Third Part I:"The loneliest people are the kindest..."
Cozy.
That was a good way to describe Kakariko village. Not in the sense that it was a comfy pace to live; more in the sense, that it was quite warm.
'Who builds a village at the base of a volcano?' Link thought as he followed his red clad lookalike, who was enjoying himself showing Link around; pointing at random buildings and saying things like 'That's the bomb shop, don't bring lanterns in there.' and 'This is the inn, only one hundred rupees a night!'.
It was quite a nice town, though.
The warm breeze blowing from the mountain made the small town warm yet not unbearable as a spring of fresh water gently blew small droplets of the cool substance as they were carried by the whispering wind. Old stone and wood-beam houses lined a central road, with a path from the bomb shop leading up to some rather dilapidated looking houses, and a path leading to Death Mountain on one end of the village(1). The mountain itself was billowing smoke like an old man's pipe; thick grey smoke drifting into the sky, turning it into a murky soup.
"Is the volcano always active?" the green clad boy asked, pointing up at the looming figure.
Red simply shrugged. "Not always. It does billow smoke once in a while. Though never this thick..." He trailed off, continuing towards a tall building near the spring.
He approached the wooden door and, knocking on it gently, entered. "Renado? There's a visitor here."
Torches lit the half-egg shaped room, and a statue of a large bird sat in the center of the room where a tall man stood. Angular features, thick dreadlocks, and robes with rather odd symbols stitched into the softened leather made the men look rather intimating.
"Red?" Renado said, turning toward the two boys. "Who is this?"
Before Link could introduce himself, Red happily did it for him. "This is Link, and he's...um.." he turned to Link, a puppy dog smile on his face. "Why are you here again?"
Sigh.
Link explained the situation at the castle to the three, the third being Luda- who had joined them moments before. Renado and Luda looked troubled by this news; however, the reward for best reaction went to Red. His eyes grew as big as dinner plates and his hand flew up to his mouth, bottom lip trembling.
"So the princess was kidnapped? That is quite troubling news." Renado said, after Link finished his explanation.
"And the maidens from the four providences," Luda said, tilting her head slightly. "The princess would, of course, be one of them... But, that would mean Darunia's daughter would be in danger!"
Red nearly yelped as Luda finished her statement. "The princess? But, why would they want to hurt the princess? She never did anything wrong!"
Luda raised her eyebrow at the boy. "They are evil, Red, spirits of villains. Were you even listening?"
"Umm..."
"You were thinking of sheep, weren't you?"
A blush grew over the boy's face, turning it the same color as his tunic. "N-never mind that! What if they capture, or hurt her?! Or, or-"
"Red," Renado said, a firm tone in his voice and a calm look in his eye. "Be at peace. I'm sure the princess is fine. You may go up to the mountain later and see her; maybe Link would like to accompany you."
He cast a pointed glance at the blonde haired boy and, in turn, Link muttered a quick "Ah, sure."
Red's whole demeanor instantly changed. "Okay!"
'What's with this guy? One second he's about to burst into tears, the next he's as happy as could be!' Link thought as he watched his lookalike practically skip out the door. Before he could follow, however, Renado halted him with a gesture of the hand.
"Link," he started. "Keep an eye on him would you? He is not as careful as he should be. And he needs someone to... tell him not to be saddened sometimes."
Link nodded slowly and began to follow the shepherd out the door.
'Goddesses protect them,' Renado thought, watching the two boys walk out into the clouded sunlight. 'How odd fate can be, giving them the same name.'
The two hylian boys strolled 'round the town. Red enjoying talking, while Link simply listened; still wondering what he had roped himself into.
Sure, he didn't mind Red. But the boy acted more like a six year old, rather than a twelve year old. He was optimistic, yet at the same time he became (from what Link had seen anyway) sad or overwhelmed very quickly. Of course Link himself sometimes became sad, but the shepherd had gone into hysterics.
"Hey, Link!"
The latter blinked, realizing he had stopped, and looked at the gloved boy, who was standing at the edge of a small cliff.
"You wanna go up to the hot springs?"
"Ah, yeah sure."
Red beamed at his lookalike; then jumped across the chasm.
That made Link jump...the surprise variety.
Alright, have you ever measured how far you can leap? On average, many people can jump three to five feet with a running start. The gap Red jumped, was easily nine feet wide. Of course, Link could jump pretty far sometimes. But only with a running start.
