Chapter Twenty-Nine
Clock Town Corruption
The dawn of the first day began as usual. The gleaming sun shone merrily onto the Clock Tower as birds chirped throughout the plaza. The brawny construction crew hammered and sawed, and the early shoppers chatted and hurried into and out of the opening shopping stalls positioned around the area . Tatl and I stood, once again at the base of the immense Tower in the middle of Clock Town, wondering about our next move for restoring peace to Termina.
"Yep." Tatl shrugged, "Another day, another adventure. What do we do this time?"
Shaking a mild dizziness away, I took stock of my belongings by rummaging through my belt pouches and was relieved to find everything still there from the day before, including the new and improved scale-lined cloak. Finding my inventory satisfactory, I looked around and tried to think.
"Hmm...well… didn't we hear someone say something about the north…?" I asked, turning to my companion.
Tatl was just about to answer when an inquisitive voice cut into our conversation.
"Hey, do you fine ladies need any help?" An earnest young man spoke up beside us.
I turned to tell the person that we were just fine when I recognized the intruder. Black, scraggly hair, thin, lanky stature, and the familiar blue clothing of a Bomber with the number "Three" sewn on the back of a white vest. I remembered this boy as Ratt, whom I saved a couple days ago, from a gang of bloodthirsty hooligans. I also remembered the impetuous kid's constant flirting.
"Oh no, not you!" I groaned loudly and put a hand to my face.
"Wait, what? Have we met before?" The boy asked in confusion. "I think I would've remembered someone like you."
"Yes...no I mean! We've never met before!" I hurriedly babbled, my mind struggling to come up with an excuse to leave. "I mean I've seen you around, but that's it!"
I immediately remembered the small peck on the cheek the boy gave me, and I could feel my face flushing red.
Idiot, what are you doing?! I angrily berated myself, struggling to cover my blushing cheeks.
"Hehe...ummm… right…" He nervously laughed.
Damn it! Too late! I mentally slapped myself, knowing the kid had noticed.
"Uh well, anyway… I just wanted to see if you needed any help since you look a little lost. Maybe I can guide you to wherever you're going?" He quickly changed the subject, sensing my discomfort.
"No thanks…" I declined and turned briskly away. "I think we have an idea."
"Hey wait, Link!" Tatl chimed and pulled my hand back as I began walking away. "This guy is one of those Bombers, they'll probably know more about weird stuff happening."
"I know what's going on, Tatl, we have to go north!" I argued, yanking my hand away in irritation.
"North? As in the mountains?" Ratt warned, rushing to my side. "Ohh no, you don't want to go there, you'd be dead or frozen solid before you could blink! The Pass is completely blocked with ice, rocks, and snow storms. The only people who can get through are the Gorons. And, if you don't mind my saying so, you're much better looking than a rock."
The boy smiled and winked at me and I rolled my eyes, quickening my pace away from the youth.
"Okay okay, I'm sorry!" Ratt apologized and caught up to me. "But you can't be serious about going to the mountains, right? I wasn't joking about that, you wouldn't stand a chance!"
"I'll be fine, I've been through far worse I'm sure, including you. Now leave us alone!" I angrily chided, pushing the irksome boy away to get some distance.
"Oof!" Ratt grunted, "Sheesh you're stubborn! H-hey wait!"
I ignored the boy and pressed on, but Tatl quickly dashed in front of me to block my path.
"Stop, you hard-headed goat! Don't you think we should hear him out? Look at where your one track mind has gotten you so far." The fairy flung my hair into my face.
"Why do you want to listen to this kid?" I irately swiped the scarlet locks from my face and glared at Tatl. "Last time he almost got me killed, or worse. He's nothing but trouble!"
"Last time? What do you mean?" Ratt spoke up from behind. "You keep implying that you know me, but I'm sure we've never met. What's going on, are you on some of that new magic dust? That stuff will kill you, ya know?"
We were standing in the middle of the walkway, and I looked around to notice the area was getting crowded with more and more people. With a resigned groan, I pulled Ratt along behind me and into a more secluded and empty storefront across from the tower.
"Alright look, you're going to forget this anyway so I might as well tell you." I sighed and released the boy. "We're trying to save this world, because in three days it's going to end. We can't do that in three days, so we need to travel back in time constantly. The last time I saw you, you were being beaten by some gang members in some and I saved your life."
Ratt stared at me only for a moment, then shook his head.
"Ya know, I was only kidding about you being on drugs, but... now I think you need to get some help."
I gave him an indignant shove once more, and I reached into my pouch to produce the Ocarina.
"I'm not on anything, you idiot. This is a special instrument that bends time… or something like that. If I play a specific song on this, I and whoever I'm with get swept back in time"
Ratt recovered from the push but continued to gape at me in mild concern.
