Chapter 2: Seven Unite
"A little of bit restless cricket... A few bokoblin parts and... Done!" The Rito scholar Vortan said triumphantly as he raised the completed elixir into the air and was met with the applause of the group of villagers who had began to watch him when he began his cooking session.
Vortan had a bit of a flair for the dramatic which when combined with his aptitude for making knowledge easy to understand had earned him a bit of a fan club among some of the youths in the village. Whenever he would cook elixirs some of the kids would gather around and watch him as he explained the formula he was working on and it's practical use.
"Now who remembers what this potion does? I made the same one just the other day." A wave of hands shot up from the crowd and Vortan picked the most enthusiastic looking one.
"It makes you not tired anymore!" The young girl said.
"Correct! This stamina potion will quickly fill someone who has exhausted all of their energy with a boost that will help them continue whatever physical activity they were doing. This is a handy tool for a Rito such as me who makes long journeys high up in the sky. I can continue to travel without the need to stop and rest. This greatly increases the amount of ground I can cover in a day. An important thing to note is that this potion doesn't stop me from having to stop and sleep for example. The body still has many processes that it needs to perform to function properly. What's another example?"
Another wave of hands shot up and this time Vortan picked the hand of a slightly rotund boy snacking on a bag of beans.
"You still have to eat!"
"Correct! This potion isn't a replacement for proper nutrition. The energy you gain is good in a pinch but you still need to eat a balanced diet to get all the vitamins, minerals, and proteins that the body needs to function. That's all for today kids. I'll be back to see how you all are doing when I'm done with my expedition."
"Bye Mr. Vortan!" Vortan waved goodbye to the group of dispersing kids before packing up his gear. A rumble in his stomach stopping him in his tracks. Vortan hadn't eaten that morning and it had caught up to him. He decided to head to the docks to purchase some fish to prepare himself. When he arrived he saw one of the local kids waiting on the docks staring at a ship in the distance. He got closer and realized it was Nabbara, a girl who had listened to some of his potion lessons but hadn't been there that morning.
"Oh hello Nabbara." Vortan walked over to the girl and she turned to see him.
"Hi Mr. Vortan. My daddy is coming home today!"
"Oh, that's wonderful. I know that sea monster had them stuck at their last port for awhile."
"Uh huh, but Mr. Salazar and Mr. Darby beat up the sea monster so the ocean is safe again."
"Indeed, The new knights of hyrule are lucky to have warriors like them. It must have been a terrifying battle."
"I don't think it was that scary. I overheard Mr. Salazar telling my grandpa what the monster looked like and it sounded kind of silly."
"Oh, you know what the monster looks like? Would you mind describing it to me? I've been curious if I could identify it but didn't want to bring up any bad memories for Salazar. I was going to ask him after Darby got back but it looks like I'm heading out on my expedition before he gets here." Nabbara nodded and began listing off the things she remembered.
"One big yellow and orange eye... Tentacles on it's head... It was dark so he couldn't get a good look of the color but he think's it was a light color... Oh and it was massive, bigger than the ship."
"One big eye and tentacles... That vaguely reminds of something." Vortan pulled a book from his backpack and began flipping through the pages.
"What book is that?" Nabbara asked.
"It's a bestiary. A book of animals and monsters. This particular bestiary is filled with monsters the Hero of legend is said to have defeated in ages past. Aha! Abyssal Leviathan Tentalus... You were right, it does look rather silly in the light." Vortan showed the girl the picture in his book and the girl began laughing hysterically.
"In Salazar's defense I'm sure the visage of that single bright eye with the dark masking the rest of the monster would look rather intimidating." Nabbara slowly stopped laughing and nodded.
"You're right, I guess not every monster can be as scary as iron knuckle."
"Iron Knuckle? You mean this?" Vortan flipped to another page and showed her the picture. Nabbara jumped away in fear but quickly composed herself.
"That's what a real Iron Knuckle looks like? That's not as bad as Nana made it out to be." Vortan looked confused so Nabbara explained.
"Where I was born, in Gerudo town they tell us kids to be good or the Iron Knuckle will take us away."
"Oh I see." Vortan remembered something he had read a long time ago about the age of the Hero of Time. A rumor that Gerudo who disobeyed the evil king Ganondorf were transformed into brainwashed armored warriors called Iron Knuckles. Scholars don't agree on whether or not the story is true, but Iron Knuckle armor has been excavated in ancient Gerudo ruins, proving that at least the monster itself was real. Vortan quickly stowed the book away and changed the subject.
