Chapter 3 - A Trip to Hyrule (Part 2) - The Mysterious Hylian
Hey, Look, Listen! You're probably thinking that another warning something bad is happening but no. This is a disclaimer since Link is going to be in this chapter and when he "talks'' about his journey throughout this fic it will actually be a version of my first playthrough of BOTW. I find the traditional Zora's Domain, Rito Village, so on and so forth journey throughout the game found in fics are really boring and samey so I thought I would mix it up a bit. Oh yeah small mentions of monster blood, but also cute animal moments - Guest
Her eyes still closed, Lia felt the night air brushing against her face pricking her skin as she took in the scents of a wild Hyrule. Her wings ruffled slightly under her cloak. Lia felt her body still as she let the Paraglider simply glide down on it's own accord. Upon feeling her boots reach the solid flagstones beneath her, her eyes fluttered open to a grotesque scene laid out before her.
They stood on the edge of a forest, the dark creating dark illusions beneath the canopy shifting and moving as if they were hunting something. The ruins around them danced with creatures in the shadows. Farore stood farther down the ancient flagstone path, still brandishing her bow, a somber look etched into her features as she bowed her head over the bloodied corpses of several large black moblins and golden bokoblins. Their limp bodies leaked thick putrid black blood from the shafts of arrows that peppered their now lifeless bodies, their bodies and pools of black blood slowly incinerating into black and purple smoke and flame. The viscous liquid pooled around their bodies before burning away in an unnatural purple. Farore kicked the lifeless monsters with the edge of her boot, the bodies twitched slightly in response and Farore took an arrow and swiftly drove it through their malice filled bodies making their bodies disappear at an alarming rate. Their remaining snouts and wide mouths were contorted into faces of surprise and horror. Lia thought chillingly to herself " They never stood a chance, did they?"
Farore turned to face Lia and averted her gaze, intent on looking upon the large stone bricks that made up the ancient wall to their left side. Farore spoke in a somber voice "I'm sorry you had to see that, killing something living even if it is unnatural and perverse is still painful to watch and do." Lia walked down the path and placed her hand on Farore's shoulder "It's okay you did what you had to do to protect yourself." Farore swallowed thickly at Lia's words.
Farore looked up into Lia's bright blue orbs and gave a small smile, breaking her gaze she walked over to the ancient wall where a lone Cucco stood slightly shaking up against the ancient stone. Farore scooped up the shaking little thing and held the creature against her chest as she stroked the Cucco and whispered to it, using an off hand she reached into a worn leather pouch that hung off her belt and brought out a palm full of grain and feed. The Cucco cocked it's head curiously at the feed before gratefully clucking and pecking at the grain out of her palm. Farore smiled brightly at the curious little creature, when the Cucco had its fill and had nestled it's feathered body up against Farore and had fallen asleep a green glow surrounded it and the Cucco disappeared. Allowing her now empty arm to fall to her side Farore returned the remaining feed to the pouch. Farore looked at Lia who was now beside her, her eyes alight with happiness at observing the mannerisms of the small Cucco.
Lia sighed beside her "It must be nice to have a way with life." Farore picked at a feather that the Cucco had dropped and she said "It's a blessing and a curse." Lia cocked her head a curious expression on her visage.
Farore inwardly smiled at Lia's child-like wonder at her powers. Farore thoughtfully continued "Well to have a way with life is to be able to accept that ebb and flow. Nature isn't always fair and being able to control that balance makes you question whether or not you deserve that choice. Nature and the creatures around it depend on each other and can preserve or destroy the other. All of us control the lives of people, animals, and nature itself with lives, emotions, and consequences. I need to find that balance of that dependency and I could as easily let nature destroy all that is on it just as much as I can let humans destroy it without consequence. Each thing is a living breathing creature that has their own life and can suffer, love, and grieve just as you and me so how is it my choice to make for them. As such life and nature is a delicate balance and having that burden of that balance rest on you takes a toll."
Farore glanced over at Lia taking note of her sagged shoulders, slightly hunched position, and thoughtful face. Waiting for the information to take effect Farore leant her back against the rough cool stone face of the ancient wall. Lia walked over to the wall as well and sat down, her back pressed on the stone.
