Chapter 10: Of Ranches and Dragons
Shortly after Sahasrala had granted Link's request, the group of heroes found themselves in a forested area surrounded by lots of fresh green grass and beautiful trees. Behind them was a tree with a ladder leading up to someone's abode. As Link surveyed the area, a small grin crossed his face.
"Well folks, we're here. Welcome to my hometown of Ordon Village," announced Link.
"It's a quaint little place," commented Chun-Li.
"Agreed, it would be a good vacation spot to get away from it all," added Ken.
"Or a good place for me to train in peace," chimed in Ryu.
"I'm glad you think so, I say we see what's going on in the village, drop Epona off at the ranch and then get to finding that Secret Text right afterwards," said Link.
"Yeah, that would be the best course of action," affirmed Alex.
Link and the others then walked into the main area of Ordon Village where all the villagers were engaged in their normal day to day activity. A young boy that was outside playing with a stick pretending it was a sword saw the group and his bright blue eyes grew wide at seeing them.
"HEY EVERYONE, LINK IS HOME!" shouted the boy at the top of his lungs.
"Looks like young Talo is happy to see you," said Zelda.
"Yeah, and I'm glad to see he's still as hyper as ever," replied Link.
Shortly after Talo made his announcement, all the villagers stopped what they were doing and took a glance over at the entrance to the village and indeed saw Link with his motley crew and all ran over to greet their friend.
"Link, and Princess Zelda, it's so good to see you two alive and well," commented an average built blonde haired man with a dark mustache who was clothed in a green tunic top, white trousers, and brown boots.
"It's good to see you too Rusl, how is your family?" inquired Zelda.
"My family is well. I must ask who these people with you are, they're from the other world aren't they?" questioned Rusl.
"Yes, they are helping us in our quest to save this fused world," answered Link.
"These are Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and Alex, the four that were chosen to help us stop the threat of Urien and Ganondorf," said Zelda.
"A pleasure to meet you all!" chimed Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and Alex in unison.
"So what brings the six of you here?" asked a rather plump woman in white tunic top and brown pants.
"We decided that lugging Epona around with us when she possibly can't fit all of us on her back would not be prudent Sera," answered Link to the woman.
"I see what you mean, well I'm sure she'll be ok staying at the ranch with Fado," chimed in Hanch, Sera's skinny long brown haired husband clothed in a long white tunic.
"Was that the only reason you came here Link?" asked Talo.
"It's the main reason, but I figured coming here to see how you've all been since the worlds have fused," answered Link.
"I'd like to see if I can open up a Malo Mart there," piped up Talo's little brother Malo, a young boy with a baby like face clothed in a long white and green tunic.
"This little kid runs a shop?" inquired Alex.
"He opened one in Kakariko Village first and branched it out to Hyrule Castle Town, he's planning to open one up here, Malo Mart is becoming big in my world," answered Link.
"Pretty impressive for someone who isn't even in kindergarten yet," remarked Ken.
"Oh yeah, my bro is super smart!" commented Talo.
"Unlike you," mumbled Malo under his breath.
"Well my boy, make sure you say to my daughter before you leave I don't Ilia would take too kindly to you showing up and not seeing her," said Mayor Bo, a chubby baldheaded man with a silver mustache wearing a sleeveless shirt and blue pants.
"She should be at the ranch with Colin and Fado," said Rusl.
"Ok, well let's get Epona over there, we'll see you all later on," commented Zelda.
Link and company waved to the villagers and then headed in the direction of Ordon Ranch. As they arrived at the wooden gates of the ranch, they saw a muscular male with a short brown cut wearing a white sleeveless tunic and brown pants herding some goats into the stable.
"HEY FADO!" called out Link to the muscle-bound man.
Fado whirled around to see who called his name and saw Link with his band waving at him; he grinned upon seeing a familiar face and started running to the sextet. Along with Fado was a young boy with a blonde bowl cut and bright blue eyes. He was wearing a white and blue tunic top with blue shorts and brown sandals.
