The Legend of Zelda series do not belong to me, they belong to Shigeru Miyamoto. And the gods in the story, the Sanchez, and Chakal belong to Jorge Gutierrez. What does belong to me are Cleo, Finn, Syrilla, Joseph, and the kids in the prologue.
Chapter 1
The "For Sale" sign was hammered down in front of Cleo's ranch house. Inside, she was very busy, lugging stuff around. It was just a week ago she had graduated from high school a semester early and now the house was mostly empty except for the essential furniture, with boxes in place of the missing items. She placed another box on the counter with a heavy thud and looked in. It was full of books most important to her, science and evolution, animals and environments, economics, politics, and history of women's achievements.
She scooted over the second box on the counter to check it next. It had wall decor from her room, images of different places around the world, a few posters of her favorite movies, tv shows, games, and music bands (one of Aladdin and one of Robin Williams were usually plastered next to each other), and some drawings of her friends from her past adventures. She picked up a poster of Obama and unrolled it for a last look, she wouldn't be tacking it up again until she moved into a collage dormitory. She put it back and sat down on a chair with a huff of exhaustion, running a hand through her blonde hair.
The old travel guide of Hyrule wasn't in the box with the other books. She long ago made the decision to leave it behind along with the house. It wasn't her book after all and she knew she couldn't keep visiting Hyrule forever, she had her future to think about. Besides which, the next owner of the house, if he or she finds it in the basement, will have the chance to have a grand adventure as well.
There was the sound of a car pulling onto gravel and the screen door opening. Her father David walked into the kitchen. "I'm just done with the resignation at the department. Now all we have to do is get the rest of the packing done."
"So have you finally been promoted like they were suggesting?"
"Actually, there's been a change of plan. I've just got a call from an old friend, he said he wanted me back."
Cleo looked very surprised. "You mean the colonel you used to work for a long time ago?"
"Yeah, I've decided to go back to my old job."
"After all these years? You told me you're retired from that."
"Well, he said he needed me. Said I'm the only man he could count-"
"Doesn't he know you still have a kid? That I'm still here with you?"
"He's aware of that! He told me I won't be on a mission until next year. By then you'll already be in college."
"I'll bet he's been waiting until both Finn and I are gone!" Cleo frowned. "If I ever meet him, I'm giving him a piece of my mind!"
"I was afraid you'd take it like this..." David sighed. He decided to change the subject. "Have you decided yet where you'll be heading?"
"Dad, I told you. I'm not going anywhere yet, not until I've had word from Joseph."
"Oh right, I forgot. He's back in Mexico."
"Yes, I promised to inform him of my courses."
"What about your brother?"
"...I haven't been able to get a hold of him in awhile. Last time I talked to him, he said he's been busy, trying to meet someone."
"What, you mean like a girl?" David asked, now mildly curious.
Cleo shrugged. "I dunno, he didn't specify."
"Well, if he is, I hope he isn't up to anything funny," he said sternly.
"Oh, you're one to talk!" she snorted. She looked around her, her gray-blue eyes sweeping the whole area. "I hope I haven't forgotten anything." The instant she said "forgotten", a bouncy tune with bubble popping sounds came from her room. "That must be Joseph!" She rushed over to her computer, its monitor showing her she had a Skype message. She pressed the button and a new window popped up displaying a loading circle for a couple of seconds and then the video started. A face with silver hair and sea green eyes appeared.
"Hello? Is this thing on? Is this thing working?" He looked up. "Oh hey, um Cleo!"
"Hey Joe! How're you doing?"
"Oh, fine... uh, I'm just peachy..."
"And how are things in Mexico City?"
"Oh well, you know, the usual. But listen, there's something important I need to tell you."
"Like what, you finally grew a second wing?"
Joseph stared in what looked like disbelief, then he suddenly burst out laughing rather forcefully. "Oh right, now I get it. Hilarious!" He rolled his eyes. "But seriously, listen to what I've got to say."
"Okay, sorry. Fire away."
"Something weird happened at the museum here, the History Museum. There's been a break in."
"And what's so weird about it?"
"You see, the police were told of a disturbance at the museum and went to investigate, but they reported that nothing was taken. Not only that, but there was no sign that the robber forced his way in or got out afterwards. But something was definitely stolen, just not from any of the exhibits known to the public."
"'Known to the public'? What are you talking about?"
"Turns out the museum doesn't show everything. It's got a secret room with its own hidden exhibit. And I'm not talking about a store room, I mean it's an actual exhibit and it's full of Central American legends I've never even heard of!"
