Unexpected Complications
The sky was still dark with brooding clouds when we exited the fairy fountain, although the rain had ceased for the time being. I still couldn't see anyone around, but I heard the whooping of children playing in the distance. A chill breeze rustled through the rain-soaked trees, tussling my now tied-back lengths of hair. I heard Tatl's fluttering wings come up behind me.
"Oh thank the gods it stopped raining!" She twittered in glee. "I hate the rain, it may not be a big deal to you humans, but for fairies it's like flying through a rushing river!"
I looked up to the clouded skies, trying to spot the sun to get an idea of what time it was. My heart sunk as I caught a glance of something between the gaps in the storm clouds. The moon, with its abominable face of pure hatred, was immense! Several times larger than it was yesterday. The mask salesman wasn't lying. This world was doomed….and I shared its fate unless I found a way to stop it!
"Link!" Tatl shouted. "Look at the size of"
"I know, I know! I saw it." I cut her off, still getting used to my feminine voice. "We need to find a way to the Star Chamber, and fast!"
Tatl quivered and nodded. "Ok ok...ummm….I'm pretty sure it's located just outside of town."
"That's a good start. Let's hurry!"
We rushed away towards the park exit, off to find a town gate. The drenched dirt path through the park was slippery with wet mud. I tried to keep up with Tatl as she led the way, but the slog slowed my progress.
"Hey, sslow down!" I called to the retreating fairy. "These boots weren't made for trekking through mud!".
Tatl reduced her speed. "Geez, do I need to drag you again?"
"Ughhh really? I do not need your sarcasm right now! I'm having a bad enough day as it is."
"Right...sorry." The fairy muttered and flew to my side. "Ok, how about this. You let me ride on your shoulder and I'll point you in the right direction. That way I'll be able to finally rest and you won't have to struggle to keep up?"
Right. I had forgotten that Tatl had lugged around my heavy gear all morning. The poor sprite must have been exhausted!
I bobbed my head in agreement and stopped to extend my shoulder out towards the white fairy.
"Alright, I don't see why not if it makes it easier on both of us. Hop on."
Tatl plopped down on my shoulder and sighed with gratitude, happy to finally get a chance to rest her exhausted wings.
"Ok. So go towards that corridor over there." She began, pointing to one of the passageways we went through yesterday. "Then we're going to make a right and follow that road all the way down to the west side. That's the nearest gate that leads out of town."
I followed her instructions, and began noticing something strange around the city. Instead of the hustle and bustle we dealt with the day before, there were only
few people out now. It could have been the rain, but I doubted that a little bad weather would prevent people from preparing for a huge, annual festival. The locals must have noticed the diresome moon in the sky as well. I sensed a general uneasiness while plodding through the wet streets...
The town was ripe with fear.
As we entered into a new district of the town, and neared one of the gates, I noticed it was protected by an ironclad, spear-wielding guard. A large visor covered the
soldier's face, but his stance betrayed his state of mind. The gate guard was nervously clutching his weapon with a white knuckle grip, staring up at the sky. The man's behavior confirmed my suspicions. If others had noticed the moon, then widespread panic wasn't far behind. I was running out of time, but if the Star Chamber was nearby, I could quickly find the Skull Kid and stop him before chaos ensued.
I approached the gate, preparing to leave the town, when the guard moved to block me.
"I'm sorry, er... young lady," The guard put his hand up, signalling me to stop. "It's far too dangerous for a kid like you to be journeying outside the town right now."
I opened my mouth in anger and scowled at the mocking soldier, momentarily forgetting my cursed appearance.
Young lady! Who was he calling young lady! I thought to myself.
"Hey, what do you mean we can't leave? We've got a bow!" Tatl berated the guard. "We can defend ourselves just fine!"
"I'm sorry, orders from Captain Viscen. I can't allow anyone out of the city walls unless they have official business or are perceived to be capable of defending themselves." The gate guard turned his helmeted head upward. "The mayor sees the moon as a bad omen, and all sorts of monsters have been seen prowling the fields just outside the walls. He ordered the captain to cordon off all the town gates."
"I am capable of protecting myself!" I retorted in exasperation. "And I do have business with the astronomer at the Star Chamber! So get out of my way!"
I was rapidly losing patience, and his snide "young lady" comment had made me more irritable. I felt my cheeks flush with anger and I balled my hands preparing
for a fight. Tatl tugged roughly on my ponytail, making me wince from the sharp pain. Yet, the gesture reminded me that I really did look like a young lady. Tatl knew what I was thinking...I relaxed my fists and slowly eased my tense shoulders.
"I'm not letting you pass, ma'am. Now back off before I'm forced to detain you for disrespecting the law!" The unfazed guard said in a firm tone.
I glared and reluctantly pulled away from the gate. I couldn't believe my bad luck! Ever since I encountered that skull kid in the woods, my world had been completely turned upside down, and things were only growing steadily worse. I should have never left Hyrule…I should have just stayed and settled down to a normal, quiet life like Zelda advised me to do six years ago. Maybe this was the Goddesses' way of punishing me for deserting the royal family?
For deserting Zelda...
I reached up to massage my temples in frustration. I would just have to find another way to the astronomer. I had no other choice if I wanted to return to Hyrule, as well as back
to my original form….
"Ok Tatl...do you have any other ideas?" I sighed, turning my head to glance at the little white fairy riding along my shoulder.
Tatl thought for a second, then replied, "Didn't the Great Fairy say something about a secret route to the Star Chamber? That a group of kids use for their hideout?"
I wearily shrugged. "I dunno... I guess I remember her saying something like that? There was a lot on my mind at the time.I suppose we'd better go look around and try to
find this gang then."
