Chapter 2:

Ordon village

Now since Ashley was right beside The Hero of Time, she couldn't help noticing how tall he was compared to her. He was towering over her by a head. I guess it's no surprise since Link's like eighteen and Ashley's fourteenth birthday was like a month away. It was supposed to be celebrated on August twenty-eight, but it's not like you can simply tell time by not looking at the calendar for almost three months...(caught) well, Ashley guessed that it's July by this time around.

Okay, digging way too deep into the age here. Let's get back to the story.

Ashley kept spinning and turning, trying to image a map of the place. That's the swamp there, that's the grotto, that's a random bridge over a random canyon...Ashley stopped and looked at the other side of the bridge. She could have sworn she saw a kid dressed in green run pass the cave entrance. Tensing her hearing ability, she heard ocarinas playing a very familiar song. What's it called? Saraia's song? Faron woods?

Link, realising Ashley was no longer following him, turned around to see her curiously looking at the cave.

'' Ain't that Kokiri village?''

'' Hm,'' Link smiled.'' Not so lost now, are we? Perhaps you would've managed to find your way around without me,''

'' Maybe,'' Ashley pretended to think.'' But where's the fun in that? Besides running into dangers that is,''

'' Hah. How much do you know about the Kokiri?''

Ashley took a deep breath.'' Let's see: they have fairies that are their companions and source of communication, they take care of the Great Deku Tree, they live in tree stumps and they never age...or age very slowly, one of the two,'' she turns to Link with a wide smile. The hero's eyebrows were raised high in surprise.

'' You...surprise me by the second,'' he admitted.

'' I know. That's always with people when I first meet them,'' they then continued walking through the forest. For some time the teenagers didn't say a thing to each other, till Link wasn't able to bare the rising questions.

'' How come you know so much, yet look so confused,''

'' Well I didn't exactly get the chance to analyse the map of Hyrule before that kid sends me here,'' Ashley glimpsed at Link, then answered more seriously.'' Again, long story,'' At that Link stops.

'' How long?'' he demanded a straight answer. Ashley figured he thought she was hiding something. To be honest, she didn't know how to explain her position yet. Think about it, what would a hero do if he found out he was a famous video game character? Most likely flip out...or think you're crazy.

Ashley stood there with her lip bit. Link wasn't moving an inch from his spot. An uncomfortable silence swirled around them, one waiting, the other doubting weather to speak the truth, or come up with something fitting.

'' Fine,'' Ashley turned full body to the hero. '' I come from a planet called Earth, but then I magically end up in the Spiral, met some pirates, learned to fence and defend myself. Then I get involved into this treasure hunt for El Dorado and by doing that I sail around random worlds helping people and...well, that's it. Aaannd by doing that I became a number one most wanted person by the Armada. I keep destroying their bases one by one, even a sky station was taken down with the help of my crew. So then I come back from Aquila with another map piece to El Dorado, meet up with my friends, Carlos sends me here...and that's only the short version,'' Ashley finished up. Link stared at her.

'' This isn't a jest?'' he checked.

'' Cross my heart and hope to...not get stabbed by a bokoblin,''

Link crossed his hands.'' Really? You gained my trust at least ten seconds ago and...''

'' Look, can we talk about this after we survive the ambush?'' As she drew her rapier, Link turned around to see a bunch of red, goblin-like creatures heading towards them. Their head was shaped like a pear- small foreheads, but big cheeks and jaws- on the top they had tiny horns sticking out of their skulls. Their arms were skinny, along with the neck and legs. Their body structure wasn't the most fittest that Ashley saw, in short, they were fat... Their clothes included simple cloth to cover (AHEM) their lower part, leather bands wrapped around the big feet, and some of them even procured a helmet with bigger horns than they already had.

The bokoblins were ready to attack with bows and a sole swords. Ashley never saw a sword with such a wide blade before. They were better to use to chop up a big hunk of meat...I guess humans included.

As Link took out his Master sword and mounted his hand with the Hylian shield, Ashley rushed past him with her rapier at the ready. She blocked one of the bokoblin's swords and tried to stab him back, but, surprisingly, he easily reflected the girl's attack. Not used for that to happen, Ashley looked at the grinning red face of her enemy. She tried to move more quickly then, her rapier struck even faster. The bokoblin laughed at her and the girl used her chance to punch him. Till he was dazzled, Ashley got a few seconds to moan and shake her pain-filled fist. Why did she had to leave her parry dagger in her quarters?! Not to mention her gloves, those would've protected a little bit.

Ashley usually was able to take down her foe in mere seconds, but it looked like she needed a new strategy for these guys.

