Ch 4 training and castle town
Link awoke to find himself laying on the ground. Face down against a patch of something hard and itchy. Slowly, he sat up from his laying position with blurred vision. He rubbed his eyes and waited for everything to clear, only to see something freighting. When his eyes cleared, they widened when Link saw a ring of angry red fire surround him. Link began to panic as he looked around.
"What's happening? Where an I!?" He thought as a drop of sweat ran down his forehead.
A deep demonic chuckle came from behind Link. Shaking, he slowly turned around to see a colossal beast; completely covered in black darkness with yellow glowing eyes looking down at Link as it laughed deeply. Link took a step back as he stared in horror.
"What are y-you?!" He shouted out with a shaky voice.
The beast stopped laughing and looked at link sharply. It leaned down closer to the young man.
"Your end."
Before Link could even react, the beast buried its claws into the dry ground, turning it black. Black vines began spreading towards Link. He tried to run, but he was frozen like stone. The black vines began to spread onto Links' body as he struggled and cried uselessly.
"Link."
A voice called to Link. It was high pitched, unlike the voice of the beast. But Link couldn't hear it over the sound of him struggling to break free from the black.
"Link!"
It happened again, but this time, Link heard it clearly.
"WAKE UP YOU LAZY THING!"
Link gasped as he opened his eyes wide and sat up straight on the bed. He was covered in cold sweat as he gasped for air. He looked up to see a rather surprised Niva hovering in front of him.
"You don't look too good Link. Did you have a nightmare?" Niva asked as she rested on the bed post.
"Nightmare?" Link nervously laughed. "What makes you think that, Niva?"
"You were tossing all over the bed and you were moaning as loud as an animal. How would I not think that?"
link blinked and looked down at the mangled bedsheets.
"Yeah. It was a bad one, too." He answered with his head down.
Niva turned away silently as she started to turn bright pink.
"So, would now be a bad time to tell you that you're late for training?" She asked calmly.
Link on the other hand quickly looked up from his bed with wide eyes and started to panic.
"What!?" He shouted as he jumped off the bed, wearing only a pair of pants and started racing for other parts of his clothes. "Impa is going to kill me! Why didn't you wake me earlier!?"
"Well, it seemed dangerous because of you tossing around; you would have squished me." Niva replied with a shaky voice.
"You could have just asked someone else to do it!" Link replied fiercely as he put his shirt and boots on quickly.
Link then ran out the door and starting racing to the training grounds.
"You forgot your sword!" Niva shouted in hearing range, making Link come running back.
Link quickly ran into the room, grabbed his sword off the small wooden table and ran back out. Niva watched him through the doorway and sighed.
"I don't know how, but maybe he'll do something productive for once in his life." She thought to herself.
Link ran as fast as he could go, running past several guards and maids without taking notice. He came to a complete stop as he entered the grounds; skidding on the grey stone cobble and sending several pebbles flying in a short distance. Link huffed and puffed as he looked up to see Impa a few feet away from him; sitting on wooden stool next to a table with her legs crossed and drinking a cup of tea With a giant sword next to her stool. Impa looked up from her now empty cup and take a look at Link.
"I'm surprised you even showed up." She greeted as she put her cup on the table.
"Yeah... Me too." Link replied as he breathed heavily.
Impa stood up from the stool with her hands at her sides.
"Do you know why you are here?" She asked with a firm tone.
Link looked at her with a raised eyebrow as he stood up properly.
"To train?" Link asked in reply.
"Wrong!"
Impa threw the stool high in the air with one hand and grabbed the sword with the other. With quick movement, Impa jumped high in the air with her sword and slashed against the wooden stool with lighting speed uncountable times. Impa landed on her feet as her sword slammed straight in the ground and the dust that was the stool gently sprinkled onto the stone cobble. Links' eyes were as wide as dinner plates as he watched the commander get up off the ground and put her hands behind her back.
"You are here to prove if you are worthy to protect the princess." Impa remarked as she walked towards a nervous Link. "I know the Goddesses work in strange ways. But I do have my doubts about they choice they have made."
