Chapter 4: Off To Save the World!
"Hold up for a second! Could you…run that by me again? You sounded like you said you want me…to fight this Ganon? Are you nuts, that's crazy? I don't know anything about fighting! I've never gotten into a fight in my entire life! What use could I be? I'm not even that brave!"
All this panicked talk spilled from my lips, I being seconds away from suffering from an extreme stroke of shock. The thought of facing down more monsters, not too dangerous though they may have been, and trying to defeat some evil wizard guy with magical powers didn't really strike me as a smart idea. For Link, sure, no problem, cause he had that Master Sword. That and he probably had some training in his lifetime on how to fight.
I on the other hand…did not. The only fighting I knew how to do really was to throw a punch. And even then, I didn't do that all that often.
"Come now," Sahasrahla, the old man tried to reason gently, "I know it is indeed quite a mess to leave to someone, but our hope is dwindling. Link is only able to defeat so many of these creatures, before more rise to take their place. While he is strong, Link, like Ganon himself, is not undefeatable. And many of the beasts guarding the dungeons that he must travel to may be too great for one alone to defeat. Not to mention their endless supply of minions. I fear that if this keeps up, even he will lose this fight, and Hyrule will be swallowed up by the darkness, that even now threatens to engulf us!"
"I understand your situation," I answered, "Trust me, I get it. Your lives are hanging in the balance here; this Ganon is putting your very way of life at risk. It ain't cool, believe me. But look. This isn't my home, and not my fight. It's not like I don't want to help, but I have my own problems to deal with right now. Like trying to find a way back to my world. Also, you are knocking my so-called skills way out of proportion. I may have killed those two…things, but that really means nothing. I'm not really that tough, let alone some great warrior! I'm not even a regular warrior! I'm a civilian! I wouldn't even know what to do on the battlefield! I'd probably freeze up, and get eaten." Despite these aggressive and fearful protests, the old man refused to give in. He was a stubborn one all right.
"And I think, that you do not give yourself enough credit. You are stronger than you realize. Even now, as you sit here, I sense it within you. The potential to become a legendary hero. I sympathize with your plight, I certainly do. You are stranded in a place that is far from your home, you know no one, and are suddenly thrust into a set of negative circumstances that you would never have to face. Truly, fate has set you down in the middle of a great clash of good against evil. But I wish you would perhaps reconsider. From what I have heard, that your best way to return to wherever it is you are from is to make a wish on the Triforce. And only by defeating Ganon can this be done."
"Well, yeah, but that's only part of it. Cause you said he only had one of the pieces. So, even if I beat him, I'd still be short two pieces. Kinda defeats the whole purpose, don't you think?"
"Not necessarily. If I can remember the ancient lore correctly, during this whole catastrophe, the three pieces of the Triforce are said to come together, the three destined to hold them will unite. If that happens, then you could indeed make your wish to return."
"Maybe, but you know, there is an awful lot of ifs in there. If I do this, if that happens. You're not sure of any of this for certain. For all you know, it could be utter nonsense. And I meanwhile might get fried by Ganon the moment I see him. Then, I'm dead, all for a myth, and that's that. Sorry about worrying about my self-preservation, but I don't really feel like dying today, thank you very much."
"Well, of course. To fight such an evil is not without a massive risk. There is a chance that none of us might survive. But what alternative is there for you? Ask for Ganon's help? He would most likely kill you for merely speaking to him. Journey across Hyrule for another gateway to send you home? That could take years! And it too would not be without its perils and possibilities of death. From where I stand, it seems that returning to you own home is going to be a trial no matter which path you choose. The other alternatives may also leave you with nothing, all that time wasted on foolish pursuits. At least with this, you have the possibility of returning to your world."
"Yes,
yes that is true, but
I think your overlooking, or just plain forgetting a certain factor
that is near impossible to ignore, that might put a little snag on
your plan. I don't know how to fight!
I can't make it any clearer than that! And I have no idea why you
seem to think that I can! That's crazy!"
"Come now, were
you not able to slay the Moblins? How else could you do it if it was
not skill?"
"An accident! A fluke! A misstep on my part! I don't really know, but I do know that I'm not a fighter. I'm just an ordinary guy that is being dragged through this scenario rather unfairly by the hair! I didn't ask to come here, nor an opportunity to save your land. I was just going to work when this happened! While the thought of going on an epic quest or whatever sounds cool and all, this isn't something I'd like to involve myself in. I'm not a major player of the whole save the world from certain doom situation."
