I do not own Zelda, or any of the characters, The Legend Of Zelda and it's characters are owned by my lovable childhood gaming toy and company: Nintendo.
Enjoy everyone :)
CHAPTER 2
HOMESICK
"Ow!" Anju cried, running her fingers under cold water. "Damn. . . " She had burnt herself trying to cook again. Anju was really found of cooking, but everything she ever tried to bake, broil, boil, cook, fry or grill all either burnt or had a horrific taste. She sighed, putting away the pan and pulling out Oatmeal boxes.
At least it's something I can make, she thought. She was stirring in peaches and brown sugar when she heard foot steps coming down from the stairs but it wasn't an adult's, it sounded small, quicker and coming her way. Link sniffed the air as he quickened his pace to the kitchen. He smelt something good.
"Oh, good morning, Link. Are you feeling better?" Anju smiled.
Link nodded, "A little." He had woken up in a better mood and well rested. He figured he'd stay until later this afternoon after he got a look at the maps until he ventured out to Hyrule.
"Well, I'm making breakfast, if you'd like you may eat in your room since we don't have a table out here." Anju frowned. Link shrugged, not really caring where he ate, he just wanted some food.
"Who cooked this, Miss Anju?" He asked.
Anju's head lowered. "Uh. ..I did. I know I'm not a good cook, but I try. Kafei is the one who can really cook. You should try some of his food, it's delicious!" She smiled at a found memory of when they were teenagers and Kafei tried impressing Anju by making her a stew. It smelled great and tasted wonderful. She still remembered the chicken broth, and carrots and noodles. It was their first dinner together.
Link tugged on Anju's skirt gently, pulling Anju from her trance. She yelped. "Oh, I'm so sorry! I'll grab you a bowl."
Anju fetched a small bowl, a plate and a spoon for the boy and dished him up. "Would you like me to carry this?" She asked. Link shook his head, "I got it, I'll just need help with the door."
Anju followed Link up to his room but the two were stopped by one of The Rosa Sisters. "Oh, there you are!" She asked. "It took you long enough to start breakfast, I mean, it's already eight-thirty!" She put her hands on her hips, she certainly looked angry.
"Oh, I'm sorry, breakfast doesn't start until Eight-thirty usually, because of the time we open." Anju replied, she thought she had mention this to every customer than came in but she did recall The Rosa sisters not paying too much attention to her.
"Well, I think it's complete hog-wash! I mean, my sister and I are going to be in the now delayed Carnival. We practice every night in West Clock Town; shouldn't we at least get a hot meal after a whole night of practicing? We come back at Six every morning; It's only fair!"
Anju was stunned. "But, that mean's I'll have to wake up at five thirty in the morning!"
The Red Rosa sister shrugged, "It's not my problem. I have other things to worry about. It's nice to know I'll be starved during my stay here!"
Link glared at the Sister.
"N-no, no, that's not true. Um, how about I give you this meal on the house and tomorrow I'll be up earlier for you. I'm so sorry."
The Rosa sister 'huffed' and walked to the kitchen. Link looked up at Anju. Anju looked so tired and defeated. Link was sure that all of her problems would end when she and Kafei were reunited.
"Is my stay bothering anyone?" Link had to ask. I mean, it WAS his fault Anju and Kafei were wanting to delay their marriage. Anju turned abruptly to Link and wondered, how could a child his age worry about being a bother to anyone?
She smiled kindly, stroking a few hairs away from his face.
"No, dear. Not at all. You are welcomed as long as you need to be, Link." She held the door open for him. "As for The Rosa Sisters, well, don't mind them. We get a lot of Snobbish people, most of them are in the Carnivals and Fairs and what not." She grinned.
Link smiled back at her and sat at the table. "Thank you, Miss Anju."
"You're welcome Link, would you like anything to drink?"
Link thought for a moment. "A glass of milk?"
Anju nodded, "Coming right up!"