"It's good to see that you and Colin are safe and sound," commented Zelda.
"Yeah, I'm surprised that Ordon hasn't seen too much oddity after the world's fused, a few travelers here and there, but nothing too strange," answered Fado.
"Link, you made some new friends from the other world?" asked Colin.
"Yes, these four are on a quest with me and Zelda, we just came here to drop Epona off since we feel it would be best for her," answered Link.
"My name is Ryu," said Ryu.
"I'm Ken," added Ken.
"Call me Chun-Li," added Chun-Li.
"And I'm Alex," chimed in Alex.
"It's nice to meet you all, make yourselves at home while you're here," said Fado.
"Link, I've been practicing my sword skills a lot, I'm still no expert, but I feel like I'm making progress," piped up Colin.
"That's good, just keep at it, I know you'll be great," replied Link.
"Aren't you going to say hi to me Link?" inquired a girl's voice. At that moment, a young woman walked out from the barn and over to Link's group, she had short brown hair and beautiful green eyes. She was wearing a white sleeveless top with brown pants and brown sandals and promptly hugged Link upon seeing him.
"It's good to see you too Ilia," remarked Link as Ilia hugged him.
"Well Link, you're quite the ladies' man aren't you?" asked Chun-Li.
"I'd say he is, chicks do dig that bishounen look he has," stated Ken.
"So you're leaving Epona here with us, I can see why, with all the people you have traveling with you, Epona can't fit them all. But don't you worry, she's in good hands with us," said Ilia.
"I know that, you know even I'd love to spend more time here though, me and the others must continue on our quest quickly," responded Link.
"I understand, and we all wish you six well on your adventure," replied Ilia.
"As well as a safe return home for all of you," added Colin.
"You're all welcome back should you ever feel like it," stated Fado.
"We thank you for your kindness," commented Ryu.
"I'd also like to give you this, if you need Epona at any time, just blow on this," informed Ilia handing Link a white colored whistle with a red lanyard tied to it. Link took the Horse Call from Ilia and hugged her again. Link then petted Epona before heading off with the rest of the group.
"Take care all of you!" called out the six heroes as they departed the ranch and eventually the village. On the outskirts of the village, Link placed the Horse Call in his pouch.
"Sahasrala!" called out Link. At that moment, the elderly spirit appeared before Link's group.
"Ah, I see you took care of what you needed to do here," said Sahasrala.
"Yes we have. We need to get to the area where the second Secret Text is at now," answered Zelda.
"Very well, I shall take you to the island known as Dragon Roost. Be careful over there, and may the goddesses of Hyrule be at your side," commented Sahasrala as he promptly transported the sextet to Dragon Roost Island. Upon surveying their surroundings, they saw themselves on an island with a deep blue sea surrounding the perimeter, lots of plants and trees adorned the base of the island and the center of it all was a massive volcanic mountain with a large red scaled dragon sitting on top of it, and from the looks of things, the dragon was not too happy as he roared loudly and spurts of fire exited his mouth.
"You've got to be kidding me," gasped Chun-Li as she gazed at the large dragon atop the volcano.
"What seems to be the problem?" inquired Zelda.
"Your world has an island where a dragon sits on a volcano? That's just nuts!" exclaimed Ken.
"Yeah, tell me about it," chimed in another voice from out of nowhere, as Link and the others turned around to see who was there, they saw a young female with black hair done in a short boyish haircut and dark brown eyes. She was dressed in a baggy off white karate gi with a red shirt underneath her gi top and a yellow band wrapped around her neck.
"Makoto, it's quite a surprise to see you here," commented Alex.
"I wound up here when the worlds fused together. I want to go home, but the people here won't take me off this island until they can find a way to calm that big lummox down," responded Makoto.
"There are people that live here too?" asked Ryu.
"Yes, the Rito tribe, they're bird people. The dragon Valoo will give them a scale when they become of age granting them their wings and allowing them to fly," explained Link to the others.
"I'm amazed by the many different tribes of people you have in your world," gasped Alex.