Link still looked at Impa with nervous stare.
"Well, there is a chance that I could prove you wrong." Link joked with a nervous chuckle.
Impa responded with a grim stare before walking over to a weapon rack with swords, axes and spears. She picked up a sword and pointed it towards Link.
"Then show me." Impa ordered with a firm tone and stance.
With that said, Link pulled his sword from its scabbard and charged at Impa with battle cry. Impa moved herself out of Links' way, making him fall straight to the ground. She pointed her sword at him, making him stare straight up the blade.
"You're too impatient." Impa remarked as she pulled her sword away.
"Never charge straight away. Find your opponents' weakness and strike at the right time. Now get up!"
Link quickly got up off the ground and went into a proper fighting stance. He charged at Impa again. This time she blocked Link's attack and stuck back, repeating it over and over. While this was going on, zelda was brushing her hair in her chambers with the door open as she hummed. The sound of metal slamming together reached her ears and caught her attention. She put her brush on the bed and raced towards the door, where the sound was coming from outside. Looking over the stone railing of her balcony, Zelda spotted Impa and Link training fiercely below in the training grounds; watching as they clashed their weapons together nod almost sending sparks flying. Zelda leaned closer as she watched, not sure if of who she wanted to root for.
After what seemed like hours of attacking and defending, Link was on his last legs while Impa still looked ready to fight. Link breathed heavily as he tightly griped the handle of his sword.
"How is she not tired yet!?" He yelled in his mind, still breathing heavily.
"He's worn out. Yet he refuses to stop." Impa thought to herself as she scanned Link with her eyes.
Link swung his blade at the commander with brute force, only to be blocked yet again. With that he fell onto his knees, using his sword to support himself with his other hand on his chest.
"Are you tired?" Impa asked as she lowered her weapon.
"I don't, know the meaning, of the word." Link replied with breathy voice.
Impa dropped her sword and walked towards Link. She held her hand out to him with a firm stare.
"You have skills." She stated has she helped Link off the ground.
"Okay for someone who practised with a stick as a child?" Link replied with a slight cringe.
"You haven't proved yourself yet. But you have potential. You just need to work on your defence as well as your offence and learn to maintain your energy."
Link rolled his eyes from the commander.
"You'll have no training tomorrow, so consider yourself lucky." Impa continued, ignoring Links' gesture.
Link looked at Impa with a confused look in his eyes.
"Why not?" He asked with curiosity.
"It's Zelda's birthday tomorrow. You have to help prepare for the royal party." Impa answered before picking up her sword and walking away.
Link just shook his head as he began to walk away from the scene. As walked, he rubbed his sore arms and cringed at the touch. Half of his body felt as if it was beaten without mercy, in a way it was.
"When I was told that I was gonna be the protector of the princess, this is not how I pictured it." Link said to himself as he dragged himself up the stairs With his head down.
"Don't worry, it'll get better."
A familiar voice talked to Link. He looked up in surprise to see Zelda smiling softly at him.
"Your majesty!" Link replied as he tried to solute, but gripped his arm in pain instead.
"Don't move so quickly, you'll strain your muscles." Zelda stated as she moved closer to Link.
"Tell that to Impa, she practically trained my like a dog! My arms feel like heavy metal."
Zelda pondered on hearing this. Then she smiled at Link again.
"I think I have something that can help." She said as she gently grabbed Links' hand. "Just come with me."
Link followed Zelda. He did not really have any choice because of how tight Zeldas' grip was on his hand. Eventually, Zelda pulled Link in her room and pulled out a chair for him.
"Just wait right here, I have to go get something." Zelda instructed as she looked through the draws of her cupboard.
"you're not going to give me acupuncture are you? Because I hate needles!" Link replied nervously as he rubbed his shoulder.
"No."
Zelda took a teapot, some small cups and a bag of herbs out of the cupboard.
"I'm just going to make you some special healing tea." She said as she placed the tea set on a table in front of Link.
