The Quest of Seven was my first Zelda story ever. I meant to upload it a long time ago, but it's been through many changes and several proofreads before being ready to be uploaded here. If you read Lost In Termina, then this story explains the events just before Lost In Termina and how Iris got to Termina in the first place. So The Quest of Seven is what started me off on writing Zelda stories in the start. Hope it's an enjoyable read.
Everyone who's heard of the tales of the Hero of Time, will know of Hyrule and it's many creatures and people. This story takes place after the events of Ganan's reign on Hyrule, when peace was restored.
A lot of people are loved and respected for things that they accomplish, and some are even rewarded.
Though... Not everyone is loved and respected for their actions, some even despised.
The story I'm about to tell you starts off with a person like this. This takes place at Hyrule's very castle.
"Hi, I'm here to deliver some Lon Lon Milk?" Said a guy named Talon to a guard. He was leading a mule hooked to a wagon filled with crates of milk. They stood before Hyrule Castle's gates.
The guard nodded "Ah, Talon. Alright, go ahead." He opened the gates, as he was informed of a shipment of milk earlier that day, letting the man through. Further off closer to town was someone watching the events from behind a rock ledge.
"Shoot... It's guarded..." Said a small brown creature. This plant-based creature was known as a Deku Scrub. This one went by the name, Iris. She had large brown and yellow leaves that hung down to the ground, acting as hair. Three larger ones stuck off her forehead. She was dressed brightly in large purple and blue petals as a shirt, and a brown grass skirt
The Deku Scrub girl looked to a small black bird next to her, who was gazing up at her as if waiting for something. It cocked it's head to the side slightly as it eyed her deeply.
"I think I've got a plan, Skits." Iris said.
She came out and approached the guard, who had his back turned as he began closing the gate. "Excuse me sir?"
The guard jumped slightly and looked around for whom had spoken.
"..." Iris stared for a moment "Down here guy..."
The guard gazed down, seeing the short deku scrub girl, looking as innocent as possible. He instantly looked disgusted with her presence for some reason.
She began "I'm with, uhh... The milk guy. I help with shipment. y'know? loading, unloading, all that jazz. I need to pass." She walked ahead, but was stopped by a large hand in her face. She stumbled back slightly as she gazed up to the tall armored man.
"Really now...?" The guard questioned "And what proof do you have to show you work with him? What's his name?"
Iris' eyes grew slightly "Um... Talon?" She was simply going with what she thought she heard before.
The guard nodded "What's the name of the ranch he works at? Or where you work, I should say."
Iris was now stumped, as she'd never been to said ranch. "Uhh..." She thought long and hard as she scanned her memory for any trace of the name she possibly heard before.
"Forget it, Iris..." The guard suddenly said.
She jumped "Whu- But how did y-"
"Everyone who lives in castle town knows of the trickster Deku... You're quite popular among the people of this town..."
Iris threw her hands in the air "Oh stop! You're going to make me blush."
The guard crossed his arms "We have no need for thieves like you... So get. You're lucky I don't throw you into the dungeon right now for even showing up after all you've stolen and trouble you caused, you're a wanted thief, you little weed…"
"Well I never... fine, sir-r-r" Iris said with sarcasm as she turned away, not taking kindly to being called a weed. Iris began to walk back to town, and occasionally looked back, and as soon as the guard turned to lock the gate, she ran straight back to her hiding spot.
"How dare he call me a weed, that is a major hurtful insult to Deku… Not like he would care anyway… Okay... that didn't work. I need to get in there! they get all the great stuff, loads of it! We'd be rich and never ever go hungry with all those treasures. On to plan 'B'..."
Skits gave her a questioning look.
"... Plan 'B' is now about planning plan 'C'... Don't judge me, I just... I just can't think of anything..."
She leaned back against the rock wall, when she noticed something touching her back. She turned, spotting thick vines creeping up the rock wall. "I think I just found plan 'C'."
She grabbed the vines and climbed up, lifting her light body off the ground. Skits flew up and waited for her. Once at the top, she dusted herself off and gazed down at the unaware guard. "Hahah, their security sucks. You'd think that they would check for areas that people might be able to get in from. Any moron could get in this way, makes me wonder if anybody else has done it?"
