Chapter no. : 3
Chapter title: Assignment
Story rating: T (for now)
BETAed: Not BETAed - if anyone's willing, drop me a line
Disclaimer: Me no own Zelda. I mean, come on - how stupid are you? If I did own Zelda, it would contain much swearing, blood, sex and rock'n'roll. And Yaoi. Don't forget the luffly yaoi. But since I don't own it, I have to settle for entertaining you guys with my stories and OCs - which is fine by me.
Warnings: Not any at the moment.
Notes: I might be updating a bit slower than usual due to a new situation: I'm easily distractable, as I hope you know. If you didn't, well there you go! But back to the new situation: I've recently falling into a relationship, and Addy is very very good at distracting me. She'd wonderful, though. Maybe I'll force her to write something and give it to you as a bonus chappie. But yeah: in short, I have a girlfriend~
Totally irrelevant quote of the update:
"If life deals you lemons, make lemonade; if it deals you tomatoes, make Bloody Marys. But if it deals you a truckload of hand grenades...now THAT'S a message!"


Surprisingly, Shade remained by my side for the rest of the day. I slept as she cantered in circles around me, probably bored. But what would I do aside sleep? There had been little activity since Twilight, and I wanted nothing to do with the girl on Lake Hylia's bridge. To add to it, I'd stayed up the previous night until the sun rose. Sleep was necessary, though Shade allowed me little of it, whinnying in my ear like a child surprising her older sister just for the heck of it. I eventually sent her off, though she refused to leave, instead trotting off and grazing. I don't recall much of that day, but when I woke, black feathers covered my vision. An annoying Guay squawked in my face, that amazingly creepy mailman shivering behind it.

Brushing the damned bird off, I sat up groggily. The mailman took the initiative to address me. "Letter for you, Mr. Link," he mumbled, extending one arm, an elegant, white parcel held in his thin, bone-like fingers. He saluted, standing stiff. "Have a nice day, Mr. Link." And he was off, gone with that strange jog of his. I've always felt like he was plotting something against me.

Discarding the mailman from my mind, I bit into the parcel, tugging on it, glad when the paper gave way. Calling Shade to my side, I opened the letter.

Link,

I apologize for the eagerness of this letter, but I request that you come to my side immediately. Something is amiss in Hyrule, as I'm sure you've already figured out, and it needs to be stopped before another race vanishes.

Best regards,

Zelda

P.S: Tell Shade I said 'hi'.

Ah, Zelda. Always so formal, up until she finds a friend. Inside, she really was just a teenager with her childhood stolen by royalty and her father's early death. Sometimes I felt bad for her, actually. Maybe she needed a break.

But for then, I had to get to her castle. Luckily, it wasn't far- Shade and I had located to Southern Hyrule Field as the sun rose, so we merely had to travel north and into Castle Town. Shade bumped my back with her nose, pushing me forward. After turning and glaring at the young horse until she flattened her ears, I mounted from the side.

My little mare snorted and took off with the slightest kick to her sides, turning the plains to liquid as we sped overtop them. Green blurred into green, flowers into new frost as Hyrule crept into Spring, slow to arrive. The whole world slowed as we traveled until birds spent days avoiding Shade, their twits of surprise echoing, ringing in my ears for a millennium.

I didn't even notice Castle Town looming ahead until Shade drew to a halt, snorting decisively. Taking a moment to gather my melted legs, pulling them from the stirrups, I slid off her back. Shade was certainly faster than Epona, seeing as I could hardly stand upon dismounting.

Allowing the midnight horse to her own devices as I ascended the roughly hewn steps leading into town, a Helmasaur watched me from afar, placid. The typically aggressive species of Hyrule had stilled, virtually friendly, once news of the Gorons' disappearance spread. Perhaps they were scared for themselves, for their own races, like I was for mine. Like Zelda was. If I had free time, I would visit the Zoras to assure them of their safety, though I knew not of it myself. For all I knew, they could be gone already.

The townspeople went about their days slightly faster than usual, fearful of whatever force had done away with the Gorons. Some carried baskets full of fruit, others toting small children or stray dogs. A pig-faced woman yelled at her child as he climbed the stone pillars holding up most of Castle Town's shop fronts. He blew a raspberry at her from above. That's why I like children- they show no fear in the face of imminent doom. They live their lives as though nothing can hold them back. I've learned a lot from them, because when you're a hero, your life could end at any moment and nobody would know.

A bright, cheerful whinny echoed from outside the town walls. Few looked up, but I was one of them. Even Shade reminded me of a child.