"You know what? I'm tired of being patronized and treated like garbage by clueless morons, just sit still." I growled and put the ocarina to my mouth.
The notes from the Song of Time swirled around us and Ratt's features shifted from amusement to surprise as we lifted from the ground and watched the world fade to white. Ratt's eyes bulged in shock and he fearfully glanced around as we sailed through the time stream. Tatl and I braced ourselves as the world suddenly came back into focus, but Ratt immediately keeled over and vomited onto the cobblestone. I backed away from the pooling juices in disgust and the boy spat the rest of it out, standing up shakily a moment later.
"Wha...what was that?" He croaked at us.
"That was time travel." I candidly stated, grimacing and stepping away from the stench rising from the ground.
"Holy gods…" He put a hand against his forehead while eyeing his surroundings, then gasped as his eyes widened. "Wait...are you a goddess?"
Tatl suddenly burst into uproarious laughter and flopped onto my shoulder, trying to speak but unable to do so without laughing. I, myself, couldn't help but smile at the ridiculous sentiment, and shook my head.
"No, pretty far from it. But now if you'd excuse me, I have a world to save. Enjoy the rest of your life."
Ratt grabbed my hand before I could leave, and I whirled around to shove him away into the walls of the Clock Tower, but the desperate look in his eyes stopped me.
"OK, say I believe you now, but I wasn't joking about the danger in the north. Word is that the land is cursed into an eternal winter, and that there's nothing left! It's gotten so bad that the Gorons are even migrating south, which has never happened before! If you don't believe me, you can ask the Gorons themselves. A bunch are here in town right now!"
Tatl, finally recovering from her laughter, breathed in deep breaths to calm herself and fluttered up from her perch to face me.
"Whewwww… Well, oh goddess? Should we take this kid's advice?"
"Fine.." I conceded, "We might as well. Where are these Gorons, Ratt?"
"Well I know a few of them are waiting to see the mayor." The lad smiled and held his hand out to me. "I can take you there if you'd like? That is, if you don't mind being around another clueless moron?"
"Alright…" I sighed in reluctance, and cautiously let him take my hand.
The tower plaza was gradually filling with eager people as more stalls opened or prepared to open for business. We weaved around the growing crowds toward one of the plaza exits. Ratt pulled me along confidently between buildings and horse-drawn carts loaded with goods. The city was lively and full of sounds. Music from a variety of instruments swirled amongst laughter, bells, and a thousand conversations under a clear blue sky and cheery morning sun. If I hadn't known any better, I wouldn't ever even consider that this world could end in just a few days.
We continued on at a brisk, yet comfortable pace, turning onto a new street with fewer townsfolk traversing the road. The buildings, utilities, and surroundings became more decorative and luxurious as Ratt led us to what I assumed to be Clock Town's wealthier district. Several guards looked our way, expecting trouble, and more than a few of the residents turned up their noses at us.
"Rich snobs…" Ratt muttered under his breath. "Someday I'll show them…"
"Show them what?" I raised a curious brow.
"Hmm?" Ratt seemed surprised that I heard. "Oh… it's nothing. I just don't like the huge difference in wealth here. These people just hoard everything to themselves, showing everyone else how rich they are, and let others less fortunate starve without a thought. My mom always told me…."
His voice trailed off. I thought I heard a faint quiver in it, but he quickly changed the subject again once he saw me staring.
"Oh we're almost there, don't worry. The mayor's office is just up ahead, just don't cause any trouble since the guards here are the worst. I've been kicked and pushed around by them plenty of times in this part of town."
"Why? Do you cause trouble? Maybe you go around flirting with their wives?" I sarcastically suggested.
"No, they just don't like the Bombers. See, I technically don't have a home...or money. That's how most of us Bombers are. Jim, our leader, is the mayor's son though. His mother absolutely hates this club though, since the rest of us are poor and all. She believes we're no better than a murderous, thieving gang…actually that's what she believes all poor folks are like."
Ratt spoke in cold, angry tones, lost in thought, and I felt his grip slowly tense around my fingers. He then quickly snapped back to the conversation and relaxing his hand.
"But Jim, he scorned his mother's distaste of the lower class. Even though he was just a kid, he saw us street urchins as equals and decided to help out by giving us all food and stuff. One day he comes down to our hideaway, all alone, and asks us if we want justice. Pretty much everyone, having lost everything to the upper class, says yes. He then brings us these fancy blue clothes and says that we're apart of an underground crew that fights for justice and good. See, he got his father to somehow sign a doctrine that makes our crew an official 'secret society of justice forever'… or something like that. The guards absolutely resent us for that, and think of us as nothing more than a joke…."