She snuck around as she walked along the ledge until she came to a hole going down the gate's pillars, which in the hole was a ladder that lead to a door towards the castle yard, probably meant for guards to stand watch atop the gates. "This is too easy." Iris stated with a low chuckle.
When she drew closer, she soon realized- "... Oh for the love of Nayru! Guards, everywhere!"
All over the castle yard, were guards, guards and more guards. She looked to Skits. "Alright, you know what to do."
Skits nodded and vanished into the bright sky.
The Black bird soon landed on one of the guards.
"Shoo!" a guard swatted.
Skits flew up, dodging the man's swat, and landed again.
"I said get!" He said growing agitated. A couple other guards walked up to him laughing. "you being bothered by that little bird?" One asked.
The irritated guard continued trying to get the annoying blackbird to leave him alone, until he lost sight of it. "Is it gone?"
The one from before began "I think so, I don't see him."
"WAIT... Hold still..." One guard held up the bottom of his spear.
Skits was sitting right on the guy's shoulder now, and with the sound of a whoosh! He vanished, leaving the agitated guard to get whacked by the weapon's pole end, with the sound of a clang to his helmet. "OWW!
The now hurting guard whacked the other guy with his spear's bottom. "What was that for!?"
"I was trying to get him!"
"Well, you missed!"
"So, at least he's gone!"
The surrounding guard's began laughing.
The commotion soon drew other surrounding men to them, as they continued to fuss, allowing Iris to make a quick jump into the milk wagon ahead. "Whew..."
Skits soon flew in after her.
"Nice one, Skits!" She commented.
Later, when the wagon came to a stop, they made a break for it. Avoiding contact with anyone, they managed to get inside through a hole in the side of the castle wall. "I've said it before, I'll say it again:" Iris quietly began "The security is just awful..."
Now approaching the garden, she hid behind a bush, only to find more guards on the other side. "Okay Skits, we need to find where they keep all their goods, like food, treasures, you know... I'm sure they've got plenty more if we take anything. Heck! It's the royal family."
Iris was about to step out, before remembering one more thing. "OH! If you see some kid wearing a green tunic, stay away from him at all costs!"
Skits simply eyed her, giving a "Why?" expression.
"Because. He's like some spy or boy-servant or something for the princess, I don't know... I've seen him around here and there, he likes to take orders from Zelda. Heard he's from Lost Woods like us, and is a Kokiri like that jerk, Mido… Not sure if he's nicer, or if he's smarter than two rupees, don't feel like finding out, though..." She made a quick dash after her explanation to another bush successfully without being caught, eventually making it to a window. With a jump, she made it in, but barely.
Inside was a neatly decorated hallway, that connected with many others. Alongside the walls, large statues were lined, along with tables, vases and other decorative items. Along with paintings as well.
"You! Stop!"
"YIPE!" Iris froze, she quickly hid behind a statue.
A guard came running right passed her, surprisingly, not seeing her. She looked back, seeing he was going after a simple stray cat that got in. With that, Iris made her escape. "Pretty nice place, a little too shiny, though... For me anyway." she suddenly tripped, making a loud squeak.
"Huh?" The guard turned. "H-HEY YOU!"
"Oh boy... RUN! Er- you fly, I run!" Iris quickly got back up and began running, as Skits flew away.
"Crud..." She came to a skid, as more guards came running from all near sections of the halls, surely hearing the commotion. She swung back around, running back toward the lone guard. "Sorry, gotta' go!" She dropped and slid underneath the guard, making it back to and out the window.
"Block off the the gates, leave no way out!" One guard barked.
"Sir!" The rest replied, and left to do as told.
Iris was already back to the hole in the wall and made it back to the milk wagon, and jumped in. Now all that was in the wagon were many empty open crates "...Wow, that was a quick unload..." She whispered. She made it just in time, and Talon was now leaving. Skits came flying back to her.
"Hold it Talon!"
Iris groaned as she cursed her luck.
Talon spoke, and was unaware of his guests in the wagon. "Yes sir?"
He was now at the gate guard, as with many others. "I need to check your wagon please."
Talon nodded "Uh, okay."
Iris began to panic, she couldn't jump out, but couldn't stay in.
