Chapter 28
Homecoming
Link watched the city from the second-story balcony of Isaac's gaudy guild, observing the slow-flowing creaks of activity dancing at the stroke of midnight. He'd gotten used to seeing cities devoid of greenery, yet their next destination had his stomach dancing in jitters.
The Kokiri Village.
Yes, he'd always planned on returning home, inviting all his new friends to celebrate Ganondorf's timely demise, but not like this. The Gerudo King was still alive, and the Spiritual Stone of Water was in danger. He wanted to see his old friends, he wanted to see Saria, but not right now. If he went back home, the events taking place in Hyrule would force him to leave yet again, resulting in another painful farewell. He didn't want to go through that again.
"Hey there."
His cousin, Lina H. Skyloft, cautiously walked up to him, standing by his side as he leaned against the balcony's polished railing. She was doing her best to appear cheerful, but he still saw the small crusts of dried tears clinging to the corner of her eyes.
Though he didn't know how his cousin felt about him, he was glad to have met her. It was comforting to know there was another member of his shattered family, but one glance told him everything he needed to know about the harsh suffering she'd been through. She walked with caution, but couldn't conceal the stiff movements in her shoulders and legs, restricted by past injuries. The few times he saw the nape of her neck, he spotted a mess of scars clawing their way up her back, foreshadowing the devastated state her body was in. If he had to bet, he'd say more than half of Lina's body was covered in scars and burns which would torment her for the rest of her life. She took the full brunt of the Fiend's curse, while Link came out unscathed, protected from Hyrule's undeserving wrath within the safety of the Kokiri Village.
He didn't know how to face her without a modem of guilt in his heart.
"Hi," Link greeted, feeling Navi jingle slightly in his hood.
"Lovely night," Lina whispered, sitting on the balcony rail with more than a fair amount of distance separating them. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"You know what. You heard me say how I'd welcome you with open arms, but when you showed me who you really were, I freaked out and ran away."
Link didn't blame her; she'd been confronted by a cousin whose existence she denied all her life, yet had been obliviously living with for a few days. Who wouldn't be freaked out? But right now, he wanted to know how she was feeling, and was frustrated when he couldn't tell: Hate, joy, sorrow, delight, it could be any of these emotions. So he asked, "What about now? Do you feel like running away?"
"Not really. I talked to Rail. He told me some interesting things."
"Like?"
"Like how you can control the sun and moon with a song. I can't really doubt him when I saw it happen for myself. I'll never underestimate another street performer again."
"I'm pretty sure I remember the Composer Brothers asking us to keep their songs a secret."
Lina winked. "Don't worry, I'm good at that."
"What else did he say?"
"He told me what you and Zelda are up to. Saving Hyrule? If you weren't a part of the Skyloft family, I'd say you were way out of your league."
"You could help. You're also a part of our extraordinary family, so having you around would be a great help."
Lina shook her head, her short bullion hair waving with the night breeze. "I already told Rail, I'm not interested in saving Hyrule. Sorry if I sound selfish, but I really don't care about this kingdom."
"You're not selfish."
"Really?" Lina hopped down and held his hands until their noses were inches apart. "You know, most people would try and tell me to move past my anger and do what's right for the greater good. Most people would say I'm a selfish brat for turning away from a land in need. So why do you say different?"
"I'm not 'most people'."
"I know that, but I want to know your reasons. Why do you say I'm not selfish?"
"Because I've seen you. You pass off your pain like it's nothing, but I can tell. You're constantly in agony, either from previous wounds that haven't healed or recently inflicted pain. You have every right to hate the land that's done nothing but hurt you. And you think Zelda and I are trying to save Hyrule? That's true for Zelda, but not for me. I don't care about this kingdom either. I didn't even know it existed until about a month ago, so why should I risk my neck for it? I don't have any noble intentions. I only want revenge, revenge against the man who killed the father who raised me, the same man who framed the father who could've loved me."
"Ganondorf."
"Yeah, Ganondorf. If anyone's going to save Hyrule, it's Zelda, not me. I'm not a hero, I don't think I ever will be." Link confessed his lack of sympathy for Hyrule's plight and its people. He saw firsthand what they were going through, he knew he could help them if he tried, yet he still didn't care. There was only one man, one target, on his mind, and his demise took precedence over everything else.
Lina laughed, her merry cry filling the night. "We really are pretty similar. Not a hero? I'm can relate."
Link tried to mimic her carefree jollity, but there was one thing he had to know for sure. "Lina, do you hate me?"
"Well that came out of nowhere. What makes you think I hate you?"
"Why wouldn't you hate me? You've had to endure as the niece of the Fiend all your life, while I lived in ignorant peace. Cross is my dad, and if we'd been raised together, I would've been able to protect and spare you from all the grief Hyrule had to throw. Instead, I was nowhere."
"Ha!" Lina's fingers gently tightened around his hands, her head shaking in amusement. "You're too nice. I'm sure if you could go back in time, you'd do exactly that: Protect me. I'd be grateful for everything, but I wouldn't be me. I like who I am, believe it or not. While I can firmly say my life has—well—sucked, I've learned and matured a lot because of it. I got to meet the nameless sage and became his pupil, seeing so many wonders Hyrule has to offer and learning how small I really am. I saw the Festival of Twilight in the deepest caverns beneath Death Mountain, collected the aqua gems produced by a school of Golden Trout as they migrated through Lake Hylia, visited the lost temple belonging to the Spirit of Sand in the unexplored edges of the Gerudo Desert, and so much more. But above all else … I … I …" Lina's head leaned against Link's chest, so all he could see was her ruffled hair; nevertheless, her shivering shoulders spoke of the tears she held back, "… I got to know the joy of meeting my lost cousin. I don't hate you, Link, I could never hate you, not when I'm this happy to see you."