"So you were born in Gerudo town? I didn't know that."
"Yeah, I used to live there with my mommy and Nana but one day my mommy disappeared so I had to come live with my daddy and grandparents."
Vortan just stood there for a few seconds, unable to come up with the proper words for the situation he had found himself in. Finally he managed a feeble "I'm sorry."
"It's okay... My mommy is just lost somewhere. I know she'll be back one day."
"Say... How would you like to borrow this bestiary for awhile? I'm about to leave for eventide island and I should be gone long enough for you to read the whole thing."
Nabbara's face lit up and she held out her hands for the book. Vortan quickly retrieved the book from his bag again and handed it to the excited child.
"This book has excerpts about all sorts of monsters from ages past. Starting with this one. Aquamentus, a fire breathing dragon with a horn on it's head that was slain by the hero in the age of"
"If it breathes fire why does it have aqua in it's name?"
"... I don't know, I didn't name it."
Nabbara started giggling and hugged Vortan's leg as thanks for the book. With a rumble of Vortan's stomach he excused himself and headed over to a nearby fish stall to purchase some mighty porgy.
Taking his breakfast to a nearby cooking pot he tossed it onto the fire and let it begin to sear. As his food cooked he looked out to sea toward eventide island and something caught his attention. Vortan could only describe it as a dark blob right under the surface of the water. It seemed to be moving incredibly slowly but his attention snapped back to his food when he smelled it beginning to burn.
Vortan finished preparing his meal and made a mental note to tell Salazar about that dark blob. Vortan was capable of swimming but he wasn't particularly good at it so he figured he'd leave this to a professional.
As he finished his food he looked back toward the docks and saw Nabbara embracing her father. It was a tender sight that tugged at his heartstrings but not as much as it did for the flamboyant man next to them.
Suddenly Vortan noticed multiple waves in the water forming as if a group of large creatures had begun swimming out from that dark blob. One of them came to the end of the docks while a group of others went to the beach where he saw Salazar meditating. Others still swam to the other side of the newly docked vessel. The one at the end of the docks jumped out of the water and spat a ball of compressed water at the back of the flamboyant man's head but it was blocked by the shield of a Gerudo woman.
Recognizing the creatures immediately Vortan drew his bow and screamed as loud as he could.
"Lizalfos attack!"
Salazar immediately popped up from his meditative position and slashed the air with windcleaver. The slash cut clean through a green Lizalfos that had emerged from the water but was blocked by a black Lizalfos with a shield behind it. Many green and blue Lizalfos emerged from the water and began scurrying around the beach.
Vortan began letting arrows loose killing some of the creatures but any he killed were immediately replaced by more emerging from the water. Remembering that he had some elemental arrows in his quiver he flipped over the pot he had used to cook his food and threw a fire arrow into the already blazing flame. The arrow intensified the flame so much that it created an updraft and he flew into the sky on it.
Vortan prepared some electric arrows on the way up and shot them at the dark mass that the Lizalfos had used to sneak so close to the village. His gambit paid off as many lifeless Lizalfos bodies floated up to the surface, and any that had survived were stunned for a few valuable seconds.
The black Lizalfos that had become engaged in combat with Salazar cried out in rage and threw it's boomerang like bladed weapon at Vortan but Salazar knocked the blade away with a slash from windcleaver.
"Good work Vortan. Now help me take out the leader."
"Yes sir!"
The two began working together, Vortan letting loose arrow after arrow on the weaker Lizalfos while Salazar engaged in single combat with the more powerful one. Suddenly a guttural war cry echoed from the hotel and Mutoh stepped out with sword and shield in hand.
"You lizards aren't about to do nothing to my hotel!" A green Lizalfos took the man's war cry as a challenge and dashed straight for him.
"Mutoh!" Salazar and Vortan yelled in unison but realized that their worries were unfounded when Mutoh bashed the creatures face in with his shield then knocked it away with a spinning attack.
"Once a knight, always a knight!" Mutoh began pounding his shield with his sword in an act of intimidation. The Lizalfos that he knocked away got back to it's feet and charged him again only to be met with a sword cleaving through it's horn.
While the beach was being defended by these three another fight was going on at the docks. Beck and Nabatea were still back to back surrounded by a gang of blue Lizalfos.
