The Legend of Zelda: Shackles of Memory
Chapter 3: The "Marauders"
There was trouble in paradise.
The highest superior to the servant's master would be a fair ruler, so why does a self-proclaimed, self-righteous hero believe that destroying him would make the world better? Doesn't he realize that under the rule of his master's superior, the world would be much better off?
He tried to convince his master to let him take care of the problem personally, but was told to stay, for all holders of the metal had to stay behind, in the case that the "hero" would try to make an assault on the master himself. The servant deemed it highly unlikely, which prompted the master to utter only the words, "Wishful thinking, I'm afraid…"
-
The morning sun rose and it was indeed a beautiful day. However, Grasshopper did not feel like getting up, so he didn't. Being an amnesiac has more bad aspects than good, but the inability to remember any responsibilities you left behind is a plus.
-
"Do you think you know how to use a bow-and-arrow?"
It was the middle of the day and Grasshopper looked down at Romani who had come from nowhere and asked that question. Cremia was usually reluctant when trying to uncover anything about Grasshopper's past, but Romani just dove right in there. It was either courage or a lack of knowing better.
"Maybe… why?"
"Well, it's just that Cremia is making a delivery of milk to Clock Town today…"
"… And that relates to my ability to use a bow-and-arrow… how?"
Romani looked around to see if her sister was anywhere, and then said, "Whenever sister makes a milk delivery, these 'marauders' come and try to shatter the jars of milk. We know it's the Gorman Brothers who live on the track near us, but my sister says if we say that we know that we're on to them that they could take a more aggressive approach to trying to ruin us."
"Why would they try to ruin you?"
"Cremia says that they think that they are in competition with us for some reason. I don't see where agriculture is a competition. Don't we all compete to supply the world?"
"I should give those Gormans a talking-to."
"Don't go over there! They'll say mean things and lies!" Romani said urgently, and then as if Grasshopper had agreed, she began to go on to other things. She ran over to a crate and took out a deflated balloon that looked like some sort of alien. Romani used an air pump to fill up the balloon and then tied it to the crate and let the balloon float up, being constricted by its string. She had obviously done this many times before. Romani ran back to where Grasshopper was standing. Grasshopper watched on interested as Romani pulled an arrow back and after much concentration let it fly. The arrow ran straight into the balloon, popping it.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Romani gloated before running over to pick up the arrow.
"Yeah. Cool."
"Now you try!" Romani presented her bow to Grasshopper with a great big smile. Grasshopper took and broke a nervous sweat.
"Uh, okay…"
Romani told him to wait as she ran over to the crate and repeated the process and made another balloon target. Grasshopper started pulling the arrow back very uncomfortably, but as he got a feel for it, he felt like the bow was a fifth appendage, guiding his aim to the balloon and letting the arrow fly. The arrow ripped right through the balloon and soared on until it almost hit a wooden cucco ornament. It would have done so it Cremia hadn't been there and caught it expertly.
"Oops! Sorry!" Grasshopper called out, "Are you okay over there?"
"I live with Romani," Cremia said with a smirk and cocked eyebrow, "that's most definitely not the first time I've had to save something from being struck by an arrow."
Grasshopper just scratched the back of his head and quickly handed the bow back to Romani. He couldn't help but to think highly of Cremia for her reflexes.
-
Later in the day, Grasshopper was experimenting with the Multitask. He had it set on "drums" and sure enough the press of a button set off the sound of drums. While playing, he saw Cremia come by with jars of milk.
"Oh! Cremia!" He yelled, putting the Multitask away and getting Cremia's attention as she put the jars on the carriage.
"Yes?"
"What is this I hear about some guys harassing you when you try to make a delivery of milk?"
"Oh…" Cremia folded her arms, "that Romani can't help but to wedge you right into our lives… but it's true. Those Gorman brothers have been destroying my milk every time I make a delivery. There was one time, however…"
"One time?"
"Yes, remember that boy Link that visited us? He accompanied me on one of my trips to Clock Town and when the Gormans came to break the milk jars, Link used his bow to ward them off. It truly was a show… plus it was the only time I was able to deliver ALL the milk in contrast to only delivering a fraction of such."