Finally speaking Lia said: "I never thought that bearing such a gift would be such a burden." Farore blew out a small stream of air "I'm not usually the one to speak of such things and I didn't mean to bring you down all I meant was not everything is as monotone as it might originally turn out to be. I'm also not usually one to be so mature and speak such pearls of wisdom as not all of us were created with such a grasp of knowledge or affinity for things but I suppose that's why there are four of us." Farore spoke with a playful lilt in her voice causing an involuntary smile on Lia's face.
Lia looked up at Farore still smiling in a questioning manner and asked "What do you mean created?"
Farore looked up at the twinkling stars above them and two shined brighter than the others and she said "We weren't born or chosen we just appeared someday within the chaos because even before we came along there always had to be a balance and some rules. The forces that predate us aren't sentient or conscious but in a way the world was ready for a new way of balance and we were created out of necessity and each given an aspect to create a balance between order and chaos one cannot exist without the other. Or what mortals now call good and evil. Nothing is inherently good or evil even us as personifications of order and good. We still feel guilt and fear and we were made that way for a reason. There is no higher power we were just made this way for the sake of the world so we could relate and adjust just like our mortal counterparts. Sometimes it's a painful gift though"
The stars reflected off of Farore's light viridian eyes. Lia looking at those two bright stars felt a familiar warmth then spoke "Then is that why the Triforce was created, to keep the balance of good and evil?" Farore nodded and said "We created the Triforce to give mortals a way to be able govern themselves allowing the worthy to share their gifts for the good of the mortal kind. Technically we existed before the Triforce as we created it imbuing it with our gifts and gave it to you to disperse to those who were worthy among the mortals to protect this realm. In fact our first realm we ever made was the Sacred Realm and believe it or not it was originally made for our relaxation because the best way to protect the Triforce is to stay right beside it, right?" Farore let out a tinkling laugh bringing back the fond memories of the times she spent with her fellow goddesses. Her laughing dying down Farore continued "It wasn't long after we created the Terrestrial Realm or what is known as Hyrule that we bestowed upon the mortals the Triforce to govern and protect themselves, but as usual the forces of chaos reigned in the hearts of the few unworthy souls. As a failsafe anyone unfit to wield the Triforce who managed to take hold of it the Triforce would split into its three pieces sometimes the shards splitting into even smaller pieces. Although any tyrant who laid their hands upon the Triforce would take the piece they have the closest affinity to granting them great power. Therefore worthy wielders would have to seek out the remaining pieces from across the land and defeat the tyrant. Although we haven't really thought that far ahead to see if worthy wielders would come or if they failed in their task and the tyrant simply took control of all the pieces thankfully that never happened... until That day." The last words spoken with a dark and very regretful finality.
A rustling in the canopy drew the attention of Lia and Farore. Lia rose from the ground to look at the brush. Out from the dark thicket of tree trunks, bushes and grass a large tusked Woodland Boar burst out from the trunks. Its black beady eyes filled with fear an arrow was shot inches from it's running hooves. The large brown boar spotted Farore and it's beady eyes lit up with joy and it started to run for Farore and slowed as it approached her. Arrows continued to rain five at a time from the brush showering the space with projectiles. The shots neared the boar's running hooves until it reached Farore. Cautiously looking for the source of the arrows Farore ran a hand through the boar's coarse fur and the boar happily snorted and pushed it's head into her hand. Farore gave off a laugh when the boar started to nuzzle her midriff with its snout, its large tufts of bristly hair on both sides of its face tickling her. Sensing an impending danger the boar nudged its way in between the space where Farore's back and the ancient stones met with it's upturned tusks on the sides of its mouth and started to paw the ground nervously.
Out from beneath the canopy of the treetops a lean Hylian emerged from the brush. The male Hylian had a white dyed traveler's tunic with belts wrapped around his waist over the tunic with a stone tablet on a holster and wore grey dyed Hylian Cotton trousers and thick leather traveling boots. Completing the ensemble was a thick white dyed Traveler's Cloak whose hood was pulled onto the Hylian's back. His hair was a straw blonde, the long hair in the back pulled into a loose ponytail tied with a blue twine, the hair that wasn't pulled into the ponytail in the front cascaded down the sides of his face, his sideburns long and shaggy framing the sides of his fair face. His eyes a piercing lapis blue and his long pointed ears had several small blue earring loops piercing it. He carried weapons on his back, a pristine Royal Broadsword, a battered Knight's Shield, and what appeared to be an extremely large bow from what could only be from the likes of a Lynel. A quiver hanging horizontally on the small of his back hanging from the rest of his gear straps and belts. A few thick leather straps crisscrossed the front of his tunic concealing bags and waterskins behind his cloak. His face appeared stoic as his eyes swept across the ruins and path methodically before reaching the sight of the two women pressed against the ancient wall. His eyebrow rose as he saw a large boar cowering behind the relatively short woman.