Link pulled a confused face as he looked at the teapot.
"You need to boil water to make tea, right?" He asked as he looked up at Zelda.
"Correct?" Zelda replied as she opened the bag of herbs and sprinkled some into the cups.
"Well, there's no stove in here. And you don't have any water."
"well. Let me show to something."
Zelda held her hand above the teapot and took a deep breath. With her eyes closed, she snapped her figured and the pot began to glow bright red. Link watched with wide eyes as steam came out of the pot and Zelda picked it Up by the handle. To Links' shocked and amazement, hot water poured out of the pot and into the cups.
"Here you go." Zelda smirked as she handed Link a cup of herb tea.
Link took the cup even though he couldn't stop staring at the princess.
"How, did you do that!?" He asked in shock.
"Do what?" Zelda replied, still smirking.
"That thing with the pot!"
"Oh that? It's magic."
Link stopped staring and blinked when he heard the word magic.
"You're a sorceress?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Not really. I've just been able use magic for as long as I can remember. I don't really know how I can do it." Zelda explained before taking a sip of tea.
"Kind of like me with a sword." Link smirked as he replied.
Zelda smiled at her bodyguard's remark as she watched him take a full gulp of the tea. When he swallowed, Link looked into the cup; seeing no bits of herbs and only small droplets of tea.
"So when does this stuff start working?" he asked as he still looked into the cup.
"Probably any second now." Zelda replied with a smile.
Link just rubbed his shoulder, trying to ease some of the pain it was in. After a few seconds, Link noticed something about the pain. It was numbing and going away. Link moved his arms a little, and to his surprise and relief, there was no pain. Link smiled as he turned to face Zelda.
"I feel better!" He announced with an excited shout. "What's in those herbs?"
"I don't really know." Zelda explained with a shrug. "Impa gave them to me. She said she got them from a place called a market."
"She must've bought them the market in Castletown."
Zelda looked up at Link with curiosity.
"This market is in Castletown?" She asked as she blinked.
"Of course it is, everyone knows it's right in the centre of town." Link explained as he stood up out of his chair. "Everyone knows that."
Zelda looked away from Link and mumbled something.
"Pardon?" Link asked, not catching the words.
Zelda turned to Link, but she didn't make eye contact.
"I've, never been." She answered with a shudder.
Link looked at the princess with a dumbfounded face.
"Wait a second. Are you telling me that you've never been outside?" He asked in disbelief.
Zelda just nodded in response.
"Why?" Link asked again.
"It's not that I don't want to go outside. It's my father; he's just overprotective of me as if as were a flower. I would give anything to see the outside world." zelda explained as she stared out the window.
Link pondered and looked at the ground for a few seconds. Then he smiled and looked at Zelda.
"Well, princess. Today is your lucky day." He announced as he walked closer to the princess.
"What do you mean?" Zelda asked as she turned around to face Link.
"I'm going to give you a tour of Castletown!" Link replied with a wide grin.
Zelda stared at Link with a look mixed with shock and surprise. He must have been joking.
"Outside!?" Zelda questioned with a crack in her voice. "But, I'm not allowed to go without supervision!"
"I'd be supervising you." Link replied, still grinning.
"But, what if-"
"Zelda. Just trust me. You'll love it. You're father won't even know; I promise."
Zelda looked away away for a few seconds before answering.
"Okay." She answered with a small smile on her face.
"Great!" Link shouted joyfully. "Now the first thing that we need to do. Get you an old dress."
Link leaned on the wall as he waited outside Zeldas' room. She was changing her clothes and putting on something that would make look more like a normal town girl and less like royalty. Link was starting to get a little impatient.
"Geez, how long does she take to change her clothes?" He thought to himself as he tapped his foot.
Just then, the sound of the door handle being turned reached Links' ears. Zelda opened the door and came out dressed in chocolate brown short sleeved dress. Her hair was tied in a pony tail with a pair of dark grey lanced shoes. Zelda looked up at Link, avoiding eye contact.