As Lina silently sobbed into his tunic, Link hugged his little cousin, feeling the scars beneath her clothes and wishing he could've done more for her. "I'm happy you're happy."
She pushed herself away, tiptoeing out of his arms with a giggle and dancing under the moonlight. "You're too smooth, big bro. No wonder Zelda's going heads over heels for you, and I can see why. If we weren't related, I would've totally fallen for you too."
"Huh?"
"Don't 'huh' me. You should've told me we were cousins the moment we met. That way, I wouldn't feel so awkward about all my plans to date you. Goddess, ew. Thinking back, knowing you're my cousin only makes things worse. What were you going to do if I confessed to you and then found out we were related?"
Link tried to reel in Lina's words, utterly perplexed by their elusive meaning. "Confess to me? Why? Did you do something wrong?"
Her face went long, her eyes reflecting her disbelief. "No. Oh, no, no, no! Please tell me you're not the thick type."
"The … what type?" He asked, annoyed to hear Navi muffling her laughs with his hair.
"Big bro … can I call you that? I've always wanted to say it."
"Sure."
"Thanks. Okay, Big Bro, tell me this. If a girl says she wants to go out with you, how do you reply?"
"Obviously, I say 'Where are we going?' What else is there to say?"
His little cousin's eyes rolled into her head as she spun herself in dramatic circles. "Nayru's good graces, I can't believe boys like you actually exist! I feel so sorry for Zelda!"
"Sorry for Zelda?" Link demanded, on high alert. "Why? Is something wrong? Is she sick again?"
"Shut up, I'm thinking," Lina growled, silencing him with her spontaneous fierceness. "That's it, this requires drastic measures. For stupid boys like you, big steps are needed."
"I'm not stupid!" Link strongly protested, insulted at the notion. Sure, he wasn't the smartest boy around the corner, but he still had a bit of pride in his wits.
"You're right," she agreed. "Your idiocy takes things to the next level, meaning Hylian scholars haven't invented a word to describe your level of stupidity. Don't worry, I'll fix that. Listen up, Link!" Lina was suddenly very stern, leering at him with absolute authority. "Remember how I said staying here to make sure my teacher doesn't dissect your immortal friends is the best thing I can do for you? I lied. Getting you to accept Zelda's confession is the best I can do as your cousin."
"Her confession? Why? What's she guilty of?"
"Falling in love."
"That's great to hear! Who's her new best friend?"
Lina slapped herself so hard Link thought she knocked herself out. Instead, she marched back into Isaac's minute-villa and dragged out Zelda on her wheelchair.
"L-Lina! What is the meaning of this? I am in the middle of helping the others make preparations for our journey to the Lost Woods!" Zelda objected as Lina wheeled her towards the balcony. "Link, what in Goddess Hylia's name is going on?"
"I'm not really sure," Link admitted, wondering why his cousin was acting so sporadically. Next, Lina hauled Zelda out of her wheelchair so she was propped against the granite balustrade, ensuring the two of them (Link and Zelda) were side-by-side, their faces inches apart.
"W-What are you doing?" Zelda demanded, her cheeks mysteriously blushing upon Link's closer observation.
"Believe me, the two of you will thank me in the future," Lina assured. "Now, both of you, look towards the city."
"Why?" Link asked, but was whipped back into place by Lina's hiss. Instead of trying to rebel against his cousin's authority, he obediently did as he was told (as did Zelda), as Lina repeated, "Look at each other, now back at the city, now at each other, now back at the city."
The process was so dull, repetitive, and nonsensical that Link dropped his guard long enough for Lina to catch him unaware with her next command: "Now back at each other … now, KISS!" Link's head went blank, and Zelda's became a tomato. Before either of them could complain, Lina grabbed them by the backs of their heads and pressed their faces together, causing their lips to tenderly make contact.
Lightning rocket down Link's spine from the unintentionally passionate action, and for the first time in his life, he had no idea what he was supposed to do next. Zelda, on the other hand, knew perfectly well: She nearly tumbled off the side of the balcony, poured out an incoherent babble of words with her redder than red face, then threw herself back into her wheelchair and zoomed away.
"Aw, her reaction was so cute. That was definitely her first kiss," Lina sighed in appreciation, obviously proud of what she'd wrought. "So, how do you feel, Big Bro?"
"Um …" Link had no idea what he was feeling. His skin burned from a rush of heat, his fingers trembled to an unknown chill, and his brain was as empty as the overhead moon. "…why?"
" 'Why?' Please, as if you didn't know. For thick fellows like you, this is the only way to jump start a relationship. Plus, having Zelda is an in-law in the future would be awesome. So tell me, how was your first kiss?"
"That was … a kiss?"
"What else would it be?"
"It was … nice?" He was seriously fumbling for his words, trying to fish out the right things to say from the typhoon brewing in his head. "B-But it wasn't my first. I guess … it was my second?"
The smugness was slapped of Lina's mouth. "Second? Wait, then who was your first?"
"Saria, a friend of mine living in the Kokiri Village."
"Saria … is she … a girl?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't she be?"
"Oops." Lina blanked; when she came to, she was profusely sweating. "I think I just made things seriously complicated. Hey! It was nice talking to you! Bye!" She disappeared, running so fast he wondered how she got caught by the Silver Moon in the first place.
