Chapter 1: Cucco Trouble
"Now what?" The young boy huffed to his fairy companion. He watched in awe as smoke circled around what was known to be Death Mountain before trotting away from the guarded entrance. The guard stationed between safety and the narrow terrain would not grant the child passage. Despite the note from Princess Zelda herself, he seemed unconvinced that someone with royal status would allow a small boy dressed in green to waltz about in Goron territory.
"She forgot the seal," The blue ball of light whispered in the boy's pointy ear. "Whenever the Royal Family sends a message, whether it be a passing law or a note permitting access, there is a stamped seal for confirmation and verification."
"What?" He scratched underneath his long hat.
"We need to go back," the fairy sighed. "Zelda forgot to stamp her approval."
"Okay," he shrugged and casually went down the stairs, passing by men carrying heavy loads of boxes and barrels.
The fairy sat on his shoulder. "Link...You're not mad?"
"Not really."
"Oh, alright then," she also shrugged.
"I'll get to see her again."
The fairy playfully slapped his shoulder. "Stop it, you flirt!" Despite her firm voice, the fairy let out a chuckle, as did he. The boy headed toward the main entryway of Kakariko Village. By now, it being midday, it was boisterous with sellers and traders. The intoxicating smell of food never failed to make Link hungry, though there wasn't time to eat. He forced himself to walk past a display of pastries.
The two guards standing at the gate gave the boy a menacing stare as he approached them.
Suddenly, one of them covered his face and the other jumped to the side. Before Link could react, something zoomed past from underneath him, causing the boy to lose his balance. Link landed face-first on the ground, a small crack echoing in his skull.
"Link!" The fairy shrieked.
"Hey, you there!" A raspy voice called out. Link immediately pushed himself up on his knees and then back to his feet. An old man was over-exerting himself, a wooden cane on his left. He wore nothing more than a loincloth and sandals. He breathed heavily once he had reached Link and the guards.
"Did...did any of you happen to see my cuccos?"
"Do us a favor and keep your animals contained," one of the armored men growled.
The man looked at Link, who simply nodded to his question.
"It seems you took quite a fall," he noted, "I apologize. My cuccos are unusually swift on their feet."
The boy took his dislocated nose and forced it back into place, causing another crack to echo. He bit his lip as the pain came and went. The fairy flinched but said nothing.
"No worries, it happens." Link gave him his best smile.
"Would it be too much to ask for your help?" The odd man asked. "I've been a rancher my whole life, but age is catching up to me. My daughter let them loose. It was an accident, but still..."
"I'd love to help," Link responded. "I'll get your cuccos back!" The old man was rummaging through a compartment of his loincloth as the boy ran past the stone-faced guards to Hyrule Field.
"Wait up!" The fairy hissed, flapping her wings faster than a hummingbird.
"Sorry Navi," Link slowed enough for her to perch on his ear before he made a dash toward a white ball of something a good fifty feet away. Navi held on for dear life as a dull ache spread from her back to the ends of her wings. Sure enough, it was a cucco. Where were the others? If Link saw one, surely the others were nearby. Cuccos loved traveling in packs.
Like a deer in lamp lights, the cucco watched in horror as this crazed beast ran toward it, hands extended.
Link dove as he shouted a war cry, slamming his face into the ground-for the second time. The cucco had dodged his attempt and made a dash for a nearby grove of trees.
"You've got to be more careful!" Navi had jumped off just in time or she too would have fallen.
Link snorted and tried to wipe away dirt, which only smeared it across his face. The boy cursed under his breath as he stood and continued to spread the filth on his tunic.
Chosen or not, Navi told herself, he's still a child. If he's meant to be a hero-
Another cry came from Link as he dashed in after the cucco. Navi saved her words to keep up with the boy, this time not settling anywhere. She maneuvered over and under extended branches just to be sure Link was still in her sight. How do Hylians run so fast? She asked herself time and time again. Unlike Hyrule Field, the forest floor was uneven with debris covering the earth. Link was at least aware of this as he maneuvered onward, his eyes set on something Navi couldn't see.
As the child and fairy found themselves deeper in the foreign woods, something lightly tugged on Navi, as if a force of magic was trying to bring her forward. This granted her speed and she was able to hover near Link's ear.
She gasped to see the cucco flying...backwards? The creature stared wide-eyed as it had no idea what trickery was allowing it to float. Everyone (even the dumbest of the dumb) knows that cuccos cannot fly. Properly, at least...let alone in reverse!
"What is going on?" Navi asked aloud. Link acknowledged her flying next to him but didn't respond. He was just as clueless as she.
Now Link could feel something tugging him-surely someone up ahead has cast a spell of some sort. He didn't even have to run to keep up-he was being dragged.
"Um...", Navi turned around. "We should probably turn-" the fairy was blown past Link and the animal. She let out a scream that shook Link to the bone. She's raised her voice plenty of times for lecture and concern but never had he heard the fairy yell in desperation. He ducked under the cucco and spotted some kind of cave. An odd, purple aura surrounded it. Particles of dirt and leaves got sucked into it. The pull from it was stronger, but not strong enough to send the boy flying. Link grabbed onto a nearby tree and hugged it tightly. He could only watch in horror as the cucco gave its last cluck, disappearing from sight, and maybe even existence.
"Navi?" He called, his eyes searching frantically for a blue ball of light.
She was nowhere in sight.