"How, do I look?" She asked as her cheeks went pink.
"You look great. No one will notice." Link answered with a smile. "Now let's go before-"
Something bumped into Link's face as he turned around. Link shook his head and opened his eyes to see Niva looking at him. Link gulped as he stared at the fairy hovering in front of his face.
"Well, well." Niva Greeted in a sing sang voice. "What do we have here?"
"Hello Niva." Link greeted in return as he laughed nervously. "I was just-"
"Don't say it! I know what you're doing and I don't like it one bit."
Link blinked a few times before giving Niva a fiery glare.
"You've been spying on me again; haven't you!?" Link began to argue.
"Only because I know that you're going to do something stupid!"
Zelda cut in between Link and Niva before things could get any worse.
"Please,let me explain!" She interrupted between the pair. "Link is just going to show me around the town under my request."
Link looked at Zelda with a confused look until she gave him a wink. He realised what she was doing and went along with it.
"Yes." Link answered as he looked at Niva with his arms crossed. "And I must obey the princess. Right Niva?"
Niva flew back a little.
"Well, yes but-"
"Good, so you won't tell anyone; okay?" Link interrupted with a wide grin.
"What, No-"
"Great, goodbye!" Link interrupted again as he took Zelda's hand and lead her down the hall.
Niva hovered in that one spot as she tried to configure what happened in the last few seconds.
"What did I just witness?" She asked herself with a blank voice.
Link and Zelda quietly ran near a stone wall with Epona behind them, just a few metres from the gates. Link peeked to see the other side to see one guard standing near the gates.
"What's going on?" Zelda asked in a whisper.
"It's just one guard, but he looks like he Means business." Link whispered back. "We might need a distraction."
Zelda smiled at Link with a cunning glare in her eyes.
"I know someone who can help." She whispered before she started whistling.
Link looked at the princess with a bewildered look. She did whistle, but there was no sound. Before Link could say anything, Zelda's dog Daisuke came running towards them and stopped at Zelda's feet. Zelda kneeled down in front of the excited hound and started to whisper something into his ear.
"Umm, what are you doing?" Link asked in confusion.
Zelda stood up as Daisuke let out an excited bark and quickly made his way towards the guard.
"Just watch." She answered as she turned to watch Daisuke do his thing.
The guard didn't even glance until Daisuke jumped up and took the guard's helmet with his mouth. The guard turned to the dog and started chasing him; shouting things like "stop" and "crazy mutt". Link smiled as the guard disappeared from view and left the gate wide open and clear.
"Alright, lets go." Link said as he helped Zelda climb onto Epona's back.
Link quickly lead his trusted horse with Zelda through the gates, across the stone cobble bridge and into Castletown. Link smiled as he turned to face the princess.
"Welcome to Castletown, your grace." Link announced with a bow.
Zelda looked forward as a smile crept onto her lips. She looked at everything around her awe. The crowds of people, the stands in the market, the white stone buildings; it was all so new to her.
"This all looks so amazing!" She stated as she jumped off from Epona. "I don't even know where to start!"
Link smiled back at the eagerness of the princess. Though a growl came from his stomach before he could say anything. Remembering that he skipped breakfast because of training, he decided to find something to eat.
"Hey, Zelda. I'm just gonna find something to eat." Link explained. "Wait here Okay?"
"Yes." Zelda replied.
Link smile briefly before turning away to buy something to eat. Zelda turned her head and looked at the things around her. People lined up near stands selling fruits, vegetables, jewellery and even pots. Zelda walked over to the stand selling fruit. All of it looked and smelled fresh. As she scanned the different fruits with her eyes, Zelda noticed a young child standing in front of the stand. He was jumping up, trying to reach the apples. But he was much too short.
"Poor boy, you must be hungry." Zelda said to the small boy before taking an apple from the stand and giving it to him. "Here you go."
The boy gently took the apple from Zelda and smiled at her.
"Thank you." He said before toddling away.
