Hey everybody, I'm back from my vacation! I had actually came home last Sunday but I still had lots to do for this chapter so I made my arrival a secret and decided to come back with a new chapter. This one isn't all that long, I just wanted to give you all something to chew on while I worked on the next one.
Enjoy!
Chapter Six – Training Sucks
My heart's on fire and I can hear it beating in my ears, each pulse making my head throb. My muscles are strained from my second five-mile run that I have just completed, and I feel like I'll fall over any second. My face is so red that it hurts and my breath comes out shallow and short.
I'm standing in the middle of a small meadow, a few minutes from my house, and the rough grass constantly scratches my bare legs. Gun in hand, I force myself to ignore my exhaustion and focus on my target. One foot a little behind the other - I need to get good balance. My hands are sweating, but with years of practice, I manage to hold the gun firmly in my hand.
Ganondorf's judging gaze burns into me as I line up my pistol with the targets. Remember to keep good balance. Stay still. Don't move your hand. Pull back on the trigger…
Bull's eye. Perfect.
I hold back a sigh of relief while I reload the gun. The morning Sunday sun illuminates the sky and casts dark shadows of the trees that border the meadow. Its golden glow shines in my eyes and I have trouble seeing my target. Thank goddesses I was able to hit the last one. I just have to keep it up.
Suddenly, Ganondorf's gruff voice sounds from behind me.
"Make ten in a row or else your running five," he growls, his tone demanding and threatening. In other words, if I don't make these next ten perfect then I have to run another five miles.
It's just your normal training session with Ganondorf.
After coming home from the museum yesterday, I was informed by my foul guardian that I would be having an all day lesson tomorrow. So far, we are about two hours into it and had started at seven in the morning. We normally end around six when it is an all day.
Only eight more hours to go!
Great.
Okay, focus, I remind myself forcefully. Get into the stance – that's it, one foot in front of the other – feel for the perfect balance. Squint past the sweat and the blinding rays of sunlight. Hold the pistol firmly. Don't move your hand at all as you pull back the trigger. Ignore your rapidly beating heart and forget about the punishment if you fail. Just focus. Deep breath…aim…fire…
The gunshot echoes throughout the meadow of our training grounds and fills my ears. My head is buzzing with the noise but I've grown accustomed to it.
Wiping away my sweat, I stare at the wooden target and, to my utter relief, see a bullet size hole in the center.
Bull's eye again. Thank Goddesses.
Ganondorf doesn't say anything but his silence is more pressuring than his voice. Taking stance again, I hold my gun level and prepare myself for the bang that is soon to follow.
My finger acts on its own and pulls the trigger once more. The pistol lets out a short crack, leaving an eerie silence in its wake, as the bullet soars through the air and lodges itself into the center of the target.
Eight more to go.
I continue to shoot perfectly and Ganondorf continues to keep an emotionless countenance. I try my best to ignore his painful stare though I really want to spin around and scream at him to leave me alone.
But I hold back this feeling and keep my grip on the handle firm. So far I have a perfect score, five for five, I just have to keep it up…
My finger pulls back on the trigger again but my balance is suddenly thrown off by an overly large hand shoving me aside. The bang echoes through the valley and I stumble out of the way. My eyes watch in horror as the bullet whistles past the target and bounces off a tree in the distance.
My stomach tightens. I missed. Oh crud I missed!
But then I remember Ganondorf standing next to me, a smug smile on his hideous face and his crimson eyes shining with pleasure. Rage ignites inside of me and my hands close into fists. Stomping over to him, I scream hotly,
"What was that for!"
He doesn't do anything for a moment, just stares at me with that stupid smirk, but he then huffs and crosses his arms. "You won't always be able to get a clear shot without somebody in the way," he "corrects" me arrogantly, "and I was only helping you learn this lesson."
"You could have at least given me a warning! That was unfair!" I screech, flailing my arms around my head and gesturing frantically to the target.
His eyes harden and his brow furrows together. "Watch you tongue," he hisses, his deep voice rattling my bones.
But hatred and fury for this man has blinded me and I'm ready to rip somebody's head off. He is always playing these tricks on me! He is always trying to find a reason to make me suffer! He is so unfair!
I turn on my heel and position myself again with my pistol aiming at the target. My breathing is rapid from both the heat and my wrath. I know I have to calm down or else I'll be killed, but I can't. He's got me too fired up.