"Hmmmm…" Grasshopper thought for a second, and then said, "I should talk to those guys, maybe I can get them to understand."
Cremia smiled, "Grasshopper, if you can manage to talk sense into those two I'd give you a big kiss on the mouth for sure. There is just no way those Rupee-grubbing sons-of-keese will listen to anybody unless they offer them some 'incentive.'"
She rubbed her fingers together to indicate money.
"No one can be that evil… can they?"
-
On the Gorman track, the Gorman brothers were talking merrily about how they were going to destroy Cremia's milk good when they noticed someone coming. They immediately got into commerce positions. Grasshopper rounded the corner into the main building of the track and saw two identical men who both had fake smiles.
"Weeeeell well, well, what have we here, brother? A customer, no doubt!"
"I agree with you there, partner! A nice boy willing to fund everyone's favorite local suppliers!"
They're routine was so fake that it didn't take a genius to know that this was not how they usually act.
"You must be the Gorman brothers."
"Indeed we are! Saw our signs on the Clock Town milk bar wall, eh?"
"Yes, right over every advertisement for the Romani Ranch, I noticed."
"Ahh, they just need to watch out for where they put their posters is all! We hire people to put up ours, so we have no control over where they're put! If they put them over the Romani Ranch posters, it isn't our fault!"
Yeah, you either did it yourselves or told your "people" to do it that way, Grasshopper thought. Maybe if he were direct, they wouldn't respond. Maybe if he tried to beat around the bush and make them believe he was out of the know slightly, he could lower their guard.
"You know, guys, I've recently heard that around this area a band of marauders are known to appear and attack carriages with milk on them."
Both the brothers stiffened up. Grasshopper had their attention.
"Sure is inconsiderate of them," Grasshopper continued, "people are only trying to make deliveries."
"Maybe those – what did you call them? – Marauders are desperate," one of the Gormans spoke up, "maybe taking the milk out is, ahem, their way of keeping themselves alive. Financially."
"That's right," The other Gorman said, "that Cremia has to be rolling in the greens and reds and purples while others, like those marauders, are ignored and can't pay off their dues."
Grasshopper raised an eyebrow, "Who said anything about Cremia?"
Both the brothers looked to each other, then returned to quiet stares. Grasshopper sensed hostility, so he decided to leave.
"I left my Rupees back at home, but I know I'll buy something next time!" It was an obvious lie, but anything to get out of that place.
-
It was almost time for the sun to set and Cremia was just about to make her delivery. Grasshopper approached her.
"Making a delivery?"
"Yeah."
"Mind if I tag along?"
Cremia looked at him, "Why?"
"Oh, I guess a nice wagon ride would do me some good."
"Okay, just be careful with the milk."
Cremia left to get drinking water in case they ever got thirsty when Grasshopper felt Romani tug at his tunic.
"Take this." Romani said, once again presenting her bow to Grasshopper.
"You want me to take this on the ride?"
"Yeah, the other Grasshopper has his own bow, but you can borrow mine to ward off those Gormans."
Grasshopper took the bow, "Thanks. Now get into the house, it's getting dark."
Romani said good night before entering the house. Cremia came back with bottles of water – after all, it was a hot summer night – and got ready to leave.
-
The first part of the wagon ride was seemingly peaceful enough. Once they reach the area where a gate could be, however, that's when Cremia would know the bumpy ride was about to start. Before then, she advised they enjoy the ride.
"So…" Cremia said, trying to spark conversation, "what would you have done. If you didn't decide to stay with us?"
Grasshopper looked from the view to Cremia, "I probably would have rented a room at the inn at Clock Town and explored the world, using that room as a home."
"Oh… do you regret being unable to do that?"
"Not really. I like it at the ranch. Besides, any former life without you girls isn't really a life at all, I say."
"That's really sweet." Cremia said softly, looking back at the road for a few minutes, then started to chew her lip again, "Grasshopper?"
"Yeah?"