Link was about to eat when he gasped, realizing he had no idea where the rest of his stuff was. It was a real spur of the moment thought, but he was worried. All the masks he collected, all the weapons that he MIGHT need. Where were they? Had Anju and Kafei took them?
Anju returned with his glass when Link confronted her.
"Miss Anju, where are my weapons?" Link asked, turning around.
"What weapons?" She asked.
Link frowned, "My sword, my shield, my bow. Where are they?" Anju couldn't help but give off a guilty look as she set the milk down.
"Link, I have a confession. I took them."
Link's eyes widened. "Why? That's stealing!"
Anju knew Link was wrong and felt he was in the right to blame her; however it wasn't safe for a Nine-year-old to be carrying around such weapons.
"Link, I took them because they are dangerous." Anju replied. Link didn't understand. Ever since he could remember he had at least a dagger, maybe a spear, but that was for catching the fruit in the forest that he couldn't reach. No to mention he started carrying the Kokiri Sword when he was Eight, what difference did it make?
"Anju, those were mine! I worked hard to achieve those weapons!" So many bosses defeated, so many evil killed by him. It was all of his head work and he felt he deserved the tools. Anju sighed.
"Link, I'm sorry, but you're too young to have something like that. While you're staying here you may no be able to use them." She leaned to his eye level. "However, if you find the place you are looking for-"
"Hyrule"
"-than you may have them back. I'm sorry, Link." Anju quietly finished. ". . . Eat up before it gets cold." With that she left. Link felt angry, he wanted nothing more than to leave now. But first, he looked over at the cooling peach oatmeal, breakfast smelled and looked delicious.
Downstairs, Anju was sulking. Leaning against the desk she wondered if she were doing the right thing in taking away Link's weapons. Already he was acting like a mother hen to the boy. She stood straight up. It was wrong to take a customer's belongings, but it was abnormal for a boy to be around weapons. Then again, Link wasn't a normal customer.
Anju felt confused, but brightened up when she thought of a brilliant idea:
Link couldn't have his weapons, but he can have his masks.
Anju raced upstairs to her room and in the chest next to the door inside held all of Link's stuff, front his sword to the playful masks he had. Anju gathered them all up before knocking on Link's door.
"Link?" She called. "I have something for you."
Link opened the door, had Anju changed her mind? He hoped. Anju handed him a sack and Link took it, excited. He frowned when he pulled out The Keton Mask.
"I figured you deserved at least your masks." Anju replied. As Link rummaged through the bad, he noted that none of the Bosses Masks were present, nor were The Deku Mask, The Goron Mask or The Zora Mask. He groaned when he couldn't find The Fierce Deity Mask, he was upset since he only wore it only once. It bothered him knowing all the magical Masks were gone. Had they disappeared? Had Anju confiscated them still?
"I'm missing four masks." Link replied, truthfully. Anju frowned, searching the bag. "That's all that was in there; did they fall out?"
"I don't know." Link answered. He pulled out The Postman's Hat, The Shadow Mask, The Stone Mask, Romani's Mask. Nothing. Na-da. Link felt his face scrunch up and he wanted to cry. He had worked so hard for the masks, hopefully they were not being used or maybe the Giants took them. He only hoped.
"Oh, Link, don't cry." Anju wiped away his tears. "How about you and I go make some masks?"
Make a mask? Link had never made a mask before. He assumed it was easy crafts. Anju took him by the hand and the two walked down to the front desk where Anju pulled out colorful papers, scissors, string, glue, feathers and water paints. Link's eyebrows furred together in confusion as Anju hoisted him on the desk so his legs swung.
"Alright, what color would you like?" Anju smiled.
Link thought for a moment before pointing to some green paper. Anju smiled, "Alright, now fold it in half and cut down the middle."
Link did so. "Okay, now this is tricky for the eyes." Link watched as Anju folded his paper again and cut out eye-holes for him and handed it back to him.
""Now what?" Link asked.
