Chapter 20
"Yay! You're back!" Kris ran up and hugged me. "We kinda freaked out when you fell over like that, but Sierra told us you were just going to some other realm."
"How'd the training go?" Rune walked over and asked.
"Great! Lily did really well!" Link smiled.
"I wasn't as good as you." I blushed. "I messed up a lot."
"Well, it was your first time. I messed up my first time too."
"Show us what you learned!" Sierra said.
"Well, I don't know if I can do it without hitting you..." I started, but then I heard a bokoblin screech behind me. I quickly spun around and blocked its club. Well, now's as good at time as any, I thought. I smacked the bokoblin with the hilt of my sword, and it became dazed. I quickly rolled around it, and jumped up, slicing it so hard it fell forward. I quickly ran toward it, but I had hit it hard enough before, and it disintegrated before I could jump into the air. I turned around and grinned.
"That was great timing!" I laughed. The others applauded, and I blushed.
"That was cool!" Kris smiled.
"Thank you. Let's go, I've been waiting to see the town ever since we got here!" I sheathed my sword and ran forward. We all ran into the town, excited to see it in real life.
Across the drawbridge, there was a huge set of doors. We pushed them open together and stepped into the town. The first thing we noticed was the noise. It was loud and busy, with men discussing business, women gossiping, and children laughing and playing. A pen with a few goats was on the right of the street, and they added to the noise. Most people probably found it unpleasant, but I liked the noise. It showed that this place was alive, filled with happy people. This was a place that Zant's reign of terror had not reached, and people were just living out their lives. I immediately wanted to explore the town.
"Wow! Everyone looks so happy!" Kris seemed to have noticed the same thing I had.
"C'mon, let's go see the rest of the town!" I ran to the center, excited. The others followed me, laughing. The town square was even busier than the street we had come from. Several shops surrounded the street, and a beautiful fountain sat in the center.
"Wow! Look at the fountain!" Kris laughed and jumped into the water. I guessed she felt like it since she was a zora now. I started to take off my shoes to join her, but Sierra stopped me, pointing to a soldier coming toward us.
"Ma'am," he said to Kris. "The fountain is only for viewing, not for bathing." His voice sounded stern and hollow, echoing in the helmet he wore. I struggled not to laugh.
"Oh, sorry!" Kris climbed out, with a strained look on her face as if she was also fighting back laughter. The soldier nodded and walked off. The second Kris and I made eye contact, we broke down laughing. Rune and Sierra also laughed, though not as hard as we did. Link looked confused, but he smiled at our joy.
"This is just like back home! Remember when we went in the fountain at the square back home?" I said, gasping from laughing so hard.
"Yes! That was hilarious!" Kris laughed.
"I don't remember that," Rune said.
"It was a long time ago, before we met you guys." I stopped laughing, but still grinned. "Well, what should we do first? That won't involve breaking some rule, that is." Link had been looking down one of the streets.
"It looks like the south road has a bunch of stalls selling things."
"We are pretty low on food." Sierra looked through her pack. "We should go get some more!"
"Alright, let's see what they've got," Rune said. We walked together down the south street, looking at the different stalls.
"There's some meat over there! C'mon Rune!" Sierra walked over to the stall selling all types of meats.
"Oh, apples!" I pointed to one of the stalls. "Can we get some, Link? Pleeease?!" I grabbed his arm, making him laugh.
"Wow, you look like a dog when you do that! I can see why you become one in the twilight. Okay, you can go buy some apples." Link handed us a few rupees.
"Yay!" Kris and I both cheered and ran over to the stall. We spent several minutes picking out the perfect apples, irritating the shop keeper. Sierra and Rune walked back as we paid for the apples. I handed one to everyone, and took a big bite out of mine. It was sweet and juicy, much better than the ones in our world. We walked back to the square and sat on the edge of the fountain, enjoying our apples. The sun was just starting to go down when we finished.
"Let's go see Ilia now." Sierra stood up and stretched.
"Yeah! I bet she's nice!" Kris said happily. We started toward Telma's bar off the south street. Link was smiling slightly as we reached the door. He put his hand on the knob and opened the door, quickly walking inside. The rest of us quietly followed him.
"Hmph! That is a zora! I cannot help him!" A short, stooped over man walked briskly toward the door. He bumped into Link and glared at him.