"But how did you find it if it's supposed to be a secret?"
"I got curious about the case and when I came to poke around after it happened, I found the entrance hidden in the walls just beside the main entrance. The room was a total wreck, the only proof that someone was there. When I explored the place a little, I found something else besides unknown artifacts. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it, I thought it was impossible."
"What was it?!" Cleo asked, anxiously excited.
"It was a spell circle, a portal spell circle! It's got Hylian markings and everything!"
"Get out!" Cleo gasped in utter surprise. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, I'm dead serious. I have a photo... hold on a second... ... ..." Joseph just stared at one corner of the screen.
"What is it?"
"... ...I... don't know how to send it..."
Cleo facepalmed. "You mean you don't remember?"
"Hey, give me a break, it took me forever to figure out how to even transfer the photo into the computer!"
"Put the image into a zip file, drag it onto the message box and click send." Joseph did as told and soon enough sent her the image file. She clicked it and her mouth fell open. Joseph was right, it really was a spell circle, she instantly recognized the markings. "You say the robber never got in or out?"
"Yes," he said, smiling, no doubt thinking exactly what she was thinking.
"The thief was from Hyrule! They came to the museum through the portal and exited the same way!"
"And now the only question is who did it and what was taken."
"That's why I'm coming down right away Joe. I'll see you soon." Cleo was about to close the video, but suddenly stopped. She grinned. "Nice whisker, by the way."
"What?" Joseph felt his face and realized he had a bit of pale stubble on one side of his upper lip. "Oh, shoot! Missed a spot!" And he quickly reached forward and the screen went black.
And as quickly as possible, Cleo packed the last of her essentials, checked and rechecked everything. "What's the rush?" her father asked.
"Joseph found something. I'm going to Mexico City."
"Wha-now?!"
"Yes, now! It's urgent! Just hold on to my belongings for me until I find a place to live. I'll give you a call."
It took Cleo overnight to get to Mexico, having to stop at a gas station for some food and a coffee. Being nearly a young adult, she was used to pulling all nighters, especially while driving. She couldn't fly there, the airports wouldn't allow her as she was carrying a sword just in case there would be trouble. She got to the city by the following afternoon. The first thing she noticed were the decorations and learned it was getting close to the Day of the Dead. She parked at the US Embassy near the statue of the Angel of Independence. There was an old guard standing at the entrance.
Cleo approached him. "Can I help you madam?" he asked formally when he looked up at her.
"I came to meet up with a friend who lives here. Joseph Newborn. I need some directions to his apartment."
"Do you know the address?"
"I do." Cleo told him what the address is, and he wrote the directions for her. "Thank you."
"Better be careful out here. Mexico City is crawling with gangs lately. You don't want to get kidnapped by one of them." The way he warned her was so ominous, she felt a little unnerved.
"...Thanks for the tip."
She drove down the street given to her, but the traffic soon became very bad. Something had happened ahead of her that caused it to stop completely and judging by the commotion, there was some kind of disturbance. Because no one on the road was moving, she decided to get out of the car in hopes of getting a better look. She grabbed her jacket.
There was a panicked cry. "Tenga cuidado con!" She saw a barricade and a clearing just past it. A man was running followed closely by a boar. Some of the police were trying to round it up, but becoming berserk it had started chasing after one of them. She hurried ahead and ducked under the barricade, afraid there was a chance they would resort to firearms. "Señora, usted no está permitido en aquí!"
The boar suddenly turned its attention to Cleo and charged at her. She had only an instant to counter and she waved her jacket at its assault as hard as she could. It was easily distracted by the sudden lash of cloth and changed direction without seeing where it was going, crashing face first into a police car. It fell over onto its side, totally dazed.
"Esa es mi jabalí!" A different man had entered the clearing. "Did you just do that?"
Cleo turned to him. "Yeah? You say this is yours?"
"Si. It is mine. It escaped!" he talked rapidly. Cleo looked him over, he was wearing a pair of gloves and an apron covered in blood. A butcher.
"Well, I can see why it wanted to escape. And I can't say I blame him." She turned to the policeman in charge. "Asegúrese de encontrar un buen hogar para él. Un refugio seguro."
"Si, Señora."
"Esa es mi jabalí!" the butcher shouted again.
"If he's smart enough to escape from you, then as far as I'm concerned, he has earned the right to live."
Cleo helped get the boar into an animal trailer. The farmer pulling it said he had a sow at home and was looking forward to some piglets (she gave the boar a quick pat before he was carted away). Then she continued her drive down the now clear street.