"Decorate!" Anju grinned. "Do whatever you like, Link." Link bit his lip before reacing for some paints. He hadn't done any arts and crafts since he lived in the Kokiri Forest, and a sense of longing and childish creativity came back to him and he soon found himself eloped in the project.
"May I see what you have done?" Anju asked, leaning over him. She gasped, "Oh, Link, it's wonderful!"
"It is?"
"Of course! It's really nice. I like it." Anju smiled at the mask. Link has cut it some more so it wouldn't look so rectangular but more like a masquerade Domino mask. It was laced with feathers on one side but kept plain on the other. Anju gently took it from Link, and tied it around his head. She grinned.
"It's The Link Mask." She praised.
Link blushed, smiling softly. He then remembered the mask Kafei and Anju both made, together it formed The Couple's Mask. He gasped.
"Miss Anju! I still have your mask, do you want it back?" He asked.
Anju thought for a moment before shaking her head. "Why not?" Like wondered.
"Link, I don't need a mask to prove how much I love Kafei. I'll express my love by honoring him." Link gave a puzzled glance and Anju snickered. "Meaning, I'll be faithful, honest and true to him and our relationship."
"Miss Anju, I know you love Kafei and all. . . but why do you want to marry him?" Link asked, hopping off the desk and helping Anju put away the crafts. Anju smiled.
"Well, to be honest, Kafei didn't like me when we were kids."
Link frowned, "Why?"
"He was just a boy, Link. I mean, boys sometimes don't like girls when they're children. I don't know why, but I clearly remember Kafei sticking his tongue out at me when I would play at the playground." Anju was chuckling at the found memory of a small boy with purple hair glaring at her.
Link was lost. He didn't know how someone could be mean to you when you were kids, but then you get married as adults.
"Is that why you like him?" Link asked.
"Oh, no, not necessarily. I just find it ironic how my childhood bully became my lover." Anju continued. "But as time went on, Kafei left me alone and we became very distant. Well, one day he came to The Stock Pot Inn, actually, it was my first day at front desk; he came in shaking and all nervous to ask me out to the carnival when we were teens."
Anju smiled fondly at Link's mask. "We went together every year after that. Then on the night of our tenth year going, he proposed to me, right in the middle of town, in front of everyone. I was so happy."
Link lowered his head, rubbing one hand to his arm. He hiccuped in sadness that went noticed by Anju.
"Like? What's wrong?"
"I. . . I miss my friends." He admitted. He missed Saria, Fado, The-Know-It-All-Brothers and he even missed that bully Mido. He wondered what they were doing right now; did they miss him? Were they searching for him? Was Saria back in the woods since Zelda had played the Song of Time?
"Oh Link." Anju got on both knees and hugged the crying boy. "No more tears, eh? You've done nothing but cry here and I feel bad. Let's do something fun, shall we?"
Link sniffed, "Fun?" He asked.
"Yeah, have you been to the park recently? I know it's not much, but we'll do something." Anju smiled, fetching for her coat. Link looked around, worried.
"But what about the Inn?" He asked.
"Oh, The Rosa sisters are sleeping right now, The Brothers are practicing their juggling routine and my mother is here if anyone needs anything. It'll just be an hour."
Link clutched his mask. "C-can I bring this?" He asked.
Anju nodded, "Of course!" Anju watched as the boy happily leaped off the desk and hurried to the door, excited to get some fresh air. Anju only hoped that this would cheer Link up, who knows what the boy had to endure. . .
Kafei was hunched over his father's desk with Mayor Dotour and several other guards.
"There." He pointed, "In Ikana Canyon. His hideout it just around the corner through some ridges. There's a door only Sakon can open."
Mayor Dotour nodded, "How will we know if he's there?" He asked.
"We won't know, that's why we need him to rob someone." Kafei explained. There was an abrupt confusion among the men in the room and outbursts were loud.
"What?"