The gate guard looked into the covered wagon "Hmm..."
He began to search through the wagon, scooting crates out of the way. He pulled back out holding something. "All I found was this black feather... You're clear, go ahead."
"Thank you." Talon said, and continued forward.
One of the many crates lifted slightly, two glowing red eyes peaked out from underneath. Iris lifted the crate up. "That was too close..." Skits sat next to her, nodding.
"So... How about we just grab some food from the market and head home buddy?" Iris asked Skits.
Skits gave a "Caww!" in agreement.
Once the wagon reached Castle town, Iris and Skits jumped out, making a break for the alleyway.
"So, let's make this quick." She said.
Skits flew up and ahead, while Iris ran to a stair case that went up to the top of a building, which below her was a small shop with fresh fruit and other types of food. She met Skits up there, and gave him the signal to act as a distraction to the shop keeper.
"Fresh fruit and dairy! It's fresh as fresh can be!" Called the shop keeper. There weren't many people around, aside from one woman, who was looking through some of the items on the side of the shop's table.
Skits landed on the table in front of her, and cawed loudly.
"Oh my! Gross!" The woman shouted in disgust, catching the shop keeper's attention. He ran over there shouting "Shoo! Get out of here!"
Iris couldn't help but laugh on the inside. The shop keeper looked like an idiot swinging his arms aimlessly at Skits. Though, he couldn't even get anywhere near touching the quick bird. She jumped down on the other side, putting as much food as she could in a bag she'd brought, even grabbing some of that ever-so-famous Lon Lon Milk. She accidentally dropped one of the glasses and broke it. "Whoops..." She shot her head up to see an angry shop keeper running towards her. Her eyes grew "YIPE!"
He threw something at her, and it was obviously made of glass because it shattered and left a little scratch on her arm. She didn't get a good look at what it was, all she really cared about was getting out of there.
She made a break for castle town's exit. She looked back and shouted "See ya', Sucker!" She winked, and continued on her way, being followed closely by Skits.
"Iris! We'll get you someday, that I swear! The next time you show your face here, we'll call the guards on you, and you'll finally be no more! Stay in the woods where you belong, or else!" The shop keeper shouted angrily, slamming his fist on the table.
For a short Deku, she was actually quite fast, and made a clean escape. That last threat seemed pretty serious, though.
When she reached Hyrule field, she slowly came to a walk as she even passed Talon on the way. "Huh... The Ranch he works at is called Lon Lon Ranch, huh? I might have to start stopping there if I can't go to Castle Town anymore... Anyway, Check it out Skits! We got some pretty good stuff today." She ever-so-proudly held the bag out for him to look into.
Skits sat on her arm as it was out reached for him. He cawed happily.
"It look's like the rest of today will be smooth sailing. Just gotta avoid those maddeku's in Lost Woods." She laughed.
The sun began to fall, as it took quite a while to reach the far forest known as Lost Woods. She continued through. Her path had grown dark from the thick tree's shade.
Once in the forest, she saw a young boy in green riding a horse through. Upon seeing the character, she hid behind a tree, and whispered "Hey, Skits? That's the kid I was telling you about back at the castle! What's he doing out here?" Skits watched him from a low branch. Iris scratched her head "... He look's like he's searching for something... Oh well, we better go, not getting any brighter out here..."
It was what seemed like hours before Iris arrived at a large hollow tree in the middle of the forest, beneath was a small Deku flower. She dove in, and launched back out holding onto two pink flowers who's petals rotated like propellers, allowing her to hover into a large hole in the tree. Once inside, She dropped the flowers, and walked to the far side of the inside of the tree. It was set up like a bedroom, with thick leaves piled like a bed and even a poorly made table with a lantern on top of it. She sat the bag down onto the said table, and sat on the floor.
"I'm beat..." Iris said.
She reached to the lantern, and turned it on, then reached into the bag, and pulled out one of the bottles of milk.
She pulled a piece of bread in half, and sat it on the table for Skits. He gave a quick 'caw' and began to peck and pull at the bread.
Skits ate. Iris had finished, and sat looking outside. She looked a little sad. That's when Skits looked up at her, wondering what was wrong. Iris finally said "I wish I didn't have to steal like this… That merchant seemed pretty serious… Aside from hunters in the woods, do you think anyone would try to kill us if we keep doing this…?"