Cremia thought about how she was going to put this… most of the time when she saw him, he was her friend Grasshopper. However, some rare times, seeing him in sunlight or something of the sort would fill her head with types of lust. She just wishes she could run over to him and… she shivered for the second time at the thought. She thought that perhaps he could help her out with that, to understand it, of course. She suddenly realized that she had his attention and nearly panicked.
"H-how's the milk doing back there?"
She could hear him patting the jars, "Snug as bugs and not going anywhere."
Cremia gave a frail sigh of relief. This wasn't the time to talk about… that. Maybe later, when they were alone on the ranch… in her room… on her bed. She suddenly gasped and held the reins to her heart. Of all thoughts of that type, that one was the worst one yet! She once again exhaled and soon enough those thoughts left her.
As Grasshopper looked at the road, an idea came to mind. He took out the Multitask and set it to "harmonica" and began playing, not really knowing what he was doing, but it sounded good nonetheless.
-
The peace did not last forever as the wagon found itself in front of a gate.
"Oh crap…" Cremia muttered in an exasperated tone. That was fast. She remembered Grasshopper with a start and wondered if he would approve of her using such language. She usually faced this alone and nobody really was there to hear her. She knew Grasshopper was listening and his silence said that he didn't mind. So, she said to him, "I don't suppose you have a bow or anything?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." He replied, holding up Romani's bow.
"That's… Romani's bow! She gave it to you?"
"Yup, said it would help."
Cremia sighed, "Okay, be ready when they come. Because they will come."
"I'm ready…" Grasshopper muttered, narrowing his eyes.
After a time, they found themselves on the Gorman track. Grasshopper kept a watchful eye for any movement.
"It's quiet… too quiet."
Silence…
Then-
"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAW!"
"Wha-!"
Grasshopper couldn't finish his exclamation before a pair of horse-bound figures appeared from behind and began chasing the wagon.
"That must be them!"
Cremia only nodded.
As the figures drew closer, Grasshopper readied an arrow, "Are you sure this won't kill them?"
"Yes. Arrows can't pierce those masks they wear. All they'll feel is a sudden impact."
"Right. Okay."
"Disappointed?" At that the corner of her mouth curved upward.
"Only slightly."
Grasshopper let the arrow sit as the men on horses worked their way closer to the back of the wagon where the milk laid almost ready to be smashed. The men then unsheathed the swords they had and raised the swords in the air, ready to let them down upon unsuspecting jars of milk.
"Just try it…" Grasshopper muttered as the farther man got within a nice close range. Grasshopper wanted to see if he'd actually try to smash the jar with Grasshopper guarding it.
The man looked at Grasshopper with a look of recognition and seemed about ready to verbally indicate so when Grasshopper rudely struck the man on the forehead with an arrow. As Cremia had said, the arrow merely fell from where it struck the man and the man howled as he rubbed his head. His sudden outburst caused his horse to slow down. He trailed obscenities as he fell back.
"Gotcha!"
The other man saw how futile it was to smash the jars, and also remembered the other time with that kid in green and decided to go for the jar's sentinel. He stood with his feet on the horse's back and sword still raised. Grasshopper almost wondered what he was up to when the man leapt! He landed right in the passenger area of the wagon. Cremia looked back very worried.
"Oh sh-" Grasshopper muttered when the man brought his sword up to eye level. This encounter was going to get worse before it got better. Grasshopper dropped Romani's bow, worried that it could get destroyed if it got involved in a close range encounter.
The masked man swung the sword at Grasshopper's neck and Grasshopper ducked. The barrage of swipes continued with failed attempts at hitting until Grasshopper brought up one of the jars of milk to defend himself with. The sword hit the jar, not even scratching the jar. The masked man raised an eyebrow and brought his sword back, intending on striking hard enough to shatter the jar.
"STUPID!" Grasshopper yelled at himself in realization of what he was doing and fell on his bottom as the sword whooshed by above and struck a lantern used to illuminate in the dark night. It was lit, of course. The man got an idea and struck the lantern again, knocking it onto the floor of the wagon and causing a fire to start. Satisfied, the man jumped backwards out of the wagon and told the other man what he had done. They both rode away laughing.