I felt like I was arguing with a brick wall, like the old man wasn't even hearing me. Like he just continued talking, regardless of what I had to say. But I got the feeling that this latest refusal got through at last.
"I…see," his face fell, and he sank even deeper into the chair. It was then that I knew that he was attempting to use one of the oldest, and perhaps the second most powerful technique of persuasion. The old guilt trip. And it was working. I at once felt bad, like these people were relying on me, and I was leaving them in a lurch. I knew this to be ridiculous, as I didn't know them, nor were their problems my problems, but it still bothered me. So, I felt I needed to clear the air a little bit of the aggression that was even now hovering above over my last words.
"Look, I would love to help out, but think about it! I'm not any good at this stuff. I've never done anything like this before. I've never been in fights, I don't face down monsters on a daily basis, and I'm not even sure what you would want me to do? How are two people instead of one going to make that much of a difference? What am I supposed to do? Share the Master Sword with Link over there? I kill a monster, then throw the sword over to him so he can get the next one? That's nuts! You said that there is only one evil-slaying sword, and he has it. What would I use then? A stick or a rock? Without some means of destroying them, I'm no good to anyone in combat."
Just as I knew it would, the old man was waiting for me to try and apologize my way out of things by hurling excuses his way. It was all part of his insidious plan to rope me into this, and naturally, I stupidly obliged.
"That is true, but you were already able to destroy two Moblins. And with their own weapon no less. This has to mean something. Perhaps in order to aid us, you have been granted with a similar power as the Master Sword. It might very well be possible."
"Yeah, and it also might be possible for it to be a bizarre coincidence. That or a stupid stroke of luck. Besides, even with that power, I don't know how to use it! It is this simple undeniable fact that makes everything else rather pointless. How many times must I say it!"
The old man studied me for a moment, then closed his eyes, his head lowering. He didn't seem sad or dejected, but rather…thinking.
Then, in a quiet voice, he said, "Link…attack him." At once, there was a sound of motion behind me, and I dove from my chair, just a hair ahead of the shimmering descending blade of the Master Sword. My chair was not quite so fortunate, and was splintered into tiny little pieces. As quick as I could, I regained my footing, just as Link was pulling his sword free from where my ass had been sitting a moment ago.
"Jesus," I yelled, my eyes growing large, "What the hell man? Why are you getting him to try and kill me?" The old man didn't answer. In fact, he didn't even move. Link however, came circling in, shield out now, crouched in a stance. I was on one side of the room, my halberd weapon on the other. I didn't know what was up; if I had pissed them off by continually refusing to help, but right then, all I needed to really do was stay alive. And to do that, I would need a weapon.
The only thing I could find was a simple metal tea tray. With it in hand, I faced Link. I wasn't too confident about trying to beat him, but at this point, I had to try. Or at least hold him off. I watched him closely, keeping an eye on his legs muscles. They were tense, and poised. I waited. Then, I saw them tighten, I jumped to the side, just as he leaped forward, sword ready to pierce right through me. I rolled away, and lacking something better to do, got up, and hurled the tray at his head like a Frisbee. He didn't even seem surprised that he missed me, and merely batted the incoming projectile away. Unarmed, I made a mad dash for my weapon.
I got to it and turned, just in the nick of time to keep my head in one piece. His sword didn't split the heavy pole, but stuck. Using that, I pushed hard, trying to throw him off balance. To counteract this, he let go of the sword, and tried to pop me in the face with his shield. I ducked it, and while his sword was still imbedded, I took a swipe at him with the blade. He danced just out of its range, but managed to snag his sword as it passed, and pulled it free. Once more, we took our stances, waiting and watching our opponent carefully.
And in the midst of this whirlwind of violence, the old man just sat there, eyes still closed, and his head still down, but with a slight smile on his mouth. A knowing and shrewd smile, most definitely.
Eventually, just about the time I was fixing to launch another offensive, he called out, "Enough." As if a light switch had been flicked, Link casually twirled his sword back into his sheath, and slid his shield back on his back, once more resuming his nonchalant passive manner, returning to his place of leaning against the wall. I meanwhile was at a loss.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" I screamed, thoroughly pissed off, and seriously riled up now, "I mean…damn, what's up with that? You trying to force my cooperation or spill my guts everywhere?" The old man chuckle, and pushed up from the chair. "Sorry for the violent means, but I acted on a hunch of mine. Tell me, how are you still standing?" That, it seemed to me, was a rather dumb question
"What's that mean? How do you think, you sick demented little man? I moved, that's how, else Link over there would have given me a really short haircut!"