"What … what was all that about?" Link murmured, barely registering the events of the last few minutes. "I guess Lina's still a bit confused about having me as her cousin, don't you think, Navi?" When his partner didn't reply, he took off his hood to find the fairy pouting, her arms crossed and her face adamantly turned away. "Navi?"
"I don't want to talk to you."
"Why not? Is something wrong?"
"Yes. You've turned into quite the playboy since we last met, Link."
Again, more confusing words he didn't understand. "Playboy? I don't get what you're saying! What's going on with everyone? I feel like I'm the only sane person left in the city!"
"You never told me you kissed Saria before," Navi grumbled, flapping her moon-reflecting wings until she was hovering above the balcony's paling.
"It was an accident, and it happened a long time ago! How was I supposed to know you wanted to know about every girl I've kissed?"
Navi shot him a furious glare. "You mean you've kissed other girls?"
"Of course not! Only Saria and …" His cheeks were suffused with warmth. "… and Zelda."
"Playboy."
"C'mon Navi! Tell me what's going on! Why's all this kissing a big deal? I mean, it feels like a big deal, but I don't know why!"
"I don't know, why don't you tell me, playboy? Next thing I know, you'll be smooching Malon, kissing all the girls we come across, and seducing the Zora Princess."
"You're starting to scare me."
"Hmph!" Navi tightened her little arms across her chest and folded her legs to staunchly sit down. "With everything that's been going on, you've been paying less and less attention to me. Do you remember the last time the two of us talked to each other?"
Link thought back hard, he really did, because he didn't want his hood to be the residence of an angry fairy; there was no telling what kind of vandalism she could concocted up there. "We … talked recently in Koon, didn't we?"
"Talked? More like you used me as a candle while you and your new buddies babbled on about Lina."
"Um … what about on our way to Koon, when Zelda needed help? I'm sure we talked then!"
"You were ordering everyone around, shouting at us to pick up the pace. I don't think that counts as a conversation."
"Goron City! When we were on our way to meet the Great Fairy, you talked a lot!"
"I talked to Rail more than I talked to you."
"Ah, that's right! The Kakariko! When you told me what really happened to my dad! We had a serious conversation then, didn't we?"
Navi smiled, but it was a harsh and calculating twist. "Yes, we did, didn't we? And how long ago was that? Almost a WEEK! We've barely talked to each other for a WEEK, and you're acting like it's no big deal! We're partners, but you've almost forgotten all about me!"
Link wanted to say he'd never forget about Navi, but he couldn't deny his negligence for the past few days. She was right; they were partners, and while Navi was doing her best to support him at every opportunity, he'd frequently denied her the same luxury. He was at fault, and needed to apologize, but he wasn't going to say, "I'm sorry." That overused phrase was losing its value.
Therefore, he tried a different approach. "Navi, are you jealous?"
This put a new spring to her wings. "J-Jealous? Why would I be jealous? I'm your partner! I'll always be closer to you than any other girl!"
"When did I ever say you were jealous about girls?"
Navi's stuttering mouth flapped up and down, and Link was starting to formulate a resolution. "I-I'm not jealous."
"Of course you're not," Link agreed, scooping Navi into his hand and letting her sit in his palm. "And you're right, I've been disregarding you for the past few days. So to make it up to you—" Cautious so he wouldn't accidentally bite of her head, he gave Navi a small kiss to her thumb-sized forehead. "—thanks for everything, Navi."
In response to his show of appreciation, Navi erratically started flashing all the colors of the rainbow as her emotions went out of whack. When she settled down, she was humming with an embarrassed pink. "I-It's not like you're forgiven with j-just that!"
"Don't worry, I'll make it up to you," Link chuckled, glad to see his partner was much more lively despite saying otherwise. Kisses really were a powerful tool of persuasion; he'd have to practice more later.
"Link!" Rail called from inside Isaac's room. "We've got plans to make for our trip to the Lost Woods! Think you can help?"
"Sure!" Link replied, placing the fidgeting Navi in his hair and donning his hood. "And Isaac, wait there for a moment! There's something I'd like to talk to you about!"
The morning sun reflected off the collective dew beading the field, letting the grass shine like a carpet of jewels. It was a sight Link frequently enjoyed in the Kokiri Village, causing his melancholy to rumble; he still had his doubts about returning before exacting his revenge. Outside Koon City's gates, Link and his friends, along with one additional travel companion, were being sent away by a small farewell party. Having Natasha tag along was an unexpected turn of events, but after all the heart-warming memories she shared with Link about his father and mother, he wanted to repay her; satisfying her childhood dream seemed like the best way to do it.
Additionally, thanks to Natasha's "adult supervision," they were allowed to bring and ride in one of her freight wagons, its neck yoke harnessed to four powerful mares. It was an immense improvement compared to the shabby transport they commandeered from Kikorim. Its iron tires and axles were oiled and shaped to perfection, and the bonnet wrapping around the wagon bow was in pristine condition, providing them with ample amounts of shade. It was also large enough for all of them to fit in comfortably, even though Link noticed the sideboards and flooring were hollow, probably fitted with an assortment of hidden weapons.