As if on cue, I ducked as I heard a small stone whizzing through the air and narrowly miss the boys head. I turned to see two guards in gleaming silver armor laughing wildly as the stone loudly clattered off into an alleyway. I furiously pulled my hand free of Ratt's and made my way to the guffawing soldiers in burning rage with Tatl following suit.
"Hey! Did you just throw a rock at us!?" I shouted out, feeling an inner rage boil over.
"No don't!" Ratt quickly wrapped around my arm and pulled me away. "You'll only get us in more trouble than it's worth!"
The guards saw this and laughed even harder, nearly coming to tears.
"Wahahaha! Better listen to your weasel boyfriend!"
"Hahaha, yeah! You don't want any of this!"
"Let me go!" I furiously wriggled to get out of Ratt's surprisingly strong grip. "I can take them all on!"
"I...urgh...bet you can!" The boy struggled to keep hold of me. "But there's….ugh...more of them than us!"
"N-no! I'm… going to teach.. them a...gah!" I gritted through my teeth, unable to wrench free.
"Please...stop...whew…. I'm only trying to help!"
"Link, he's right, there's more of them coming!" Tatl beseeched, fluttering in front of me. "Remember we're trying to save them, not hurt them?"
By now I had managed to be pulled some distance away from the two chuckle clucks who were sauntering off, and finally ceased my attempts to pull away.
"Why should we let them get away with that?" I glowered at Tatl. "Those bullies don't deserve to be saved!"
"Look…" Ratt spoke softly as he loosened my arm. "As much as I want to fight them, violence won't solve this problem. If we fight, we'll be seen as the villains, and then we'll be imprisoned or…..executed. It's not fair, and it's not right, but it's what has to be done for now. It's how we survive."
I turned to look him in the eyes to protest, expecting to see nothing but defeated weakness. Instead I saw a fierce, indomitable determination in his sea-green gaze, like a blazing fire within his soul that would never be smothered. I was vaguely reminded of a similar gaze, and couldn't help but stare as I tried to remember where I'd seen such spirit…
"Uhh...right..." Ratt coughed as if to clear his throat, shattering through my reverie. "Maybe, uh, we should get going before more guards harass us."
"Good idea." I shook myself back to the moment, refocusing on our objective. "Lead the way."
I let Ratt get a little distance before following after him, trying to gather my thoughts. Tatl dropped down onto my right shoulder and moved in close to my ear.
"Hey, what was that all about? Are you feeling OK?" She muttered quietly.
"I'm...not sure. I feel like I know him…" I whispered, "But at the same time, that I don't know him?"
"Well, you did save his life last time. So you do kinda know him." The pixie shrugged, "Maybe all this time travel is going to your head?"
"Hmmm… yeah you're probably right... Let's just keep moving okay?"
"Sure sure, whatever you say."
With a final inquisitive glance at me, Tatl rose into the air again.
Fortunately, Ratt had stopped in front of a large building resplendent in banners hanging from a marble balcony, colorful masks in all shapes and sizes, and various statuettes. Two soldiers in gold-trimmed white armor stood guard at the heavy wooden door, glaring suspiciously at the three of us but thankfully staying put.
"So...Link is it? This is the place, I'm uh...sorry you had to deal with that back there. That's just how the west side is... but the Gorons should be in there."
"Thanks, Ratt." I smiled, nodding my appreciation. "I guess I'll see you around then."
"Yeah, maybe." The boy grinned, and headed toward an alleyway across the street.
I stepped up to the door, pausing in case the two decorated guards decided to confront me, and went inside when neither moved. The large wooden door was fairly easy to push open, likely the hinges on every door were well greased in this part of town, and walked into a large lobby with green flooring, comfortable-looking couches in the corners, and an impressive model of the entire town taking up the center of the lobby. A glossy, dark red desk took up the far end of the room with hefty doors on either side of it. A mousey, green-haired secretary sat at the desk, silently shuffling papers and letters into separate piles. She hadn't noticed me yet, so I stepped up to the desk and asked about the Gorons. Without looking up from her piles, she politely answered.
"The Goron guests and their emissary are in an important meeting right now with the mayor. I'm afraid you'll just have to wait until the meeting is finished."
We both jumped as something in the other room crashed onto the floor with a resounding boom, followed closely by the loud exclamations of what seemed to be furious arguments.
"Ummm, maybe it's best if you wait outside?" The secretary nervously stated.
"That sounds like a great idea." I replied in agreement, remembering just how strong Gorons were.
