Note: Wooooooo!!! Finally done with Chapter 4! ^.^ … Now that the story is long forgotten. o.O Ah well, very sorry for the extreme delay, but this was a hated but needed chapter. Longer though than the usuals I think, so there's a treat! I tried fixing the pulled writing style, because I can see it myself now. Thanx for all the kind reviews, it's what fuels me on! ^.^ Hope you enjoy, and yes.. Lyndsey's a bonehead.
One final thing, as before the still unknown voice in Lyndsey's head is in bold italic while anyone's thoughts and Lyndsey's so called visions are just in italic. Still nifty, isn't it?
Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda does not belong to me alright? So quit sending the fan-mail and death threats already about a better looking Gamecube game!
Chapter 4~
"Okay, is it just me, or are you taking me even deeper into these woods? How can you even tell where you're going? If we run into another one of those wolfos, you're fighting it." Lyndsey looked from side to side, stumbling once in a while when not watching her step. She stopped when a thought came to her. "As a matter of fact, where are we going?"
The young girl giggled. "I think you will know when you see it," was her response as she walked with a brisk pace.
The forest's density started to lessen. More light began to break through the gaps of parting trees. The trees also gradually grew different, changing from the towering dark giants before to smaller, lighter, cheerier trees. It began to look like the small bundle of trees that surrounded large mansions.
Looking back every once in awhile the girl noticed Lyndsey's restlessness. "It's not too far now, a few more hundred feet. I hope you do not mind my mess and how small my home is." She piped, trying to ease Lyndsey's well-shown nerves.
"I'll watch my head." Lyndsey remarked dully.
A little later the green haired girl pushed her way through a tall crowd of thick bushes. Lyndsey followed close behind, branches clawing and pulling at her the whole time.
"Here it is!" Lyndsey heard the girl yell out right before she stepped out of the bushes. When she came out there was a large area of cleared land before her. They stood near the end of a low cliff, because beyond the short grass they stood on was acres of trees, shrunken and distant. Before the vast land of trees though was an opening of clear land, much like the top of the cliff. Lyndsey, with curiosity in full swing, stepped over to the ledge to get a better look at this cleared land.
Grass grew tall and wild in the only spot so clear in the entire tree filled horizon. Shorter, lighter grass grew in large circles evenly spaced. It seemed to be the old remnants of foundations, which deteriorated years and years ago. Trenches of beaten grass slinked throughout the area. Lyndsey could almost picture a small civilization living here. In fact, while gathering in every detail Lyndsey was beginning to picture a society right below her.
The sky radiated with a pale blue as the grass, green with envy, grew straight and tall trying to reach it. Round one room huts stood compacted together as the forest created a wall around them. A semi-straight dirt path carved down the middle of the huts, leading into unknown places from where it appears and exits. Small people busied along the area. From the distance they had the statue of children dressed in the color of the forest's own. A bobbing ball of light followed each one as if bonded to them with some unknown tie.
For some odd reason one of the child-like creatures seemed to stand out. This one ran along the path with as much speed as its legs would carry. It had to be a boy, with hair to match the sun. He continued to run, mind set on reaching some goal, which burdened only him. The world around continued it's daily routine, unaware of this boy's troubles. Another sphere of light accompanied him, keeping up even with the boy's rushing speed. On and on he ran coming close to the exit on the left edge of the village. Then, as with the road, he soon disappeared, swallowed whole by the forest.
Lyndsey felt a violent jolt and yelped at the coming of it. Frozen, the girl released her grip of Lyndsey's shoulder and stared with saucer sized eyes. Looking eye to eye with the girl Lyndsey formed a puzzled look. How..? How did she grow to my height? Then she knew, Lyndsey had fallen to her knees sometimes during this daydream.
"Y-you froze once seeing what the landscape was below." The girl stammered, "Then you fell to your knees. Your eyes were open, yet you didn't respond to me until I shook you."