As he continued to walk towards the two women his eyes went wide with recognition as he identified the face of the woman.
He thought curiously to himself "Oh, it's her. Never a dull moment when she's around." The mysterious Hylian smiled a bit at the thought. Although the woman seemed to be much more frantic than the last time they had met her eyes laced with fear as she looked between her companion and his face.
Seeing the two women the Hylian waved before starting to collect the arrows from the ground swiftly returning them to his quiver.
Looking down at her dusty boots Farore's breath started to quicken, she took a jagged breath, tears pricking at her eyes as she beheld the young Hylian step toward them curiously looking at the boar behind her. Then he started to sign "Hello, again. It is nice to see you. What are you doing here this late at night with your friend?" He accentuated his question with a tilt of his head. Farore took a deep breath and in her regular level confident voice answered him "Well what are you doing here at this hour hunting this poor creature?" The young Hylian averted her gaze and rubbed the nape of his neck before signing an answer "Well I was stocking up on meat in the area for a new recipe." Farore shot back "Always thinking about food are we." Lia watched the Hylian and Farore speak and sign in response to each other forming a conversation, she was curious as to what they were talking about and how Farore could understand the mysterious Hylian but she decided she would ask later. Lia petted the boar as it timidly walked out from behind Farore and looked up to her. Lia now distracted tuned out the conversation as she ran her fingers through the straight rough fur of the boar and lost herself in thought.
Lia was quickly pulled back out from her thoughts when Farore took her shoulder and said "He's going to let us stay at his campsite and promised not to make our little friend here into bacon." Lia laughed "Yeah, our little friend, but where is it going to sleep?" Farore looked up at her and said "Well it's a he and he is going to sleep with us under the stars if that's okay with you. I forgot my tent. His name is Ino don't worry he's clean." she said sheepishly a fond smile shone on her face as she looked at the boar.
The young Hylian was now a few steps away from them turning to see if they were following. Seeing Farore, Lia and Ino following he started to lead the way. The Hylian led them through the trunks beneath the canopy of trees. The small trees allowed small beams of moonlight to penetrate the darkness. Restless Crickets chirped in the distance of the forest whilst Sunset Fireflies shone briefly illuminating the ever lighter darkness. They emerged from the other side of the trees into a large field with beaten paths criss crossing the open space. The young Hylian turned to the left where the forest receded slightly allowing an open space in the forest.
Walking into the tucked away clearing a dying fire threw odd shadows acrost the grass and the canvas tent in the left corner of the clearing. Farore and Lia walked up towards the right corner of the clearing Ino trotting alongside them.
The young Hylian started to bring straps over his head as he deposited several small bags and waterskins off to the side of the entrance of the clearing.
The Hylian took a strange stone tablet from a holster on his belt. Turning the tablet towards himself embellishments and a single crying eye insignia made of the stone material formed on the back of the tablet. Upon taking hold of the gap that made up a handle it emitted a small noise of confirmation whilst glowing a faint blue on the opposite side. The Hylian started tapping what seemed to be a screen of some sort. A few moments later blue tendrils of energy formed around the Hylian's hand and a small bundle of wood materialized. Unwrapping the twine that the wood was tidily wrapped with he took the logs kneeling down he set them by the fire. Rising he walked to the clearing's edge he inspected the ground and found his prize, a long stick. Taking the dead branch back to the fire he knelt slowly stoking the fire bringing up hot coals and a few flames he put three logs in a semi-standing position over the fire. Satisfied with his work he sat down and tapped the tablet again, a few sprigs of Warm Safflina and a wrought metal kettle appeared in his lap. Taking a leather waterskin from his back he filled the kettle with water and setting it aside he went about the campsite in search of a few more sticks. Bringing back two Y shaped sticks he took a sharp dagger off of his belt and whittled the bottoms then pierced them into the ground. The two sticks stuck from the ground on both sides of the now lively fire. Squatting down he placed the Warm Safflina inside the kettle. Lacing a young tree branch in the handle of the kettle he set the branch between the two Y shaped sticks. The flames started to lick at the bottom of the kettle and the Hylian looked at it satisfied with his handiwork.
