Chapter One – Welcome to Hyrule
Kiru sighed in horror as she stepped out into her new surroundings alongside her new mentor. From what her father had described of Hyrule in legends it was a beautiful place, but now it wasn't at all and looked more like a barren wasteland than anything else. She sighed in disgust until she realized that her new mentor was sighing and looking around like he'd seen it back when it was beautiful.
"Nostalgic?" Kiru asked, and Link nodded. She took the time to look him over thoroughly as he looked around himself in the sunlight. "You're the man named Link, from all those legends and stories that my dad used to tell us, aren't you?" He smiled softly and treated her to another nod.
He was wearing a green tunic, with a belt that had many holsters. He wielded a large shield, the Hylian shield, and she figured she may as well copy his garb if she was going to get through these fabled temples in one piece without dying. She'd need her wand holster instead of a sword, or perhaps instead of a bunch of bombs and some of his other weapons she noticed that he stored underneath the shield. She also noticed that there were seven talismans that he needed to collect as well.
"So, what do we do now?" Eileen asked, confused. Link looked at her, staring with his ocean blue eyes that could have sworn that he was looking at her like she was some sort of idiot.
"Well, right now we need to get you guys to the Temple of Time," Link said calmly. "Kiru, do you remember Epona's song?"
"Yeah, there's a lot of songs my mom had me memorize, even though some of them wouldn't work in my world," Kiru nodded.
"Good. I've got a friend who can explain that further later once we get there. Right now we need to get going before it gets dark," Link said cordially. "Let's go. Be careful, we're going to be passing some re-dead. Your world would call them 'zombies' or 'Inferi'."
"Oh," Kiru gulped. She'd run into Inferi only once, and had hated it with a passion. "How do we get rid of them?"
"Sunlight," he said simply, "Sun's song. Then we hack at them until there's no tomorrow. Not for them, anyways. Moving on; come on, let's go!"
"Alright," they huffed as they headed into the market place, only to gasp in horror at the sight.
It looked eerily like a graveyard, and was completely empty except for numerous run-down and abandoned shops. They were the only living creatures, and there were seven re-dead scattered on each half of the marketplace, which was split in half by a slightly lighter cobblestone that was just as faded as the rest, with a destroyed fountain in the exact center. It broke Eileen's heart, and she wiped tears away.
"This will be what your world will look like if He-Who-Must-Remain-Nameless continues on his rampage," Link explained. "Gannondorf has run rampant in Hyrule, and I'll be damned if he teams up with Nameless from your world to create the ultimate chaos. Only the master sword can defeat Gannondorf, which I wield. Unfortunately, I need all seven sages from my world as well. I've got one temple left to go to – the Spirit Temple – and I'll need to go back in time to do that. I'll be gone, obviously, and I need you two to keep going without me. Eileen will need to stay with my guide and act as spokesperson to get to you, Kiru."
"Yes, Link," Kiru whispered. "Will that be where you're going while I'm at the Temple of Time?"
"Yes, that's where I'll be going. Be careful – there's a second sword, or rather, a special wand. It acts like a second master sword, but the wand is held in the sword's hilt," Link explained. "It's passed down in the Chamber of Sages, I think. I'm not sure. You'll have to ask Sheik when we get there."
"Um, Link, can I explore first? I'd kind of like to get to know my surroundings first so I can know where to run around to and from," Kiru said hesitantly.
"How very Slytherin," he smiled, "Of course, how foolish of me. It took me days to figure out how to get across the entirety of Hyrule field and its surrounding areas."
"Can you show us in the exact order that you began exploring around in?" Kiru asked excitedly, and Link laughed.
"No, I'm afraid I can't. I'll need to go in accordance to my map. We'll start at Kokiri, go to the edge of the Gerudo Fortress – I wouldn't go in there if I were you unless you want to get thrown in jail. Then we'll head to Lake Hylia by taking a trip down the river that runs on the edge of the Gerudo territory. From there… well, I'll tell you when we get to that point," Link shrugged. "Now, where did I say we were going first? Ah, yes, Kokiri forest. I can only take you to the edge, I'm afraid, since they don't believe that they grow up."