"Stop! Stop!" Cremia yelled frantically as she tugged the reins on the horses pulling the wagon. This was to no avail, as the horses still ran on in a horrified dash.
"They won't listen," Grasshopper yelled from the back, "as long as the wagon is on fire!"
"Then we have to abandon the wagon! It's the only way!" Cremia indicated this by getting off her seat and working her way around the fire to right next to where Grasshopper was.
"But the milk…!"
"No!" Cremia shouted, even loud for above the fire, "It's the only way! We can't risk getting burnt or injured!"
They both got into position to jump off from the back of the wagon.
"You first!" Grasshopper yelled to Cremia, "I'll jump after you. I'm not going to try anything foolish!"
Cremia nodded, then leapt off the wagon with a yell. She landed on the ground hard and rolled a bit before gaining her bearings. She then looked for Grasshopper to see if he jumped. He had not. Cremia watched on as Grasshopper headed toward the fire in the wagon.
"Noble lying bastard…"
Shortly, another wagon came along containing the Gorman brothers. One of them had a fresh bruise on his forehead.
"Well, well, well. What have we here? Allow us to take you back to your ranch, Miss."
Cremia felt that she should slap the Gormans for what they did, but she decided not to. She needed to the ride back. The entire time she worried about Grasshopper on the wagon.
On the wagon, Grasshopper looked back as if Cremia were watching back, "Crossing my fingers while promising I'd jump after you was a rotten thing, but I have to do something about this fire. Not only for the wagon, but it could hurt the surrounding area, too!"
-
It was much later in the night, even morning, and Cremia stayed up sitting at the table in the kitchen thinking only of it Grasshopper was okay.
"If… if anything happens to him… it'll be all my fault… Please come back okay, Grasshopper. Please…"
Her self-narration was interrupted by the sound of horse hooves and wagon wheels. Did the Gormans come back for some reason? There was only one way to find out. Cremia opened the door and saw the wagon that was approaching from the Termina field. Cremia recognized the wagon's covering. She recognized the horses, and she most definitely recognized the figure that lay unconscious in the passenger area of the wagon. Cremia ran over to see what had happened.
There were two other men in the wagon with Grasshopper. Both were one of the Clock Town carpenter's men. One held the reins to the horses while the other kept watch on Grasshopper. He looked badly burnt. One of the men saw the oncoming Cremia and pulled the reins to stop the horses. Cremia instantly bombarded them with questions.
"What happened? Is Grasshopper okay? Where's the milk? Did the horses hurt themselves-?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." One of the men stopped her, "One at a time, miss. One at a time."
Cremia forced herself to inhale and exhale normally and asked her first question very calmly.
"What happened?"
The man with the reins breathed in and started to talk. His story was so well told that it could practically be seen in one's mind's eye.
The story began with Grasshopper looking around in frenzy to see if anything could put out the fire. If he didn't soon, the horses could crash right into the walls of Clock Town. He tried smothering it with cloth, but it only fed the fire. He thought momentarily about using the milk, but he thought it was a waste of refreshment. Keeping his mind on refreshments, he remembered the drinking water that Cremia had packed. He could have used some at the moment, the already blazing heat of summer mixed with the hellish inferno that was the wagon made Grasshopper dizzy. Already the flames had licked his body over, giving him many burn marks.
With all his will, he forced himself to lift the jug of water and hurl its contents into the fire. By some miracle, the fire had died down enough to be successfully smothered and stomped out. After which, the horses calmed down and Grasshopper was able to steer them with no further interruption.
-
The door of the Clock Town Milk Bar swung open and in the frame stood a ghastly tired figure.
"My goodness!" The bartender gasped in shock.
"I," Grasshopper started, then coughed several times, "am making a delivery of milk. From the Romani Ranch. Don't worry, it's still very cold, just like it's supposed to."
As Grasshopper put the jars down, he coughed several times more and sat down.
"P-please take this!" The Bartender almost forced some milk into Grasshopper's face after having also dropped the bag with the payment for the milk in front of him, "on the house!"