Zelda was in top condition, fully recovered from her shattered soul ordeal. She could stand and walk on her own, and was excited to see her handling of magic was as good as before, if not better. Malon was already sitting at the driver's seat, eagerly holding the reins and hyped to get going. Rail was polishing his Hylian Shield with a liquid substance Poe gave him, saying it would keep the unidentified metal shining brighter than a star. Suvica finally managed to find himself some clothes; he was no longer bare-chested thanks to his new short-sleeved black tunic, though he refused to change out of his torched, torn, and ash-scented pants. He wore his chain-necklace he got at Denion around his neck, while tying a new souvenir around his head; it was a long line of ripped cloth he took from Zladimir's fancy robe, particularly the strip sewn with the gilded dragon. Natasha changed out of her annual ceremonial dress, garbed in very short auburn pants revealing her colorless legs, along with a sleeveless shirt of the same color. Her black hair was tied into a bundle behind her head, and she still had her sheathed, one-sided curved sword (calling it a katana, a weapon made in a foreign land) strapped to her belt.
The ones bidding them farewell were Lina, Poe, and Isaac. Lina gave each of them a hug, apologetically bowing several times to Zelda as she frowned at her. Poe tried to get them to sign his documents giving him the right to dissect their bodies if they died: Everyone refused. Isaac gave Natasha a brutish slap to her shoulder as a gesture of goodbye.
"What's that?" Malon asked Lina, peering at her oversized arbalest; Link curiously glanced over to them to see a new set of letters carved into the dark wood.
"This? It's the name I decided to give my crossbow," Lina replied, holding out her weapon for Malon to see; the word "FIEND" was magically glowing on the underside. "What do you think?"
"I think you'll get a lot of grief for it."
"I've got nothing to be ashamed about, thanks to all of you."
The two friends smiled at each other, sharing one last hug of goodbye. Link met Lina's eyes, and his younger cousin gave him a wink.
"Isaac, we have a deal, right?" Link asked the guild leader, hoping last night's proceedings did not go unforgotten.
"You have bought our swords and more, so we will heed your request when the time comes," Isaac confirmed with a nod. "We are mercenaries, and our loyalty belongs to our client. I will honor our agreement."
"Thanks," Link said before jumping onto the back of Natasha's wagon with the rest of his friends. When Rail asked him what he'd bought, he replied, "A bit of insurance."
As Natasha let Malon spur their horses into a slow trot away from the city, Link heard Isaac shout to them: "Are you sure about the other matter, Link?"
"I am!" He yelled back, grinning as he remembered the second part of their conversation. "It'll confuse the Nobles long enough to keep them off your tails! Trust me!"
"What was that about?" Zelda asked as Koon City was engulfed by the rising sun emerging from the east.
"Don't worry, you'll find out soon."
The following morning, within the safety of Jent Village's pilled-sandbag walls, the owner of the grungy inn they were staying at dropped off the Hylian Bulletin (Zelda said this newspaper was how information, after being processed, censored, and controlled by the Royal Council, circulated the kingdom) as they ate breakfast beneath their borrowed masks (alert notices of Link and portraits of Zelda were still circulating the land, meaning their disguises were still necessary to avoid attention). While the foreboding war between the Zoras and Spider Demons took up the front page, Link couldn't help but laugh when he read the article filling the next.
BREAKING NEWS:
SILVER MOON GUILD DEFEATED BY LONE BOY!
The Silver Moon guild, frequently referred to as one of the Big Three guilds of Hyrule, has been disbanded! Reports are streaming from Koon City, giving many a detailed picture of the guild's downfall! According to early reports, Silver Moon leader, Zladimir Hexken, was defeated by a young warrior going by the name of Lavin, the Disciple of Glen! After striking down the leader, Glen's disciple proceeded to overwhelm the remaining members. These outstanding and unbelievable reports have been confirmed by several eye witnesses who observed Silver Moon's destruction first hand! We have quotes coming directly from the boy in question!
"That's right! I, Lavin the Guild Destroyer, defeated these mercenary low-lives with only my pinky! I was only doing my duty as Princess Zelda's knight of valor, for I have served her before I was even born! These peasants wished to harm my fair bride-to-be, so I taught them all a lesson in shame and more! I'm positive they regret the day they made Lavin, Champion of Hyrule, their enemy! HA HA HA!"
"Seriously? SERIOUSLY?" Rail shouted beneath his Gerudo Mask as he read the report, almost spitting his half-chewed eggs and bacon across their table. His little outburst caused all the other inhabitants in the badly-dusted and dimly-lit diner to tell him to shut it.
"Why? What does it say?" Suvica demanded, no longer bothering to hide his illiteracy.
"What is the meaning of this?" Zelda asked Link from across their creaking table; she was still having problems looking him in the eyes (which was another reason why their masks were a big help), but her question was unmistakably directed at him. "You must have planned this with Isaac, yes? So why give this … this … thing the credit for the Silver Moon's destruction?"
"Because of the Nobles who funded Silver Moon, correct?" Natasha easily deduced.
Link swallowed his mashed potatoes and stabbed his fork into the bacon. "That's right. Lina said Silver Moon has some serious supporters in high places, so to throw the heat off Golden Sky and Red Shadow, we decided to twist Silver Moon's defeat. Isaac asked Natasha's spies to help spread the fabricated story, and soon all of Koon was buying it. Plus, we all know Lavin will say anything so long as it gets him attention, so if anyone asks him if all this is true, there's no way he'd say no."
"But won't the people who used to be Silver Moon mercenaries still tell the truth?" Malon asked as she sipped her milk, making a face at the sour brew; she swapped her drink with Suvica's empty mug when he wasn't paying attention, and the dragon downed the stale beverage without blinking.