Link led them onwards, right past Lon Lon Ranch, whose gates were open as of yet. He raced onwards, killing all sorts of tiny skeletons that were getting in his way. He stopped as he waited for the two witches to catch up to them, noticing that they were tripping over their witch's robes they were running so fast to try to keep up with him. He sighed, taking note that they desperately needed a change of wardrobe, and shaking his head at their clumsiness. Dawn came and went, and soon the trio was running across the field in the summer heat. Link raced onwards as they finally caught up to him, and led them straight to the three trees that he'd passed the first time he'd left Kokiri Woods.
"So, this is the entrance to Kokiri Woods?" Kiru gasped breathlessly, and Link nodded.
"I know I said I couldn't take you in, but you two desperately need a change of wardrobe. I'll try to get you some tunics, it'll help you out in the long run, I promise," Link said holding his hands up. "In the meantime, I need you two to stay here. I know it's almost dark, but the skeletons won't come across these three trees, I promise. Trust me, that was one of the first things I did was check my enemies' boundaries with Navi. Wait here."
"Easy for him to say," Kiru frowned. "I wonder who the first person will be for the first Talisman and what kinds of tests I'll have to go through to get him or her to trust me."
"You'll do fine, I'm sure," Eileen soothed. "It's our dads I'm worried about. Yours is a slave to mine, and I hate it – he could get killed at any time! For all we know, Harry is leaving Privet Drive right now."
"I think we should wear different colors that don't reflect Slytherin house when we go before the Wizengamot," Kiru said thoughtfully. "I should sport Gryffindor Colors because I'm wielding the Triforce of Courage. I think you should wear blue to represent Ravenclaw, you know, so that they think that we have bonds between the houses before we even started this quest."
"Good idea," Eileen nodded. "And that way, if there are more Slytherin members than anyone else, we don't put them off as a horde of Slytherin with a few other houses mixed in!"
"I miss Draco," Kiru whined. "I hope he's okay."
"I'm sure he's fine," Eileen soothed. "Why on earth would you be worrying about him, anyways?"
"I love him!" Kiru blurted out without thinking, and Eileen grinned like the Cheshire Cat. "Don't you dare tell anyone I said that, do you hear me?"
"Oh, come on! Your patronus makes it painstakingly obvious who you love!" Eileen protested but shut her mouth with another glare from her cousin. "Fine. But, can you keep a secret?"
"It seems only fair," Kiru shrugged. "What's up?"
"I – I think I – I think I love – I think I'm in love with – with…" Eileen stuttered, and swallowing nervously a few times. "I think I'm in love. But, the thing is, you – you'd probably think I was an idiot."
"As long as they're not a stupid Gryffindor," Kiru grinned.
"He's a dragon tamer. Charlie Weasley," Eileen admitted finally. "I – I know, it's stupid, but – but he seems really kind, and I feel like we'd get along since I'm a Parselmouth and all, and some dragons can understand Parseltongue…"
"Dad's gonna kill you!" Kiru whooped. "Oh, man, you really know how to pick them, Eileen! Charlie's one of the oldest Weasley's, and dad hates them! You know that!"
"I know," Eileen admitted dejectedly. "But, I can't help it! Have you met him? He's got amazing muscles, Kiru, and holy crap, he rides dragons!"
"Geek," Kiru muttered under her breath before clearing out her throat. "Well, Eileen, if he's who you want, then may the odds be ever in your favor."
"Really?" Eileen perked up. "Do you – do you think he might give me a chance?"
"Sure, just like Draco gave me a chance," Kiru said putting her arm around the first year. "Now, I know I'm supposed to be taking my OWL's this year, but holy crap I'm glad I'm skipping out on this! As long as I go off and tell your dad that I'm working on my Musiclancer abilities – which you'll confirm – then he shouldn't have a problem with me training while studying at night and training in the daytime by using the Song of Time!"
"I hope Charlie will at least give me a chance," Eileen said dejectedly. "I mean, why on earth would he want me? I'm four years younger than his little sister and was raped as a little kid… who am I kidding? He'll never stop to give me a chance!"
