Sheik asked. Shinta sat there all quiet before he took a drink. He then looked up.

"The creature you're looking for……all you need to do is follow the trail into the marsh." He took another drink. "You won't be able to convince any of the villagers to lead you, they'll be to scared. Not even the shaman will go." Zelda put a hand on his arm.

"How do you know all this?" she asked looking at him. He looked up.

"When we get to Carth I'll tell you. Good night." Was the last thing he said before he left for his room. Link looked at Impa.

"Do you think he's hiding something?" Impa shrugged. "Well. I think we should get some sleep to." Everyone nodded. And then the lights went out. Because I said so.