Skits' head lowered, realizing the penalty alone for breaking into Castle Grounds has some serious consequences. For the havoc they've caused, it's no wonder no one is nice to them or likes them. It doesn't help that Deku Scrubs aren't really respected creatures.
Iris suddenly flicked a leaf on her head, when she felt a sense that she wasn't alone. It was now dark, maybe around 10:00 or 9:00'ish PM. Her eyes were glowing brightly in the dark, and allowing her to see clearly. Laying next to her tree was a stick with a small blade at the end of it. "Sweet!" She exclaimed. She hopped from branch-to-branch until she reached the forest floor.
"What is this?" She whispered to herself as she lifted it. "I could use this to protect myself! It's even got a blade on it." She poked her finger slightly to the blade's edge to feel it's sharpness. She now wondered how she'd get it back up to her home.
She looked at the Deku flower. And began to think that through. She probably wouldn't be able to hold onto both flowers to fly up if she held onto the weapon, due to her small hands. She then wondered where it came from in the first place...
"How...!" She stopped in mid sentence when she saw a figure standing in the forest not too far off from her tree. From her view, he appeared to be a guy Who seemed to be Hylian. He wore purple and had purple hair. She soon realized that this odd weapon she'd picked up is probably his. He had his back turned, and appeared to be searching for something, and was unaware of Iris' presence. She remained quiet as she backed up slowly, keeping her eyes on the strange figure. 'Aw nuts...' She thought. 'Now what?' She took a step back, stepping on a twig.
She gasped and hid the weapon behind her back, and the man began to turn. Iris quickly closed her eyes, shielding the light that emanated from her eyes.
"Is someone there...?" The man asked. To him, the little Deku could hardly be seen. What could be seen of her, she simply blended in, and looked like an average Hyrule plant. He turned back around and began examining his surroundings, this time, being alert.
Iris slowly opened her eyes. 'Now's the time to run...' she thought.
The light from her eyes could slightly be seen where ever she looked. The man noticed a growing light on a nearby tree, as if someone had turned on a dim light. "...Hmm...?" he turned to see the little Deku tip toeing off. With the weapon in hand. "Ugh-! My staff!" He called out.
Iris once again cursed her luck as she turned back slowly. "Ummm..."
The man didn't look angry, nor did he seem mean. He seemed surprised though "Okay little Deku... Can I please have my staff back?" He asked as he approached her slowly.
Iris simply stared like a deer in headlights. Until she'd realized he was coming near her, she then bolted off.
"W-Wait! Come back!" He called out once more. She continued to run. As she ran, a large gust of wind came blowing her way "GAH!" Her light body stood no chance to the heavy wind, as it began blowing her back towards him. She dropped the weapon at his feet as she rolled back-first into the foot of her tree. "Ughhh..." It turned out the man used a spell that controlled the wind to blow her back to him.
She groaned as she felt dizzy.
The man picked up his staff. "What was that all about?" He asked, kneeling down to Iris. When Iris came to, she looked kind of scared. Usually if she took something, someone would throw something at her or yell at her. Some have even hit her. But no one has ever caught her helpless this way with no where to go, she feared she was seriously in for it now. But he didn't seem all that mad, maybe irritated, but far from angry. "I- uhh...I-c-..." Iris couldn't speak.
"Don't be scared." He said.
She sighed. "I... I just wanted to find something so I could p-protect my self. So I took your bladed stick... thingy."
"My staff?" He kindly corrected. "Are you out here all alone?"
Iris nervously shook her head no. Her eyes didn't give off that optimistic feel as usual. They looked quite sorrowful actually.
The man simply smiled and patted her head, seeing she wasn't any real threat. "You should head on home. It's dangerous out here at these times, including for young Deku scrubs like you." He stood back up.
"Okay..." She grudgingly replied. She hated being talked too like some kid, seeing as she's taken care of herself for years now. She turned back around and headed to the Deku flower going up into the tree, as the man turned and continued on his way.
Iris was up in the tree by now. She'd been laying down for a long time trying to sleep, but couldn't. She sighed. She was still shaken up from that strong wind. And the fact that the guy acted so calmly to her actions.