"We have them locked in Red Shadow's dungeons," Natasha replied calmly, shooting down the flies buzzing around their table with metal needles hidden within the folds of her shirt; her aim was scary good. "If they know what's best for them, they will not attempt to escape. Should they try, our raccoons will only grow bigger with each meal."
"Your what?" Suvica asked, but Rail whispered, "You don't want to know."
"And the Nobles supporting Silver Moon can't exactly punish Golden Sky and Red Shadow for not stopping a big-mouth liar," Link laughed. "Isaac and Natasha's guilds helped us, so it's the least I could do for them in return."
"By the way, what happened to Zladimir? Is he also sulking in a dungeon somewhere in Koon?" Rail asked, finishing his breakfast plate and asking the disgruntled chef for seconds, while Suvica proceeded to his fourteenth helping.
"Zladimir is a prisoner of the Red Shadow, but I doubt a cage is needed to hold him. After Suvica's punishment—" Natasha stabbed her knife into one of her boiled eggs. "—Zladimir has not been the same."
"It still troubles me to see his face taking credit for all your hard work," Zelda fumed, pointedly looking away from Lavin's grinning face printed beneath the article. "I understand it was all for the best, but nevertheless, it irks me. I pray our paths never cross with Lavin's again."
"I doubt we'll be that lucky," Link chuckled.
"There's something I want to know to," Suvica spat past a mouthful of scrambled eggs, causing everyone sitting opposite from him (Link, Natasha, and Rail) to raise the newspaper and shield themselves from the spray. "What happened to that punk's staffs, the ones made from dragon horns? I'm pretty sure those are supposed to be super rare and hard to get your hands on, so why'd he have so many?"
"They've been confiscated and are being held within the vault beneath Golden Sky's guild," Natasha answered, folding the egg-soggy newspaper and tossing it into a cobweb clustered corner of the inn's eatery. "Also, I believe they were gifts to Zladimir from some of the Nobles who frequently called upon his services, for all of them bear the seal of Hyrule."
Zelda choked on her drink. "Do you mean the artifacts Zladimir used were taken from the castle's Royal Treasury? Outrageous! Those are priceless tools under constant and heavy guard! They cannot be taken without my father's express permission!"
"Not entirely true," Natasha countered, passing Zelda a napkin. "As of late, King Ceylon has given Commander Ganondorf the same right. Either one of them can sanction the release of the treasury's sacred weapons. It was also Commander Ganondorf who certified the deliverance of the dragon horn staffs, where they found their way into Noble hands before being gifted to Zladimir."
"Hyrule's most precious relics, passed around like trinkets," Zelda groaned, her face/mask in her hands. "Another act of treason Ganondorf will have to answer for."
"But dragon horns are really cool," Malon praised, patting Suvica's hair as she searched for anything protruding out of his forehead. "I never knew they could make spells stronger. That's really neat!"
"I guess it's kind of cool," Suvica shrugged, taking a bite out of his plate and using the wooden shard as a toothpick.
"I'm surprised," Zelda said. "I thought you'd be outraged to see your race's horns being used in such a matter, yet you're oddly composed."
"It just goes to show how weak you humans are, again. You need to salvage parts from a dead dragon to make yourselves feel stronger? Ha!" Suvica mocked, but then grudgingly admitted to everyone's surprise, "But using them in a way to strengthen spells is pretty smart, I'll give you that."
"I think the lightning newt just complimented humans," Rail mumbled, trying to suppress his disbelief. "I never knew the end of the world was coming this soon." Suvica flew across the table and tackled Rail, where the two of them wrestled each other as they rolled across the inch of dust coating on the floor.
Link had a question, so he broke up their fight by pushing them apart and asking, "If a human can use your horns to strengthen their spells, how does a dragon use them? I doubt they're just for decoration."
"Of course not!" Suvica coughed as he dusted his clothes. "You think human magicians are impressive with dragon horns? You should see an actual dragon! We use our horns to control the element we were born with! Fire Dragons can direct flames like an extension of their bodies, even causing inactive volcanoes to erupt without warning! An Earth Dragon can start earthquakes and avalanches, and Wind Dragons can summon tornadoes that can wipe a city off the face of Hyrule in seconds! And the larger the dragon's horns, the more powerful they are! You should hear the stories about Volvagia! His horns were so long they were manes of fire! He could make the skies burn, the earth erupt, and the air combust! He was the ultimate dragon, the symbol of power!"
"And you're his ultimate fanboy," Rail snickered; Suvica didn't bother attacking him this time, for he was too busy fantasizing about his hero.
"I don't see your horns anywhere," Link said to Suvica as the inn's chef demanded a king's ransom for their breakfast; Natasha persuaded him to give them a discount by lifting the hem of her shirt and tossing a concealed dagger into the wall centimeters to the left of the cook's neck. The chef paid for their meal in full with his generosity.
"Your witch-mom sealed me, remember?" Suvica said, pointing at his forehead like there was a lock around it. "Besides, things are better this way. If I had my horns, nothing in this world would be able to stand against me, not the King Dodongo, Zladimir, or even you Forest Boy. Things are more challenging this way."
As soon as breakfast was pleasantly settling within everyone's stomachs, they resumed city hoping, planning to travel from one settlement to another so their horses and wagon would have someplace safe to stay from the rummaging undead. Natasha handed Link a map (a cluster of lines, dots, labels, and numbers) to show him their progress. After Jent Village, they planned on staying at Polen, Florin, and then Oron, before reaching the Lost Woods.
Suvica was obstinately ordering them to skip Oron, and when they asked why, he said, "Because that's where the Thunder Wings live! Do you think I want to meet them? No! Skip Oron and let's head straight for the Lost Woods!"