"You defend yourself well despite not having a shield Beck."
"The best defense is a good offense my dear. Just ask Ko'bain."
As if on cue a primal roar echoed across the docks and the group of Lizalfos surrounding them was scattered by Ko'bain who came charging through with nothing but his bare hands and his inhuman rage.
He grabbed a Lizalfos that had been knocked over and swung it around like a rag doll knocking over another. He began slamming the two creatures into each other repeatedly only stopping when another jumped onto his back. He was dogpiled by the creatures until hey had enough to overpower him and take him off the docks into the water below.
"Fools. He'll be even deadlier down there." Beck thought as he and Nabatea began cutting their way through the rest of the Lizalfos on the docks, heading toward the town to protect the citizens.
"The goddess shall forgive you in the afterlife monster!" The familiar voice of the Deku from the voyage got their attention. He was at the other end of the docks and had put himself between a blue Lizalfos and a group of villagers. His blue staff in one hand and what looked like a weapon in the other.
The blue Lizalfos charged at him but was knocked away when the Deku brought the weapon to his mouth and used it to shoot some sort of projectile at the creature. The orange and red seed smashed into the lizard's face and exploded into a small burst of fire.
"Ember seeds? There's more to this Deku than I thought." Beck thought to himself as he and Nabatea descended on the lizard.
The Lizalfos fought back as best as it could but the combined assault of Beck and Nabatea proved far too much for it to handle and it was swiftly defeated.
A guttural roar brought Beck's attention toward the beach and he looked up just in time to see his old friend Mutoh be knocked to the ground by a Lizalfos.
"Mutoh!" Beck and Salazar roared as they both ran to his aid. The black Lizalfos Salazar was engaged in combat with attempted to swing at him as he turned around but a well placed arrow by Vortan defended him and he managed to get to Mutoh in time.
A swipe from windcleaver cut the beast clean in two and Salazar pulled Mutoh back to his feet.
"Thanks' kid. My age is finally catching up to me."
"Mutoh!" Beck bellowed as he ran to check on his old friend.
"Beck? Good timing, help me and these kids beat this thing. We think it's the leader."
"Kids?!" Vortan squawked as he rained arrows down at the black Lizalfos and his ever replenishing reinforcements.
"Leave the leader to me!" Nabatea suddenly bolted past everybody in an astounding display of speed and began assaulting the creature with a lightning fast barrage of slashes.
"She wasn't that fast a second ago." Beck said as he stared dumbfounded at the raw agility on display.
"It was my doing. Here, eat this companions." The strange Deku walked over holding a small wing shaped seed.
"Pegasus seed!?" Beck blurted out amazed. Before anyone could do anything else Salazar took the seed from the Deku and ate it. Energy filled his body and he rushed at the enemy with speed comparable to Nabatea.
The two super powered sword fighters decimated the remaining Lizalfos on the beach save for the leader who had begun retreating back to the water. To the creatures surprise when it dove back into the dark mass that had appeared in the water it seemingly crashed into something hard. The limp body suddenly launched back onto the beach as the dark mass began heading toward the beach on it's own.
"That's probably not good." Vortan said as he landed next to everybody else who had grouped up.
"A mass of seaweed that they were using as cover. But what did they form it around? It's clearly alive." Vortan pondered the possibilities as everyone around him prepared for battle.
The mass of seaweed slowly made it's way over to the black Lizalfos that was still alive. The dazed creature shook it's head to clear it and turned around in time for the seaweed creature to fall forward and flatten it. It's scream of terror being the last sound it made.
"... Is it friendly?" Vortan said aloud in confusion.
"We're about to find out?" Beck pointed to the water and the hulking frame of Ko'bain appeared walking over to the mysterious creature.
The mysterious creature stood back up and turned around, likely to face Ko'bain but the mass of seaweed surrounding it making it impossible to really tell.
Suddenly Ko'bain began speaking in a strange language that none but Beck recognized.
"Ah... Ko'bain think's it might be one of his people. That's the Zora language." The mysterious creature responded to the Zora by coughing water and assorted ocean junk all over Ko'bain's face.
"Oh... That's not good. I'd recommend staying away from Ko'bain for the next few seconds." Beck began slowly backing away, knowing what was about to come.