The young Hylian sat down once more allowing his limbs to splay out somewhat and gave a small sigh of satisfaction allowing a small content smile flash across his face.
The young Hylian looked over at the trio in the right corner finally noticing the eyes on him. Ino had settled down his head on the ground as he laid allowing Farore and Lia to nestle against his large side. The warmth of the fire had reached them in the small clearing Ino was lazily fighting to keep his eyes open until he gave off a happy snort and started to doze off feeling safe with the two women nestled against him.
Lia and Farore had watched the Hylian prepare the kettle and stoke the fire watching on curiously. The Hylian saw them looking and signed at Farore "Who's your friend?" nodding his head in the direction of Lia. Farore looked at him and said "Just a traveling companion." The young man simply nodded in response. Farore then snickered "Well how have your travels been treating you?" The young man started to sign "I have recently returned from Gerudo Desert on some business." The young man's face flushed slightly. "I have enjoyed collecting herbs and materials there as well. I have reclaimed my first beast as well." Farore gave a small smile "Color me impressed, you've been busy since our last meeting. Although if I may what kind of business aside from the adventure and pastimes?" The young man gave a shy smile and nodded in appreciation but his face and ears flushed pink at the last comment not responding immediately. Lia was wondering as to what Farore was congratulating the young man for but pushing that thought out of her mind inwardly chastising herself thinking: "She'll tell me when she's ready I know she wouldn't lie to me… would she? No! Of course not." Lia sighed a bit over the dispute of her thoughts and cozied up next to the warm body of Ino. She studied the night sky and listened in on the conversation a bit whenever Farore said something noteworthy. The young man signed again, still slightly pink "Well you know the usual business collecting materials and taking on quests throughout the land." Farore chewed her bottom lip a bit whilst nodding before saying "Do you remember when we first met?"
The young man sighed a bit and started to sign slowly "Remember when we first met? I was scared and alone and I didn't know anything about my place in this world except for my place as the hero. I didn't know what to expect. I longed for something familiar for something in my past. When I found it I found my past simply went on without me. I found longing for someone for something that isn't me now simply made no sense even then against all logic I still longed for that familiarity. Of course you know that already, perhaps we should recount the tale for your companion." motioning his hands at Lia and Ino. Farore simply smiled and nodded, laying back against Ino she tapped Lia's shoulder steeling herself she asked in a casual manner "Hey want to hear how I met Linkin?" The Hylian rolled his eyes at his supposed name but made no sign with his hands expressing his annoyance. Lia sat up a bit, the midnight air sapping the warmth from her back. Curiously she looked at the man she referred to as Linkin and said "Yeah why not."
Farore said "Wonderful, then shall we have some tea before we start, Linkin?"
Linkin was staring into the fire, his eyes going wide when the kettle started to whistle. He rushed over to the left stick on the side of the fire and lifted the slightly charred young tree branch out from underneath the flames, the kettle's whistling dying down as he brought it out. He set the scalding container onto the grass allowing it to cool in the night air. He let out a small sigh of relief. In the meantime he materialized three carved wooden cups made of polished and lacquered Tabantha Cherry wood. rummaging through one of the long forgotten bags near the entrance of the clearing he produced a few green cotton towels. Taking the green cloth he folded them neatly in his hands placing them in his palm he wrapped it around the handle of the wrought kettle. Taking the kettle by the handle he poured out the steaming pink tinted herbal infused water into the three carved and lacquered wooden mugs. Setting the kettle back down onto the grass Linkin a cup in each hand and rose up to walk over to the trio. Reaching the trio he squatted down to meet them. He outstretched his arms to the two women who graciously wrapped their hands around the steaming cups of tea. Nearly inaudible he spoke in a raspy but smooth voice with a gravelly undertone "Careful, it's hot" he spoke quickly not daring to look them in the eye. Lia's eyes widened with surprise as she heard the near mute man speak. She thought "His voice sounds nice. I wonder why he doesn't speak more often."