Iris sat on her leaf bed simply staring at the ceiling. "Why was he so nice to me...?"
"GROOOOAR! Sudden roars in the distance made her jump as it broke the silence. She ran back to the entrance, hearing the battle cries of someone deep in the forest. It sounded like they were fighting a type of beast. "It sounds like the guy I ran into a while back!" Iris usually doesn't trust many people, she felt she should at least see if he's okay- Putting her fear aside. He acted so kindly to her, she couldn't help but to see what was happening. "Skits, c'mon!"
Skits awoke as he sat on a branch. Then took off after her. She did as before, jumping from branch to branch.
"It's coming from this way!" She shouted.
Minutes pass, and all grows quiet. She came to skid as she approached a forest clearing, seeing the oh-so familiar staff lying on the ground, but no one near by. "Okay... Now I'm scared..." She picked up the staff and held it defensively as Skits landed on her shoulder, his feathers ruffling.
She soon heard something, it sounded like growling, she was about to turn around.
"What th- GUH-! ahhhhh..." She felt a quick spark of pain hit the back of her head, then everything around began to fade out...
'Where... Where am I?' She thought to herself. She looked around. Everything was dark. She wasn't in the forest anymore, that's for sure. She was surrounded by thick rusted iron walls. Very high above, there were bars. It looked like a prison cell. She stood and tried to walk, but something had pulled on her arms and held her back. Her arms had shackles around them, chaining her back to the wall. Same goes for her legs. "Skits? Skits! Where are you!?" She cried out soon realizing her situation, she feared the worst for her small, feathered friend. In an unknown place and chained up.
"Caww..." this sound made Iris perk up, as she looked around anxiously. She was relieved that Skits was okay, but her relief had been shrouded in sorrow soon after. He was locked in a tight cage, not even giving enough room to unfurl his wings. And some of his feather's had been messed up, like someone had held him by the wings and tail, and some of his beautiful black feathers were bent. "Oh Skits... I'm sorry for getting us into this..."
A deep sigh came from far off.
Iris moved her attention to the one sighing. There was a guy chained to the back wall like her. He had long hair that covered his neck and appeared to be Hylian. He was wearing a black tunic and gray tights. He also wore a pair of iron boots. Around his neck, was a necklace lined with four wolf fangs.
The little Deku showed fear towards him.
"D-Do you know where we are?" Iris asked.
The guy looked up at her. "Not really. I don't even know how I got here."
Iris looked down sadly, seeing as he was just another person in the same situation as her.
"So, who're you?" He asked.
Iris glanced at him once more "Umm... Iris... You?"
He replied "Orion Lunas."
"Since you've already introduced yourselves, I guess I'll tell you my name as well." Said a female's voice from another side.
Iris and Orion gazed towards the girl speaking. She looked different. She wasn't a Hylian. If anything, Iris had never seen someone like her in all her life. The girl was dressed quite dark, her red and yellow eyes glaring through the darkness of the cell. "I'm Kyutah."
Iris blinked "What are you...?"
"I'm a Twili." Kyutah replied quietly.
Iris had never heard of such a race before. Though, she was filled with some relief that she wasn't alone. But the gloomy atmosphere of the cell made her and the others feel depressed. She lowered her head, gazing at her scuffed-up shoes.. "Hey Kyutah...? Do you know where we are?" Iris asked.
Kyutah shrugged. "Not a clue. Same as Orion over there, I'm not even sure how I got here."
"Oh..." Iris' head hurt. She reached back feeling her head. It was hurting as if someone hit her with something. Seeing as it was the last thing she remembered was feeling a sharp pain on the back of her head.
The Deku scrub gazed sadly towards Skits- who looked miserable in the cramped cage.
She soon, however, grew tired, and was just about to surrender sleep.
'SLAM!' Rushed open the prison door, which Iris wasn't even aware of before. She jumped slightly. Two dark figures- of which Iris couldn't make out- Was bringing someone within the cell. They, same as her, chained him to the wall next to her. The large figures were silent as they entered and exited the prison cell.