"But, doctor! If we don't help this boy he will..." The door slammed. A girl about our age had run after the doctor as he left. She was short, with dirty blonde hair and bright green eyes. Her hair was cut very short, except for a section in the back that curled up to the side. She had on a sleeveless white shirt and tan pants that reached to her mid-calf. I recognized her as Ilia, Link's friend. He stepped toward her, his face hopeful and excited, but she simply turned away, not even acknowledging him. Link's face fell.
"Well, it looks like a human doctor won't do." Telma sighed. Ilia sat down by the zora boy and put her face in her hands. Telma put a hand on her shoulders.
"Telma, what do we do?" Ilia seemed on the verge of tears. Link looked crushed as his friend ignored him.
"Ma'am," Sierra stepped forward. "I know a man in Kakariko village that can probably help." Telma's face brightened.
"Of course! I know Renado! He sometimes helps gorons and zoras. Honey, he can help the boy!"
"He can?!" Ilia immediately brightened up.
"Yes!" Telma smiled at the girl.
"Hem, hem. Simply inadvisable." The sound of a voice being cleared came from the front of the bar. I looked and saw a small group of soldiers standing next to the bar. "But we can't turn down a pretty girl in need! Am I right boys?" The soldiers all cheered in agreement. I felt a twinge of annoyance. Who did those guys think they were, taking advantage of Ilia like that!
"Oh, that's great! The two plains we must cross to get to Kakariko are filled with dangerous monsters!" The soldiers stopped cheering a Telma's words. "But now we're sure to be safe!" The soldiers quickly ran out of the bar. Rune laughed outright. "If that's what the military's like, it's no wonder everything's gone down the drain!"
Unable to contain my rage, I stepped outside after them. "You call yourselves soldiers?! You're pathetic, every one of you!" I yelled after them. "You better not let me see you again, or I'll show you what a real warrior can do!" I stood right outside the open door, fuming as the soldiers ran away even faster. Rune, fighting back more laughter, grabbed my hand and pulled me back inside.
"That was impressive!" Telma chucked. "What's your name, honey?"
"Lily." I smiled. Ilia walked up to me, shyly looking at the ground.
"Are you really a warrior, like you said?" Her voice was quiet, but sounded sweet.
"Yes. We all are." I gestured to my friends.
"We can escort you to Kakariko! We've been there ourselves, and we have lots of experience fighting monsters!" Kris said brightly.
"Thank you so much!" Ilia smiled gratefully at us.
"Alright! Go pack your things, honey. We'll leave right away!" Ilia nodded, and started walking toward the back room.
"We can help you!" Sierra and Kris followed her, and they went to Ilia's room, talking happily. As they left, Telma looked at Link.
"You haven't said much."
"Well, I..." Link still looked upset.
"You know that girl, don't you?" Telma said knowingly. Link silently nodded.
"Poor girl, she can't even remember her own name now. When she found this boy, she did all in her power to help him. That girl has more courage than all the soldiers in Hyrule, that's for sure!" Telma smiled, shaking her head. "I'll get the carriage ready. You make sure you're prepared." Me, Link, and Rune nodded as Telma left. I turned to Link.
"I'm sorry you're friend can't remember you." I put a hand comfortingly on his shoulder as he hung his head. "At least we can still help her! I'm sure we can find a way to get her memories back!" Link looked up and smiled.
"You're right. Thank you."
"Heh, that was hilarious, when you yelled at all those soldiers!" Rune laughed.
"I meant every word of it!" I laughed slightly. "If those cowards are the protectors of Hyrule, no wonder Zant was able to take over so easily!"
"Exactly what I was sayin'!"
"Speaking of Zant, there's something interesting about that boy." Link had started to focus on the mission again. "What is a zora doing all the way out here?"
"You know, I think that might be the zora queen's son," Rune realized. "She did say he ran away, and she sensed he was in danger."
"Yeah!" I agreed. "If we can save him, she said she would give something that will let us breath underwater!"
"Kris sure won't need it!" Rune laughed. I smiled. Sierra, Kris, and Ilia came back.
"We put her stuff in the carriage," Sierra said. "Telma sent us to tell you she's ready to go!"
"How are we going to move the zora boy?" Ilia asked, worried. Link walked over to the bench the boy was laying on. He gently picked up the unconscious boy. Ilia smiled gratefully at him, and Link smiled back, hopeful.
Telma's carriage was outside castle town's gates.
"There you are! There's a few blankets in the back of the carriage for the boy to rest on. Honey, you can ride back there and keep him comfortable."
"Okay!" Ilia happily climbed in the back of the carriage. Link carefully placed the zora boy onto the blankets.