But I mustn't dawdle, and then was no exception. Setting my mind on the task at hand, however simple it may have been, I pushed through the throng of citizens and to the castle gate. Neither guard hesitated to let me pass- they knew who I was. Who didn't? Legendary Hero of Time, the one that can never be forgotten by others, nomatter how much he wants to? Yeah, that's me.

One soldier even bothered to salute as I passed him, a long line of Royal Guard members standing to attention, not getting my notice. Their formality grated on my nerves.

Roughly hewn rock brushed my boots as I approached the castle's entrance, pebbles clattering away when I accidentally kicked them.

The route was automatic, engraved into my mind like fighting was, like the blood spurting from that Bulblin's chest after he killed Epona… I would never forget that. I don't think I could if I tried, even though I'll never want to.

Sections of the castle, even after two years, were still being rebuilt. Zelda's library was one of them. To this day, I hate renovations and construction. Nomatter how you look at them, they're all the same- big and ugly.

Her throne room was the exact same as it had been when I fought Ganondorf. Upon entering, I tensed, ready to draw my sword against the massive boar. It took me a long moment to calm myself, to reassure myself that he was dead and gone. If I'd ever been scared of something, he was it.

Like any loyal subject, I knelt before Zelda, doing my best to ignore the fragrant scent she gave off, that coated everything in her presence with honey and chocolate. Odd, though, because she never ate chocolate. At least, to my knowledge.

Her voice rang like it always did; final, yet innocent. "Stand, Hero. You know how much I hate it when you kneel like some sort of peasant."

She's always held me much higher than anyone. Since morphed Twili killed the leader of the Royal Guard, her best friend, Zelda has adopted me as her favorite. Granted, I'm fond of her, but I try to avoid castles and cities like Castle Town.

As ordered, I stood, my stiff demeanor dropping to reveal my typical, carefree attitude. "And you know how much I hate titles," I quipped. "How many times have I told you to call me 'Link'?"

She gave a cheerful grin, rising from her throne. Childishly, she held out her arms widely. "I've missed you," she said, silently ordering me. As told, I came forth and hugged her, reveling in her scent. It gave me a sense of peace, just being around her. Zelda always knew how to brighten my day. Sadly, though, that time wasn't for socialization. She knew this as well as I did, and quickly released me. Both our smiles fell. "I apologize for calling you here only for such a depressing discussion, Link," she apologized, taking her place on her throne. I remained silent. "But, since you're here, the mailman has done his job well."

"He still creeps me out," I murmured, crossing my legs and taking a seat on the cold, stone floor.

Zelda laughed. "I feel the same, but he's a hard worker. But on a different note: you've probably already noticed the Gorons' disappearance. We need to figure out what caused their vanishing and stop it from targeting any other species. Losing even Keese could be devastating to the ecosystem."

I nodded. "Where should I start?"

She took a moment, evidently thinking hard. A tiny section of her lip pulled into her mouth, teeth working at it by force of habit. "Talk to the citizens of Kakariko and see if there was anything strange going on during the month before they vanished. Renardo would probably-"

I stood and turned at the sound of bare feet shifting against oriental rug. That girl and her birds bowed before Zelda. I wondered briefly why she was there before recalling that I didn't care.

The Princess seemed surprised to see her. They'd met, I knew, as Zelda showed signs of knowing exactly who she was. "I didn't expect you to join us," she said, recovering from her shock. "I never sent a letter requesting your assistance."

She nearly cut Zelda off, eyes hard. "She wanted me to help the Hero and told me where I could find him." The first word was spat with such malice that I thought her hatred would burn a hole in the ozone all on its lonesome. But hatred for who?

"Well, I can't go against her will, then. Would you care to introduce yourself to Link?" Zelda appeared slightly irritated with the girl's presence.

Guhnam preened his feathers as she spoke. "We've met," she growled. Zelda lifted one brow, silently telling her to be more polite. Sighing, she turned to me. "I'm Shirin," she hissed, holding out one hand. "It's nice to meet you." Those words were so forced it made the hairs on my neck stand on end.

"Likewise," I stated, taking her hand in my own and shaking it. Her fingers were soft. She smelled of the sea and obsidian- a strange combination. After she pulled away from the handshake and set about fixing the feathers on her arrows, I turned to Zelda. "Do we have to work together?" I pleaded. Shirin scoffed beside me. I could imagine her rolling her eyes in disgust. Well, as undesirable as her attitude was, at least she wasn't some Hero's fangirl. I still hate them, all except those three outside the Star Circus tent that squealed and gave me potion. I liked them quite a bit- three free life sources.

