In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule…
Hiya everyone! Thanks for comeing! Cookies? (holds up tray)
Yup, Trying my hand at writing again. Hopefully this will come out better!
Please, read on!
Disclaimer: I do not own Zelda or any other Nintendo series. But I do own my original characters and they may not be used without permission by me. PM me if you wanna, I'll most likely say yes ).
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In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule…
Long have I served as the guardian spirit…
I am known as the Deku Tree…
The children of the forest, The Kokiri,
Live here with me.
Each Kokiri has his of her own guardian fairy.
However,
There is one boy who does not have a fairy….
It was here again.
Rain splattered on the grassy earth, pools of mud flowed in streams to a trench that laid before a great stone structure. It was far from the crude wooden tree huts of his home- it was not something his mind could conjure on it's own. The pressing darkness was tangible, trying to claw at him, squeeze him till his life-blood rand dry and his small body lay crumpled as if tossed like a forgotten toy.
Torches flared menacingly as a great door of wood- a draw bridge, his mind whispered- was lowered from the great stone walls. A flash of white, a horse, sprung from the gloom beyond the bridge- how he knew of hoses, the boy could not say. In a lasting glimpse, he saw the two riders, a strong, lethal, and stoic woman, however her white-knuckled hands betrayed her emotions. And cradled protectively in the woman's arms was a child- a girl, not much older than he- her fear filled azure eyes held his for a passing moment. They fled from the towering stone, the inky darkness swallowing them.
Another sound of hoofs came like thunder- they warned the coming of lighting.
With dread clutching his heart, he turned to the nightmarish horse- blacker than the starless sky- and it's rider. It's rider- his aura choked the boy. Light was eaten in this Man's eyes, like two black holes.
The Man raised his arm…
Navi…
Navi, where art thou?
Come hither.
In the heart of a seemingly endless forest, a small blue light- a fairy- flew to the tallest and most oldest tree. She rubbed against the rough bark lovingly, like a child to their parent.
Oh, Navi the Fairy…
Listen to my words, the words of the Deku Tree…
Dost thou sense it?
The climate of evil descending upon this realm…
For so long the Kokiri forest has stood as a barrier,
Deterring outsiders and maintaining the order of the world.
But…
Before this tremendous evil, not even my power is as nothing…
The blue light, Navi, paused.
It seems the time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey…
The youth whose destiny it is to lead Hyrule to the path of justice and truth…
Navi… Go now!
Find our young friend and guide him to me.
I do not have much time left…
Navi jumped back- not much time left?! What-
Fly, Navi, fly!
The fate of the forest, nay-
The world,
Depends on thee!
Her questions silenced by the Deku Tree's words, she sped away.
--
His eyes wouldn't stay closed.
He wanted to return to the lull of sleep, but as soon as he drifted- the thought of the nightmare lashed him back in his skin. It had been reoccurring, something that had never happened before. The dream itself seemed too… real, but too far out. He had never seen such a place, a place where hardly any trees stood, and rocks stacked so high….
"Hello?"
Was another dream taking place in the waking realm? He had not heard a fellow Kokiri clime his ladder…
"Hello…?"
No… this was a fairy's voice! Most likely someone playing a trick on him. He dug his face into his arms; others had taunted him before of his lacking of a fairy. Once, one even when as far as making him believe a fairy had finally come to him- only to leave him heartbroken and embarrassed.
"Link! Wake up!"
He would just pretend to sleep until it went away.
"The great Deku tree wants to talk to you!"
The… Deku Tree? Would they really go that far? Link shuffled his face, in a way that could still count as asleep, to create a slit in his blonde hair to look out of.
The blue light started whizzing around furiously- "HEY! C'OME ON! Can Hyrule's destiny really depend on such a Lazy boy?!"
"I've been awake…" He muttered, finally sitting up.