"What do you think you're doing!?" He barks, standing in front of my pointed gun. Yeah, real smart Ganondorf, just watch me shoot you…
It is tempting, really tempting, but I've learned a long time ago that a gun is no match for Ganondorf if he sees it coming. A wielder of the Triforce can move objects with his mind, so all he'd have to do is stop the bullet, turn it around, and throw it back at me. Of course I could take him by surprise, but the shot would make too much noise and he'd be able to stop it.
I could always go into his room in the middle of the night and stab him with a kitchen knife, but he is a very light sleeper and I'm not stealthy enough.
Yeah, I thought a lot about it before.
"Trying to get a perfect score," I hiss in reply, attempting to look past his bulky body.
"No," he says slowly but fiercely, "you have to run the five miles. You missed."
"That didn't count," I respond icily.
He takes a step toward me and forces me to stare into his burning red eyes. "I'll be the judge of that."
"But-,"
"YOU BETTER PUT THAT GUN DOWN AND RUN THOSE EIGHT MILES!" He roars in my face with such volume it's louder than the sound of my gun going off. He jabs his sausage like finger toward the trail in the woods and I can feel his disgusting breath on my face. It smells like the eggs from today's breakfast mixed with body odor.
"It isn't eight miles, it's five," I correct him in the same emotionless voice though it takes all of my will power not to scream back.
"Not any more," he snarls and, using those meaty hands, grips my shoulders and throws me onto the ground. I let out a small grunt as I slam onto the hard earth; his unnatural strength giving me bruises on my shoulders. I unwillingly cringe as I attempt to stand back up but he beats me back down almost immediately with a powerful kick to my stomach.
I feel the wind being knocked out of me and I collapse while clutching my wounded belly. It's like somebody is sucking all of the air out of my lungs and I gasp in raspy breaths. Eyes wide in pain, I stare up at Ganondorf's satisfied but still irritable face while I take in deep breaths.
"Now you better start running, Zelda," he spits out my name like it's mold on his tongue. "Or you'll get a lot worse than that."
Fighting back tears and struggling to pretend that I'm just hunky dory (which is totally not true), I take in one last breath and dash off towards the trail. I know that Ganondorf isn't lying when he says that it'll be worse. I shouldn't have even provoked him in the first place. How come I can't control my stupid temper? I had came home yesterday full of smiles, my time with Link had been amazing, but then I was greeted by Ganondorf's inpatient face and I had to rush to make dinner. I woke up today very grouchy, begging the goddesses to give me another day with Link. I wasn't surprised when my prayers weren't answered; they never are so why start now?
The sharp blades of grass give me small cuts along my legs, and my dark gray shorts and white tank top cling to my body. It hurts so much to breathe though I'm slowly regaining my breath. Water would have helped me recover but I only get that every few hours or so.
I'm grateful for the cool shade of the trees once I finally reach them and begin jogging down the unkempt dirt trail. I weave between trees and jump over ditches and rocks, not slowing down until I'm finally out of his view. The leaves are beginning to change colors and dead ones crackle under my feet. I always liked Autumn, the transfiguration is just too gorgeous. It's amazing how one day everything will be green and the next it's a rainbow of red, golds, and browns. I wish I could do that. Simply wake up the next day and change my life completely.
But not even the inspiring scenery can improve my foul mood and the throbbing pain pulsing through my body. The ordeal with Ganondorf is still fresh in my mind and I can't stop thinking about it. This trail is about five miles long and it loops back to the starting point, so how am I supposed to know when I've done eight?
I sigh inwardly, it isn't like this hasn't happened before in past homes. I'll just have to run this dumb thing twice, making a total of ten miles. And I have to do it under an hour and fifteen minutes.
Like I said, great.
I focus on steady breathing and pace in order to keep my stamina up. It takes awhile and I have to wipe my watery eyes a few times though I have soon recovered from getting the wind knocked out of me. I can still feel where his death grip was and the bruises ache with each swing of my arms. I swear if he had pressed any harder he would've broken a few of my bones.
The best way to run is to just clear my head. Forget Ganondorf's gloating face and the impending doom of when I return. All I have to do is feel the earth under my feet and listen carefully to the sound of my harsh breathing and the muffled tread of my footsteps against the hard dirt. As stupid as it sounds, thinking positively always helps. At least I'm getting a good workout and, if I was able to, I'd be awesome on the track team.
My mind immediately thinks of Link. He told me he does track too and just imagine if I joined the team. I could hang around with him after school more frequently. I'd love to see those muscles work as he runs around the clay road…or maybe he does cross-country? Either way, if I could do that then I'd be in heaven –
I have to stop myself from dreaming of such childish fantasies. There is no way that Ganondorf would ever allow me to join the track team, even if there are boys on it.