Ko'bain roared with a ferocity that few outside of his crew ever got a chance to see. He blasted the creature with a ball of fire that he spat from his mouth which didn't seem to do anything but anger it. It charged forward with speed that it hadn't yet shown and it grappled with Ko'bain. The two titans of strength began fighting for dominance pushing and pulling each other, the two being relatively evenly matched.
"This thing is strong." Beck chimed in still weary of his friends rage. "I've never seen anything short of a Goron go toe to toe with Ko'bain like this."
"Goron?!" Salazar, Mutoh, and Vortan all exclaimed at once.
The mysterious creature immediately froze allowing Ko'bain to get the upper hand and wrestle it to the ground.
"Stop, get off of him!" Salazar ran at them only for Ko'bain to turn his attention to him and scream. "My fight! Back off poacher!"
This distraction was enough for the creature underneath him to take advantage and knock Ko'bain away with a mighty punch.
"Darby stop!" Salazar yelled stopping the mysterious creature and the enraged Zora in their tracks before they could continue their battle. Salazar ran over and immediately started pulling handfuls of sea weed off of the creature. Eventually he had pulled enough off to see his face.
"Darby!" Salazar couldn't contain himself as he hugged his friend. "Darby why didn't you say anything?" Darby pointed at his throat with his thumb then began miming as if he was being choked.
"You got something in your throat?" Darby flashed a thumbs up before opening his mouth. "I think I see it. Stay still while I pull it out." With no hesitation Salazar reached straight down Darbie's throat to pull the obstruction free.
"Did he really just do that?" Beck said in absolute awe.
"A true bond of brotherhood if I ever saw one." Mutoh said with a single manly tear running down his cheek.
"That's... Nasty." Despite his obvious revulsion Vortan continued to watch the display out of pure scholarly curiosity.
Nabatea, Ko'bain, and the Deku watched in complete and utter silence. None of them having any idea what to make of what they were watching.
Finally Salazar pulled a somehow still living Octorok out of Darby's mouth. He threw it onto the beach only for the creature to scamper back into the water, no doubt just happy to be free and alive.
After spitting up everything else that had been stuck in his throat Darby stood back up and tore the rest of the seaweed off of his body.
"Those Lizalfos... They must have thought I was just a seaweed covered rock. They surrounded me while I was resting and turned me into mobile cover. I was too tired to do anything so I just let them take me. I was lucky they took me back here.
"But why? Why go through all that trouble just to attack a fishing village?" Salazar's question was immediately answered by the shrill scream of a child.
Everyone turned their attention to the docks where a silver Lizalfos held Nabbara by the back of her neck with a weapon to her throat. It was standing on the deck of Beck's ship as it began sailing out of port. It kept it's monstrous gaze affixed on our group of heroes the whole time as if daring them to make a move.
"It was a distraction..." Salazar said through clenched teeth.
"They just wanted our ship." Beck said as he walked over to Ko'bain and put his hand on his shoulder. Ko'bain was visibly enraged and it took all of his self control not to jump into the water after them.
"Hold onto your anger Ko'bain. My ship isn't worth that child's life."
"I know boss... I'll save her."
"I know you will, and I'll be right beside you friend."
About an hour later everyone in the village was gathered in the town hall discussing what to do.
"We've taken a headcount and we're missing a dozen villagers plus the bulk of captain Beck's crew. In addition one of the hostages is a child. We have no idea what prompted this attack by the Lizalfos but we know where they went... Eventide isle." A wave of hushed whispers went through the room. The elder waited for the whispers to die down before continuing.
"Our esteemed guest Vortan did some reconnaissance and confirmed that Beck's ship is on route for eventide isle. As for what to do with this information, I am open to ideas. The town guard prevented any casualties but many of them were injured in the process. We simply don't have the man power for a rescue operation.
"Yes we do." Beck stood up and all eyes fell on him.
"I'm a retired knight of Hyrule and Ko'bain's strength speaks for itself. In addition we have two active duty knights right here." Salazar and Darby stood up and saluted Beck.
"We will happily follow one of our elders on this mission sir."
"You're enthusiasm is admirable Beck but four warriors simply isn't enough to"
"Five warriors." The Gerudo warrior Nabatea stood up and also saluted Beck.
"Sir I was part of Chief Riju's personal guard for a time back home. I will happily lend my sword to this cause."
"Six warriors!" The mysterious Deku cleric jumped from his seat and held his staff above his head triumphantly. "Hylia has spoken to me! My magics are yours to command captain.