Iris recognized this one. This was the kind guy she'd met back in the forest. So that explains what happened to him. He was out like a light. "Hey...? You okay?" She asked. She felt just a tiny bit more comfortable talking to him, since she sort of knew him better. She then nudged him when he didn't respond to her question.
He mumbled and groaned weakly. His blurry vision growing stronger once he'd awoke, seeing the little bright-eyed Deku next to him, first thing. "You? What're you doing here? Where am I?" He asked.
"I honestly don't know... I heard you shouting back in the forest, so I came to see if you were okay. But the next thing I knew, I was... Here..."
The man looked around, noticing the others. "I see we're not alone..."
Iris nodded. She pointed at them "She's Kyutah, and he's Orion. Same thing happened to them."
"That's terrible... And not one of you have a clue who'd done this to us?" He asked.
Orion began "There were those goons we saw bringing you in, I couldn't see them all too well, though."
All was quiet for a couple minutes as he examined the room. "By the way. My name is Vitani."
Iris gazed for a while, before replying "I'm Iris."
Vitani smiled "I didn't mean too startle you back in the forest."
"Startle? Me? Nah!" Iris lied. She was still bummed out, but tried to hide it by making herself sound okay.
Iris sighed, as what seemed like hours had passed. Very boring, quiet hours. "That's it, I'm tired of this!" She loudly rang out. She sprang to her feet quickly with a determined look on her face, making everyone look towards her in surprise. "AAggggrrr!" she began to pull and yank on her chains, but only found herself to slip and hit the stone floor after pulling a good few times. "... It's hopeless... I'm never getting out here... Not exactly the place I wanted to die in..."
Skits' head lowered. Vitani looked to Orion, then Kyutah, and back at Iris. Iris began again "Hey, anyone here have a weapon of some-kind?"
Orion shook his head. "I did, but they were all taken from me I guess before they locked me in here..."
It just occurred to Vitani that his staff was missing as well. "Mine's gone too!"
Iris shifted her eyes as she sat up. "Well, I hope it wasn't left in the forest, last I remember, I found it on the ground."
Kyutah looked up "I wonder what they want from us?"
The little Deku froze. "... I don't want too think about it... All I want is too get out of this death hole!" She shouted towards the ceiling bars.
She plopped back down staring at her chains. Boredom set in again, as her mind was racing so fast, she really couldn't think at all. She tried to hold back the urge to cry. She started wondering if she, or Skits, would ever see the light of day ever again... As these chains were bound pretty tight around their legs and wrists. At this rate, it appeared no one was going anywhere.
Skits looked pitiful as his head hung out of a bars of his cage. "...-!" Skits looked above Iris, noticing a small, dark shadow ascending from the ceiling.
Whatever it was, landed on her arm. Her eye's quickly grew wide as she looked down. "AAGHHHH!" She hopped up and began shaking her arms like crazy.
"What? What's wrong, Iris!?" Orion asked.
Vitani spoke "Iris!? You okay!?"
One last shake sent a medium sized spider flying off, and also, a little click, like a small piece of metal dropping could be heard as well.. "GOSH I hate spiders!" Iris stated as the very thought sent her chills. Orion noticed the 'click' sound, and looked around, spotting a small shining thing laying next to Iris. "What's that?" He asked pointing.
Iris looked down, and picked it up. "Oh... That's a hair pin I'd got in Castle Town." Skits glared at her. Iris noticed this piercing glare. "...Okay, STOLE. Ya happy, Skits?"
"Wait! Iris, can I see that?" Vitani asked.
Iris nodded, and handed it to Vitani. Vitani examined it, and stuck it in the lock of his shackles.
"What're you doing?" Iris asked.
Kyutah spoke "Great idea, Vitani!"
"What!?" Iris asked once more.
The sound of a 'click, click' was music to Vitani's ears, as one of his shackles fell off.
"Whu-!?" Iris exclaimed. "Okay, that's cool!"
Once Vitani unlocked all his shackles, he'd moved to Orion, and began picking his shackle's locks. Then continued so to Kyutah and Iris. Then let Skits out of his cage, Skits flew straight to Iris.
Iris rubbed her wrists and stretched. "Thanks, Vitani!"
Kyutah was quick to look through the cell doors once she'd gotten up. "Hey Vitani? Do you think you can pick the lock of the cell door?"
