A.N.: Vaati with a boomerang. Enjoy. :)
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Nintendo except Opal. Please don't use my character without permission.
Chapter 12: To Ordon
Hyrule was still oblivious to what had occurred at the castle when Rusl, Link, and Vaati stepped out of Telma's bar. None of them were surprised, however. The townsfolk mostly worried about their daily routines, and the Royal Guards were, well, they were the Royal Guards. The future guards weren't the valiant ones Link had known during his time; these guards preferred to ignore a problem lest they be called in to fight. Rusl grumbled how useless they had been the last time Hyrule had been attacked. "Cowards, the lot of them," he had said.
Link and Rusl walked together through southern Hyrule field; Vaati had trudged on ahead, experimenting with his new boomerang. Link was impressed by how quickly Vaati had been able to master the weapon. Within the first three throws he had learned how to move the weapon's trajectory in any path he liked. As he watched the vortex created by the boomerang zigzag across the plains, he suspected Vaati's mastery had something to do with his affinity to wind.
The ex-mage loved the boomerang. It still wasn't as good as being able to control wind however he saw fit, but it was better than nothing. He was currently occupied with a pterodactyl-like monster that had tried to attack them earlier. The poor thing was spiraled into the tornado created by the boomerang, was left dazed, and then was put into the vortex again when it recovered. For the first time since he had lost his magic, Vaati was clearly enjoying himself.
Link excused himself from Rusl, walked over to the tortured Kargaroc, and put it out of its misery. Vaati glared.
Link shook his head. "There's no need to torture your foes any more than you have to."
Vaati's eyes narrowed and he threw the boomerang towards Link. Link managed to dodge, but not before the sword in his hand was swept away by the wind. Vaati looked triumphant when the boomerang returned with his new prize.
"I'm warning you, boy. When all this is over I'll make sure I kill you slowly." He pointed the sword at Link.
Link signaled to Rusl, "Hey Rusl? Can I borrow your sword for a sec? Thanks." Link drew Rusl's sword and got into a fighting stance. Vaati showed a tinge of nervousness; he had forgotten about Rusl's sword. Vaati growled and made a jab at Link. Link easily rolled away, side-stepped, and positioned himself behind Vaati. Before Vaati had time to turn around, Link had given him a good kick and had sent the lavender-haired mage sprawling on the ground.
"Vaati? I thought they said you were an expert with the sword. Didn't you win the swordsmanship tournament when you first appeared?" Link was somewhat disappointed. He had been expecting a decent sparring match.
"…"
Rusl moved over to the mage and offered his hand to help him up. Vaati pointedly ignored him, stood up, and brushed himself off with his back still turned to Link. "You forget I could use magic back then."
"You cheated?"
Vaati turned around. His gaze was acidic. "Mark my words you'll regret ever making a fool of me." With that, Vaati stormed off. He was going to find another Kargaroc to victimize to lighten his mood.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Ganondorf was seated at the throne, his chin on one hand, a book in his other. Taking control of the castle had been laughably easy. Opal had warped both of them to the throne room where he had murdered everyone in the vicinity save for the princess.
He threw the book Opal had brought him towards the dead bodies piled a few feet away from the princess, trapped in a crystal prism. "Only a few of these monsters are new, Opal."
"Yes, Lord Ganon."
Ganondorf tapped his chin. "I want Link to suffer, girl. This isn't sufficient."
"Yes, Lord Ganon. I apologize, Lord Ganon."
He looked at her coldly. "Apologizing isn't enough. I am not a patient man; send him something better or I'm going to dispose of you."
The possessed girl's expression was unreadable. She became quiet, as though she were thinking of something, and then answered, "I will have something ready for them, Lord Ganon."
Ganondorf was about to dismiss her when a word she had said caught his interest. "…You just said them, not him. Who were you referring to?" He sat up and leaned forward.
Her gaze was empty and soulless, "I observed Link traveling towards the Faron Woods with the sorcerer Vaati and a man I could not recognize, Lord Ganon."
"Well well well. So that little scum survived. And traveling with Link; I'm surprised." He let out a harsh laugh. "Give them something special, and don't disappoint me."
"……Yes, Lord Ganon."
XXXXXXXXX
The three had made it to Ordon village before sundown, and Link gratefully thanked Rusl for his decision to keep his arrival a secret. Rusl only told him he had no other choice because Link's amnesia would cause everyone to worry.
"I'll take you into the Faron woods tomorrow," Rusl said. "You're going to be on your own after we reach the forest. I don't know where the sword lies, but it's in there somewhere. I have a feeling you should start your search at the Forest Temple to find clues." Link and Vaati followed him to a modest, two story house just outside the main village. "Get a lot of rest. The Temple used to hold monsters, and I'm not certain they've all gone." He motioned to them to enter the house. "I'm afraid I won't be able to search with you because I have my own duties to attend to. I hope you understand."
"We understand. Please, don't worry about us. Thank you for all your help." Link smiled. Rusl returned it.
"Link, I don't deserve your thanks. You've done more than your share of fighting," he said softly. "You're going to come back to Ordon village in one piece, you hear me?"
Link nodded. Rusl tapped him on the shoulder and left for the village, turning back once to give Link a parting wave.
XXXXXXXXX
Link saw that the house Rusl had offered them had been where his future version had once resided. A ladder was propped against a ledge, leading up to the second floor where the bedroom was. A few photographs along the walls depicted what his life had been like. He was about to prepare something he could lie on, thinking Vaati would steal the bed again, but was interrupted by the purple mage.
"Go, take the bed. The entire house, actually." He made for the door. Link looked at him questioningly. "I'm not being nice, if that's what you're thinking," Vaati glowered. "I just feel incredibly sick staying in this house."
Vaati went outside and looked around for someplace to sleep. There was no freaking way he could spend the night at Link's house; he'd lose his self-respect. Settling under a pine tree, he reflected on all that had happened so far. He grimaced. I'm going to rip you apart for doing this to me, Opal. Then I'm going to take over Hyrule.
He had been confident that these thoughts would be able to brighten him up, but he surprised himself when he began to feel unsure. Me? Unsure about taking over Hyrule? Vaati shook his head violently. What happened to the old Vaati? He punched the tree. I'm DEFINITELY going to rip you apart, Opal.
Vaati stared at his fist, a little red from hitting the ragged bark. Then he smiled to himself; he had felt happy at the prospect of getting revenge. That's more like it. Feeling more reassured that his old, evil self hadn't died out, he decided to let sleep take him. After I get my magic back, he thought as he drifted off, Hyrule will experience my wrath once more.
XXXXXXXXXXX
A brief ripple moved across the trees somewhere deep in the Faron woods, and then disappeared as fast as it had come. An owl turned its head and perched silently on a branch as though it was expecting something to happen.
The ground shook slightly. Something stirred and awakened. It waited for its prey.
OXXXXXXXXO
A.N.: ...wow, I feel tired. I look at this story and I can't help but go, "Have I only spent three days on this so far??" I guess this chapter depicts my current mood; it's definitely not as lively as Chap 10 (I wrote that when I was hyper). Hum hum, well, I guess I'll persevere. I already know how everything is going to end; it's just dauntingly far far away. I really want to get there though. I have it in my mind, but I want to be able to read the words.
Oops, sorry. I'll stop boring you all. You'd probably rather read about the V/L combo, right? OK! Let me continue!
Coming up next: A scuffle at Trill's shop :).
--