Why is this all happening!? Did I piss off some unknown god!? … I could see everything, like I had saw it just yesterday. But I couldn't, I've never been here in all my life. This is beyond strange, so far beyond it that this has to be a dream! It is; it's a dream. Lyndsey pinched some skin on her arm, though nothing followed, only another jump and yelp.
"It's happening again!" The girl yelled, throwing her arms up in the air and turning away from Lyndsey. "Can't you just quit daydreaming for one moment?"
Lyndsey staggered to her feet with neither grace nor balance. She came quickly with a fairly believable excuse; "It must be the wound beginning to get to me. Blood loss and all that, causing me to hallucinate. So let's hurry before something worse happens." Bustling like a pub owner overworked by too many demands, Lyndsey pushed the green-haired girl down a slope to the side of the cliff. Its slanted and turned at once, leading into an ocean of high grasses. The high green stems almost overcame the small girl, her attire of green hiding her completely.
Aisley couldn't help giving Lyndsey a strange look, but when being shoved like that she knew not to argue. Maneuvering through already beaten trails the girl walked with ease and the attitude of knowing the entire area by heart.
"How do you find your way through this?" Lyndsey questioned, shoving tough weeds out of her direction that would occasionally backfire and smack her in the face.
"I have walked this path many nights and mornings." The girl had no trouble stepping through the beaten down plant. Her long braid swung like the pendulum on a clock. She stopped for a second, looking to her side then slowly to Lyndsey. "I almost feel as if I knew this place before." A distant and questionable look covered her face, but she shrugged it off and kept walking.
******
Lyndsey's jaw dropped at the sight that stood before her, a magnificent tree that stood out greatly from its grassy surroundings. The ground lowered to greet it, trying to subtract the height but failing in attempt. Roots extended like the legs of a spider, and branches swayed like a woman's hair blown in all places by the wind. A sturdy but small deck was built along the front, curving with the tree. A rope ladder was the only door to this forsaken treehouse. Lyndsey didn't move, she couldn't. To think of what it would be it to live in such a house. The girl was already partway up the ladder before Lyndsey was able to overcome her gawking.
A single woven blanket covered the doorway. Lyndsey was welcomed by lantern glow when she reached the top of the ladder. Inside, the girl bustled about, grabbing any odd object from built in shelves tracing the walls. The room was round and small; a gas-powered heater in a corner by the bed was the only sign of a modern life.
"Watch your head!" The girl warned, not even looking up from the pile of strange bottles and a bowl that she cluttered onto a table.
But the warning came a second too late. The minute Lyndsey bent down under the doorway and tried to straighten up 'Thunk!' Her head rang with a more hollow sound than the wood.
Giggling at the noise and Lyndsey's annoyed groan, the girl began pouring and mixing things in the bowl. "You won't fit in the chairs, so you can take a seat on the bed."
Falling onto the bed, Lyndsey welcomed the softness of the pallet with a sigh of relief. Her legs ached and finally coming into a decent light she noticed how filthy she was for the first time. She gazed about the room, taking in everything there was to offer before looking back at the other occupant of the home. Tilting her head, she watched the girl mush around objects in a bowl, which was starting to look like a muddy paste. "You know, I never asked what your name was."
The girl's head shot up, loose strands of bright green hair framed her face and freckles specked her cheeks, "My name?" She almost looked shocked at such a simple question, "Aisley."
Lyndsey simply nodded, not knowing a good enough reply. Though to her it seemed to be a very strange name… She shivered, thinking of how hard it must be to live alone in a desolate area, but knew herself that cold feeling inside of being alone.
Just then Aisley rose to her feet and walked over to Lyndsey, bowl in hand. "Roll up your sleeve."
Lyndsey obeyed the orders, cringing as the shreds of the torn sleeve stuck to the dried blood on her arm. The four slashes were caked over in blood, but stayed surprisingly clean. Even though it burned as if she held it above a flame.
Without say or warning Aisley slapped on some of the mud-like paste, giving the wound a very thick coating. Lyndsey almost quaked and screamed from the sting that traveled through her body like a spark of electricity. Instead she held it in for fear of scaring Aisley, and quivered slightly. Closing her eyes she thought it would ease the pain, though by the time she got the nerve to open them again Lyndsey already found her upper arm to her elbow bandaged in a white clothe. Her arm felt stiff, but she could still bend her elbow.