"Let's just get to talking to the Rito Chieftain, maybe he can enlighten us as to what's happening around here with Valoo," suggested Link.
"I'm coming with you guys," chimed Makoto.
"I see no problem with that," replied Zelda.
"Just one question, what are we going to do about those rocks blocking our path to the village?" asked Chun-Li.
"We did get that bomb bag a while back, we could blow up the rocks with those," answered Ken.
"I have an idea," piped up Link as he took out a bomb from the bag and took out his bow and attached the bomb to an arrow aimed at the large boulders and let the arrow fly. The bomb exploded upon hitting the rocks and cleared the path for Link and company to get through.
"All right, then let's get to seeing that chieftain. He must know about that Secret Text that's supposed to be somewhere on this island," said Ryu.
The others nodded in agreement and started to traverse the newly cleared path to the Rito village and upon seeing an open door they all entered the doorway and saw a group of gray feathered people with white hair, yellow beaks, and clothed in brown tunics milling about. When they laid eyes on Link and company they all stopped what they were doing and gazed at the group.
"Hey, we have visitors!" squawked one Rito male.
"Besides that girl from the other world that washed up here, that's quite bizarre," added a Rito female.
"Where's the chieftain you guys, these six need to speak to him about something," spoke Makoto.
"He's outside the entrance to Dragon Roost Cavern, what's so important?" asked one Rito.
"We think we may know what could be wrong with Valoo," answered Link.
"Is that so, we'll take you to the chieftain right away then," said another Rito male as he escorted the group of heroes to the area where the entrance to Dragon Roost Cavern was. In that area, they saw a tall Rito male with his white hair done in a series of long braids and he was clothed in white and blue robes with a red sash around them.
"Chieftain, these people claim that they might know the cause behind the strange happenings on this island with Valoo and everything else," chirped the Rito escort.
The chieftain turned to face Link and company and sauntered over to them, his black eyes focused deeply on the crew as he gazed stone faced at them.
"Speak, tell me what you think may be the problem," ordered the Rito chieftain.
"After the fusion of the worlds, important documents of great power were scattered across the landscape of the newly fused world. Two evil men have been seeking those documents out to use their power for sinister purposes. I think one of those Secret Texts they've been searching for may lie in that cavern and those two evils might have sent their minions into the cavern to find it which could be what is agitating Valoo," explained Link.
"I see, so you believe that this Secret Text that these two foul villains seek is inside Dragon Roost Cavern, that would explain a lot," mused the chieftain.
"And it also explains why we've had a lot of monster attacks as of late," added another Rito.
"He's right you know, I've had to help the villagers here beat the stuffing out of a lot of strange creatures that according to them aren't native to their island," stated Makoto.
"My son Komali entered the cavern with his girlfriend Medli and our tribe's great warrior Quill to see what the trouble could have been. They have yet to come back out, I fear for their safety," said the chieftain with a worried tone in his voice.
"Don't worry, we'll go in there and get them out safely. Not to mention soothe the savage dragon," commented Ken.
"You'd do that for us even though you've barely just got acquainted with our tribe?" asked the chieftain.
"Of course we would," answered Chun-Li.
"Thank you much, please be safe in your journey there," said the chieftain.
"I'm gonna stay out here in case monsters attack while you're inside. I hope for the best for you guys," chimed in Makoto.
"Very well, and do not worry, we'll make sure we get your son and his companions out of the cavern safely and keep the Secret Text out of evil's clutches," affirmed Link.
And with that, the sextet entered Dragon Roost Cavern in search of the second Secret Text and the missing Ritos that entered the dungeon before them.
Author's Note: Yup, a slow chapter here, but next chapter begins Link and company's foray into Dragon Roost Cavern. I did say I would use locales from all Zelda games as well and I do plan to include stuff from Spirit Tracks into the story later on. I also recently got Tatsunoko vs. Capcom recently, awesome game for the Wii, definitely a must buy. Anyways, I'm off to work on the next chapter, but until then, please read and review.