Though I've been like this all day and last night. I can't stop thinking about his stunning blue eyes or that confident yet kind smile on his tanned face. I wish I could control myself, but I can't tame my restless mind. I'd give anything to be with him rather than here, running my heart out.
Then again, I'd rather be anywhere rather than here.
And the more I think about yesterday, the more I recall the frightening story he had told me. Kidnapped. Link was almost kidnapped. But the worst part is, he told me everything. Every question I asked he had answered honestly while I had to continue to lie. I feel guilt weighing down on my shoulders as I think about this. I know that telling him the truth would be the worst thing possible, but should I really continue if I keep lying to him…?
My thoughts quickly cease as all of my concentration is on putting one foot in front of the other. I've already run ten miles today and I'm starting to feel sick. My stomach is tight and my vision is starting to blur with black dots but I have to continue. Only ten more to go…it can't be that bad.
"You're pathetic," Ganondorf says in a bored voice while I continue to puke up the contents of my breakfast.
I'd like to reply but my stomach is swirling with nausea and my mouth tastes worse than garbage and sour milk combined. I'm disgusted with myself and the smell of my vomit only makes me throw up more.
Finally, after a minute or so of retching, I stand hunched over and panting as I try to calm my sickening stomach.
"You done?" He asks with a yawn and I glare at him with icy blue eyes. I had stumbled out of the forest after doing the track once, swaying and trying to hold back my vomit, before I let it out right by his feet. Of course, he was more concerned about his dirty shoes rather than me and cleaned them off with my last bit of water.
Straightening up, I wipe off my mouth with a sweaty towel. "Thanks for the help," I growl and toss the disgusting towel to the ground.
"Anytime," he smirks in reply before reaching into the trunk of weapons and pulling out a familiar gun. Dread forms within me as I stare at the sleek Sniper Rifle in his meaty hand. Even when I've thrown up after fifteen miles he wants me to continue training. At least it isn't gymnastics; I'd die with all of the flips.
He tosses the gun to me and I catch it with ease. Clapping his hands together, the trunk disappears in a puff of dark gray smoke. Ganondorf can't teleport himself, but he can to inanimate objects.
We travel back to the house in silence, the Sniper Rifle held loosely in my hand and my stomach still squirming with nausea. A Fall breeze sends dying leaves dancing through the colorful trees but, like earlier, it can't stop my sour mood. All I can think of is how much I hate Ganondorf. How annoying and frustrating and a total jerk he is! He's the devil himself in a much more human form. And the goddesses make me his slave and, on public records, his adopted "daughter."
Back at the house, we climb up a series of stairs until we reach the roof. There is only a small flat section in the back that faces the woods while the rest is covered with black shingles. The only thing on this makeshift balcony would be a tin full of bullets for my Sniper.
"There are some red targets amongst the trees," Ganondorf explains in a bored voice as he leans against a side of the roof. "Just hit them."
While I load the bullets into the cartridge, I realize that Ganondorf is probably ending early for the day. We normally finish training with Sniper Rifle practice so, if I'm lucky, I should be done soon.
In silence, I lay on my stomach and position the end of my gun between two fence posts. Positioning my hands in the correct places, I peer through the lens to get a better look. The landscape of the woods instantly magnifies and I begin to scan the trunks to find any of the small red targets. It only takes me a second or two until I spot a tiny red circle dangling from a tree branch, the chilly breeze making it sway.
And it only takes me another second or two to pull back the trigger and shoot down the floating target. It crumbles the moment my bullet touches it. Even the wind couldn't stop my terrifying accuracy with a Sniper Rifle.
Yeah, I'm that good.
I continue shooting, plucking off each target one by one. Shoot, shoot, shoot…it's so relaxing.
I feel this sense of power when I destroy these tiny little targets. I like to pretend that each one is Ganondorf's head, and every time I make my assail on one, I feel much happier inside. The best part about the Sniper is that my enemy normally doesn't know what's coming. He's just minding his own business, strolling through the trees or taking a piss by a nearby bush, and then – BAM – he's dead.
I know, I sound like a total creep. Blame Ganondorf, he raised me this way.
I am so delighted in my shooting that I don't realize that Ganondorf hasn't spoken at all yet. I know that I haven't missed one, but he normally says something by now. I keep sneaking glances to my sides, waiting for him to push me again.
That's why I give a little jump when I hear his gruff voice sound from behind me.
"I'm going to be gone two days this week," he states in an emotionless voice.
I don't say anything at first but destroy another target with a deafening bang. "When are you leaving?" I ask nonchalantly while scanning the trees for another opponent.