Another red goblin came running towards her. Ashley tricked him to believe she was going to slash, making the bokoblin turn the flat side of his sword. Using that, Ashley jumped onto the sword, forcing it's welder to stumble backwards. Still pinning him to the ground, the swashbuckler easily dodged an arrow going for her head. She scanned the place where it came from and noticed a green-skinned goblin in the bushes. Ashley took out a dagger and was about to toss it towards him, but an arrow then shot right from her, striking the archer in-hiding.

The girl turned to see Link with one of the bokoblin's bows. He nodded to her, dropped what he was holding and picked up his shield to block a vertical attack. The guy that attacked him kept smashing his sword at the shield, as if wanting to break it. Link held up like that for a while, then finally rolled around behind the bokoblin and finished him.

He and Ashley were now two against four of the ambush party. One of them grinned at them oddly. Ashley, trying to find it's meaning, was suddenly pushed away by Link.

'' Get down!'' he shouted and through his shout she heard whistling in the air. The ground they were standing in a minute ago was now full of arrows sticking out of it. Link got off of Ashley and got in the bokoblin's way. Raising her vision to the trees, Ashley noticed more of the green goblins aiming at them.

'' Link,'' she got his attention.

'' What?'' by saying that he slays one of the red guys.

'' Give me a lift!'' Ashley backed away to get a good run-up. Just before Ashley jumped, Link turned from his enemy and fell on one knee with his shield over his head. Soon as he felt Ashley's weight, he focuses all his might and shoves her high. Ashley had daggers in-betwen her fingers, ready to be thrown at something. In the air, she quickly scanned all the locations the bokoblins were hiding at, and threw the deadly daggers towards them. All of them hit the ground with the blades painfully deep in them.

Ashley landed with a thud. That's the first time she actually went that high. Link already knocked out the last three.

'' Impressive,'' Link said giving his hand, although that wasn't really necessary.

'' Not too shabby yourself,'' Ashley replied. By mistake, she gave Link the hand with which she punched earlier. After shaking it again, she looked at her knuckle. Well, she definitely couldn't get bruises from those big cheekbones the bokoblins had, but it seemed she didn't aim for them. It was probably the teeth...

She rubbed her hands and sighed.'' And that's why swashbucklers wear gloves,''

'' I wonder why they attacked us,'' Link suspiciously scanned the area.

'' Um...'' Ashley pointed a thumb to her left.'' Aren't Faron woods, like, just west from here? Because I think that's where there's most of them...''

'' You know, I'm still pretty curious the way your navigation works,''

'' Dude, I'm a captain. I navigate a ship 24/7,''

'' That's in your Spiral. From what you say, this this your first time walking on this land, am I right?''

'' Yes...''

'' Then how could you possibly know all it's content?!''

Ashley stood silently, thinking of a getaway from the subject.'' I...read a lot of books,''

Link stared at her, his shoulders lowered.'' Books?''

'' Yeah, I've been to enormous libraries, and since I like all those fantasy/history kind of stuff, I dug in a little bit more. And since I'm a captain, geography is very interesting to me,''

'' And you still remember all that you've read?'' Link raises his eyebrow.

'' I have a steel mind,'' Ashley shrugged, then added.'' No, really. Try punching it, your hand will hurt as much as mine right now,''

'' Hm,'' Link smiled.'' Alright, sorry for the sudden interrogation,''

'' You had full right to question me,'' Ashley honestly replied.'' Now er...about those bokoblins,''

Link nodded.'' It was a small gang, probably hunters or outcasts of their tribe. I hope there isn't more, because the village is dangerously close,''

'' Really?''

'' Yes,'' Link assured.'' Perhaps you'll recognise the path after we get closer,''

XXX

Finally Ashley heard the harmonic flow of water further behind some trees. Her nose caught a mixed scent of freshly cut grass and baked goods. Not long after, Link turned to her and said:

'' Welcome to Ordon village,'' soon as he said that, a wonderful view opened up before Ashley. Fields of lush grass and patches were accompanied by stone huts with colourful roofs. Some were built right on the edge of a crystal clear pond, with various fishes rippling the water surface. A medium sized waterfall was feeding the pond.

Left from the track there was impossible to miss a magnificent tree-house overlooking the village. The inside of it was hallow, judging by the attached windows that went up higher that the house's roof.

The whole village was standing between the forest and stone hills, as if hiding it. The teenagers walked over a small wooden bridge, Ashley taking a quick glimpse at the rumbling river beneath. Link led her to the tree-house, which probably belonged to him, but on the way the villagers took their time to greet the hero with a wave or a shout. Although, when they saw Ashley, they suspiciously watched as she walked with Link passed them. It was like he first time in Skull Island, only much more different.

Well, Ashley didn't blame them. She was an outlaw in their eyes, a stranger. Maybe after some time they'll get over it, but until then- it's going to be an uncomfortable situation.