"Yes I know. But how did you know to move? And what made you fight back?" No doubt that this questionnaire was getting stupider all the time.
"Gee, I don't know. Maybe cause…I don't want to die! You know, where I'm from, it's considered bad manners to invite someone into your house, then try to kill them! Goddamn!"
"The point is though…you fought back. I seem to remember you saying that you didn't know how to fight. You see…you can fight. You just didn't know it." At that, I shut my trap. It was true after all, and I would be the crazy one to deny it. When my life was in danger, I reacted to survive. If I had to fight, then I fought. But still…
"Alright," I admitted, "I may have defended myself, but it's…well…different when ones out there…you know…fighting...um…monsters." It was all too painfully obvious that I had nothing. I was floundering more than a beached fish. So I made an attempt at a recovery. "Okay, I have a little talent, in the most extreme of circumstances. So what? Doesn't everyone? What did that just prove?"
"It proves that you do have what it takes to aid us. Think about it…you could fight, and help Link defeat Ganon. If you help us…we will help you in return. We do not ask for you help just for our soul benefit. We would like nothing better than to help a stranger in need. But before we can do anything, Ganon must be stopped." I was about to protest further, when there came a slight tapping at the door, causing us to look round.
Link, who by this time had retaken his laidback position by the door, opened it. Standing just outside was someone else I recognized. The pretty purple haired girl that I had almost sent into a panic attack by popping out of the bushes. She was looking frightened, peeping past Link. At me mostly, as I meanwhile, was still standing with my weapon, even now fearful for my life. The old man squinted her way, before giving a scolding but good-natured smile.
"Arlia, what brings you here? We're in the middle of something very important." The girl looked all the more fearful, edging inside, all but hugging the wall.
"Forgive me Elder," she apologized, "But we all heard raised voices here, and we were worried about your safety. What with the…" she glanced over at me, mistrust in her eyes, and she knowingly emphasized her next word, "stranger." At that, my own eyes rolled, while the old man laughed yet again.
"Come now, Arlia, that is no way to speak to a guest. This young man is rather special you know. Why, just a little while ago, Link told me that he beat two Moblin's, and even stole their weapon. Pretty impressive, don't you think?" At this, there was a drastic change in the girl's expression. She now looked at me with unmistakable awe and surprise.
"Is…is he here to…to help?" He tone was soft, full of encouragement and hope. The old man glanced back at me.
"I'm afraid that is up to him. I've been trying, but so far he isn't sure he can." Inside, I groaned. I knew what was about to come. And just as much as I was dreading it, it came all the same. For a moment, she stared at me, her eyes clearly filling up with tears. Then, without warning, she dashed over to where I stood, and in a startling and somewhat unforeseeable move, she clasped both her hands in front of her, and deeply bowed in front of me. I was kind of put on the spot. When she rose up, she looked seconds away from exploding from sorrow.
"Please," she pleaded, "You must help us! Please! Ganon has caused so much suffering! So many people have gotten hurt because of him! If you can help Link, then I beg of you…please help him! Help us!" Her shrill cries echoed throughout the house. I tried my best, but I could not fight it any longer. I sighed, putting aside my weapon, and I sat down. Rather heavily I may add. I could do nothing but close my eyes, and let my face fall into my hands, shaking my head, all the while cursing my foul and most predictable run of bad luck that seemed to hang overhead like a foreboding storm cloud that never dissipates.
With this girl's plea, they were now using the most powerful of all methods of persuasion. The sad and beseeching woman routine. It's enough to melt anyone's heart; to see a beautiful woman sobbing her eyes out, all but begging for help. One is powerless to resist it. I knew there was only one thing I could do. And I didn't want too. I mean, I really didn't want to.
"Okay, okay!" I moaned through my fingers, not looking up, "Stop the begging, stop the waterworks, just stop all of it! I'll do it, okay? I'll fight Ganon!" With this, there was no turning back. Great, thought I. Nice job dummy. Now we have to go save the world. Won't this be fun?
