So this is a splinter chapter that I chopped off the beginning of the next one because I felt they didn't go together too well, and I suppose you'll see why when you've read them both. Anyways, it's pretty short, but I'll be uploading the next one in another hour or so, as soon as I get it edited. Enjoy! And make sure your brain is prepared for the confusing mess that is Duncan's ranting.

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Legend of Zelda. All other original characters belong to me.

The Sheikah

Chapter Thirty-Six: Searching

Duncan had never been in a better mood. The sun was shining high in the cloudless sky, and it was warm, despite the chilly winter air. He'd been in this city only once before; years ago, when he'd first scouted it out and learned its geography, knowing somewhere inside him that he'd need to return to it someday. What was quite a pleasant surprise though, was that he had never expected he'd be returning with a friend.

Addica was bouncing along happily beside him on the crowded street, holding onto Duncan's hand with a surprisingly strong grip. For even though the boy was happy most days, he never strayed far away from Duncan's side. The child was happy today, but timid. They had just arrived in the city that very same morning, and everything he was seeing was new to his young eyes. Duncan knew for a fact that the boy had been born out there in the woods, in the very early stages of when that rebel Sheikah group was forming. He'd never known anything like this; a city, with tall walls and bright, colorful things. Bloody hell, he'd never known anything like Clock Town, and that place was a speck of dust on the world, so small you could barely call it a town.

Duncan had just purchased Addica a picture book from a dealer, one that he'd been surprised to find was written in Sheikahn. Addica was positively beaming as they walked away with it, clutching the small book to his chest like it was the most precious thing in the world. Duncan was currently scanning the streets for an inn or pub where they could stop in for some lunch so they little guy could conquer a few pages of the thin tome. Because of course, like the town, he'd probably never seen anything like the colorful, hand-illustrated pages of his little book.

"Ah, here we are!" Duncan said loudly, cutting through the crowd and opening up the door of a small little pub set into the side of the street, almost hidden away.

When they entered, the atmosphere, unlike the building's facade, was bright and cheerful. There were pots of wildflowers sitting on every table, and a great deal of windows set into the back wall. "Ah, madam!" Duncan called, letting go of Addica's hand and strutting up to the counter, where he grinned at the fairly young woman behind the counter, giving her his best lady-killing smile.

She smiled back at him, though she seemed a little wise to his attempt at charming her, so Duncan killed his attempt then and there. He knew when there wasn't going to be a connection of that sort with someone, which was perfectly alright with him. That day, it simply meant that this woman couldn't have been her. Because when he found her here in this city, he would feel a connection. He had seen it.

"Your son?" she asked, nodding to little Addica, who had climbed up and seated himself on one of the chairs, opening his book with a wonder in his eyes that Duncan could spot from right where he was standing.

"No, no he isn't," he answered. "I'm looking after him for a very dear friend of mine."

"I don't think I've ever seen a child sweeter than him," the woman said softly, taking a rag out of the pocket of her apron and wiping down the counter with it as they talked.

"Ah!" Duncan exclaimed with delight, turning back to Addica. He spoke in Sheikahn. "Do you hear that, little man? She thinks you're the cutest thing she's ever seen!"

Addica responded by glancing up at him long enough to stick his tongue out before going back to his book.

"That's the strangest language I've ever heard," the woman murmured.

"A lot of extremes for you today, aren't there?" Duncan replied slyly. "Sweetest child, strangest language. May I take a shot at most bizarre question?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "And what's that?"

Duncan flashed a grin. "How much wood would a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?"

She laughed heartily. "Aye, and there you have it. Three extremes in one go."

"A very extreme question," Duncan agreed. "I must admit I'd been searching for the answer for years. I hadn't been able to come across any woodchucks who were willing to aid in my study, you see, which I'm sure you could guess made things all the more difficult. They're frightfully disagreeable animals, woodchucks are. But around a year ago, the answer occurred to me. It's ridiculously simple. You see, the question asks what amount of wood a woodchuck would chuck, not could chuck, in the event that it could in fact chuck wood. I therefore came to the conclusion that because woodchucks do not chuck wood, even if they could chuck wood, they still would not chuck any wood at all, because they would choose not to. However, I am sadly still looking for the answer as to how much wood they could chuck if they could chuck wood, if the choice of whether or not to chuck wood hadn't been entered into the equation at all, if you took the free will out if the situation. But like I said, no woodchucks were willing to help me at all. Isn't that rude of them? It's life's greatest mystery, if you ask me, madam."

She just stared at him, blinking several times as she tried to catch up with what he'd said. She soon gave up however, shaking her head sadly. "You're the oddest man I've ever met."

"Aha!" Duncan shot a finger into the air in triumph. "That's four extremes! Sweetest, strangest, most bizarre, and oddest. I daresay I deserve some sort of prize for shattering your entire world like that."

