Chasing Shadows
Chapter 11: Return to Clock Town
"I actually wanted to ask you something." Marin asked after close to an hour of silence, "When you where fighting him, why didn't you stay in that gold armor? I saw their shots bounce right off you, or shatter all together. Even against your flesh."
"This is why." Link said holding up a limp bag.
"A wallet?" Marin asked, "How is money an issue?"
"Look for yourself." Link said. He opened the bag, turned it upside down, but nothing but dull dust fell out of it.
"What happened?" Marin asked as the dust began to blow away.
"The magic armor consumes Rupees." Link said, "The longer I wear it, and the more damage I take, the more rupees it uses up. I lost it because I ran out."
"I'll repay you." Marin said, "I mean, we'll have more than enough once we sell the milk. I'll pay you back every rupee that was used up. Plus extra for your services."
"You don't have to do that." Link said, "Honestly, I don't know how much good rupees will do me where I'm going."
"That's right," Marin said, "You said you had something to do. What do you mean by that?"
"I came here to find a way into a different world." Link said, "Remember how I said someone I cared for suffered because of someone who used force? Well I love her. And the only way between our worlds was destroyed. From what I heard, this place has one too."
"So what, you're going to go there and confess your love?" Marin asked.
"Pretty much." Link said, "I'm just hoping I'm right that she feels the same way."
"Honestly, if you're willing to go through all this for her, she'd be a fool not to feel the same way." Marin said suddenly perking up, "There it is! We've made it!"
Milk Bar…
Ben sat at the bar, smirking as he watched the owner could barely pour a glass.
"Sure looks like your supplies are running low." Ben said.
"I know." The owner said, "Tarin's hasn't been down here in how long with a new shipment. So I've been looking around, trying to find someone who I can at least use until I can get more milk from Romani Ranch. But they're really the only good milk we can find."
"Well, I'll be coming in to a milk farm myself soon." Ben said, "If you can't find a new supplier, once I get my own, maybe I can provide you with some. I'll even charge the same as Romani did."
"I may just have to take you up on that." The owner said. Just as that thought finished, a man barged into the bar.
"You'll never guess what's happening at the town gates." The man said, half out of breath.
"What's going on?" The owner asked.
"It's Marin." The man said, "She and some man dressed like the defender just arrived in town. She has a whole shipment."
"That can't be!" Ben said.
"No it is." The man said, "Can you believe it? We finally got Romani Milk back in this town!"
"If that is true," the bar owner said turning to Ben, "then I guess I won't be needing you after all. But I am wondering where they've been. I should probably figure that out." As the bar owner and the man went out into the streets to greet Marin and Link, Ben scowled and made sure he had his pistol loaded.
Clock Town Streets…
Marin and Link got the cart to the bar with minimal difficulty. The only challenge came from the people of the town who apparently where very interested in what kept them locked up in the ranch. So Marin told everyone about the bandits and Link taking it on himself to protect this shipment. She even went into detail about the fight Link had with the bandit leader. And all this was while town residents gave Link and her help with unloading the shipment.
"Wow. You guys went through all that?" One of the men asked as the last of the jugs where moved into the Milk Bar's storeroom.
"Yeah." Marin said, "Me and my dad are really thankful this guy showed up." Marin gestured toward Link.
"Well, better a defender look-a-like then no defender at all." One of the men joked, "But seriously, who do you think hired them?"
"Oh we know that part." Marin said. Link noticed something in the crowd. A glint of light bouncing of a weapon he never saw before. It didn't take a genius that if he never saw a weapon before, and this world has a weapon he never heard of, safe to say, that was a gun. And to make matters worse, it was held by Ben. Link pulled the Gale Boomerang and threw it. It spun through the crow, a whirlwind forming around it. Ben's pistol was grabbed by the wind of Link's weapon and pulled from his hands. Coming to the Hylian along with the Gale Boomerang.
"And that's the man there." Link said. The rage could be seen building on Ben's face. But it quickly evaporated.
"You don't really believe them do you?" Ben asked, "I'm a pillar of Clock Town. Clearly the young girl has been corrupted by her father's propaganda."
"Really? That's your cover?" Marin asked, "So you haven't been bragging about being close to acquiring a milk ranch?"
"That's right, he just was." The milk bar owner said.
"And what's funny is there is only one good milk ranch anywhere near Clock Town." Marin said, "So either you were planning on carting milk miles and miles, or you wanted to make sure we were willing to sell to you."
"Now, why don't you do us all a favor?" Link said marching straight up to Ben, "And disappear. You're nothing but a bully, a coward who hides behind others to get your way." Ben looked at the crowd, clearly all of them where behind Link. And when he looked back at the Hyrulian's, he couldn't help but flinch and back off. The look in Link's eyes, it was almost like looking into the eyes of a wolf. And this wolf's fangs were bared and ready to be used.
"Alright, now just calm down." Ben said, "There's no reason to get angry."
"Get out of town!" One of the men in the crowd yelled.
"Romani Ranch is as much a part of this town as the Clock Tower!" Another person yelled, "Trying to take it over? Leave and never come back!" It didn't take long for Ben to turn tail and run. Good thing he did. If he tried to buy the town folk over anymore, they probably would have attacked him outright.
"Hey kid," the milk bar owner said, "I'm going to be having a little celebration with my milk flow back. You're a few years to young, but for you, I think I'll look the other way. It's the least I can do for you."
"I'm sorry." Link said, "But I can't really waver off my path."
"Oh come on." Marin said, "She's not going anywhere is she? You don't understand how much of a rarity this is. The only other person who was given permission early was the defender himself. So just take one night off. Besides, do you even know where you need to go?"
"Well no actually." Link said, "I know I need to meet the Deku, the Zoras, and the Gorons. But I don't actually know where to go for them."
"Well, why don't you come to the party, I lot of people here know the country side." The milk bar owner said, "You're sure to find a good path to each one then."
"Well, I suppose since it would help." Link said, "Why not."