Zelda looked at the boy walking with a smile on her face.
"You better be able to pay for that."
A deep and menacing voice came from behind Zelda. She turned around to face a large man with a bold head and a black beard standing over her with an angry stare and crossed arms.
"Pay?" Zelda repeated.
Before Zelda could reacted, the man grabbed her by the arm and snarled at her.
"No one steals from me!" He growled with a brute tone.
"I-I'm sorry sir, I don't have any money." Zelda answered with a quiver in her voice.
"Thief! Guards; guards!"
Link came walking back with a bag of sweets. He was about to eat one before he heard the shout of the large man who had Zelda at his mercy. His eyes went as wide as dinner plates when he saw the source of the shouting.
"Oh no!" He muttered before he started running to the scene.
"You'll be hanged for this, you little mouse!" The man shouted as his grip on Zelda's arm tightened.
"No wait, please! If you let take you to the castle, I can get some money from the king!" Zelda pleaded as she struggled to escape.
Zelda kept pleading and struggling as the man pulled on her arm. Just as Zelda thought the man was about to pull out her arm, Link dashed between the scene.
"Oh, thank the golden goddesses, thank you kind sir; I'm so glad you find her!" Link stated as he took hold of Zelda and gently pulled her away from the man.
Zelda looked at Link as her fear was replaced with confusion. Link turned to her with a glare.
"I've been looking all over town for you!" He stated with a low and angry tone.
"What are you doing?" Zelda whispered into Link's ear.
"Just play along." Link whispered back.
The large man raised as eyebrow at the two teens.
"You know this girl?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes I do." Link replied before explaining. "She's my little sister, Aryll. Please don't be mad at her. She's been very ill recently and it has affected her way of thinking."
Zelda blinked with disbelief at the words coming from Link's mouth.
"She said she knew the king!" The man argued, thinking that Link was telling a lie.
Link just chuckled in response before talking again.
"She thinks that the horse is the king." Link explained, pointing to Epona.
Epona jerked her head up, as if she understood what Link just said. Zelda just played along with Link's plan and bowed before the horse.
"Oh great king of Hyrule, how may I serve you?" Zelda gracefully remarked as she bowed, making Epona look almost confused.
Link nodded as he turned to face the man.
"It's quite sad." Link remarked as he took his wallet out and took out a red rupee. "Hopefully after a few more visits to the doctor, she'll be good as new."
Link grinned as he placed the red rupee into the man's hand and took Zelda's hand.
"Come along, Aryll. Time to go see the doctor." Link said with a fake grin. "You too, Epona."
Epona quickly responded to Link's command and followed him. Link kept looking behind himself, waiting until he and Zelda were out of the man's sight. When they turned around to a building, link turned Zelda around to face her.
"What were you thinking!?" He asked angrily. "You almost got yourself in trouble back there!"
Zelda looked down at the stone ground.
"That boy looked hungry, so I gave him an apple." She explained shyly.
Link simply shook his head and sighed while he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Look, if you wanna buy fruit for some kid, tell me first. Alright?" He explained. "Because you and me both don't want to deal with that guy again."
Zelda nodded in response as she looked back up at Link.
"Good." Link responded.
Stretching his arms, Link looked around the market place.
"So, where do you wanna go now?" He asked of the princess.
Zelda started looking around, searching for a shop that caught her interest. Zelda's face lit up with a smile.
"How about that one?" Zelda asked as she pointed to a shop behind Link.
Link turned around to see what Zelda was pointing at. He turned and saw a small building with a colourful sign. The sign was coloured with red, purple and white with Hylian lettering. Link and over to the sign for a closer look.
"The happy mask shop?" Link read aloud. "I've never been in this place."
"It looks like an interesting shop." Zelda remarked, almost looking a bit jumpy.
Link just shrugged the princess's remark.
"Whatever floats your boat, your grace." Link said before reaching for the door.
"Shut up Ikari!"
Link and Zelda both took a step back from door. A voice came from the inside of the shop. It was male, and sounded a little bit irritated.