"You coming?" Red asked, still beaming. "We can go do something else if you want."
Link smiled back and jumped the gorge... only to find himself holding on to the edge of the opposite side, with Red laughing and helping him up.
"Nah," the boy in green laughed, after being pulled up from his clinging position. "This is fine. How are you able to jump so far?"
Red giggled, though it sounded more girlish than boyish. "Chasing sheep through the mountains, saving the lambs from cliffs, the whole shepherding deal! Come on, the hot spring's up this way!"
They climbed what must have been the roof of the inn Red had mentioned, and found themselves in a small alcove of red stone with a large pool of steaming water in the center. The healing warmth of the water felt wonderful against Link's bare feet, which had been released from their prison of boots.
"Ahhh," Link sighed as he splashed the water, creating ripples in the smooth surface. "There isn't anything like this in Castle town..."
"What's it like in the castle?" Red asked. He had also taken his knee high boots off, revealing the white tights that both boys wore. "Like, how was it growing up in the castle?"
Link smiled at the boy's apparent confusion. "Red, I didn't grow up in the castle, Princess Zelda-" He paused, the memory of his friend's capture rushing back.
Red, sensing Link's sudden anguish, turned the subject away from the girl. "So where did you live then?"
Link smiled, grateful for the change of subject. "I grew up in the knights quarters, with my father."
"With your father? Cool! What about your mother?"
"...She died when I was born... What about you?"
The questioned boy swirled the warm liquid with his foot, a look of anguish on his face. He suddenly stood up, drying his feet and pulling his boots on, "You wanna try flying with the cuckoos?"
'Why is he avoiding the question?' Link silently questioned, but instead answered- or rather questioned, "Ah, try what?"
A few seconds later, after some rough and tumble, feathers, and evil poultry, they stood at the edge of the tall building, holding the flapping birds tightly in their hands.
"So, now what?"
Red smiled, tucking the spooked creature under his arm and pointing with his now free hand. "See the top of the bomb shop? Yeah, there. Just jump off, hold onto the cuckoo and aim for that rooftop!"
Link raised an eyebrow, glancing down at the fluttering bird. "Are they really strong enough to lift us into the air?"
The snowy hen the green clothed boy held clucked indignantly, pecking the boy's hand.
"Ow!" Link muttered, waving his injured hand as Red giggled. "Okay, okay. So you're strong enough, I get it. Geez!"
Red laughed as the hen clucked once more, turning its head away from its captor. "That's just like you, Piyoko!"
Link blinked. "You can understand it- err, her?"
"Yep! You ready?"
"...I guess..."
"Here we go! Wahoo!"
"Oh, goddesses!"(2)
(A/N: this, and until the next break line, is not necessary to read. Just a short piece.)
"Ha! That's gonna hurt!"
Two cloaked figures sat high above the two flying boys, watching with amusement...well one of them anyway.
"Ha ha ha! Hey, Princess, you gonna watch or not?"
The second figure glanced up with a scowl. "Don't call me that. And why would I want to watch that boy fly into cliffs?"
"That's the fun part!"
The second figure sighed, standing up from his rocky seat. "I'm leaving, you coming with, Shadow?"
The dark boy gave a fang-y grin as he looked down at the two boys, who were now being tailed by a small dog and walking up toward the mountain. "Nah, I'm gonna have some fun with these two. After all, they don't have the Four Sword's power anymore."
And with that, he disappeared. The second character sighed as he turned to leave. "He's going to be so mad when he finds out."
With a final glance at the two boys, he followed suit of the shadowy boy and vanished.
"So, do you know the goron chief's daughter well?"
The two Christmas themed boys- one more feather beaten than the other- were hiking up the steep slope of the mountain of death, toward a large opening at the top of the second tallest peak. The heat was growing as they climbed higher and higher, the biting heat swept along the swift wind. The path they trod upon was a light brown with red dust mixed in with the crushed rock. Large boulders were placed at random, as if they had fallen from the tapered mountain top...which was still billowing a cacophony of black smoke.
"Korra?(3)" Red asked, glancing back at the following boy. He tilted his head, trying to recall. "I think I met her when I was about five, maybe younger."
Nala the shepherd dog, who had followed the two boys up the slopes, whined slightly as the ground began to shake and quiver, making the threesome unsteady on their feet.
"What in Hyrul-" Link was cut-off when Red suddenly slammed into him, knocking to the ground.