"Thank you so much for this!" Ilia said, smiling at Link. He smiled back, although his eyes were downcast. The horses were standing a few feet away from the carriage. The others were tightening their saddles and preparing. Sierra handed Kris a flask of water.
"Here! You can keep this to use against the monsters. I thought it might be more effective for longer distances than a scythe!"
"Thanks!" Kris grinned and strapped the water flask to her waist. Rune was already on Nightmare, a bow in her hand and a quiver of arrows strapped on her back.
"Hey Lily, look what I figured out how to do." Rune held an arrow to the bowstring and pulled it back. With her left pointer finger, she created a small flame, and held it to the arrow. The head caught fire, and she shot the fire arrow into the wall, where the flame was extinguished. "Cool, huh?"
"That is cool! That should be useful!" I was impressed. Everyone had already figured out how to use their powers in unique ways, but I still didn't even have mine. I supposed I would have to be patient. Starlight snorted in greeting when she saw me. I smiled and patted her mane. After checking to make sure the saddle was secure, I mounted her. Telma snapped the reins, and her black horse started pulling the carriage toward the west bridge. Link and I rode on either side of the carriage, with Sierra and Kris behind it and Rune leading the way. There were windows on either side of the carriage, so I could see both Link and Ilia as I rode.
"I want to thank all of you for helping." Ilia smiled at me and Link. "You don't even know me, yet you are risking your life to help us. If you don't mind me asking, what are your names?"
"I'm Link."
"My name is Lily. The girls who helped you are Sierra and Kris, Kris is the zora, and the girl riding in front is Rune." Ilia smiled gratefully.
"You should save your thanks for when we are safely in Kakariko." Telma looked back as she drove.
"Hey, the bridge is right up ahead!" Rune called to us. "Looks like there's trouble, though."
"What is it?" I asked, beginning to feel apprehensive.
"Remember that guy Link fought on the east bridge? He survived. I have no idea how he did it, but he did." Sure enough, I saw King Bulbin patrolling the bridge on his massive boar.
"Oh, no," Link groaned.
"Don't worry, I got this." Rune grinned. "See his shields? He's learned; he's protecting his sides now. You would have to hit him from the front, and the best way to do that would be with a bow."
"Okay, I can do that." Link drew his bow.
"Let's be honest, Link. I'm a lot better than you with a bow. Especially while moving." Rune pulled Nightmare in front of Epona, cutting them off.
"But... Okay." Link must have finally learned that he can't argue with Rune. She grinned, and rode onto the bridge, an arrow already fitted to her bow.
"Hey, ugly! Over here!" Rune taunted the huge Bulbin. He roared, and his boar charged toward her. Link nervously clenched his fists.
"Now I know why she didn't want me to go," I barely heard him say. "Waiting like this is awful." I moved Starlight next to Epona.
"Don't worry. Rune's great at this! In fact, I'm less worried about her than I would be if you were doing it. No offense," I quickly added, not wanting to insult his skills.
"None taken." Link turned back toward the fight. Nightmare had charged to meet the boar. Rune calmly drew back the arrow, and let it fly toward the bulbin just as he reached them. Nightmare swerved to the side, avoiding the boar's sharp tusks. He snorted, and quickly turned around, ready to charge at the boar again. Rune didn't even seem to be controlling him. I had to admire the black stallion; he clearly knew how a battle works. Rune calmly shot the bulbin again, and he roared in pain. He lost control of his boar, and it crashed into the side of the bridge. Both the boar and its rider fell over the bridge into the blackness below.
"Great job, honey!" Telma drove the carriage next to Rune.
"Thanks." Rune grinned. Link breathed a sigh of relief, and rode up to her.
"Nice job! I'm glad you're okay." He smiled.
"Well, you know, it wasn't that hard.." Rune smiled. "Shall we continue?" I looked around at all the others, determined to do whatever it took to protect the carriage.
"You guys ready?" I asked, my heart starting to race in anticipation of the upcoming battle.
"Yeah!"
"Let's do this!" I smiled at their enthusiasm. We would make it, no doubt about it. Nothing could defeat us if we worked together.
"Alright, let's go!"
AN:
Yaaaay Castle town! That's my favorite area in the game if you couldn't tell w anyway, gonna be lots more cool action in the next chapter so get ready! Here's the results of fav characters so far: Lily-1 Rune-2 Link-1 (im counting him as a character since his personality in the game can be loosely interpreted, so Link in the story is my own unique version of the character from the game ^^) anyway, enjoy and keep posting reviews!