He leaned back on the wall of his home, a small one roomed hollowed out tree. The walls were of soft bark, for this space was a gift of this tree- such as was all the Kokiri homes. It was homely; In front of his bed was a small raised part of the tree he used as a table, a bastion for washing to the left of that, and to the right was tables where few possessions sat. A basket of berries and nuts, his rough knapsack made of weaved brown vines, and a small wallet of rupees, all waiting for him.
He stared at the blue ball of light, this… wasn't a fairy he recognized. He didn't know any blue fairies.
"You finally woke up!" Link could imagine the fairy's eyes roll- if they had any, "I'm Navi the Fairy, the Great Deku Tree asked me to be your partner from now on! Nice to meet you!" She bobbed, a fairy's way of curtsying.
Link nodded his head respectfully, still suspicious of the trick.
"The great Deku Tree has summoned you! So, let's get going right now!"
Surely if someone was tricking him, they wouldn't want to take him to the Deku Tree… Perhaps, this fairy really was his partner. She flew out of the doorway, its curtain slightly ruffled by her passing. Slowly, Link smiled, picked up his knapsack and followed her outside.
The sunlight hit him fully as he was forced to shield his eyes until they adjusted. His soft boots- made from the same vine as his knapsack but with rough bark at the bottoms- made thunk-ku-thunk noise as he walked across his porch, and to the ladder below. He breathed in the fresh air, the glowing pollen swirled around the dense foliage and trees. All around was a sea of green- grass-green, dark-green, moss-green- as well as the various tree trunks. Here was the only real clearing in the woods, well, besides the Deku Tree's spot.
All of Links fears of tricks and embarrassment where assuaged once he spotted Saria dashing down the road to him, joyfully, he raced down the ladder to join her.
"Yahoo!" She cried out, "Hi Link!"
Saria, his one real friend. Her up-beat attitude and infectious smiles always cheered him up. She looked the same as she always did, wearing the green of the forest in a tunic not unlike his own, with the same boots as well. They were what everyone wore. Her hair however, also matched the greens of the forest- it was bobbed around her face- and on that face was the permanent smile she always had. Her sky blue eyes were wide in amazement as they followed Navi, "A fairy! You really have a fairy now Link!" She was grinning ear-to-ear. "Ah, The Deku Tree… I've heard you've been summoned by him."
Link opened his mouth, but Navi's bell-like voice cut him off-"Yes! We're on our way to see him!" She then fluttered behind Link's head, nudging him slightly.
Maybe not having a fairy was better after all.
Castle Town market place was as busy as always.
Merchants' shouts and rich nobles' gossip filled the air as a small, gaunt child weaved in and out of the crowd. Her clothes were patched and dirty, hardly more than rags stitched together. A bandana was tied over her matted black hair as her amethyst eyes scanned the rich men and women. Her gaze fell on a snottish noble man with a fine tunic and boots was bent over a collection of gems in a stall.
The girl moved her hands nonchalantly, her gaze fixed on the noble man.
Casually, she whistled a small tune as she walked closer to the gem stall as two young boys- in clothes only vaguely of better quality than her own, started a brawl near the man.
As she passed the man, the two brawlers suddenly lurched towards them both- with a cry, the girl was thrown at the man- crashing into him. Disgusted, he pushed her away, muttering "vermin" and left at a brisk walk. Also thoroughly disgusted, the ratty girl brushed off her arm and gloves, "Great," She mumbled, "I stink of freaking flowers now." However, she smiled as she felt the man's heavy purse, jingling merrily with rupees, weighed heavily in her pocket.
"Boss! Boss!" The two small boys who had acted a play fight to help the man lose his purse clamored down the hideout's ladder hollered, "Have we dun good?"
The girl with amethyst eyes smiled as she ruffled the two boys'- Dan and Tan, the twins- hair. "Yep, you two dun good." She smiled, waving the pick pocketed purse in front of them. "This'll keep use going fer a long time!"
The twins whooped with joy, "Wait 'till Amy an' Roger see!" they shouted as they raced down the passageway.