Vitani approached the door, sticking his hand through the bars, and putting the hair pin through the lock. "It's no good, it won't work. It needs some kind of special key... The lock is shaped very differently."
Vitani heard foot steps approaching the cell. "Uh-oh..." He looked to the others and whispered "Someones coming!"
Moments later, the cell made a loud click, then the door squeaked open, showing two large figures. Who now could be identified better. They looked like mutated Lizaflos, having two tails with sharp, axe-like edges to them, ginormous teeth and what looked like wings, that still couldn't be determined, though. They also had horns atop their heads. They examined the captives of the cell, all of which appeared to be asleep and still shackled. Until they noticed one missing. "Ones gone, where'd he go!?" One spoke in a dark, gritty voice.
"Here, ugly!" The lizalfos heard as he turned. 'SMACK! came a fist to the side of it's jaw, knocking it back some as it held it's jaw in pain. Orion threw in another punch to the opposite side of it's face. Orion turned to see the other one swinging it's axed-tail at him, which Orion quickly evaded. He soon came back around, kicking the creature in the gut with his iron boot, knocking the breath out of it. Orion swung around again to meet with the other supposed lizalfos, who had it's arm's high in the air, with it's clawed hands clinched into fists. It slammed its fists down with amazing strength and brute force. It hit, but not Orion. The beast looked down as his careless attack knocked out the other lizalfos cold.
The attacker gazed around cautiously looking for his prey. WACKK! came the nasty sound of being hit behind the head. The-once last standing lizalfos was out like a light, standing behind the fallen beast was Orion. He kicked the beast behind the horns when he bent down. "Not too bright, are they?"
"Nice one, Orion." Kyutah commented. Everyone got back to their feet and removed the unlocked shackles. Iris approached the fallen monsters, nudging them her shoe in disgust. "These don't look like Lizalfos... They have faces not even a mother could love. And that's saying something when compared to a lizalfos."
Kyutah approached the now open cell door. "I say we go before they come to their senses..."
Vitani nodded "Agreed!"
They snuck out, with Orion leading. "I see light ahead!"
They continued onward as they were now going up stairs. Iris was about to run out in the open. "Oh my gosh, we're fre-!... Holy cow..."
Outward and onward were hundreds, maybe thousands, of these brute monsters, and it appeared they were in a huge fortress, as the ceiling above was countless measures high... "Oh we're so going to die here..." Iris quietly said.
Orion turned around without a word, the others following closely. Iris was practically sandwiched between everyone for protection.
On their way back down the stairs, Iris spotted something high on the wall. "...What's that?" She asked, pointing up.
Orion stopped, and walked back to Iris "An air vent, now c'mon."
"Wait, stop! What if we crawled through it? I mean, it's gotta be connected to the outside world." Iris stated.
Kyutah nodded "I think it'd be a lot safer. It's not like we'll run into any of those goons in here."
Vitani walked up to it and pulled. Luckily, it came right off with a few good tugs. "Alright then, Iris, lead the way."
Iris looked nervous, but followed through with her plan, and crawled in. the air vent was big enough for her stand in, and gave Vitani, Orion and Kyutah enough to room crawl through without a problem.
Iris was growing impatient as she continued on As Skits sat on her shoulder still. "This place must be huge..." Iris soon saw some light through a vent ahead. "Wait, I see something." She quietly ran up to it, and looked through a vent opening. Through it, a small room could be seen. It was lit red by a fire as a large lizalfos-like creature sat on a barrel, boredly using his claws to make scratch marks on a burnt table in front of him. He looked nothing like a normal Lizalfos. He was ginormous, and he for sure had a pair of dragon-like wings. He wore armer as well, the horns on his head curved, and between those two large horns were three smaller ones. The room looked like a place you'd see in volcanic places, like death mountain. Aside from the table of course, which looked totally misplaced.
"Sir?" A scratchy, gritty voice rang from the rocky hallway further out of the room. The large lizalfos looked over towards the one calling as he sighed "Yes?" The large Lizalfos replied. Vitani, Orion and Kyutah were soon looking out of the vent as well.
A normal lizalfos walked in "Sir, we've captured more for you."