Where Link had stood only moments before a large, steaming rock crashed into the ground creating a crater in the red earth...that would've flattened Link in to a pancake.
"Are... Are you okay?"
Link glanced over at Red, who was staring at him with fearful eyes. "Y-yeah... What was that?"
"The volcano," Red began, lifting his face (which was stricken with worry) up towards the mountain. "That usually happens when it's about to erupt..."
Red's mood changes come at odd times...very odd.
"Or, maybe not!"
...Another perfect moment for a deadpan...
"Waddya mean 'maybe not'? A second ago you were saying we might blow up!"
"Weeellll," Red began, a smiling now plastered on his face. "Whenever Korra gets mad or upset, she usually goes into the mountain to vent. Making it a little explosive."
"... So, she causes the volcano to erupt every time she gets mad?"
"Yep!"
"..."
Link sighed and continued up the path towards the opening in the cliff-face. Red blinked, then happily followed the green hatted boy, Nala at his heels. As they neared the cave's entrance, a second 'round of rumbling shook the mountain.
"The volcano again?!" Link asked, staring up at the larger peak.
"N-n-o-o-p-p-e!" Red stuttered, his voice breaking as he was bounced up and down from the shaking. "Tr-try g-gorons!"
As the pointed eared boy finished his sentence, a large rock fell right in front of the entrance of the cave.
"Halt-goro!"
'Goro'?
"Anatase!(4)" Red shouted at the rock. "It's me, Red!"
"Goro?"
The rock trembled, and moved. The goron unfolded itself; revealing its large, yellow belly festooned with odd symbols. The entirety of the creature's back was covered with rock, including its head and elbows, and warm amber eyes gazed at the two boys. There was also a loin-cloth, but I don't want to go into detail...
"Ah, Red-goro!" Anatase said, then glanced back and forth between Red and Link. "Goro? Why are there two Reds?"
Red giggled at this and Link smiled at the goron. "My name is Link, Anatase, and I'm not Red."
"Link-goro? But that is Re-"
"Never mind that!" Red interjected. "What's the matter with the mountain? Is Korra mad again?"
"It's terrible-goro! The cloud stole her and flew back to the peak!"
...Cloud?
"Wait," Link said, stepping forward slightly. "Do you mean a dark mist?! Almost like a shadow?"
"Goro!"
"Like what stole the princess?" Red asked, looking rather spooked.
Link nodded in agreement, staring up at the mountain. "And whatever took her, is definitely in that volcano...great..."
"Into the mountain-goro?!"
The pair had entered the cave and were now standing before the goron chieftain. Darunia was large, even for a goron. Though he had the traditional yellowish skin, dark markings on both arms, and rocky back of a goron, his arms were as buff as buff could be. Eight spikes of grayish hair stuck out from all sides of his head, and bands of black and yellow cloth wjrapped 'round his wrists and ankles.
Red glanced nervously at Link, who urged him to go on. "W-well, yes."
The large, yet rather short, goron blinked at the twosome. "...What?! Are you mad-goro?! With the way Korra is now-"
"What?" Link and Red asked at the same time, before glancing at each other with Red smiling and Link with an odd expression on his face.
"What," Red began again. "What's wrong with Korra? Anatase said she was stolen, not hurt!"
Darunia glanced at said goron and inquired something in the language of the mountain. Anatase answered in the same language, looking worried. Darunia sighed, looking like Link's father sometimes did after a hard day of work.
"I was not aware of my daughter's disappearance-goro. I was talking about her raging through the mountain."
Red blinked. "Again?"
All the gorons present, about seven, replied glumly. "Goro."
"Goro! She's gonna destroy all the good rocks-goro!" one fairly large goron suddenly wailed, followed by the others groaning in agreement.
"They do realize Korra was stolen, right?" Link whispered to Red, who shrugged.
"I never said gorons were smart."
A/N: Okay, I split this chapter in two... no idea why. *sigh* I have NO idea how gorons talk, and I'm sorry if this seems like it's progressing too quickly.
(1): from LoZ-TP.
(2): you might want to remember Red's reaction.
(3):...goron-ish, right?
(4): mineral name.
Sooo, yeah. If you can guess who the second figure (If you read the side-story bit.) is, well, good job, you're gonna guess the pot... I-I mean plot!
Oh, something I forgot to mention in the first chapter...if anyone reviews at all, NO FLAMES!