"Oh, come on, Eileen! Don't be that way!" Kiru said in the hopes of cheering her up. "Hey, if it makes you feel better, I can blackmail Ron into introducing you two!"
"Thanks, but it won't work," Eileen sobbed as she turned over and curled up under her blanket. "Leave me alone, Kiru."
"Alright. Goodnight, Eileen," Kiru said eyeing her cousin sadly. She headed off and went over literally right next to the entrance of the Kokiri woods. She, too, fell asleep, but was soon awoken by Link shaking her shoulder gently.
"Hey, Kiru," Link said firmly. "Can you get up? I need to see something. I'm not sure how you girls size your clothes, so I need your help with this. Will this tunic work?"
"Hm? Sure," Kiru said, taking the tunic and holding it up. "I'll need you to hold it to my shoulders so I can do the…um…"
"Sizing on the chest?" Link asked flushing embarrassed, and Kiru nodded. He held the tunic up to her shoulders, and she stretched the fabric over her chest to find that it was extremely loose, and long, on her. "Will this do, Kiru-san?"
"Yes, it's perfect, Link!" Kiru whispered hugging him. "How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing," Link said holding up his hands. "It's a gift from one hero to another. I'll get one for Eileen, as well so she can keep up. We'll call it her birthday present. I've got an early Christmas present in mind for you two as well."
"Oh, thank you, Link!" Kiru exclaimed quietly, but soon settled down. "But – Eileen's upset. She doesn't think that the guy she likes will stop long enough to notice her and that if he does, he'll push her away."
"What? Why on earth would she think that?" Link asked taken aback. "She's the sweetest girl I know, except for Princess Zelda. Now she would spoil you two rotten with dresses that she rarely wears anymore! Sheesh!"
"You might have to show us to her castle sometime," Kiru grinned. "Can you keep a secret?" Link nodded, and indicated with his fingers that his lips were sealed closed.
"Kokiri's honor, and by my Master Sword," he whispered. "What's wrong?"
"Well, it's the reason that Eileen is so dejected and hopeless with the opposite gender – no offense to you, but aside from her and my dads, you're the first guy she's actually been able to calm down around, believe it or not," Kiru admitted. "That's not the secret, though. Well, when Eileen was raised in an orphanage – before dad, me, and even her own dad knew she existed – she was raped semi-annually by the older boys in the orphanage."
"That is sick and wrong," Link grimaced, wanting to lose his breakfast. "That is so very wrong. If that happened here, the man responsible for that orphanage would be killed and the little girl would be placed with a loving family, or serve as one of the Sheika."
"Wow, that's so nice of you guys," Kiru stared at him. "What about murder?"
"Death," Link said. "The only reason you're allowed to kill is if the person is trying to kill you. We almost never have a problem with that here, and it's even rarer to find someone who was raped. Great Goddesses, is she okay?"
"She will be. If she can find someone who will love her for who she is," Kiru nodded. "But dad and I still worry about her. She's so much of a loner because of being treated like a monster at that orphanage. This is her first summer out of Hogwarts, and right now she's just happy that she's not going back there, but the longer she's away, the more homesick she'll get for Hogwarts."
"I understand," Link murmured. "I felt the same way about Kokiri forest at first. Well, then I actually started fighting harder and harder enemies to get the jewels. Here, let's go wake Eileen to let her try her tunic on later."
"Oh, should we change?" Kiru asked, and Link scratched the back of his neck.
"Well, we could stop by Lon Lon Ranch first to let you guys change in the barn," he said embarrassed and slightly flushed. "But that's a day's journey through the fields all over again. I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay," Kiru shook her head. "Maybe at your house?"
"In Kokiri Woods? I guess, but you'd have to be fast," he admitted sheepishly. "They were so pissed off at me the last time I brought an outsider in that they almost kicked me right back out until they saw I bore the Master Sword."
"We'll be good," Kiru promised before heading over to wake Eileen up.
"Well, girls," Link said once they were both awake and alert. "Welcome to the Land of Hyrule, and you are now going to be entering Kokiri Forest. I'm Link, and I'll be your guide…"