"If we do, we'll have to travel throughout the night, during the reign of the undead," Natasha said as Malon steered their wagon down the worn out trail with impeccable precision. "I have no wish to put any of my horses in harm's way. We will stay at Oron."
"Don't you want to meet your old friends, Suvi?" Malon asked.
"No! I don't care about the Thunder Wings, and if I visit them again, they'll get all clingy on me and never let go!"
Malon saw past his lies. "Aw, you miss them, don't you?"
"Erg … well, maybe."
"He's going soft," Rail laughed.
Link pondered the topic as Suvica jumped Rail and the two tried to strangle each other for a second time. Yes, the changes were there: Suvica was complaining less about his seal, acting more comfortably around Malon, and was admitting to things he would've normally denied. He was still arrogant, talked trash, and was always itching for an excuse to hit someone, but was undeniably maturing.
His most perceptible alterations came with his fighting style, when Natasha parked their ride within Polen City while Link and Suvica stayed outside the afternoon-shaded walls for a little sparing match. When they got in their battle positions, and Zelda (their stern referee) signaled for them to begin, Link expected the dragon to charge like an enraged Moblin. Instead, Suvica calmly summoned the scales on his arms and patiently waited for Link to make the first move. He shot a Disk Attack as a preemptive strike, but instead of ramming himself into it head-on as before, Suvica stepped aside and let the magic swish past him before lunging. Even his attacks were unusually composed; the dragon reduced his actions to swift and short jabs instead of the wide open swings he favored so much. Just once, Link dropped his guard, letting Suvica hit the Kokiri Sword from his hand before punching at Link's face, yet instead of socking him square in the jaw, Suvica stopped his attack right before impact.
"Gotcha, sucker," he smirked, stepping back and ramming his scaled knuckles together to celebrate his small victory. "C'mon! Let's go again!"
"This is new," Link admitted, shaking the aches from his fingers and picking up his sword. "I thought for sure you'd hit me with everything you had."
Suvica sneered, cracking his knuckles with resounding pops. "I've learned a few things too, Forest Boy. I always wondered why watching you get stronger and stronger bugged me all the time, and then it struck me!" He dashed forward and punched, which Link avoided by leaning back. "I want to get stronger too! I've always been at the top of the food chain, I've always been the strongest! But after being kicked down a few notches, getting beaten time and time again, I finally know what it's like, the desire to become better than I already am!" Suvica added a few kicks to his attack combination, copying Link's moves by sweeping his feet out from under him before trying to pummel his face into the ground with an armored fist. "And the day I defeat you, the day I use every fiber of strength I have to beat you down, is the day reclaim my title as the strongest!"
"Really?" Link used a bit of footwork to navigate his way past Suvica's attacks and get behind him, placing his Kokiri Sword against the dragon's neck. "Then it looks like you've got ways to go."
"Ha! Bring it!"
They sparred until the moon took over the sun's domain; Suvica told Link to use the Sun's Song so they could keep fighting, but Link turned him down, saying he wanted a night of rest. However, the tavern they were staying at tonight was infested with massive rodents and roaches, inciting Zelda and Malon to cower against each other in terror. Neither batted an eyelid until every last pest was driven out or killed, and even then, Zelda refused to sleep without protecting herself and Malon within a Nayru's Love, which she sustained until morning came.
"Your magic's gotten better," Link noted as they threw their belongings into Natasha's wagon and got ready to leave. "You kept your Nayru's Love activated even as you slept. Been practicing?"
"Studiously," Zelda affirmed as Malon cracked the reins, urging their rested horses into a gallop. "How about you? Do you remember everything I taught you in our previous lesson?"
Link struggled to hold in a groan. Zelda stayed true to her word and was rigorously tutoring him in the ways of magic. They started immediately after leaving Koon, and whenever Link had a moment of free time, Zelda was drilling magical formulas, tetra-dimensional-arcane theories, and more, into his brain. He preferred it when all he had to do was trust his instincts to use his magic, not when he had a thousand theories and hundreds of practiced procedures noisily clogging his head. Half the time, Link was pretty sure Zelda was meticulously lecturing him to keep her mind off the kiss they shared, because whenever she had a moment to pause and think, he saw her face flush, an effect she tried to bury beneath arcane procedures and magical diagnostics.
While some of her teachings were fun bits of information to keep in mind, Zelda's lessons made him feel dumber by the minute. Most of the time, all he could do was nod and say "Yes, I understand" when she paused to breathe. When they stopped for lunch after leaving Polen City, Link scurried up the tallest tree he could find when Zelda said she'd explain "Lundene's Evolutionary Theory of Magical Dialysis."
After he managed to secure himself to the highest branch which could support his weight, he almost jumped out of the tree when Natasha said, "You are enjoying yourself." The guild leader was sitting on the bough on the opposite side of the tree from where he was sitting.
"What're you doing here?" Link asked, regaining his balance and peering down to see Zelda hopelessly searching for him below. "You didn't follow me up here, did you?"
"Certainly not, I was here first, keeping a lookout for trouble. Thank you for coming up to keep me company."
"You're welcome."
While he was thankful for the transport Natasha was offering them, Link hoped she had no plans on sticking around. She was fun to speak with and was an excellent story teller, but when she didn't have anything to do, Link frequently found her kneeling over her drawn sword, sharpening its edge with a whetstone while creepily muttering, "Soon … soon …soon."
"Natasha, how long do you plan on staying with us?"