Zelda grinned, holding back one of her chiming laughs. "I'm afraid so. Her order rises above even my own." I sighed, ignoring the hateful growl that emanated from Shirin at my whine.

"To Kakariko, then," I groaned, much less sprightly and excited than before. This mood of mine was like a scientist trying to examine roadkill smeared twenty feet over the trail on a rainy day- impossible to read or recreate. The only emotion that radiated from me was disappointment and frustration. Both were true as I grabbed Shirin and drug her along, headed for Castle Town and my mount. She didn't protest much, keeping up until we pushed through the wooden doors that barred Castle Town from the world. That was when she yanked her wrist from my grip.

She turned away from me, giving a strange, cat-like call that echoed through the plains. Artag, who had vanished at some point during the meeting, dropped from the sky. Using a stirrup-like piece of a leather saddle made by her own hands that I hadn't noticed before, Shirin mounted Artag. "I'll meet you in Kakariko when the sun is at its zenith," she said, a sense of finality to her tone. With that, she clicked her tongue, the massive bird screeching and taking off.

Determined to beat her there, I kicked Shade as I hopped onto her back, sending the black horse into a full gallop. Fabric caught in my hand as I grabbed my hat when it went flying off, torn away by the wind.

Renardo watched me from one of the many windows lining his hut as I rode in, slowing Shade just before we hit the edge of the water. The name of the entity that guards that particular spring, however massive a sin it was and is, escapes me. I'm sure he'd be alright with it, though, seeing as I saved his spring and territory.

I took longer than expected to get to Kakariko, and the sun had passed the point chosen. Still, Shirin was nowhere to be found. Clouds obscured the sun as I lay there, unmoving, my cap in my hand, my hair soaking in the spring's water. Kakariko had warmed since I left earlier that morning, the added lava of Death Mountain taking its toll.


A harsh kick to my shin woke me; I yelped with the sudden pain. Propping myself up by my hands, I glared at the offender: Shirin. One hand on her hip, she glowered down at me, strong dislike clear in her eyes. Stars shone behind her, a full moon illuminating the sky. The world seemed to glow slightly, eerily. "The sun isn't at its zenith, Shirin," I growled. Her frown turned into a hooked grin.

"On the other side of the world, it is."

Oh, how I hated loopholes. Apparently, she adored them as well as the sight of my suffering; her soft snickers echoed off the rocky walls of Kakariko's canyon when I groaned in frustration.

But she offered a hand to help me up, which I took. Though I originally thought she would drop me at some point, she didn't, much to my surprise. Perhaps there was a heart amid that icy block she called a soul. Only when I was standing, though, did I notice her change in apparel. The only thing that remained the same was her choice of footwear. Or the lack of her choice of footwear- her feet remained bare. She'd traded the skirt for brown shorts that hardly covered her rear as well as a lighter brown, thick cloth that hung to her ankles on both sides. Intricate patterns consisting of sharp, jagged turns, swirls, and designs similar to those on the Fused Shadow pieces laced the bottom. It reminded me of a loincloth. Maybe that was the point. Her meager chest was covered by only a band of material the exact same color as the rest of her outfit. A pendant hung from her neck on a leather string. A glass sphere with what looked like fire burning inside. Since magic exists, I didn't question how it was possible. Possible or not, it could happen, especially in Hyrule.

"Stop staring," she growled, turning away. I did so, heat rising to my cheeks. I hadn't thought she would notice, but now that I think about it, archers have keen eyes and it was imminent that she would see. Before I could ask why she'd chosen night to start the investigation, she spoke: "Since there's more lava than usual, it'll heat the volcano and surrounding village. It's like a desert- we'll want to do this while the sun's heat isn't added to it. It'll make it a lot easier," she said. Why hadn't I thought of that?

Scowling, I trotted along behind her—Goddesses, she walked fast!—still unknowing of exactly what she had planned. "So are we going to go look at the volcano first, or-" She cut me off.

"Didn't you hear Zelda? We're going to talk to Renardo." She resumed walking, having stopped dead to yell at me. "And I thought you'd already rummaged through that bloody volcano. What's the point in doing it again, hm?"

She had an odd way of speaking, like a streetgoer thrown among nobles. I could easily tell she hadn't been born in Hyrule, that she wasn't Hylian. Her accent often slurred vowels and she had to repeat the word slowly in order for me to understand. It was a subtle accent, but there nonetheless. I could tell she tried to hide it.

