Peak Performance

We learn about one of the ghosts of Hyrule and Groose gets more evidence to confirm he is surrounded by weirdos.

Modern ecologists of Hyrule were long baffled by a certain mountaintop visible from Lake Hylia. It was rumored to be cursed as no plant life grew there, and a foul miasma permeated the air. Ghost stories circulated of a witch's cauldron which, if approached, would invoke the wrath of an angry spirit. This spectral witch would want to throw you in the cauldron with some spices. In fact, the Yiga clan had attempted rituals there a few times by the Ishto Soh Shrine. They periodically kept trying on the logic that there must be something dark lurking with that aura. This, in turn, caused a few Hyrulian knights to check up there every now and then for an easy way to find some Yiga to arrest. It was depressing how often they did find criminals when using this tactic.

We step back a few days in our narrative to a time before our heroes left off with Groose and Linkle protagonisting to save Hyrule from the Like-Like Blight...

"It's not even a full moon or a new moon. No one's gonna be there."

"It can't hurt to check, man. Come on."

These were two such knights. One must examine them as they were hiking to get an idea of the situation. The second speaker was the older sister of the first. Both had some lighter armor equipped. A bag with some snare traps hangs off the shoulders of the second. Weapons and chains are strapped to the back of the first. She is unfazed by her brother's doubts. Both Hylians are having to stop for breaks as they climb rocks. Neither is worried about the Like-Likes here. This is one region they have not spread to yet.

They reach the top. The brother whispers a quick prayer to Hylia when he sees what looks like an overturned cooking pot in the shade of some rocks.

The traps do not take nearly as much time to be set up as they did to carry up the mountain. These two upholders of the law settle down to wait and it is barely nightfall when they hear something. Icy prickles climb up their spines. The words are difficult to make out over the breeze.

"Whooo..."

"Sis? What was that?" the brother says before he is quickly sushed. They both stiffen and freeze with hands on swords.

"...oooo...aaaaame...oooo...uuuuhh...cooo"

At this, they wordlessly agree to leave this accursed place. The words become closer and the burning smell of terrible cooking strengthens.

"Whoooo caaaaame tooo toouuch myy cooooookiiiiiinng..." the wail is right behind them and the knights sprint downhill, heedless of loose stones or the loss of expensive supplies. The presence is right behind them and the knights mix screams of terror with words of prayer. They run right into a small set of Lizalfos right as they are starting to feel they have escaped certain death.

Amid the swordfighting, just as they are losing hope, another Hylian appears. His sword shines in the darkness like a soft beacon of holy light. Neither of the knights questions the sheer convenience of this miraculous rescue. When they catch sight of the purple hilt, he caves to their request to try and hold the sword. The brother goes first and then the sister. Both fail to move the sword a single inch. The hero apologizes for not being able to stay for a longer chat. "I have a task to complete, you see. Sorry. Be careful please!" he says before he leaves.

This report was one in a pattern of heroics. This story slides back into the present where Groose is on his journey. One girl was saved from a Like-Like when she wandered from a village. A foreigner spoke of the blue eyes which did not falter in the face of an Octorok ambush. A Zora gushed about sword techniques some guy used when fighting a Yiga. The rumors could be traced to a guy who showed up in the middle of nowhere with a sword strapped to his back. Link followed the road toward Hateno directed by heaven knows what. In each incident he shows up when needed, does something amazing, lets the sword be seen, makes sure they know his name, then leaves as suddenly as he came.

Veran's disguised men listen to the rumors with smiles as they sit among the public spaces of Hyrule.

"You are not serious."

"I can't just leave it there Mister Guard!"

"It's just a blue one. That's only five rupees. Five."

Linkle craned her neck to get a better look at the sparkle overhead while the two argued. It was rather high up to that ledge and there wasn't much else up there. Some violets grew next to another flower she could not name.

She didn't bother asking the others about the flower since Groose was snapping at Cawlin. "As the leader of this expedition I have to say no. Cawlin, you are not climbing that cliff for just five measly stinking rupees."

"You don't get it!" Cawlin jumped off his horse and gazed at the blue sparkle above their heads. "I need to get that rupee! Especially with the Like-Likes eating them. Every little rupee will be needed for the economy! Families will rely on that currency to keep the economy going! The populace will wither and die without precious rupees! The horses need a little break anyway. I'll just go up and get it while you two eat lunch."

"You're an idiot," Groose said. "It's halfway up that mountain and it's only FIVE rupees. Besides, I'm saying no. "

Linkle chose this moment to speak up. "It's more of a hill really." Linkle helpfully supplied as Cawlin began to climb the rock face. "What if it's a Like-Like lure?" This statement of hers actually stopped Cawlin from climbing up. He didn't stop for long; he stepped down and unbuckled the small leather bag to hand over. Cawlin pulled a fire rod from the bag and tied the rod on his belt to leave his hands free.

"Here's my pouch guys. I'll be right back down in a few minutes." Cawlin scrambled upwards towards the nearest ledge.

"You're going to break your neck!" Groose shouted in vain. This insubordination was a challenge to Groose's authority. The only reason he didn't drag the guy back down was that he was already out of reach by the time Groose was out of the saddle. "When you get back here, I'm going to really let you have it!" Cawlin pretended not to hear.

In turn, Groose and Linkle pretended not to be impressed by the speed with which Cawlin scaled that wall. The climber quickly passed a couple of ledges which obscured him from view on the way to the targeted rupee ledge. Cawlin sat down with the rupee triumphantly clutched in his hand after only a few minutes. He scooted closer to the flowers with a grin before picking both.

"Found you!"

Note: This chapter was a mess. Messing about with the tenses was just kind of-yeah. It needed help. Updated 6-19-19