They reached the ladder to the tree-house. Link went up first, then Ashley pushed herself to the sturdy platform. She went through the door and suddenly a sweet smell of sap hit her. She first saw the two colourful carpets cover the floor. She pushed the door open wider and it bumped against one of the chests. An armour set lied on it, completely tangled up by the way it was thrown aside. The ceiling was partly cut off to make way for another ladder leading to the second floor. A stone fireplace pressed against the wall, along with the table and a couple of chairs just left from it.

Ashley noticed a few bookshelves against the white walls. She leaned down to check the titles: '' Basic combat'', '' Wolves and dragons'', '' Legend of the Four Winds'', '' Look out for the hooves: how to bond with your horse.''... Ashley bit her knuckle to sustain her laughter. Unfortunately, that was her injured knuckle, so she only gasped as she accidentally made the blood trickle. She frowned, but continued to read- '' Soul stones and other artefacts'', '' 101 ocarina songs'' , and Sally said my bookcase was ridicules, Ashley grinned remembering her irritating classmate from Earth.

Then the title '' History of Hyrule'' captured her interest. She took out the book and opened it randomly. A drawing of three triangles, with sun rays around them, surprised Ashley a little bit. Sure, she knew it was the Triforce and that it was one of the reason you had to go through the difficult adventure in the game...well that, and an egomaniac called Ganondorf- the king of darkness. Ashley read through the pages, reading the same lines she used to on the TV screen before starting one of the Legend of Zelda games.

'' ...the three goddesses sacrificed a bit of their power, conjuring the pieces of the Triforce. It is said to grant any wish to the one who connects them...a greedy king from the desert...kingdom fell into flames...a hero in green suddenly stands in the way of the king...'' Ashley sighed as she reached the end of the legend. She noticed the pages in the book were pretty smudged. Was this Link's favourite book? It was a bit hard to imagine the hero sitting with his legs on a coffee table and peacefully reading a book.

Ashley heard steps above and quickly shoves the book in it's rightful place.

'' Sorry, I was looking for these,'' Link said coming down the ladder. He was missing his hat and weapons. He jumps the last three steps and gives Ashley a pair of leather gloves. They were the same as he wore right now, besides the size and design on the cuffs. The girl's gloves had simple stripes, while Link's were with an ivy design.

'' They're my old ones, a bit worn out...but the size should suit you,''

Ashley tried one on on the one with the bruised knuckle. She slipped it through the half fingers of the glove and dragged it till it sit tight. The cuff wasn't reaching her elbow, although she had to rise her blouses sleeve. She turned her hand to see the glove from every angle. It's as if it was meant for her.

She put on the other one, then clutched her hands a few times to get used to the new things.

'' Not bad,'' Ashley smiled.

'' Comfortable?'' Link asked.

'' Yeah. How old were you wore these?'' the boy scratched his head in thought.

'' About...fifteen, I guess,'' he then went to start the fire. '' Right then! Go on, out with it,'' he urged as he prepared to boil something.

Ashley took a seat in one of the chairs, while Link sat on a wooden couch near the door ( which Ashley missed, apparently). So she began talking about the snowglobe, how she turned up in the Spiral because of it, how she discovered about her Twin- Fair, the respect and fear she got from that, but soon was seen as a beacon of hope to most people. She explained what's the Armada, what their goal is and how she managed to take down most of Kane's Court. Ashley then mentioned her crew, how she got to meet the wonderful bunch, how they became a team and one of the most known people in the Spiral because of their daring deeds. To solid the word 'daring' she went on about the Troggy assault, then about Valencia and the Resistance, then mentioned their suicide mission in Marleybone and finally finished everything up with the teleportation spell.

'' So, didn't Sen had to bring you back?'' Link asked after he was sure Ashley finished. The girl thought about that and became concerned.

'' Yeah...I wonder what's keeping her. I hope it has nothing to do with the possible different times,''

'' Anything could happen,''

'' Well, it's the evening now, right? I've already been here too long, something is wrong,''

Link rubbed his chin.'' Perhaps Zelda might know something,'' Ashley blinked at that.

'' Zelda? Hmm...maybe,'' she is the one with the Triforce of Wisdom. It's worth a try.

'' Then we'll head out tomorrow. The fields can be dangerous at night, especially since I don't know yet how you'd handle yourself,''

Ashley eyes widened.

'' Dude! You, me, bokoblins- ringing a bell?''

Link sniggered.'' That's not enough. How do I know you won't stab me in the dark?''

'' Says the guy who let me into his house,'' the swashbuckler grinned.

'' Touche,''

'' And I'm not a backstabber...well, the friendly meaning, not the swashbuckling,''

'' I'd still want to see your tricks before we go. I want to know with whom I'm dealing with,'' he smiled then got up and checked their cooking supper in the fireplace.

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