"Five rupees."
"Huh?"
"Pay me five rupees, and I shall give you the information you seek concerning me."
"Five rupees … to know how long you're staying with us?"
"Yes." Since it was a minimal amount, Link dropped a blue rupee into Natasha's expectant hand. "I will stay until I see the Hidden Records of the Ancient, or the Kokiri Library as you call it, with my own eyes. It will realize a dream I've long since forfeited, and I will be happy to return to my guild in Koon." Natasha drew a dagger from inside her shin-high boots and threw it into the distance, where the blade struck a faraway bird with a "thunk."
Link handed her another rupee for another question. "Why are you so expressionless? You say you'll be happy, but I've only seen you smile once, and it was barely for a moment."
Natasha pocketed her earnings and juggled another dagger, tossing and hitting a second flying speck in the distance. "I lived through the reign of the Fiend and watched the man I cared for be called the Fiend. Many people were afflicted in different ways, and this is mine."
"The man you cared for?" Link repeated after paying her again. "You and my dad were best friends?"
"In a way. Pay me."
"Hm? What for? I already gave you another blue rupee."
"I know, but you must pay me another for what I am about to say next. If you do not, I shall remain silent."
"She's like a toy dispenser who eats your rupees so she can talk," Navi whispered. Link grinned at the analogy, but tossed Natasha her requested fee all the same.
"There is a reason I formed the Red Shadow guild," Natasha continued, catching the rupee and pocketing her prize. "I wanted to know the reason why Cross became the Fiend, so I gathered the most promising spies I could find and trained their skills to perfection. Because I needed funding, I had my men take small time commissions, selling valuable information to wealthy customers. Inadvertently, my guild became Hyrule's greatest web of information, yet despite this, I could not uncover the truth I wished to find. It is why I so diligently tracked you and your friends, not because you traveled with Princess Zelda, but because I hoped you could tell me what I wished to hear, and you did. I am indebted to your courtesy."
"If that's so, why do I still have to pay you for you to talk about yourself?"
"I have given you a discount. I would normally charge twenty rupees, but for you, it's five." Link laughed, quite drawn to Natasha's unique character. "Do it again."
"Do what?" He asked when he calmed down, feeling their tree sway to a gust of prairie wind.
"Laugh."
"It's kind of hard to laugh on command."
"Then smile." Wondering where Natasha was getting at, Link lifted the corners of his lips all the same. Next thing he knew, she yanked him from his branch and was smothering his face in her chest with a hug. "You greatly resemble Cross when you smile. How adorable. I wish I could keep you."
"Muffle! Cough!"
Natasha didn't release him, but spun him around so his back was pressed against her so he could breathe freely. "For being so cute, I will give you another piece of information for free: Be careful."
"What do … cough … you mean?"
"After I discovered you were Cross's son, I had my best men retrace your steps and actions. I know Oron is the first Hylian city you've visited, and that you traveled to Lon Lon Ranch and Hyrule Market immediately afterwards. There are too many coincidences surrounding you. Luck has been on your side so many times it cannot be good fortune or chance. I believe someone is secretly aiding you from the shadows."
"I'm not following."
"You were able to reach Hyrule Market because your friend, Malon, happened to be at Oron the same day you were, the same city were Thunder Dragon Suvica resided. You snuck into Hyrule Castle because the guards were preoccupied by a different group of intruders, granting you your audience with Princess Zelda. You received your magical abilities because a Fountain Fairy from Hyrule Castle was in Suvica's possession. And of all the cities to take Princess Zelda, you took her to the most corrupt in all of Hyrule, Denion, where you mother happened to reside. Must I go on?"
When Natasha listed them like that, Link had to admit things were a little fishy. One stroke of good luck after another, what were the chances? Then he remembered it was Owl Kae, a friend of Pinky, who told him to visit Oron, and it was Owl Kae who informed him of the additional intruders who wished to infiltrate Hyrule Castle. The owl was even there when Link, Zelda, and Rail were at the top of Death Mountain and needed a ride down. The old bird was a mysterious one, but Link knew he was trustworthy all the same. If he really did have a guardian angel watching him from above, it could only be one person/owl.
"Don't worry," Link replied, happy to know Owl Kae was watching their backs from above. "I've got a feathery friend helping out."
"Then my worries are for naught," Natasha said, unwrapping her arms from Link and hopping back to the ground one branch at a time. "However, keep your vigilance. Just because you know there is a helping hand guiding your path, does not mean that hand belongs to a friend."
They stopped at Florin and continued without incident. As they made their way to Oron, a spark of entertainment arrived in the form of a bandit attack. The small gang galloped towards them on their worn-down mounts, waving heavy axes and maces while trying to intimidate the wagon transporting a woman and a small group of children.
Naturally, the exact opposite occurred.
Link and Zelda used their magic, Suvica fired his lightning, while Natasha and Rail opened the wagon's hidden compartment of weapons to fend off their attackers with crossbows and daggers. Even Malon managed to chase away one of the thugs by pegging him between the eyes with a dull arrow.
"I hit him! I hit him!" She gasped, barely believing her own accomplishment.
"You're getting better," Zelda generously praised. "Why don't you try aiming for that fellow, the one with the double-sided axe? He is a fair distance away."
"Take your time to line up your shot," Rail added as Malon notched another arrow, allowing Natasha to take over the reins.
The next three minutes turned into Malon's private shooting gallery, where she playfully chasing away the baffled goons with her harmless projectiles. Only three of her eleven arrows hit their marks, and the bandits turned tail before she could fire a twelfth.