Aisley had just stepped aside, a bright smile on her face plainly showing her job well done. "The paste was to keep the wound from becoming infected, or poisoned."
Lyndsey's face went pale from the last word, "Poisoned?"
Aisley nodded, "Wolfo's claws are poisonous to a Hylian's skin. Your skin would develop a severe rash and welts that create permanent scars. That is one reason why I brought you here."
"Wow… Thank you." Lyndsey said, forming a smile at the end.
Smirking for a moment before letting out a sigh, Aisley continued, "Though, the wound was not the main reason for why you are here."
Lyndsey gave her a strange look, then focused on the floor. She then dug out the small dagger that was placed in her purse. It gleamed with a cold silver glow. The gold hilt and ruby embedded in it were without a chip or fade. "Is it something that has to deal with this?"
The green haired girl shuffled her feet; "It is a part." Taking her finger she drew a design in the muddy paste left in the bowl. The drawing was that of three equilateral triangles joined to from a larger triangle, then within the middle another triangle shown the same size as the three. While showing it to Lyndsey, Aisley asked, "Have you ever seen this design before?"
Lyndsey just about said no, but then her hand shot up to her neck, tracing it as if there was a necklace there. "My..my mother.." Lyndsey whispered.
The girl's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Your mother what?" She pried.
"My mother had… a necklace!" Lyndsey blurted out once she remembered. "A dainty gold chain with a charm of gold that looked exactly like that." Her face changed drastically as she began to let out more of the memory. Her eyes moved to the floor before continuing, "She always wore it, and I asked her once what it stood for when I was very young. She simply said it was what she lived for, nothing else. After that I never brought up the subject again." Lyndsey kept her eyes glued to the floor after she finished; her eyes glistened in the corners.
Aisley saw how drastically Lyndsey had changed when it came to personal issues, and dropped the subject on her mother. "It is a symbol, more like a religious symbol, that the people of the ancient times worshipped. It was called the Triforce, and it contained the powers of the three goddesses that created this world."
"That can't be true, there has never been a major religion of the people as history states, and history also states that the world was created through scientific means." Lyndsey remarked with a dull tone, still looking toward the floor.
"And you believe them?"
Lyndsey narrowed her eyes as she lifted her head; "It's far more believable than what you just stated."
"Well," The green haired girl quipped, "Prepare yourself for a history lesson, and we'll see at the end what you believe."
Oh great, I'll bet 2 blue rupees the story's another fairy tale told to children at bedtime. Lyndsey thought with a sarcastic spark. Shuffling around a bit on the bed, she tried to find a comfortable position.
Aisley pulled up a chair. Taking a deep breath she hunched up her shoulders for a few seconds then let them hang loosely. "Before the creation of Hyrule, before the creation of all things, three golden goddesses descended in a realm of chaos. Not a word was said between them, but all three unanimously agreed to put their powers to good, and created their own world."
Lyndsey rolled her eyes, thinking that a five-year old could come up with something better.
The green haired girl ignored her, "Din, the goddess of power, was the first to descend. Using her arms of flame she twisted and bent the land to her will. Soaring up she created mountains, diving down she molded the valleys. The land varied greatly from rugged and high to smooth and low. When satisfied she returned to her sisters.
"Naryu, the goddess of wisdom, then took a step forth, thinking Din's masterpiece needed a bit more to be complete. Gazing about the land she whispered ancient words to herself. Soon the air above the land shone a pale blue while a sphere of gold produced a glow that blanketed the land. Wind blew, making her hair waving arms that encircled her face. Tears of joy flowed down her face, dripping down below her toes and rushing away, forming the rivers and lakes. She had created the law of the land.
