SoS: So, what did Ver see? Well, you can find out right now!
Inko: Hey, brat, ya forgot the disclaimer last chapter!
SoS: True, but I'm not a brat.
Inko: Sure. Brat.
SoS: *ignoring* I don't own Legend of Zelda or Four Swords Plus. Or the majority of stuff here.
Chapter 6: The Hated and the Loved
As Ver ran into the town, Erin cringed at the sight in front of her. A boy, the same age as her and Ver, was being repeatedly hit and kicked, but he refused to fall. Everyone was laughing, and their insults were horrible.
"Ha! Your brother's not here to help you anymore!" called a mocking voice. The boy looked at the speaker and glared.
"What's wrong with you?" Ver questioned angrily, finally reaching the crowd. "What could he have done to warrant this?" As people turned away from their victim, Ver expected the boy to run. Instead, he stood up even taller, dusting himself off, and looking away, waiting to hear what was said.
The man who had been in charge of the fight, if it could be called that, glared at Ver. "What do you mean 'what's wrong with you?'" he asked. "Just look at him! He's obviously not fully Hylian!"
Ver looked at the boy, trying to figure out what he meant. The trees overhead dappled the ground with sunlight, and every time the wind caused the light to hit the boy, he flinched away, grimacing as though burned.
"I still don't see what the problem is!" Ver replied, noticing something. "Some of you are obviously humans, not Hylians." At this, a girl ran up beside the man.
"Yeah, but he's got a bit of monster blood! He's like, a moblin or something!" she shouted, looking around her for approval. As she said this, the jeers started back up again.
"Yeah! You're just scum!"
"You're lucky you weren't left to die when your mother did!"
"You aren't worthy of being in the Shekia family, they should have left you as the stray you were!"
"Shut up!" That last one had been Erin, finally walking up. "You guys need to leave. Now," she added, when people didn't quite look persuaded. The crowd finally began to clear up, and Ver and Erin helped the boy up.
The boy glared at them, and swatted their hands away, getting up on his own. "I don't know who you think you are, but I hate pity, and I don't need help from you," he said, annoyed. It seemed he could care less about the beating that had just taken place.
Erin, however, looked at him, not with pity, but sympathy. "They said you have a brother," she began, "Is he Allen, by any chance?" The boy looked surprised.
"You've met Allen?" he asked, instantly more open to them. "How is he? Is he still in Castle Town? I never get any letters, because the villagers just burn everything addressed to me..."
Erin smiled comfortingly, but Ver still had no idea what was going on. Erin continued talking to the boy, who was obviously Archer.
"Yes, we've met him. He helped us out a lot, and told us to check on you when we got here," she explained. "Have you heard the Heroes' Legends?" When Archer nodded, she continued. "Well, we're on a quest to find the Heroes of the Four Sword. Has Allen told you about the mental signature phenomenon?" Archer smirked, and Ver found himself surprised at the huge change of attitude now that he trusted them.
"Of course I do! Allen tells me everything, because he thinks it'll comfort me to know that this," he said, holding up his left hand, showing the Triforce on it, with one fifth of the golden Triforce of Courage filled in, "is actually a sacred mark. So even though I do have some ancestor who was probably a monster, I still have this. But I have no idea what it is... Allen says it's some mark that the 'goddesses' put on people they've chosen, but there's no way these goddesses would have chosen me for anything. In fact, I don't even believe there are goddesses." As he spoke, Erin and Ver's eyes widened, but Erin looked sad when she heard the last sentence.
"Archer," she began, "don't make the same mistake I did. The goddesses exist, and I should know! Also, I think I know what you've been chosen for." She smiled knowingly, showing the Triforce on the back or her right hand. "I'd bet anything that you're one of the Heroes we're looking for." Ver finally realized what was happening.
"You- You're one of us!" he exclaimed, as Erin gave him a withering look. Archer smirked, realizing what had happened.
"Not that I believe you yet, but you're obviously not the Violet Hero, huh?" he taunted.
Erin snickered, and Ver glared at them both, annoyed at the comment. "No, I'm the Green Hero, and that makes me the leader. Anyways, I know a few ways we can try to convince you. Can you fight?" he asked. "With a sword, I mean." Archer looked surprised.
"Of course! My brother is a guard, and people are constantly attacking me. Of course he taught me. I can also use bombs," he said proudly.
"Well, can you play any of the forbidden instruments?"
"Yep! I can play the guitar, and I own one."
Erin looked like she had something to say, so Ver nodded to her.