The large one groaned "Yes, I know... They're not the ones I'm looking for however."
"They're not, sir?"
"No you idiot!" He slammed his fist on the table "Do they look like fairies!? Do they have wings!?" The large one stood as he roared out.
The normal lizalfos stuttered "N-n-no, Scoll..."
Scoll laid his face in his hand "I swear... Why is it that y'all can't think things through before acting!?" He paused "Dispose of the ones you've caught..."
The lizalfos asked "How, sir?"
"Throw them to the white wolfos in the den." He paused for a moment, then continued "Except the Deku Scrub."
Iris froze, hoping it was a different one, which was less likely.
"You mean the little girl?" the lizalfos asked.
"Yes... The only Deku Scrub here, moron... The wolfos won't eat her"
The lizalfos couldn't help but ask. "Then how are you going to dispose if her?"
Scoll chuckled "She'd make great fire fuel I suppose."
Iris fainted upon hearing so, causing skits to fly up on Orions shoulder.
Vitani caught her, then began to think 'Heartless, cold-blooded creatures...'
"So when should we dispose of these unwanted creatures?" The lizalfos wondered.
Scoll crossed his arms and laughed, showing monstrous teeth.. "Tonight. It's more fun when the wolfos are highly active."
Another lizalfos ran in. "Scoll, there seems to be a problem at the gates. A fights broken out! We've had another capture, but this one woke during transport, and proves to be strong! I don't know if we can take it."
Scoll stood "Okay... Let's take a look at our new capture, it sounds promising for once." With that, everyone had left the room.
"They're certainly smarter than the average Lizalfos..." Vitani stated.
"We've got to get out of here." Kyutah spoke.
"Not without our weapons... We need a way to protect ourselves if we get caught up with any of them." Orion replied.
Vitani looked out "You mean those?" He said, pointing towards a corner, which, surely enough, had their weapons lined across it.
Iris began to wake up "Ughh..."
Vitani looked down "Iris?"
"I can't believe they're going to burn me alive!" Iris panicked.
"Only if we don't get out of here." Orion stated. "But we need to get our weapons first."
Iris looked around, anxiously wanting to just leave the place. Iris leaned back on the vent. "What ifagghhhh!" She screamed as she fell. The vent had torn off when she leaned on it!
"Iris!" Vitani called out, trying to catch her. Sadly failing.
Iris squeaked in pain when she hit the floor as she landed on her back. "T-That could've hurt worse I guess..." She looked up and through the hallway to make sure no one saw her.
"Are you okay?" Vitani quietly asked out.
"Yeah." Iris replied.
She examined the room, and spotted their weapons. "huh..." she slowly approached them. "Hey, I'm going to try and hand you guys your weapons, okay?" She whispered.
"Alright." Vitani replied.
Iris recognized the staff right away and grabbed it. She ran back underneath the vent, standing on the tip of her feet to hand the staff too Vitani, then scurried back to the weapons. The next one looked odd to her. They were gauntlets with spikes at the tips of their fingers. She held them up confusingly. "Uhhh?"
"Those are mine." Orion said.
Iris gave an 'ah' expression. Then began to ponder on how she'd get them up there. She gazed at a sword to the wall, and grabbed it. It had a red hilt, and It had a long wide blade which curves at the end. she lifted it. "Ohh, this is heavy..." She carried the sword with all her strength, then sat the gaunlets on the tip it, and lifted it up. "This isn't dangerous at all..." She said with sarcasm.
Orion carefully grabbed them. "Thank you, Iris."
"Hah! Us Deku Scrubs aren't that weak after-all!" She began "Wait until I tell all those back in Lost Woods!"
Vitani held his staff out "Grab on, I'll pull you up!"
Iris hadn't heard him, as she was still talking to herself. "Well... Maybe I'll try to get myself a weapon from one of those guards at the castle."
"Iris!"
Iris jumped "Oh, what!? Oh, yeah. heheh..." She reached for the staff, but soon found herself being pulled away from reach "Ahh!"
To Be Continued...
Vitani belongs to TheCrimsonKyuubi on DeviantART.
Kyutah belongs to sarcasticAquarium on DeviantART.
Orion belongs to kingofdarkness17 on DeviantART.