"Once returning the final sister, Farore, held back to wait and think her decision over. The goddess of courage knew her sisters had created a perfect world, but it didn't seem finished to her yet. Walking over the ground, her bare toes feeling every inch of the soil, she chanted words that seemed to make the ground shake. The feeling of revived life began to rise through the ground. Small creatures looking like dandelion seeds emerged, floating through the air. Green stems of plants rose from the soil, cushioning the goddess's feet. She had created life, imperfect creatures that will live off the land and uphold the law.
"Answering her sisters' call, Farore appeared next to them. They smiled, bright and beautiful smiles, at their world beneath them. Oh how they loved to stay, to watch over their beloved creations, but they did not belong there. They needed to return to their own world, the Sacred Realm. Din was the first to shoot up to the sky, heading to their home. The other two followed soon after. Closer and faster they flew, soon forming into a single streak of gold. Suddenly they collided with a deafening explosion. The explosion morphed a relic, sealing the three powers of the goddesses within. The Triforce stood as the gate between our world and the Sacred Realm. Each piece of it represented a different element: power, wisdom, and courage."
Lyndsey blinked, to throw her head back and laugh uncontrollably would have been an understatement of what she felt toward the entire story. She sighed, using all her power to hold back a single giggle; "Wow. It must have taken hours of deep thought to come up with a story like this." A smirk escaped her grasp, and crawled along her face.
Aisley's gave her a curious look, "Is that all you have to say?"
"Do you really want to hear my other reaction?" Lyndsey asked, on the verge of laughing
Aisley went quiet, getting up without a word she set the bowl on the table unnaturally hard, like a way to vent hidden frustration. Through her teeth she spoke more to herself than anyone, "This could have never been easy, could it? Too stubborn, far too stubborn to realize, but maybe someone could explain this better…"
Lyndsey's ears twitched. Feeling the need to defend herself she spoke with a loud voice, "Too stubborn? Am I expected to believe someone who has stolen my possessions, and led me into the jaws of a ravaged wolfo!?"
"If you do not wish to believe me, someone else shall explain it better. That is far from the full explanation, and I can see you won't listen to me anymore, so why waste my breath?" Aisley had caught on quick to Lyndsey's sarcasm, and returned it almost as well as the master herself.
Snorting, Lyndsey narrowed her eyes, "Who is this someone else? Is there more like you?"
"Not exactly."
"And of course you won't tell me who this mystery person is?"
"You'll meet that person soon enough, or he shall meet you soon enough." The green-haired girl answered simply, crossing her arms.
"AHAH! So it's a he!" Lyndsey yelled out, happy that she caught that little clue.
The room went quiet after Lyndsey's yelled died off. The green haired girl shuffled her feet along the floor. Being shot down with her explanation she didn't know what else to say.
Lyndsey could almost sense what Aisley was thinking, and sighed as she began her explanation, "I'm sorry I don't believe you, but doesn't this story seem.. far fetched? I of all people should be the first to believe this reason for the creation of the world, but was it really just some fling by these "goddesses" to show off their powers? Please! Show me some kind of proof before just coming out with some story that back at home would get you a free ticket to the psyche-ward!" Ending her rant on a high note she crossed her arms and slumped against the wall. She kept a smug look on her face before something seemed to click inside her head.
The little one does not lie.
Lyndsey's face went as white as sheets. She had quickly shoved the last experience with that distant voice to the back of her mind, and claimed that it was all imagined. The forest girl had began to argue back to Lyndsey's rant, but she didn't hear her. The voice echoed throughout her head like when standing in a canyon. Over and over it repeated until she couldn't stand it anymore. Putting her hands up to her ears, Lyndsey screamed out, "Stop it! Just shut up!! I don't want to listen to you!!" As if thinking it would chase the faceless voice out of her mind.
It did succeed, for the room grew deathly still after the screech. Looking up, Lyndsey saw Aisley standing before her with an expression almost like she was just slapped in the face.
Lyndsey lowered her hands and tried to stammer and apology, "I- I'm sorry. That wasn't meant for you--"
"It doesn't matter." Aisley replied, her voice cold as stone and her eyes darting to the side of the room. She sighed and continued before Lyndsey could attempt to speak again. "I was not meant to be the one to convince you, only to try to lessen the shock. And now I see that I didn't succeed."