The door to Renardo's hut creaked as she pushed it open, not even bothering to knock. Was she just rude, I wondered, or were she and the Shaman good enough friends that she could do without the pleasantries of socialization? "Oi, Renardo!" she called, bare feet kicking up what little dirt lay on the hut's floor. "We have a few questions for ya, love!" Good friends, then.

A head poked up from the hatch in the floor that lead to the basement. He'd probably been cleaning up a few of the items down there, sorting through what to get rid of and what to keep. "I thought you might," he said in that rough voice of his. He sounded tired. "First, Shirin," he continued, addressing my partner. She made a questioning sound at the front of her throat. "How is she treating you? Any better? Any worse?" The chair sighed as he seated himself, Shirin and I doing the same. Shirin sat on the floor, though, uncaring of the dirt.

"No better, but her temper's been out of whack lately and she's taking it out on me. Bloody whore should learn her place," she snarled. I really wanted to know who this 'she' was. Nobody ever used her name, so I was left to wonder.

"I'm sorry to hear that. And you know she can hear you, especially since this is her land. Be careful of what you say, lest she summon you before she forgets." Shirin growled in the back of her throat, averting her eyes. "Now, then. What is it you want to know?"

This time, I spoke, twiddling my thumbs nervously. I didn't like this subject. "Zelda asked us to investigate the Gorons' disappearance. We were wondering if you noticed anything in the months prior to when they vanished." Shirin leaned her back against my seat, her head against my leg. I glanced down at her. Artag and Guhnam tapped at the door.

Renardo sighed sadly. I felt bad for him- he'd been particularly fond of the Gorons. "They were prospering, doing well," he said, tracing the wrinkles in his hand with his other thumb. "Then suddenly, there was an earthquake. We went to visit them the day after, only to find nothing there. It's as though they did something to anger the Goddesses." Shirin tensed beside me.

"They didn't- I'll tell ya that," she snarled, toying with an arrow. "They was minding their own business." That little verb confusion drew me to a conclusion- she'd definitely grown up on the streets, not in Hyrule or any of the nations surrounding. "But I don't know why they're gone or where they went. I could always ask her, but she's more likely to punish me than give me any information," she mumbled. I could hardly hear the last sentence. And though curiosity raged in the pit of my stomach, I refused to ask who 'she' was for fear of making Shirin hate me more than she already did. "Well, we had better be off, then, before another bloody race goes missing. Thanks for the info, Renny," she cooed, standing and turning.

Renardo sighed and grinned at the nickname. Odd- he rarely smiled. "I'm sorry I couldn't be much help. You might was to ask the Seer that lives at the top of that cliff-" here he pointed to a cliff rivaling the size of Death Mountain standing directly across from his house "-she might know more than I do."

Shirin nodded and stepped out the door. Artag instantly darted to her side, Guhnam perched on his shoulder. Petting the Kargaroc's plated beak, she mounted him and adjusted her feet in the tiny, metal stirrups. They didn't even move- they were probably used to allow the bird to fly easier more than steer. She stood on them, using a tap to the left side of Artag's neck to tell him to lift off. Thick reigns trailed from a headpiece that spiraled down his neck. She grinned at me and clicked her tongue. "I'll meet you at the top," she called before vanishing, leaving me to find the day-long trail to the cave. Shade snickered, taunting me, from her position lying in the spring. I sighed, my shoulders falling.

"I wish you could fly," I muttered. Shade snorted, stood, and galloped away without even letting me take my comment back.


Again, I'm sorry for the immense lapse in time between this and my previous update, but at least it's not four months, eh? And Christmas is coming up fast, so I thought I'd finish this for everyone as a gift. A lot of stories down't update around this time of year due to traveling for the holidays, but I never go anywhere, so you can always expect a chapter, even around Christmas. So long as I'm not feeling too lazy, I'll be sure to get a chapter in per month. Maybe every two weeks or so, if you're lucky. (Very lucky.)

As always, if I've made any spelling, grammatical, or otherwise errors, feel free to tell me!

Thank you oh so very much to my reviewers~

CosplayerMew: Why do I feel like I've already responded to your review? Oh well. I'm glad you're excited- it makes me happy to know someone enjoys my writing~ I'm...uh... not quite sure what it is, but I'll be sure to name it eventually. I don't even know what it'll end up looking like. But that's planning ahead for you, eh? (No, I'm not Canadian.)

Bobbitt The Hobbit: I could've written more on this one, but I'm lazy and didn't want to keep you waiting, so meh. :P