Six o'clock and already the lumpy pumpkin is bustling. Families, couples, groups of friends gather in clusters throughout the restaurant, the smell of pumpkin soup is thick in the warm air
Zelda gasps as she pushes the door open, Link, Midna and Groose just behind her "Are we actually going to get seats?"
A smiley waitress in a long dress makes her way over towards the group of youths, notebook in hand "Hello, my name is Kina! I'll be your waitress tonight, if… oh… I'm terribly sorry but we appear to be out of tables!"
"No look!" Shouts Groose, pointing across the restaurant "Ghirahim and Fi are already here! Its ok ma'am, we're with them!"
She smiles "Of course!" She leads us across the crowded room, dodging between tables of people enjoying fresh hot pumpkin soup, we smile at Beth, Colin, Ilia, Malo, and Talo who are all enjoying child sized portions of pumpkin soup with their parents, and give a wave to Pipit and Karane before settling around the large, circular wooden table where Ghirahim and Fi are already sat side by side
Groose grins at the waitress "Six potions of piping hot pumpkin soup please!"
The waitress smiles "Of course, and to drink?"
Fi "Six milks! They're good for your hearts"
Link rolls his eyes "She's always obsessed with hearts! If mine drop below six she starts bleeping at me and won't stop until I bring my hearts up!"
Fi crosses her arms, irritated "Sorry, I don't want my friends to die!"
Ghirahim grins, slipping his arm around Fi's shoulders "Ignore him!"
Zelda smiles, neatening her knife and fork either side of her place mat "Anyway, so where did you two vanish off too at lunch time! I was really worried!"
Link squirms in his seat "Sorry, but we found something really interesting…"
"Oooh! Sounds intriguing!" Midna grins excitedly "I love me some gossip"
Link reaches into his pocket, fumbling around, but his fingers touch nothing but fabric "Wait… wha…?"
"Looking for something?" Ghirahim smirks, holding his gloved hand in the air, the shining golden ring at his fingertips
Link raises his eyebrows, surprised "When did you… how did you… what?"
Ghirahim smirks "Oh Link, you'll learn one day, keep your friends close but your enemies closer"
Midna squints at the ring, examining it carefully "What's so special about it?" She reaches out for the ring, but Ghirahim ducks his hand below the table, mumbling "Hang on…"
The waitress smiles at us all, laying the six glasses of milk down on the table in front of us "Your soup is on its way!"
Zelda mumbles her thanks and the waitress walks away, once she's out of sight, Ghirahim places the ring in the centre of the table
Midna grabs it, curious as ever "Forged at the hand of goddess Hylia… oh my god it's a goddess ring!"
Fi puts her finger to her lips "Shh! Keep your voice down Midna!" Midna just pokes her tongue out at Fi
Groose turns the corners of his mouth down, pouting a little as he takes the ring from Midna "So… what does it do?"
Link sighs, turning sheepishly to Zelda "We don't actually know… we were hoping one of you might know something… Zelda? You know loads about the goddess Hylia and the ancient history?"
She smiles nervously "Let me see the ring" Groose holds it out to her, and she takes it carefully, studying the three triangle design
"Well?" Midna asks impatiently
"The design is called a… wait a moment…"
The waitress returns again, smiling, though we're all sat in silent anticipation, she lays our bowls of pumpkin soup in front each of us, we give her our thanks, then when she disappears again, we all turn back to Zelda
Midna groans "Come on Zelda the anticipation is killing me!"
She blinks a few times, focusing back on topic "Sorry… the design is called a Triforce… it's meant to be a three part power source…
"I never would have guessed!" Ghirahim mutters sarcastically, sipping his soup, we all shh him and continue to listen to Zelda
"Its purpose was lost to the ages… but if this is genuine… it's special…"
Midna sighs "Yeah but if we don't know what it does or how to use it… what are we supposed to do with it?"
Zelda places the ring carefully in the middle of the table "We have to keep it, we'll each take it in turns wearing it, and then each day we'll swap and someone else can look after it"
Ghirahim gasps, appalled "Hey no fair! I found it! And it looks FABULOUS on me!"
Zelda sighs, rolling her eyes "Fine, you can wear it first" Ghirahim grins, satisfied, and slips the ring on his finger
Link frowns, looking miserable "What about me? I found it too!"
Ghirahim laughs "Oh Link, do stop complaining, your making me rather down in the dumps
"But-"
"Oh I do wish you'd keep your mouth shut sometimes Link!"
Link frowns, frustrated, Ghirahim always found a way to tease or bully Link; it's really starting to irritate him. He wants more than anything, to argue back… but something's wrong… no matter how hard he tries, he can't pry his lips apart
Groose stops shovelling soup for a moment, frowning "You ok buddy?"
It's as though someone had super glued his lips together, he drops his spoon back into the bowl of soup, trying his best to say something but all that's coming out is mumbles
Fi rolls her eyes "Link please stop messing around!"
But he's not, he begins gestualting wildly, unable to utter a word, Midna begins cackling at the helpless green clad boy "Haha! Link can't talk Link can't talk!" She sings, tauntingly. Link thumps his fist on the table, causing all the bowls to rattle on their saucers
"Ahh finally!" Ghirahim exclaims "My wish is coming true!"
"That's it!" Zelda gasps "It's the ring! Ghirahim… what did you say right before Link stopped talking?"
"Umm… I said I wished he's keep his mouth shut…"
"So to get Link to talk again… he needs to wish for it?" Groose asks, confused
"Exactly! That must be the purpose of the Triforce, to grant wishes!" Zelda grins, everyone is celebrating, apart from Link, who sulks alone, arms crossed
"Oh this is too much fun, so many interesting ways I can make Link's life a living hell!" Ghirahim grins, twirling the ring round and round on his finger
"Ok!" Fi intervenes "If we're keeping this wish granting ring, we need to set a few ground rules, we do not make anyone's lives a living hell for no reason, especially not each other, ok?"
Groose, Midna, and Link nod, everyone turns to Ghirahim, watching expectantly
"Well?" Says Fi, impatiently
"Deal" Ghirahim reluctantly agrees
Link stares at Ghirahim, waiting for him to undo the wish, but Ghirahim just laughs
"I think I want an early night… I'll see you all tomorrow morning at school!"
Link waves wildly at Ghirahim, but it's too late, he's already making his way out of the lumpy pumpkin, Link growls, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed…
He can't even enjoy a bowl of delicious pumpkin soup…