"Well, we need to figure out which Hero you are, right? I'll list them, tell me which one you think you are. There's the Red Hero, who's uplifting and optimistic..." Archer shook his head. "The Blue Hero, hot headed and angry."
"I'd probably have fought back," he responded.
"The Violet Hero, who's calm and collected?"
"Nope, that's too boring."
"That just leaves the Shadow Hero."
"Hmm... Yeah, I still don't know."
Ver was almost cracking up at this point, so Erin turned to him and snapped, "What?"
"I know," he said. "Think about it. What they said about you. You aren't fully Hylian. You're part monster, and so was the Shadow Hero. You obviously don't like the sun. You're the Shadow Hero, I don't doubt it. I just wonder why Allen is able to be in sunlight..."
Archer laughed. "You're probably right," he said, "but I'm adopted. The only things I have from my family are my guitar and this necklace," he explained, pulling out a black chain necklace with a black gem on it.
"Well, it's official. That's the gem from the Shadow Hero's Four Sword," Ver said, smiling. "So I'll cut to the chase; would you like to travel around Hyrule with us, fight for your life, and then help us defeat the Council leader Gren who is actually Ganondorf?" Erin glared at him, but Archer snorted, finding the joke humorous.
"Sure," he replied, surprising Ver.
"Really? You're just going to agree with that?" Ver asked.
"Well, why not? I'm sixteen,"
"Wait, you're older than us? We're both fifteen!" exclaimed Ver, which Archer ignored.
"My only family member left is permanently out of town, and everyone here hates me. I can use magic, too, so that's a plus. Only problem is that I can't go into the light for long," he explained.
Ver and Erin exchanged a glance. "Well, we can fix that," Erin replied, pulling out a berry. "Allen, Ver and I found a Great Fairy, and she told us to give one of these to everyone. It gives you magic powers, but she said it would do something different for one of us. I'd assume that means letting you go into the light. Your brother ate one, and so did we."
"Now that I think of it, we've never actually used our magic," Ver pointed out. "We can't ask you to eat this until we've tried it. Unfortunately, I don't know how..."
"Ha! Well, that's easy!" Archer laughed, conjuring up an orb of shadows. "To explain it, just imagine that you're holding it, and will it to happen. Do the same thing to move it. Careful, though. It does take energy. I've been doing it for a while, but newbies like you will be exhausted before long."
Ver and Erin each gave it a try, Erin getting the hang of it first, with Ver not long behind. Erin's orb was pink, and Ver's was green. They dispersed them, and Ver handed Archer the berry.
"Just try this. I think it will help." Archer ate the berry, and laughed.
"It's pretty bitter, huh?" Ver shrugged.
"I thought it was a bit more bland, with a sweet after taste," replied Ver.
"Wow," said Erin, "I thought it was a combination of many flavors..."
"Maybe it's like our personalities!" Ver exclaimed. "Wait..."
"You said it, not me," Archer replied, snickering. "I suppose you want me to try to go into the light now?" he asked, getting a nod from Ver and Erin. "Fine, but if I get burned, it's on your heads," he said nonchalantly, sticking a finger into the light. To his surprise, he was fine. "Huh, it worked. Hey, you guys are comin' to my house tonight. We can sleep, and then leave. Plus, I have some supplies I need."
Erin smirked. "We have something we need to show you, too," she said, laughing mischievously. "Get your guitar, and we'll teach you how to ride a horse. Don't forget to get some potions, too."
The next day, the trio set out for another town with a third horse, a black Azteca stallion named Phase, only to be stopped by a panicked cry from across the town. They, leaving the horses behind, ran to help, Ver and Archer drawing their swords. They found a little girl clutching what seemed to be her baby sister, surrounded by a pack of miniblins. Though they tried, Ver and Archer could not have reached her before the leading moblin hit her with its spear.
Thankfully, another girl, around fourteen years old, jumped between her and the moblin, and, pulling out a shield matching those of Ver and Archer, blocked its attack, only to have a miniblin try to hit her. She weaved in and out of the crowd, drawing their attention to her, at which point she did a spin attack, effortlessly killing all of the miniblins, and scaring off the moblin.
When Ver, Erin, and Archer reached her, she fell, exhausted.
"Holy crap!" exclaimed Ver. "Are you okay?"
The girl looked up and smiled. "Yep!" she said cheerfully. "When I see someone in danger like that, I can't help but go all out. They can't defend themselves, and that girl would have been killed."