"Are you serious?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Kafei sighed, he knew that this would happen. Of course, they'd speak out before he'd finish. "Alright, I know it's sketchy, but I have a plan."
"What plan, Son?"
"Sakon usually steals items that are affiliated with gold, money, or something of value. Last act he tried to perform was mugging The Bomb Shop owner's mother." Kafei remembered hiding behind the fence and watching the scene take place. Just as he was about to stop Sakon, out leaped The Green Hat kid and he stopped the mugging. Kafei smiled to himself, Link truly was a hero.
"Well, if he's such a big man, than why doesn't anyone do anything to stop him?" Dotour asked. "where did this take place?"
"At the North Gate."
Everyone turned to the North Gate guard and the man looked away, shamefully. "Figures." Kafei scoffed. "No offence, father. But these guards are useless. Not one of them does anything but stand around all day. We had The Moon falling, Sakon's robberies and none of them did a single thing."
"I beg to differ." A voice came out from the crowd. Everyone turned to the door to seeCaptain Viscen walking in. Kafei narrowed his eyes in anger seeing the guard clad in Purple walk in. Captain Viscen was nothing but a pain in Kafei's side since they were both children. Both of them sought the approval of Dotour. The purple clad guard took center of the room across from Kafei at the desk. He glanced at the map and rolled his eyes.
"Please, there's nothing but canyons and that strange scientist and his daughter that live out there." Viscen scoffed.
"No, there is not!" Kafei growled. "There's a hidden part of the canyon, it's full of treasure, stolen goods and other valuable items! Sakon is a theif!"
"Puh, you've been going on and on about Sakon ever since you got engaged to the Inn keeper." Viscen folded his arms. Kafei felt his hands clench. "Don't you say anything about Anju!-"
"By the way, Kafei. I've just recently found out that you've "returned" where were you for these past few weeks? Out running with your head in the clouds, scared like a chicken about the Moon falling?"
"No," Kafei replied sharply. "I was out looking for a criminal, doing YOUR job!"
"Well, while you were out searching, supposingly doing my job" I was back here patrolling, and keeping order. Much like a mayor would do, but your parents were too worried sick about you to do such a thing like run a town!"
Mayor Dotour slammed his hands down on the desk. "Now, that's quite enough! With all due respect Captain, all you did was fight with The Carpenters about whether the carnival would continue or not!"
"I was worry about the Town's safety!"
Kafei snorted, "Safety? Is that was you call running like a coward?"
"At least I was present! You'd know a lot about running away, haven't you?"
Before anyone could argue anymore there was a loud bang and the door opened abruptly once more as Madam Aroma came waddling into the room.
"Now that is quite enough!" She yelled, stomping into the room. "Kafei!" She turned to her son who slightly shivered at his mother's anger. He had seen it as a child and a teenager, it was best her anger not be directed at you.
"I have warned you about your anger, son! You're a man now do not go around picking fights!" Madam Aroma screamed.
Mayor Dotour glanced out the door at his secretary, but the green haired woman just silently apologized.
"You are going to be the mayor of this town, is this the kind of reputation you want to have? Picking fights with guards?!"
Kafei knew it was better not to argue back. "No, Ma'am."
Captain Viscen snickered, but nearly choked when Aroma turned to him. "And you! That's my son you are speaking to! I'd get your facts straight BEFORE you rant your mouth, am I clear?"
Viscen nodded.
Madam Aroma huffed, waddling out of the room, before she left however, "You boys better have either a solution, a plan, or an agreement for whatever problem you've got going BEFORE you leave this room; am I clear?!"
"Yes Madam Aroma." The room spoke.
The lady shut the door.
". . . . That's one scary lady." The Northern Guard spoke.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Link looked around, baffled by how many people were in Clock Town. Tons of Faces he didn't recognize and much more, a large portion of them knew Anju.
"Hi Anju!"
"I'm so glad I could make it for the wedding!"
"How is your mother?"
"Anju! It's been ages!"