Tatl twinkled in agreement and we walked down the well-maintained
street. I searched the area, trying to get an idea about my surroundings. This part of the town was more refined than the other districts we passed through. The cobblestone streets were clear of debris and better maintained with fewer potholes lying about. Neat rows of small, groomed trees and flowers filled the medians centered in the roads. Large decorative buildings lined the immaculate street, with elegant statues and resplendent fountains situated along walkways. The few people meandering around the lavish district wore fancy, expensive looking clothing, and carried themselves with reckless arrogance. There were far more armored soldiers patrolling this area as well. Quite a few of them guarded a red bricked, slate roofed building with several, well nurtured plants positioned beside the doors. A tin and copper sign hung above the door, reading "Mayor's Office". A few of the haughty passerby gave me curious looks. I tried to ignore them and started walking away from the irritating residents.
"Link! Look over there!" Tatl excitedly chimed. "Could that be one the boys the Great Fairy mentioned?"
I glanced in the direction Tatl gestured. A boy, probably just entering his teen years, ducked inside one of the alleyways between buildings. I swiftly and silently
followed behind, trying not to be obvious. The alleyway was cast in shadow, but there was still enough light to clearly see.
The kid wore a dark blue jacket and a round, matching blue cap, with grungy brown hair peeking beneath it. I couldn't quite see his face, but noticed he had a large number "twelve" stitched onto the back his jacket. He had on grubby tan shorts and his shoes were badly worn. The boy was a short distance down the alley when he suddenly turned around a corner, and I rushed to pursue before I lost him.
The passage the young lad disappeared through was empty, somehow he was nowhere in sight. I ran to catch up to him further down the way when I heard a voice ring out.
"Hey! Why are ya followin' me?"
I halted, startled by the voice, nearly causing Tatl to fall from my shoulder. I turned to see the kid pointing a loaded slingshot up at my face.
"Are ya crazy, girly? Or just askin' for trouble? I don't much care for being chased around!" The gang member threatened.
The kid was half my height, maybe a smidgeon taller than my waist. His face was covered in filth and he looked to be missing a tooth in his mischievous grin.
"I'm not here to cause trouble kid." I cautiously explained. "I'm just following you because I needed to ask you something."
The boy lowered his slingshot and tilted his head in curiosity.
"Yeah? Here to ask me handsome self on a date, eh?" The street urchin winked. "Sorry, not interested...you're far too fancible for my tastes, heh heh."
A flash of anger and revulsion crossed my face. "Urrghh...look you little twerp, I—"
"We need to get to the Star Chamber!" Tatl interrupted. "The Great Fairy sent us!"
Confusion showed on the kid's face. "The Great Fairy? Uhhh... well... I'm really not allowed to tell you about the secret hideout…". He motioned for us to come closer and whispered, "But if the Great Fairy told you, then you must have a good reason to know. But only club members are allowed in…"
I closed my eyes and shook my head. If I was to find the Skull Kid, it looked as if I had no choice but to play by these immature "club" rules.
"Alright alright, fine…" I sighed. "How do I join?"
The dirty scamp laughed, "Haha only boys can join, girls aren't allowed! Well…. normally anyway. But if the Great Fairy sent you, we could maybe make an exception. She's always taking care of us Bombers, so you must be somethin' special."
"Okaaayyy? So can I join?" I asked once more, losing my patience again.
"It ain't my place to say. I'm pretty new myself." The young punk shrugged. "You'll have to talk to our leader. That's pretty much the only way you can get in."
"Where do I find him?"
"Uhhh, he should be practicing his blowdart gun on the roof of the Stockpot Inn." He put a grimy finger against his lips. "But you didn't hear that from me!"
And with that, the disheveled rascal gave me one last wink and dashed away. I rolled my eyes and faintly smiled. The kid had spunk. I had to give him that.
Tatl called out to thank the receding figure, then faced me. "Ok, let's hurry to the Inn, Link! It's not far."
The tiny passenger tugged on my hair again, causing me to recoil.
"Owww! Would you stop that? I'm not a horse!" I shrieked as I walked back to the main street. "That does NOT feel good! How would you like it if I pulled on your wings?"
"Alright alright...fine, I'm sorry." Tatl chuckled, stroking the ponytail. "It's just that it feels so nice and soft!"
"Yeah well, maybe you wouldn't find it so funny if I just tore your wings off…then we'll see who's laughing." I muttered under my breath.
We reached the main road as it began to lightly drizzle. I stopped to watch the few townsfolk shuffle to their destinations, trying to retreat from the coming rain. A
large, balding man dressed in farmer's overalls suddenly barged into me, knocking the breath out of my lungs.
"Watch yourself, you clumsy runt!" He shouted angrily and stalked off towards the gate.
Tatl had been flung off of her perch and I was kneeling on the ground, winded and gasping for air.
"You watch it, you donkey's anus!" Tatl bellowed out after him. "Link! Are you ok?"
She flew down to check on me as I tried to regain my composure. My eyes were welling with tears from the strength of the blow. I felt the fairy's tiny hand gently pat my back while I struggled to breathe.
"Urrghhh *gasp* what is WITH THESE PEOPLE!" I snarled and heaved in deep breaths. "If one more idiot so much as looks at me the wrong way, *gasp* I swear I'm going to beat them senseless!"
It seemed like the entire town was full of jerks, I started to consider not saving them after all. But it was not in my nature to give up so easily. Whether I liked it or not, I had to help them.
"Hey hey, don't worry about them right now. They're all worthless cowards. Don't waste your anger on them. Just focus on finding Skull Kid. Then you can do whatever you want."
I righted myself and put a hand on my chest to steady my nerves. Feeling the soft, bulbous tissue that had developed there, I immediately removed it in disgust. I looked up at the sky, the dim silhouette of the sun was nearing the horizon. Seeing that we were quickly running out of daylight, Tatl and I set off towards the inn...