"Wednesday. Coming home late Thursday night," he answers and we drift into silence again. Ganondorf sometimes disappears for two days every month or so. I never ask him where he goes since I'm sure he'd beat me for it, but over the years I've come down to a few options:
A) He is gathering weapons/magic spells.
B) He is meeting with his secret employees, the Gerudo.
C) He has a hunch on a wielder of the Triforce and is off to find him.
The last one has only happened once in my lifetime and that was about five years ago. I only figured that out because I overheard him cursing to himself about how his Gerudo failed to capture the fool.
The Gerudo are an elite force of females that help Ganondorf search for his dumb Triforce. They aren't just for Triforce hunting, they are merely doing that as a side job. They perform various criminal acts like robbing banks, assassinations, and, if the money is right, terrorist attacks.
I have only met one Gerudo woman in my life and her name was Nabooru. Apparently their head quarters are located in the desert so she had tanned skin to match well with her waist-length, dark red hair. Her nose was sharp and her eyes a fierce, demanding yellow. The day I saw her she was only wearing black leather pants, a maroon sports bra, and a leather jacket with the words "can't touch this" stitched on the back. I could tell by her abs and wide shoulders that she was a muscular woman and somebody that I shouldn't provoke. However, her personality was sassy and clever. She made a lot of funny jokes about Ganondorf behind his back to me and I found myself laughing at them. She took sympathy for my poor lifestyle but didn't care enough to do anything about it. Maybe if she wasn't working for Ganondorf we could have been friends, but I refuse to accept the fact that I still liked her.
About five minutes later, Ganondorf speaks again in the same monotone voice.
"Vaati is coming for dinner this Friday."
For the first time I forget about my Sniping and crane my neck around to look at him with terrified and aggravated eyes.
"But I hate Vaati!" I whine childishly.
"I know, I know," he mumbles, "I do too. But he is an idiotic Triforce Hunter who gives us a large sum of money."
"Does he have to come over?" I persist though I know it is a failed attempt.
"Yes, and that is why I want you to clean the entire house while I am gone. That way you'll have time to cook on Friday. In fact, maybe I should make you skip school…"
"No!" I blurt out, my heart thudding painfully against my chest at the thought of spending an extra day with this vile man. "I can do it when I get back," I add in quickly, hopping to avoid danger.
Luckily, Ganondorf hates Vaati as much as I do so the topic of him makes him rather cheerful because we bash on him most of the time. Vaati is this rich bloke that is also a striving Triforce Hunter though he makes everybody do the work for him. When I was about four years old, we were running low on the money Ganondorf had stolen and he had this "brilliant" idea of pretending to work for Vaati. Vaati now comes every two months to discuss Ganondorf's progress. His so-called "job" is to build the magical searching devices and occasionally help search for the Wielder. The truth of the matter is that Ganondorf is just using Vaati to get money and, whenever he's lucky, a hint at where the wielder could be.
The only problem with Vaati's visits is that I am reduced down to lower than a slave (whatever that could be) and I have to call Ganondorf "Lord Ganondorf."
"Just make sure the house and front lawn is clean for his visit," he commands and claps his hand, the Sniper disappearing in another puff of smoke. "You're done for the day. Take a shower, fix me some lunch, and try not to puke in the process."
I snicker at him from behind as he opens the rooftop door and fades into the dark staircase. Thankfully, I'll have two days to myself, even if it is cooking and cleaning.
Trying my best to forget the impending doom of Vaati's arrival, I take one last deep breath and head down to the shower.
Author's Note:
I always liked the idea of Zelda being able to fend for herself and her being pro with a Sniper Rifle. Haha, it was pretty fun to write that. I've never shot a gun in my life nor have I seen one being shot (besides the movies of course) so I had researched most of this. If you have any tips on shooting a gun, let me know and I'll be very pleased to edit anything that may be inaccurate.
Speaking of edits, I was, unfortunately, on my own for this one. My beta reader, Legend of Zelda 4 Life, is on vacation for quite some time and I didn't want to disturb her so I did this one completely on my own. I read this twice to try to fix most of the errors, but, knowing me, there are still probably a lot.
I hope your having fun, LoZ4L! It sounds great where you are!
So Ganondorf is going to be gone for two days, huh? I wonder what will happen then? And Vaati's visit? Hm…
Sorry for the long author's note, but I also want to apologize that there was no Link in this chapter! I know, horror. However, I'll be sure to add lots of Zelink next chapter to make up for this one. I used this chapter mostly for some explaining more into Zelda's life and to show her deadly skill with weapons and Ganondorf's cruel ways.
Thanks! Please review!
~~Wave~~