It took them almost twenty minutes to get to the park, even though Anju lived less than thirty-feet from North Clock Town. Link felt shy for the first time in a long time, especially when people noticed him holding Anju's hand, and took this chance to hide behind the red-headed Inn keeper; although it only made the strangers laugh.
"I'll see you soon!" Anju waved goodbye to some joyful friends of hers. She leaned back to see Link grasping her dress.
"And what's gotten you in a shy mood?" Anju laughed. She stopped seeing how frightened the blonde looked. "Oh, Link, what is the matter? Do you want to go back to the Inn?"
Link shook his head. Anju seemed to be enjoying herself outside, who was he to make her go back in? "No." He replied. "I'm just not used to seeing so many people in clock Town, where did they all come from?" He asked. Anju held Link's hand once more before escorting him to the park.
"Well, they were here before the moon arrived, but once that block of rock made an appearance, many of them left." Anju replied. This baffled Link, he didn't remember seeing any other Clock Town residents at Romani Ranch, or any other inhabitants while he went on his Journey.
"Where did they go?" He asked, quietly, hopefully. Could it be that one of them ventured into Hyrule?
"I'm not certain." Anju replied. "Many of them packed up without a word and were gone in one night. My guess is they went to The Swamp, or The Mountains."
Impossible, Link thought. The Mountains were frozen solid when he arrived; where would they live in The Swamp? There was poisonous water everywhere? And The Great Bay was out of rule, only Zoras lived there. While Link thought of this, he didn't realize they had made it to the park.
"Alright, here we are!" Anju beamed.
Link was about to ask if they could head back to the Inn so he could think more about this, but a loud voice called his name.
"LINK! IT'S LINK!" Link turned to see Jim, the red-head bandanna wearing Bomber race to him. "Link! You haven't left?"
Anju couldn't help but smile at the scene. "Aw, Link, are you an official Bomber too? I remember when Kafei was one."
Jim glared at Anju, "No girls allowed!" He stuck his tongue out at her and Anju rolled her eyes.
"Well, I see the rules haven't changed. Alright, Link. I'll be doing some shopping in West Clock Town. Please stay in the park, alright?" Anju turned to leave but Link rushed to her.
"No, it's okay, Miss Anju!" He cried. "I don't mind going with you!"
Reasons were unknowns why Link didn't want Anju to leave, but he had felt sad when she left his side. Anju knelt down, smiling softly. "Oh, Link, it's just for an hour or two. Have fun with your friends. I'll be back to pick you up." Softly, she hugged him goodbye and waved as she left.
Link waved goodbye softly and Jim patted his back. "Wanna' play?" Jim smiled. "It's more fun playing when you know nothing is here to kill you."
Link thought for a moment, it had been so long since he played an actual game with someone; all the games in the Kokiri Forrest, he was usually excluded from because he didn't have a fairy at the time. He nodded softly and Jim grinned.
"I'm gonna' get the rest of The Bombers! Let's go see Old manShikashi at the Astronomy site!" Jim ran ahead and Link gasped.
"But, I can't leave the park!" He yelled.
"So? I mean, it's not like we're leaving Clock Town or anything, it's not that bad." Jim persuaded. Link sighed and followed Jim, as long as they were back within an hour, he told himself.
Link followed Jim and when they arrived at the Secret passage, Jim blew a whistle and four blue-bandanna bombers arrived. They all turned to the Yellow bandanna boy.
"Password, Jim?" The boy asked.
"14523" Jim answered. The yellow-bandanna boy stepped away and all five bombers, including Link, ran down the dark passage way.
"Hey! Someone light a stick or something!" One Bomber ordered.
"Don't be a cry baby, there's a light over there!" Jim pointed out. When they came to the water ridges, Jim went first in jumping to the clear cinder block. Following him was Link and then four bombers. Link felt like something was missing when he ran with the bombers, he had no weapons.