Just as I reached the entrance, something big and heavy flew through the now destroyed door on the left side of the desk. It crashed into the wall with a groan, which turned out to be a crumpled soldier. A hulking Goron angrily stomped out of the ruined doorway and was trailed by two other, smaller Gorons. I expeditiously moved out of their way as they trudged out the main door. Two guards rushed out of the room to check on their comrade and a smallish figure peeked out from the demolished door. The man seemed extremely high strung, and had deep, dark circles beneath his maroon-colored eyes. His thinning blue hair was drawn back into strange, horn like shapes and he wore dark, officious clothing.
"Ohhh dear… what else could possibly go wrong…?" He sighed in exhaustion and put a defeated hand upon his head.
"Mr. Mayor? What happened in there?" The secretary cried out.
"Ohhh…. just Gorons being Gorons. I wouldn't worry too much, I have a feeling they'll be leaving soon….I hope." He mumbled that last part to himself.
Seeing my opportunity to catch the Gorons, I dashed out the door in pursuit. Thankfully they didn't get very far, and I rushed before them and confronted the apparent leader, who halted and peered down at me in confusion. Townsfolk rushed to get away from the strange, potentially dangerous sight, and the cowardly guards kept eyes on us from a distance.
"What do you want, tiny human? Come to gawk at us like the others?" The massive Goron, who was easily three times my size, questioned.
"I've heard you had some trouble up north, brothers!" I tried to sound as aggressive and intimidating as I could in my effeminate voice. "I want to help!"
The Gorons were silent, likely contemplating if I was insane or joking, but the leader finally spoke up.
"Tiny Human, not even our fiercest warrior could save our home. He was mighty indeed, and take no offense, but you are not even half his size…" The mountainous creature mused. "I must thank you for your kind gesture though. It was the first we received from this wretched city."
"I understand, brother. But I can assure you that I am capable! Surely there must be a way I can prove this?"
"Hmmmmmmm…." The Goron grumbled in deep thought. "You speak like our own kind, have you dealt with us before?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, in my homeland I was made a Sworn Brother." I replied, as confidently as I could manage.
"...You are a Sworn Brother?" They all seemed surprised, and the leader spoke up again. " Either you are a deplorable liar, or our knowledge of humans is sadly defunct. Are you not a…hmm what do they call it...mother human?"
"No, I mean yes...ugh. Look things are different where I'm from, I was accepted as part of the Goron family for saving their land."
"How odd… Very well, we actually have a more immediate problem you can help with. Solve it, and you will have proven yourself."
"No problem, brother. Tell me what you need?"
"Hmmmm…. the human chief here refused to help us. It is fortunate you are here, one of our young was stolen from us last night as we rested from our long journey. We know it was a group of humans and followed them here, but we are now lost and frustrated in this horrid city."
"I'm very sorry that such an evil crime was committed by my kind. I shall do my best to right this wrong, and bring your child back, or die trying!"
"Good, I pray you find him, kind brother." The Goron leader nodded his satisfaction. "The child is critical to our future survival, especially if Snowhead is truly lost to us. We shall be outside the northern walls of this awful city, away from this toxic air. Find us there, should you save our young."
With that, the Gorons all tromped off toward the northern park, parting the small stream of timid people like boulders in a river. I decided to go find Ratt once more, who seemed to be my best chance at finding this lost Goron kid. I turned to ask Tatl her opinion, only to discover that Ratt had been standing beside her for who knows how long.
"Heh, Sworn Brother, eh?" The scrawny boy chuckled.
"Yeah...um.. How long were you eavesdropping there?" I asked in mock annoyance, walking over to them both.
"Pretty much the entire time, you're pretty brave for blocking off an angry Goron like that. I was simply here as...I dunno...back up? Someone had to save your skin in case they decided to keep going."
"I have a feeling I'd be the one saving you… again" I retorted, "Anyway, I guess you spared me the inconvenience of tracking you down. I assume you heard about this lost Goron. Do you have any idea where this kid is?"
"Nope…" Ratt shook his head. "But I think I know who to ask. That is if you want my help."
"Hmm…." I put a finger on my chin, pretending to weigh my options. "On one hand, you are pretty annoying. Yet on the other, you seem to know what you're doing… Yeah, I guess you can help this time."
"Oh come on already!" Tatl loudly interjected, flying in between us. "Get a room, you two, or let's get going! We're wasting daylight!"
"Right. Sorry… enough playing around." I agreed, embarrassed at my own immaturity. "Where do we go, Ratt?"
"Well, the Goron said that their kid was stolen by a group of humans, right? I know a place where stolen things have a tendency to turn up. I have to warn you though, it's not exactly the safest place in town…"
"I highly doubt it'll be more dangerous than I am." I stated bluntly.
"Yep, we can handle anything you throw at us. You have no idea what we've been through." Tatl nodded, adding her own input.
"You know, strangely enough I believe you." Ratt conceded, suddenly smiling with enthusiasm. "I gotta say, you two have definitely made my life more exciting!"