Lyndsey didn't reply, but just lowered her head.
"I think it would be best if you left now." Aisley stated without emotion.
"But," Lyndsey shot up, "What you have told me doesn't explain anything!"
Aisley looked up to her, and her eyes grew cold. "I tried to explain it, but you did not believe even the beginning. I don't wish to waste my time with you anymore. If you want to continue to blindly walk right into the enemy's clutches, that's your own stubborn fault!"
Lyndsey's eyes widened as she gritted her teeth and grabbed her purse and sword. "Fine, continue with your fairy tales, but you won't see me listening! And if I ever see you in the streets of Koriki again, I will turn you in for theft and harassment." With that Lyndsey hurried to the doorway, brushing past Aisley without a single glance.
Sighing, Aisley yelled out to Lyndsey before she was to the door. "Stop!"
Lyndsey stopped, but did not turn in Aisley's direction while she spoke. "What?"
"You don't know the way out of the forest."
Lyndsey stayed quiet, and at that moment felt her stupidity coming through again. When she heard Aisley's words for that last time she pulled the blanket aside and disappeared.
"Go in the same direction we came, but stay straight, and do not follow the same trail I took to the hilltop." Aisley called out, loud enough to carry through the blanket.
Lyndsey barely heard her before she fumbled down the ladder.
******
A spring's wind was bitter at late hours. Black feather's ruffled as nature's shadow swooped among the currents. It knew its orders well, and was his master's best spy. An enclosed clearing was spread before it, while the deep green of Koriki Forest bordered the clearing for miles. It's eyes were sharp enough to notice the sudden moment of any creature, no matter how hidden and no matter how small. An unnatural light came from a treehouse under it, and that's where its main focus was. Now something came from it, and the creature squawked with joy.
"A Hylian, female with hair the color of the pale sun above us. I want you to find her, and give me something, anything that will tell me where. You will not return until this is done!"
His master's angered voice caused the bird to quiver, but it was soon just a distant memory when this something came forth into the night. Flying closer this spy could clearly see as the something ploughed through tall grasses that it had hair of a pale gold. An angular face, pointed ears, yes yes! The bird had finally found her! Quickly it disappeared into the trees, right before the Hylian looked his way.
Ebony talons clung to thick branches. Now that it had done half of its duty, proof of whereabouts needed to be obtained. Carefully inching to the edge of the branch, the bird reached for a thin enough twig to snap. Koriki Forest contained trees that which grew no where else in the world, and it would be perfect proof for the spy's master. A quick snap came suddenly, followed by the strong flaps of wings. As the bird emerged above the treetops a single twig with three dangling leaves filled its talons.
Home soon appeared before it. The ivory walls, towers reaching to the sky, and the silence of a sleeping Castle Town greeted the spy. As the bird's shadows glided along the castle walls, illuminated by the moonlight, few guards bothered to turn their heads. Silence that matched death surrounded it as the spy continued to climb to the tallest tower. There waited its master.
A figure stood silently at the foot of a balcony, clothed in a color that equated his spy. A cape whipped behind him, snapping when the wind twisted it in the wrong direction. Darkness enveloped him, and he waited patiently for his worker to return to him.
The bird shot up from below the figure, and released the twig the moment it was above the master's head. A gloved hand stretched out and snapped the twig from the air, with reflexes that were astounding to see. Studying the catch before his hooded face, he rubbed the jagged leaves between his fingers. His voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke to himself, "The Koriki Forest…"
His head turned to the bird as it perched on the edge of the waist high wall of the balcony. "You have done well as always, raven. You are free to leave now."
With a flap of its wings the raven quickly soared off, following the wind currents once more.
Continuing to cradle the twig within his hands the man spoke softly to himself once more, "Then they shall arrive here tomorrow." The shadows of the tower took hold once more as he stepped back into the tower. Though no one could see, a wicked smile crept over his face.