"Thank you…" Grasshopper said weakly as he forced the milk down his throat. It soothed his ash-filled throat and made him feel better, "I'll be going now. Have to return this wagon in one peace." Grasshopper announced as he stumbled out the door again.
Grasshopper slight-limping through Clock Town caught the attention of the carpenter, though his ash-covered form probably more did it, though.
"Good Goddess! What in all Termina happened to you, boy!"
"Ah, it's nothing." Grasshopper lied, too tired to make a good story.
"Nonsense!" then to some of his men, "Hey, you two palookas! Make sure this guy gets home safely!"
"Yes, sir!" The two men left their posts and followed Grasshopper.
"Just make sure you come right back, you opportunistic slackers!"
They followed Grasshopper all the way to where he left the wagon. Grasshopper's difficulty in getting in worried the two carpenters.
"You sure you'll be okay there?"
"I'll be fine," Grasshopper said, and then passed out.
-
"An' I brought the wag'n back with him there keepin' tabs on Grasshopper there." One of the men finished the story as the other waved from the back.
"So Grasshopper was successful in saving the wagon…" Cremia thought about how much Grasshopper felt he had to prove to himself, "could… you guys help in getting him into the house?"
"Shore!" the man in the back spoke up, "beats working'!"
"Thank you. Thank you both." Cremia mused as the men carried Grasshopper out of the wagon.
-
Grasshopper came to in his room on Romani Ranch. As soon as he woke up he sat up in his bed and said, "The wagon!" Then pain began to set in, "Son of a-!" he grabbed his arm, "Ow!" then he used the other hand to grab the other arm. There was a series of wound grabbing and "ow!" until he eventually surrendered to the pain and lay back in the bed. A moist cloth landed on his forehead.
"You're not going anywhere for a while." Cremia's voice scolded. Grasshopper looked to see his shirt had been disrobed and Cremia lying wet cloths all over his upper body. They stung at first, but they soothed soon after.
"I, uh…" Grasshopper started, but paused to breathe in, "I put out the fire on the wagon. We didn't need to abandon it after all."
"So I heard," Cremia said, still soaking cloths and placing them, looking absolutely stressed, "you also delivered the milk. On time."
There was a moment of silence.
Cremia broke the silence harshly with an officially cracked voice, "You also could have been killed!"
Grasshopper exhaled, leaning his head on the pillow, "I had to do something. The whole area could have burned down, or worse. The fire could have gotten out of control and taken a whole lot of Termina."
"It could have…" Cremia said, back to her calmness, "or it couldn't have. You couldn't just have relied on luck, or… anything?"
"I could have… but then there would have been the issue of the milk and how it would have gone undelivered."
"Your life is much more precious to me than one stupid delivery of milk!" Cremia near shouted, clutching her current cloth tightly, causing the water soaked in it to be squeezed out.
"Cremia, you don't know what you're saying." Grasshopper said, hoping humor would hold back Cremia's tears. Unfortunately, it did not.
Cremia had thrown her whole body on Grasshopper's, getting her dress wet from the cloths but certainly not caring. It also resulted in some of the cloths flying off, which showed what disregard she had for anything but holding him. She had her face pressed against his shoulder, her hot tears streaming. Grasshopper felt that those tears hurt on his burns, but didn't say anything, feeling that it was fair retribution for making her cry in the first place.
Once the pain was dealt with in his head, Grasshopper realized at how close a proximity they were to one another. Cremia had her whole body pressed to his. She was so soft and warm and the scent of the farm on her was absolutely divine. He was worried his increasing body temperature would affect Cremia until she held herself at arm's length.
"I was so worried…" Cremia muttered and looked into Grasshopper's face. What little knowledge of life he had kicked in and he could sense a kiss coming, or even more. Though he'd like nothing better than to do so, and even resultant action, he felt that it would severely complicate things about the ranch.
"Are you done with those cloths? If so, could I please get some rest?" He said quickly, trying not to be rude.
Cremia was brought back down to Termina by his words, "Oh, oh, yes. That's all of them. Please do get some rest. You ought to get better real soon."