Erin noticed that Archer didn't seem angry with this girl. "Archer, has she not-"
Archer interrupted her. "No, she's actually tried to help me. Her name is Crystal. She's my only friend." Hearing her name, Crystal looked up.
"Oh! Archer, you're in the sunlight! Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
Archer smirked. "You're probably the only person in this entire village who would be concerned for me now, knowing that you're not 'safe' in the light anymore. But yeah, these guys," he said, motioning towards Ver and Erin, "are Princess Zelda and the Green Hero reborn. And I'm the Shadow Hero! But I'm going to have to leave, possibly forever." His face had a saddened look on it now. At this point, the girl from before ran up.
"Crystal, thank you so much for helping me!" she exclaimed. "I would've died!" Then she noticed Archer. "Crystal, why are you talking to Archer? My mommy told me he's a monster, and that he'll eat me."
Crystal looked disappointed. "Traci," she tried to explain, "Archer is actually a very nice person. And things like that will hurt his feelings. Would you like it if no one would talk to you?" Traci looked thoughtful.
"No, I'd be really lonely..."
"Exactly. Go home and ask your parents if Archer has actually ever done anything to hurt anyone. Tell them to be honest. He doesn't even fight back when he's attacked."
Archer looked away, embarrassed, as Traci replied. "Okay! I will. I'm sorry Archer. I'll be nicer to you from now on!" She left happily, as Crystal turned to Ver.
"You guys better be careful! I don't like anyone to be upset, and if I could go with you guys, I would. I want to see this country restored to its peaceful age, and Archer's told me all about the legends. I'll keep your secrets for you, if you'll keep mine, Archer. You know, about this," she said, tapping her bandaged left hand, "and my harp." Archer gasped.
"Wait, Crystal, maybe you can go with us!" he said excitedly. "I need to tell them about your hand, though."
"Is it a Triforce?" Ver asked, not bothering to wait.
"Yes, how'd you know?" Crystal answered.
"That's how they knew I was a hero. One fifth of the golden Triforce of Courage. He has it, too," Archer replied, motioning towards Ver.
Erin smiled. "Do you have a red gem anywhere?" she asked.
"Right here," Crystal responded, moving her short red- brown hair to reveal an earring. "Why red, though?" she asked.
"Because you said you hate to see anyone sad, and you always seem so cheery. You're like the Red Hero, uplifting and optimistic," Erin explained. "I'm glad, now I won't be the only girl!"
"But," Crystal said, a little sad, "I guess this means I'll have to say goodbye to this town. I always knew I wouldn't stay forever. I'll be back in a sec, I need to say bye to my parents."
As Crystal walked away, Erin turned to Ver.
"Didn't you say you had an account from the old Heroes?" she asked.
"Yeah, but I don't want to read it. You guys can, if you'd like."
"No thanks!" Erin and Archer replied simultaneously.
Crystal finally got back, carrying a magic bag.
"Okay, I've got my sword, shield, harp, and fire and ice rod. Now how do we get around?"
One lesson later, the four teens, aged fourteen, fifteen, fifteen, and sixteen, left for Clock Town, with a new chestnut Anglo- Arabian horse named Miss. There were now four members to this group, but a new evil was not far behind.
SoS: Well, I probably should have written this as two chapters, but I was lazy. Now we have our Shadow and Red Heroes!
Red: I haven't made an appearance on my own yet...
Shadow: And you still won't because I'm here too.
SoS: There will not be any ArcherxCrystal, they're really just friends. I thought it'd be funny if they were complete opposites, one hated and one loved. You can see that the way of living in Kakariko, a town where people meet outside often, is different from that of Castle Town, where it's so populated that guards walk the streets, and there's a curfew.
Red: So what do they look like?
SoS: Crystal likes to wear dressy shirts, which I will not be able to explain, with capris, and she has short red- brown hair and red- brown eyes. Again, the drawing that I'm trying to get will explain these better. Archer has straight black hair and sky blue eyes, and wears t-shirts with jeans.
Shadow: Wow. You think of him with a fairly emo style, don't you.
SoS: Yeah... Is that a problem? I have a lot of friends who dress that way. I think gothic lolita is pretty cool, too.
Red: Please review! And recommend this fic to your friends!
SoS: Heh, it's not nearly done. They still have to find another fairy fountain, fight bosses, get the other two heroes, fix the swords, and some other stuff that you can find out later! No, I won't tell. Just know that I expect their journey to be harder than those of the games. It's only easy for now. They've hardly even fought any monsters!