Linkin retreated back near the fire to claim his own cup of tea. Lowering himself back down to the ground he sat crossing his legs as he sipped at his tea facing towards his tent still resolving to not look at the trio.
Farore chuckled at Linkin's behavior before taking a deep breath and started to speak.
"It was a clear night much like this one and I was walking in Hyrule Field on one of my regular monster hunting trips in Central Hyrule when it started to rain it was pouring outside lightning mercilessly striking any metallic substance. That's when I came upon Linkin." Farore let out a stifled laugh before continuing "He was emerging from this forest being chased down by moblins in absolute threadbare clothing in the rain walking around with a pot lid and a rusty sword on his back. Clearly he was seconds away from being struck by lightning or being knocked out by a Moblin." From what Lia and Farore could see, Linkin's pointy ears were engulfed in a dainty pink. Lia let out a small giggle at the sight. "He was now brandishing his rusty sword ready to fight the Moblins head on when lightning struck behind him and he simply ran as fast as he could. Until he ran into me. He was quite frantic and could hardly communicate in his frenzy. Farore looked down in contemplation. somewhere warm and he looked so scared of course I couldn't deny him my help. So of course I led him here. Together we hastily set up my tent and got a fire going. Actually I gave him some Warm Safflina tea to warm him up much like tonight. From there we talked and he told or rather signed that he was only comfortable using hand mations however he didn't know why he knew it or why he was so afraid to speak. He also told me I'm the only person he has talked to so far. He's an amnesiac and it doesn't help that he was given only a brief explanation of his quest from a goddess forsaken source. He told me everything that night, to a total stranger, and the weight on his shoulders saving a world he didn't even know. Crushed by duty a second chance stolen away" Farore's voice filled with a silent resignation. Lia's eyes lit up with a grim realization her mouth dry as she tried to swallow, finally knowing who it was before her. It was Link .
A/N
I think you guys will be proud of me for not writing a 5K word wall of text. I call my author's note, your welcome. Seriously though one of these days I'll upload a 7K word chapter and it'll be 2K words of content and the rest is me just rambling in the author's note. Actually perhaps when I finally finish this series I should upload a final chapter that will be just all my Guest Corners compiled and one last one for the chapter, that might be fun when we reach that point.
I did have to look up the models for some of the animals and I forgot just how adorable some of the animals are when they aren't trying to kill you.
A few things I do not personally know sign language well so if there are things that Link is trying to say that would have to be simplified let me know.
Also tell me if you enjoyed me just explaining for a paragraph how Link makes tea while camping because I find it kinda relaxing but feel free to tell me I'm dumb and I could cut it down a bit.
For everyone prepared to siege the review section without reading the rest of the chapter, Linkin is a placeholder name and his name will be dropping near the end of the chapter.
For any of you asking if Vah Naboris was my first beast it actually was since nobody told me it would be the hardest so I suffered for a few days but the loot was worth it. The Gerudo Desert was actually one of the first major areas I visited and Vah Naboris and Master Khoga were my first story bosses. I also took down a Molduga in my first couple of hours of gameplay (10-20 hours).
This chapter really made me want to bang my head on a wall since writing this with no idea of what's to come next is a real challenge and I wanted to give exposition on Link and Farore but also have the dialogue make sense and have it easily set up for the next chapter. It's times like these I slap myself for not having a plan but at the same time it's a fun challenge. Sorry for the short chapter but ya know that's just how the arrow hits.
Short Guest's Corner today I'm just doing a shout out to "ThatOneHylianWolfie" who to my knowledge is the only one who reads this fic. They also review which I am eternally grateful for and feel free to do so. So if anyone else reads this in the future this amazing person was the first reviewer on this fic and also writes their own great fics (that I enjoy reviewing) so you can go check them out. Also thank them for the Triforce lore in this chapter as they inspired me to throw that in (and reminded me of it) because it's fun writing characters questioning they're morality and having Zelda lore at the same time. I am also using gender neutral pronouns as they are anonymous for the most part. Please respect people's gender pronouns and sexuality online. It kinda hurts to have to write that don't be mean for the sake of it and I'm pretty sure that's all I got. Oh one more thing if there's a Guest account in the reviews who signs off as Guest then that's me. Ta ta. See yall next time.
So I added several lines to the "meeting story" and now it just makes more sense.