-
Grasshopper woke up about an hour or two later, still fatigued. His burns were not completely healed, but to the point where the moist cloths weren't necessary. As he took them off, he noticed a bottle of milk left on the table in the room. He sat in the chair next to the table and began drinking the milk. The window was open, so a breeze came in and it was absolutely soothing. Grasshopper, bathed in water and moonlight, would have sent Cremia into a fit of impure thoughts. On that subject, he thought about what nearly happened back there. Surely, the moment that nearly came to pass was a result of all the worry she held for him, and not just lust or pure emotion… right? He was even more worried about himself, and how he not only anticipated what would have happened, but he had wanted it real bad up until his sensibility kicked in and made him able to resist. He wondered if it was Cremia or maybe he just… needed it in general, and if so, if there would be a time when he won't be able to resist.
He made a mouth noise, dashing all those previous thoughts and turned them to something practical. After a long swig he looked at his reflection in the milk and only thought of what had happened even earlier.
"I bet Cremia wishes that she could deliver the milk without having to go through those Gormans… I know I do…"
He sat back and looked around the room and eventually to the window…
Right into the face of an owl.
Grasshopper wasn't alarmed, just fascinated at the intelligent expression staring back at him. Was it normal for an owl to just perch on a windowsill? What happened next certainly was not normal.
"Quite an interesting request you are speculating."
Grasshopper let out a yelp and almost dropped the milk, "You can talk?"
The owl nodded, "Yes, I can. I'll admit it's not normal amongst fowl to speak human tongue."
"Yeah, it isn't. I don't know what is more odd, the concept of a talking owl or the fact I'm carrying on a conversation with one.
The owl made a sound like clearing his throat, more out of wishing to continue with his previous thought than anything else, "Well, as I said before, your wish is quite intriguing."
"Wish?"
"You wanted to be able to go to Clock Town without going down the path, correct?"
"Yes."
"I believe that I can help you with that plight."
"Really?"
"Yes, I have a way to make you travel to a location within the blink of an eye."
"How!" Grasshopper exclaimed, then narrowed his eyes, "Are you a magic owl?"
"It involves your instrument." The owl continued, disregarding Grasshopper's question.
Grasshopper looked over to the top of the dresser and saw the Multitask. He picked it up and showed it to the owl.
"This thing?"
"Yes," The owl nodded, "it is indeed a curious invention. Using it, you can travel far in short amounts of time."
Grasshopper only looked at the Multitask.
"Allow me to show you." The owl said, and then breathed in.
The owl sang a tune that went: Down left up, down left up.
Grasshopper repeated the song with the Multitask set to "ocarina." This is how Grasshopper learned the Song of Soaring.
Almost immediately Grasshopper felt as if he were flying. He saw all of Termina with only a few blinking spots on the ground. Grasshopper wanted to be back in the room and as soon as the thought entered his head, he was on the path leading to the Ranch and right next to an owl statue. He quickly ran back to the ranch and into his room. The owl was still there and seemed to enjoy the look on Grasshopper's face.
"What just happened?"
"Using that song, you can warp to any owl statue in the land. They have to be activated by the swing of a sword, though. Fortunately for you, someone has already done all that."
"Wait, I can explore the world without having to move out of the ranch?"
The owl merely nodded.
"This is fantastic! Wait until the others hear this!"
"I suggest you get some rest first."
"… But now I can't sleep with the thought of this… unless you know a song of sleeping."
The owl seemed to make a chuckling noise and made to take off, "I'm glad I could have been of help, young lad."
"Wait! Do you have a name?"
The owl's head rotated almost all the way up-side down, "I am called Kaepora Gaebora."
"Eh, I'll just say 'KG.'"
"If you so wish. Now if you excuse me, I will steal off into the night."
"Bye, KG!"
As suddenly as KG had appeared in Grasshopper's life, so did he vanish. For good? Only time can tell…
Grasshopper has played out a very desirable scenario. He is able to explore the world without leaving the people he has come to know and love in the passing of just three days. The sun rose on a new day as the question of where Grasshopper could possibly go weighed in on his sleepy mind.