The woman smiled as Duncan looked her directly in the eye, trying to see anything about her he could. As it turned out, she did like Duncan, despite her initial suspicion of him; but this woman still wasn't her, and Duncan could see many, many reasons why. The first of which being that she didn't have the appropriate shape of ears.

"How about the kid eats free?" She asked with a wink.

"That sounds very fair, madam. Thank you."

As Duncan left the counter to take a seat beside Addica, he couldn't help but smile. He was feeling good about himself. Everything seemed to be falling into place with how he'd seen it happen in his head all those years ago. Of course, little things were different. He'd never gone on a rant about woodchucks, and Addica hadn't been with him; but more or less, everything was comfortably the same.

"So, Addica, read me your book," he instructed, content to pass an hour or so this way as they waited for their food and ate. Addica struggled over some words, but overall he was quite a good reader. It was remarkable how bright he was for his age.

The story was about a dragon that lived in a cave near a village. All the people in the village thought he was a fearsome and dangerous dragon, and many thought they should kill it, while others thought it should be enslaved. Everyone in the village was frightened of the dragon, apart from one little boy who wasn't afraid at all. He was curious, and thought they could learn much from the dragon. A few days before this boy's birthday, his mother asked whom he wanted to invite to his party. The little boy said he wanted to invite the dragon. His mother thought this was a joke; after all, who would want a fearsome, dangerous dragon at a birthday party? But the little boy was true to his word, and on the day before his birthday, he snuck out of his house and went to the cave to invite the dragon. When he asked, the dragon was so happy that he cried great, big tears that turned into a mighty river. The boy and his dragon floated down the river back towards his house, and no one in the village ever feared the dragon again.

The children's story left much to ponder in Duncan's mind. It seemed almost... appropriate for the situation they were all finding themselves in. The hatred, the mistrust, and finally the salvation. As far as Duncan knew, his friends in Hyrule had yet to reach the salvation part of their story.

"Are you ready to go, little one?" Duncan asked, picking up the book and stowing it away in his pack. Addica nodded at him sleepily, so instead of making him walk, Duncan picked him up and let the child sleep against his shoulder as he continued his search around the city.

The sun was sinking low in the sky, and Duncan was talking to a man selling goats—whilst Addica singled one out and became friends with it—when he finally, finally spotted her. He had been beginning to worry he wouldn't after all, because the sun was near to setting, and the streets were quieting; but sure enough, it was her! As soon as she walked past and Duncan looked at her, he just knew!

"Madam!" he called, scooping Addica up right in the middle of his conversation with the goats and took off after her. "Excuse me, madam!" She looked around before turning to him; and everything about her, everything, was as he had seen it. She had dark, dark brown hair, hanging in a loose ponytail over her shoulder, revealing ears that came to dainty points. Her eyes were a crystal clear shade of blue. She was wearing a long green dress that hugged her frame gently, and her features... well, Duncan had seen them before, mirrored in Brock's other children.

"Sir?" she asked, looking around her, unsure and maybe a bit frightened of him.

"Oh, no!" He put a hand out, touching her shoulder. "Don't be a bit afraid of me, my dear. I realize I come off rather strange at first, but I just take a little getting used to, is all. And… this is all going to sound terribly odd to you, but... I've been looking for you! I have!"

"Najee!" Addica squeaked happily, reaching out to her, something that was unusual for him to do with strangers.

Duncan grinned. "Oh, yes, how could I have forgotten? Addica's been helping me too, of course."

She wore a gracious smile on her face, despite her obvious confusion. "I'm really, really very sorry, sir, but... do I… know you at all? If I do, I can't remember exactly from where." She gave a little shrug, biting her lip past a smile, and dear goddesses, Duncan was already in love with the girl.

"No, we don't know each other," he answered honestly, cocking his head to the side as he took her in. "But we have to get to know each other right away, Haera, because you need to come with me in about..." Duncan squinted, leaning closer and peering into her eyes. "About... two weeks."

"I do?" she asked, brow pulled together in confusion. "How do you know my name?

"Yes you do, give or take a few days," Duncan murmured, turning to look at Addica as he ignored the girl's second question. "Are you hungry, goat boy?" he asked in Sheikahn. The child nodded his head vigorously.

"Right, then how about dinner?" he asked, looking at her again. "Are you hungry, my dear? You haven't anywhere to be, have you?"

"Well, no, I-I don't, but—"

"Excellent!" Duncan interrupted, flashing one of his lady-killing grins. He reached forward and gently took her dainty hand, pulling her along as he took off at a comfortable pace. "You must come with me, then. I know a good place, lots of flowers. The owner and I bonded over woodchucks. You'll love it!"

Like I said, next chapter will be up in roughly one hour. You lucky little ducks, two chapters in one day! Hope you enjoyed this one!