"The last thing that I need to put up with today is your rubbish!" The voice continued before stopping again.
Link looked at Zelda and shook his head. He put his hand on the wooden door and gently pushed it open. The shop definitely lived up to its name. The walls were all lined up and decorated with all different kinds of masks. Some looked like animals, some like monsters and some that looked like nothing Link and Zelda have ever seen. Standing behind the counter was a man. He was dressed in a purple shirt with loose short sleeves and striped fingerless gloves In two different shades of purple. His hair was short and dark brown-red and his eyes were squinted so hard that they were hard to see. He looked down at the counter as he craved into a large piece of wood with a carving knife. Link made a slight coughing noise, getting the man's attention and making him look up. The man slammed his knife into the table with a toothy grin.
"Costumers!" He muttered before speaking out loud. "Welcome to my shop!
"How may I be of service?"
Link and Zelda looked at the smiling man as they tired to put on smiles of their own.
"Well, I'm Link and this is my sister, Aryll." Link greeted.
Zelda gently waved at the smiling man.
"We were just wandering around and found this nice little shop." Link continued. "I take it you're a mask seller?"
"Indeed I am." The man answered, still smiling. "People call me the happy mask salesman. Or Happy if it's a mouthful for you."
"...right."
Link took a glance at the wall of masks. One mask caught his attention and interest. It was an eye mask that almost looked a lot like a bird with white feathers and a yellow beak.
"What kind of mask is that?" Link asked as he pointed to it.
"That my friend is the Bremen mask. Good for anyone who has the qualities of a leader." Happy explained. "Only twenty rupees if you're interested?"
"Sure!" Link grinned as he took out his wallet. "Hey Zel-"
Link stopped in mid sentence, only just stopping himself from blowing Zelda's cover. He gently shook his head before talking again.
"Aryll! Go ahead and pick one out for yourself." Link continued, hoping that the salesman didn't suspect anything.
The salesman did look at Link for a few seconds, but he quickly turned his attention to Zelda.
"Yes, miss Ayrll; take your pick." He said with the smile on his face.
Zelda looked around the room of masks, looking for something that would spark her interest.
"How about that one?" She asked as she pointed to a pair of rabbit ears.
"Oh, interested in the bunny hood I take it?" Happy asked with his hand on his chin. "It's quite popular."
"I can see why." Zelda remarked as she put the ears on top of her head.
"Ten rupees, and it's yours."
"Deal!" Link answered as he handed the rupees to the salesman.
The salesman gave the two costumers a friendly grin.
"thank you, sir!" Zelda said as she jumped happily.
"you're welcome my dear. And please; call me Happy." The salesman replied with a bow.
Link and Zelda gently waved as they walked to the door with their new masks. The salesman smiled as they walked out and he put the rupees into a draw in the counter.
"I thought they would never leave."
Happy's ears peeked up. He's smile began to fade when he heard a deep voice behind him.
"I thought I told you to stop talking, Ikari." Happy stated as he turned and looked down at the floor.
Happy looked down to see his shadow. But there was something strange about it. Happy leaned on the counter and stayed still. But the shadow moved on its own. It even began to rise from the floor amd became three dimensional; all black with glowing red eyes.
"What difference what it make?" The shadow called Ikari asked. "They wouldn't have even been able to see me."
Happy just slightly opened his squinted eyes, revealing them to be red. He rolled them away from the talking shadow in his sight.
"You knew who that girl was, right?" Ikari asked as he moved closer to Happy.
"Of coarse I did." Happy replied before going back to the mask in progress.
"Then why didn't you stop her and call the guards?"
"Oh have a heart ,Ikari. That the lady have a little fun."
Happy glanced towards the shadow for a few seconds.
"After all. It's her first day outside."
AN: Well. ch 4 is here. and right on time for Majora's mask 3D. Speaking of Majora's mask, A new character is introduced. Just putting it out there, the Mask salesman is going to have a big roll in this, And the shadow called Ikari will be explained later.