Grey clouds suspended low above the mass of people in Castle Town. The streets and alleys, the shops and eateries had not an inch of spare room. No words were spoken, a child's cry could be heard seldom. The crowd ranged from Hylians to Gorons and Subrosions to Zoras. All gathered around the castle, craning their necks to see at the top of the castle stairs. The watched the small group of people who stood by a coffin.
They mass gazed upon Zelda, who even in these dark times radiated with beauty. They stared upon Lincoln, who sat upon Epona solemnly. Upon Kadin, who wore a mournful robe of black scales, his Zoran eyes downcast with grief. The King stood tall and royal, adorned in lavish robes of maroon and black. His crown sat beautifully on his head like a setting sun upon a distant hill.
Though most of all they looked at Link. The lifeless hero lay in his coffin, he was garbed in his tunic his arms held his hat. He did not have his Master Sword or his shield. Those he passed on to Lincoln, his closest friend, as he did Epona. "This will be my greatest quest, if I don't survive Lincoln I want you to care for Epona." Where Link's last words before he set out to reclaim the pieces of the Hallowed Crown. An object of myth and legend, but Hyrule's only hope in these darkest of times.
The King strode to the front of the coffin and looked upon the crowd. Some swore they saw a tear in the King's eyes, but that was controversial. The King spread his arms and let his deep and booming voice come out, "People of Hyrule, these times are dark and they only darken with the death of our beloved hero. Though we have lost much more than a simple man this day, we can not despair! We must remain strong the Roroks threaten us ever presently as the press through the Ruined Lands, but our soldiers hold strong!" The King let the sentence hang, he waited a moment before continuing. "I have not given up on the quest for the Hallowed Crown."
Lincoln looked up in shock, after the loss of Link he thought the quest would be left alone. He began to wonder who the King would send on such a perilous journey not even Link could survive. He soon learned the answer.
"A tournament!" The King shouted at his crowd, there was muttering of excitement all around. Epona shifted under Lincoln nervously. Lincoln patted her softly "I don't know girl, I don't know." Lincoln watched the King with growing confusion.
"Four tournaments in fact. Four winners, a team will take on the challenge. Four winners will carry on the legacy of our fallen hero Link. A Hylian bracket, a Zoran bracket, a Goron bracket, and Subrosions." The Kink expained. The crown cheered in excitement, the prospect of such entertainment in these dark times almost healed the wound suffered from the loss of Link.
In the crowd a giant Goron smashed his chest in excitement. Michael roared in delight, he would win this tournament he knew he would. He made the long commute from Death Mountain expecting not much excitement, just to pay tribute to a fallen Brother. Now he could hardly contain his excitement, if he hadn't been surrounded by Gorons he might have seemed out of place or obnoxious. His brothers though roared just as loudly. Michael listened as the King continued on, "All races send out your competitors, twenty four from each."
Michael felt himself shoved forward to the front of the crowd. He observed his competitors and suppressed a laugh, the competition was weak. The only other Goron he thought would be noticeable was Drakken, I muscular Goron and brave, but dumber than the rocks Gorons eat for supper. The other twenty two where all respectable Gorons to be sure but Michael held himself in high esteem and saw no challenge.
Brett wished he knew who his competition was. The cloaked figures of the Subrosions made it hard to tell since the hid any physical features. Though from what he could see he was the only archer among them.
Kadin and Lincoln stepped forward and watched their fellows step forward. Hylians and Zoras where similar in that the were not very humble and ragged loudly about how much better the were than the rest of their companions. Kadin and Lincoln were two exceptions.
Kadin walked over to Lincoln, "Can you believe he is doing this today?" Kadin whispered heatedly. Lincoln shook his head, "I can't, this is atrocious." Lincoln was flustered but he had to control his anger. "Look it isn't wise to talk here about this, we can save it for the adventure." Lincoln smiled. Kadin chuckled, "What makes you think you are going?" "I will win or lose." Kadin nodded, "I am with you there."
Lincoln nodded to Kadin and set off to get away from Castle Town. Kadin didn't stay much longer.