The Legend of Zelda
Ti'ana's Story
__________by Ti'ana MYST
Chapter Sixteen
Taabu hadn't left his bedroom for days. He was once again the ten-year-old boy he was before Ganondorf's attempt at taking over the world. Taabu's hair was the dark shade it used to be, but after nearly a week of improper nourishment (he only consumed bread and milk since his return, yet still he never had the desire to eat), his hair became dull and his hazel eyes became flat gray.
His mother called the doctor time and time again, but never could diagnose an ailment. Taabu hardly responded to questions he was asked, staring at the ceiling or out the small window the entire time. The doctor said it was just his age, and he would grow out of it soon enough. Grow out of it, Taabu would say to himself, mocking the doctor once he left. I'd rather die right here on this bed than never see Ti'ana again.
Malon was not as upset as dear Taabu, but it showed up less in her work. Once, Talon asked her why Ti'ana and Taabu hadn't come to visit, and she broke down crying, running up to her room. She began to suffer from insomnia, staying awake all night on some occasions, trying to remember what happened that fateful day when Ti'ana was ripped from her friends. She replayed the story over and over again in her mind, remembering the last few seconds with Ti'ana.
After nearly a month of hardly any sleep and troubled thoughts, Malon began to work on her regular schedule again. Ti'ana was still on her mind, now more than ever. Taabu hadn't come to work for a while, but one day he showed up out of no where.
"Hey Malon," he said, in his old how-do-you-do voice. He looked almost back to normal, except for his distinctly thinner body and pasty-white complexion. Taabu began to work like before, not stopping once or asking what he had to do. Even after all this time, his working program was exactly as it had been before.
Malon was surprised. Not once had he brought up Ti'ana, like he had when she was taken from them and brought to Gerudo Valley. She supposed now he finally understood Ti'ana was never coming back.
"Taabu!" Talon called. "Say, when did you get here? We've been waiting for you for months. Your mother told us you were sick, so I didn't send Ingo to bug you about your lack of attendance at work. Must have been some pretty bad illness."
"Yessir," Taabu answered. "I'm much better now, though. The doc said it was just my age, I'd get out of it, and I guess he was right. Now I'm back and ready to work."
"Good attitude, kid," Talon praised. I expect triple to work to make up for your lost days here."
"No problemo, Big Lon." Taabu went back to work.
"Big Lon?" Talon shook his head. "Hope that's a name that won't stick."
***
Taabu had hardly any trouble sleeping that night, but his sleep was interrupted by nightmares of Ti'ana being taken away and brought to Gerudo Valley, getting her back and losing her again.
"Why did they let me remember her!" Taabu cried out, jumping out of bed. "It's not fair! No one else remembers but Malon and me, and Link, too!"
Taabu had met briefly with Link two weeks earlier. He came by to see how he was handling things.
"I'm fine, Link," he had said. "I understand that Ti'ana doesn't belong here on Earth, in Hyrule.. with me." He held back the tears that lingered in their ducts. "I'm just glad I got the chance to tell her how I feel. That's the best thing I can hold on to, I guess."
Link nodded. "You're right, Taabu. You lost her once, and then again. Now for good, and it's going to be difficult to realize that, and I wish the best for you." He left Taabu there, wandering back to the Kokiri Forest.
"Not fair," Taabu repeated, sitting on the edge of his bed, staring into the darkness. The only light was a single ray from the full moon that entered the window next to his bed.