'The Boss' smiled as she followed her two charges. Here in the sewers was the place where her and her gang called home- a natural cavern a little way in from the entrance. It was a convenient spot, accessible from numerous spots, but no one went far in the sewers to where the most obvious entrance was. It was Rodger who had found her on the streets when she was a small tyke; he was the one who had originally found the hideout. Then Amy was found, then the twins, then little Chase and Star. A group of orphans living life on the streets- all they needed was each other.
She moved the hanging cloth that acted as a door (poorly) to where the main cavern was. It was enormous, every step made a booming echo on the granite walls. Well, Roger said they where granite, he also said that the echoes were good- they would warn them if anyone else came in. Roger, the oldest out of them all, knew a lot. He was the one who counted up the rupees and kept all their ages straight. He told her that he was 17 and she was round 12, but wasn't sure because he didn't know her birth date. There wasn't much he didn't know.
"Boss, it's good to see you back." A meek voice called out.
"Yeah," The boss smiled, "Me an' The twins got a load." She looked up at the girl who stood in a cornier of the cavern; she sat on top of rags and straw, mending a pair of pants. Her dirty blond hair fell around her face as her hazel eyes watched as the Boss drew closer. She was Amy; Roger said she was the same age as him. She wasn't really sneaky or good at pick pocketin', but she mended and hemmed and made clothes for the others. She also knew what plants did what, like Verm's Weed for fevers and Gimmin for belly aches.
Boss tossed the purse to her, her eyes widened when she looked in inside, "There's silver rupees in here!" She poured some out, her brow furrowed in counting "Five-! Five slivers an' more!" She looked up, shocked, "Boss, how'd ya get so many?"
The Boss rubbed her knuckles against her grimy shirt, "Well, I'd been watchen' dis one noble," Amy nodded, she knew the routine- never steal from the poor or the good hearted- " he was always strutin' around, pissin' at anyone who gave em' a bad look. All it took was a small, accidental-like bump from sum tykes- and BAM!" She smacked her hands together for emphases, "An' his purse got lighter!"
Amy chuckled, "Well, bring these to Rog, Boss. He'll count em' up." She smiled and tossed the full purse back to her.
Boss caught it expertly and continued to one of the small passages that lead away from the main cavern. There where all sorts of tunnels that weaved round and round, anyone could get lost in here. But she and the others knew them all well enough. Roger had claimed a small dead-end as his room, and sure enough, that's where he was.
His curly brown hair was cleaner that the rest of theirs, as well as his clothes. He cleaned himself more often. Right know, his tall body loomed over an old, beat up book he had recently bought from an old second-hand book shop. The Boss really had no patience for reading or numbers.
"Ere'," She slapped the purse down on his book, "Gotta new load fer ya ta count."
He glared up at her, "That is rude you know." He picked up the purse, "Not something a lady would do."
She snorted, "Pfft, do ah look like a lady ta ya?" She pulled out the dagger she had sheathed in a scabbard in her belt and, against his disapproving gaze, she plopped down next to him and polished it with one of his spare shirts. He sighed and closed his book, opening the now soiled purse. Unlike Amy, his face remained stoic as he counted.
"Well," Only His voice held a spark of amazement, "This is… quite good. A job well done." Boss, having waited patently, grinned, "Twin's had ah hand too. Theys set up da trap." A greedy light played in her eyes, "So, ow' much?"
Roger rolled his eyes, "5473." Boss' eyes went wide, that was more than she could count! Then again, she could only count to 20, and that's using both her hands and feet.
The older teenager sighed, "That's about enough to buy a small house Boss. Or to buy food for all of us for 4 months." He smirked, "Looks like you get to take a break for a bit." Boss wasn't quite sure how to feel about taking a break. What would she do? She could teach the twins more on how to use a dagger…
"Hey," Roger got up and walked to the back wall; he reached up and pulled a small bundle form a hidden crack. "Today is close to the day I found you, remember? I know I do, you immediately took charge," His small smirk came back, "I never was a good leader- But you've got a knack with making others follow you!" He gave a rare laugh. Boss was… surprised. Roger never acted this way before- usually he was all serious. "Anyway," he continued, still holding the wrapped bundle, "We all worked a lot of odd jobs… all of us pitched in. Anyway, um, we noticed how dull your dagger was so… I got you this." He thrust the bundle into her arms.