"Well... I'm more of a scholar than a fighter, but I'm still a Rito, and our archers are the best in the world. You have my bow captain." Vortan bowed respectfully.
"Seven warriors. Is that enough to put your fears to rest elder?"
"Nothing will put my fears to rest until I see my missing villagers all returned alive... However you have succeeded in giving me hope captain. Now do you seven have a plan?"
"I've got an idea." Vortan chimed in. "Lizalfos are cold blooded and slow down significantly at night. I've crunched the numbers and the seven of us could make the journey to eventide in a small vessel just in time to take advantage of nightfall."
"I got a boat that should be of use. I bought it from a traveling merchant years ago. It should have enough room for all of us to get there but I don't think we'll be able to get all the hostages plus us back on it."
"We won't need it to Mutoh. We can make the return trip on my ship."
"Assuming the Lizards don't destroy it."
"They stole it for a reason. I'm confident they won't damage it. Even if they do we'll just have to make multiple trips on the smaller vessel. Take the hostages home first then come back for the rest of us. Ko'bain and Vortan won't even need a ride home they can leave under their own power."
"Ahem!" The elder cleared his throat to regain the room's attention. "I've heard enough. You all have my blessing to make this journey. Continue to work out your plan until it's time for you to leave. Everyone else, go home. Be with your families and pray for the safe return of our fellow villagers and these brave men and woman."
The room began emptying itself of villagers. Mutoh invited the seven warriors back to his hotel to rest and strategize. A few hours later Mutoh and Beck were in the kitchen preparing one last meal before the coming mission.
"Just like old times Beck. Something bad happens and you're the first fool with his hand raised."
"And you were always the second fool with his hand raised if I remember correctly."
"Yep. I never could beat you on the draw. You were always a second faster, like the story of the running man. Not that I really minded, someone had to be behind you watching your back."
"Yeah... Remember that operation in Zora's domain."
"The one with the Hinox or the one with the Lynel?"
"The Lynel."
"I will never forget the sight of you wearing that stupid mask."
"It got me close to him didn't it?"
"It almost got you killed is what I remember. I told you not to trust the junk you got from that creepy guy you met that night."
"I'll have you know that hammer I bought from him saved my life more than once."
"A sword would have worked just as fine but you always got to have the special stuff don't you."
"I'll admit it. I have an affinity for the strange and outlandish."
"You used a mask to try and get close to a Lynel?"
The two older men turned their attention to the entrance to the kitchen and saw Nabatea standing there rested and ready to fight.
"You look much better now that you've gotten some rest Miss Nabatea."
"I don't know who or what convinced that Deku to finally be silent but I owe them thanks. Anything I can assist you with captain?"
"If you're knife skills are as sharp as your sword skills you can help Mutoh cut those vegetables. He doesn't move as fast as he used to these days."
"Ha, I'm only two years older than you fool."
"I can do that. Just let me get my hair out of the way." Nabatea grabbed her long red hair that had been freely flowing to this point and pulled it into a ponytail with a hair tie. As she walked over to the counter where Mutoh had been cutting vegetables she noticed that he was staring at her.
"Is there something on my face?"
"You look... Oddly familiar with your hair like that. Is this the first time we met?"
"This is my first trip outside of Gerudo town sir. There's no way we could have met previously." Nabatea took a knife from the counter and began chopping up some herbs.
"You said you were a member of the chiefs royal guard earlier right?"
"Yes sir."
"Did your mother happen to be one too?"
"Why, yes... How did you know that?"
"Me and Beck had a mission in the Gerudo region back in the day and we worked with some of the Gerudo royal guard. What's your mother's name girl? We might have known her."
"My mother's name is Nabbu sir, she was the" A sudden crashing sound ended the conversation right there. They whipped around and saw Beck sprawled out on the floor. He had fallen off a step ladder trying to grab a spice from the top of the spice rack. He appeared unharmed but had an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face.
"Captain are you alright?!" Nabatea quickly ran over and helped Beck to his feet.
"I'm okay... If you'll excuse me I seem to be more tired than I realized. I must go lay down. I trust you can finish dinner preparations on your own." Beck quickly left the kitchen and headed up to his room alone.
"Uh... I'm going to go check on him. Can you finish up here for me? I just need you to chop up the rest of these ingredients and throw them in the pot." Mutoh left just as suddenly as Beck did leaving a confused Nabatea by herself in the kitchen.
"Was it something I said?"