What if we ran into danger?, he thought. But danger never came and Jim was the first one up the ladder. Soon the Bombers and Link were standing in the middle of a colorful laboratory.
"Old man! We're back!" Jim cried out, running up the colorful staircase. The old man turned and smiled kindly at the Bombers.
"Can we look into the telescope, please?" Jim asked.
"Please mister, Shikashi?" followed four bombers, all holding their hands together, giving puppy eyes. The old man stepped away and Jim was the first one to look. "Wow! Clock Town looks so cool!" He replied.
Link stood afar from the group. He didn't feel like he was fitting in very well. He was happy to be a member of the Bombers, but when Jim and the other members were together, he just felt like he was intruding.
"Would you like to have a look, young man?" Link looked up seeing he was offered the telescope. "No thank you, sir." Link shoved his hands into his pocket and waited for the other Bombers to finish.
"This is boring, Jim. Let's do something else!" A bomber cried.
Jim thought for a moment, "We could play hide-and-seek!" Jim cried. The bombers cheered and Link was just thankful he could go back to Clock Town.
"Not it!" One cried and soon everyone called they weren't 'IT' but Link. Link gasped seeing the bombers had started running away.
"Wait up!" He cried, he couldn't hide his smile though. Link had caught up to one Bomber, tagging him as the boy fell down, disappointed he was out of the game. Link had found the rest of the bombers through out Clock Town and when he found Jim and caught him Link realized that an hour had gone by and, just as promised, Anju returned to the park, smiling at Link as she held a bag of groceries.
"I see you've been having fun, Link. See, it wasn't so bad now was it?" Anju asked.
Link shook his head and reached out to help Anju carry groceries. Link waved goodbye to the rest of the bombers as he followed Anju back to the Inn.
"Miss Anju?" Link asked, yawning. Anju turned and smiled at the sight of the tired boy. "Where's Kafei?"
Anju looked over at The Mayor's and bit her lip. "I think he's doing some business, dear. Let's go to the Inn and you can have a nap, sound nice?"
Link nodded, he was tired from running around and could use a nap. Together, he and Anju, walked hand-in-hand, back to the Inn.
"Father," Kafei was alone in the room with his father, after everyone had left. The meeting ended with everyone (well, almost everyone, Captain Viscen didn't look too convincing) promising that they'd promise to compromise at tomorrow's meeting. Kafei wanted to speak to his father alone.
"Yes, son?" Totour asked.
"Tomorrow, are you coming to meet the boy who saved us?"
"yes, yes. . . .what's his name?"
"Link."
"Strange name."
"Yeah, Dad, he has reason to believe that he lives. . . somewhere else than Termina." Kafei replied, "He'd like to look at the maps."
Dotour looked baffled as he laughed, "Wha-what?"
"Please Dad? I mean, he's probably using this as to take a look at where he's at so he can go home."
Dotour nodded, "Very well. After all, I'd like to meet the boy who saved my town."
Kafei smiled, "I'm going to The Inn, I'll see you and Mom tomorrow though." Dotour called Kafei back before the purple-head could leave.
"Kafei, wait, where are you staying?"
Kafei bit his lip, remembering he promised his friend at The Curiosity Shop that he'd stay for a while until Sakon was caught. "I'm staying at a friend's. I'll be in Clock Town. I'm safe." Kafei replied.
Dotour trusted his son. "Very well. Who is this friend, if I might ask?"
"I can't tell you yet, Dad."
". . . Okay. Just, it's glad to have you back Son." Dotour hugged his son and Kafei held right back, enjoying the embrace. "I promise, when we catch Sakon, I'll tell you everything. No more secrets."
"I trust you, Kafei."
Kafei left for the Inn, ready to be with his Fiance and, for some reason, Link.
NEXT TIME:
A PLAN TO CATCH SAKON IS PLACED AND LINK GETS TO LOOK AT THE MAPS.
That's all for this chapter folks! Please review and I'll hope to see you next chapter!
-The Un-Wanted Angel.