Curious, Boss gently unwrapped the cloth bundle. There were two somethings in it, then one fell out. It was a whetstone. She picked it up, it was, actually, quite pretty- and pretty useful. It was inlaid in a small wooden box, with the grey stone fitting snugly inside.
"Go on, there's one more. Careful with this one. It's to replace the one you gave to Tan." He encouraged.
With a small smile, she unwrapped the last gift. "Rog!" She cried out, "How'd ya guys git enough to git one of these?!"
He shrugged, "We've been saving up for quite a bit. Do you like it?"
"Like it?" She beamed, "Ah love it!"
It was a dagger.
But compared to her old one, it was like comparing a diamond to a rock. It was made from Merlano fish bones- one of the highest quality daggers available. Its razor-sharp edge wasn't lost until was passed down from the first owner to their great-great-great-grandson, and all the da's died from old age. She pulled out a strand of her hair, the dagger sliced it neatly.
"Roger… thanks."
He wiped his mouth, embarrassed, "It was nothing. We didn't like the thought of you wandering around with only one when you learned how to fight with two. Besides, we all pitched in."
He handed her its sheath, she put the blade in it and clipped it to her belt lovingly.
"Well," He rubbed his hands, "We need more Hermmer Lock, and you know how Amy hates going on without it.
Boss nodded, secretly relived to go back to business, she really wasn't used to mushy moments. "What time is it now?"
"Almost noon."
She nodded, "Well, Hermmer Lock grows near ta Zora's river bank, half a day's walk. I'll git going now, gotta pack."
Roger nodded, "I'll help."
Link limped out from the path to the Great Deku Tree, Navi clinging to his hat. She made no noise but a small grieving ting from when he took a step.
Mido, the bully of the forest who wouldn't let Link pass until he got a sword and shield (and still gave him a hard time afterwards) immediately leaped in front of him, "What HAPPENED?" He got in Link's face, practically spitting.
"WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GREAT DEKU TREE?"
Link looked up at the bully and Mido took a step back- the gaze link's eyes held where not of the boy who had passed by him this morning.
"He's… Dead." The blond whispered.
It took Mido a minute to process this. Navi gave another sad ting.
"You… You killed him!"
"I did not! I-I tried to save him! We tried to save him!" Link stood up straight, enraged at this false accusation. Navi flew up from his hat, letting lose a string of violent rings. All of the other Kokiri turned to the fight; something like this was unheard of.
"LIAR!" Mido spat, "I, Mido, Hereby evict you from the village!" He said 'you' as if it was a disgusting sin.
Link stood helpless with his head down. "I… I didn't-" Mido kicked him, sending him to the ground, hard, "GET OUT!"
With tears, Link fled the forest.
The sun was getting dangerously close to the horizon, night would soon fall. The Boss cursed her luck, finding the Hemmer lock plant took too long. She was jogging acrossed Hyrule field, trying to beat the sun as it started to fade. It wasn't smart to be left outside in the field at night- in fact- it was suicide. Stalchilds rose from the ground at night- reminders of all the wars waged there. Skeletons with blue fire for eyes, mothers told their children wives-tales to scare them to not go out. But unlike most wives-tales, they were real.
Boss quickened her pace. Dammit! I ain't gonna make it before the bridge goes up! Every night, the Bridge over the moat- and the only way into Castle town- went up to protect the townspeople.
That meant she was going to get wet.
Luckily, there was a way into the hideout from the moat; one of the gates that let the water out had a loose bar that could be pulled out. Someone of her height could easily slip through. The Stalchilds couldn't touch water, so that entrance was safe.
But Boss really didn't want to get wet.
Then she spotted The Boy.
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Whoo! The Boss and Link finally meet!
It may take a bit for chappie two to come, school and sports drag me down a bit. BUT I'LL TRY!
So, R&R! Please and Thankies!