"You're getting better," Link commended. "Your practice is starting to pay off. I still think your aim will improve with a better bow."
"Nah, I like this one," Malon assured, cradling her worn down weapon.
As Oron approached with the coming nightfall, Suvica's pretentious objections grew more exaggerated with each passing minute.
"I thought you said you missed the Thunder Wings," Link said when the dragon's bickering reached intolerable levels (he was threatening to smash Oron's gates to prevent them from entering the city).
"I … I do, sort of!" Suvica fumed, struggling to use his tiny brain to put his feelings into words. "But I'm … I'm not the same as I was before!"
"Really? You're still as crabby as ever in my opinion," Rail noted.
"Shut up, shut up! Damn it! I don't want to explain myself, so I won't! C'mon, Link! Use your Sun's Song! If we're only stopping at Oron because of the undead, you can make it morning by playing a few notes!"
"Such a sudden change could disorient and disturb the horses," Natasha warned from up front. "We shall also lose a night of sleep, which means we may have to spend an extra and unnecessary day resting in Link's village. Is this acceptable?"
No one could forge a strong argument against Suvica's case, though Malon really wanted to meet the Thunder Wing gang and thank them for their help against the Gerudos so long ago, so Link took out Saria's Fairy Ocarina and performed the mystic song. Closing his eyes and letting the familiar sense of heavenly dominance flow from his body, he commanded the river of time to transform into a raging rapid. When he opened his eyes, the moon was gone, and the early morning sun was peeking at them from the horizon.
Suvica thanked Link for his efforts by clamping his mouth shut as Oron City passed by. Driven by their lack of sleep and their excitement to see the Kokiri Village, Natasha pressed their horses to the point of exhaustion. The Kokiri Forest appeared as a hazy line of deep jade by afternoon's time. While everyone else was excitedly prancing about the back of the wagon (Natasha's right leg was shaking in anticipation), Link tried to think of something to say when he saw his Kokiri friends again. He disappeared the day the Great Deku Tree died, only saying farewell to Saria and Tatl. Additionally, the last time he saw the village's self-proclaimed leader, Mido, was when he went screaming into the village, shouting to everyone that Link killed their father. There was no telling how much things had changed. Link said he was prepared to have the village hate him for what he'd done, and now was the time to see how resolute he was.
"Are you okay?" Navi whispered in his ear. "You're awfully quiet. Aren't you happy to be home?"
"Not really. I was hoping to come back after getting my revenge against Ganondorf. I thought killing him would help me face the Kokiri, but he's still alive, and I've come back regardless. I'm a little scared to know how everyone will react after seeing me."
"Hey, cheer up. You left to keep your promise with the Great Deku Tree, and you've come back to help fulfill it. The Kokiri will understand, and even if they don't, there's someone who'll always be on your side regardless, remember?"
"Saria, right?"
Navi pouted, and Link winced as she yanked on his hair. "I was referring to me, but sure, Saria counts too. And don't forget your new friends. If you get kicked out of the Kokiri Village, I'm sure Zelda will find you a room to live in at her large and magnificent Hyrule Castle. Of course, this is after you beat Ganondorf and accuse him of trying to destroy Hyrule to clear your own name."
Link chuckled, feeling the fog of doubt dissipate in his mind. "Think you could get use to castle life?"
"Well, I don't know. The fluffy beds, numerous servants, and good food might be too much for me to endure, but I'll try not to regret it."
"I don't know. Zelda's dad might not welcome the Spawn of the Fiend with open arms, even after we take Ganondorf down."
"Look, you know what I mean. No matter how the Kokiri feel about you, it's not the end of the world. You've still got a mother and cousin who love you and friends who trust you. If you don't have a home in the Kokiri Village, you can find a new one in Hyrule."
He appreciatively embraced his partner's words; if he did lose his place amongst the Kokiri, the pain would be great, but it wouldn't kill him. He had a family he could turn to and friends he relied on. And if everything did work out for the best, his old friends could meet his new ones, and he would continue to live and protect the people he loved.
"You're right, there's no point in worrying about things I can't be certain about," Link laughed lightly, his insecurity brushing off his heart. "I'll handle things as they come, like I always have."
"That sounds more like the Link I know," Navi approved.
"Fairy Boy?" Malon whispered. "Is the forest … supposed to look like that?"
Link turned his focus away from his fairy partner, standing up to see they'd come to a stop at the edge of the Kokiri Forest. The outer woods were as spooky as always, the warped branches, distorted trunks, and mantle of thorny leaves reaching out to threateningly warn away all intruders.
But something was wrong.
Before them, leading into the heart of the forest, was a gaping path of cut down lumber, fallen trees which had been unceremoniously chopped down to leave a wreckage of stumps and withering timber.
Link's heart hardened into ice, pumping out arctic trepidation. "Go. GO!"
His roar commanded Natasha to force their horses into the woods, down the manmade route where no sunlight could reach. Seeing the trees which once protected the village fall to axes and steel was so wrong the frost in his chest froze until it burned. Their wagon's wheels clumped and jarred as it traversed the uneven trail piercing the woods, accurately directing them towards the Kokiri Village. Yet upon seeing his home, Link's world broke apart, feeding his eyes an impossible sight as a blaring screech of disbelief swallowed his ears. A section of the Wall, the cluster of magnificently tall trees protecting the Kokiri Village, had been torn down, and an alien haze that should've never existed in the forest encompassed his home.
The Kokiri Village was burning.
