Sheik, the tale the scribes missed
Disclaimer: Seeing as I do not work for Nintendo, nor am I in the possession of a graduated shading programme, I think it's safe to say that none of the characters featured here in are mine. *Grins to self* That's the most adult disclaimer I've ever done, yay me! And, I was still in school when this game came out - how sad that I still play it at my age, lol. Oh well, I've always been an avid Zelda follower, and this is based around Sheik, who I am still adamant is not Zelda in disguise, but a person in his own right. Enjoy, and it's in first person for most of the way.
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
So, you were expecting the usual following of Link were you? Or, maybe Zelda, and how she took on her 'disguise' for that time when she revealed herself in the Temple of Time? The time where she almost ruined everything we had set up over the seven years whilst the Hero of Time slept? Well, you're going to be sorely disappointed, because it isn't either of those two.
This is Sheik; the real Sheik who helped the Hero of Time, and Princess Zelda pretended it had been her. It doesn't matter in the long run; I lent her my appearance to tie over the loose ends, and make sure Link was content to end his adventures and not search for me afterwards. Nothing matters, for I am merely a Sheikah, born to serve the whims of the greater forces - or so we are led to believe as we grow and learn by Sheikan teachings.
Shall we just get down to it? It's just, I found my old knives along with my journal, and thought it was time the world heard my tale. Perhaps I'm not in the limelight for the latter part, but without all the research in the seven years of sleep, Link would never have known all those ocarina melodies. Being the one and only immortal - yes, immortal - Sheikah, the task was obviously placed on my shoulders.
Now, apparently, my immortality spans from a long ago time before the Kokiri were immortal themselves. A Sheikan woman and Kokiri man bore children, and they became the first Kokiri children - but, there was one who looked Sheikan. They stopped their aging at twenty-four, and I'm the last of their line. I can die, through battle or my own hand. No sickness can consume me, and I'm well trained enough for battle not to kill me. The people who know of my existence believe me brave - but, I would not be brave enough to remove my own life from this plane of existence.
Now, I wish that I had taken on my journey from free will. At least, that would make me sound more heroic, but I am here to tell my story, and that means the truth. No matter how cowardly it may seem, I was eager to remain in my village and help in the teachings of the other younglings. However, I took on my mission, albeit begrudgingly, and left my home to enter the wide world of Hyrule.
It's been five long years since Ganondorf's fall; the castle and towns are back to normal - even the great field is beginning to heal. There are still smatterings of dark creatures that appear every now and then - we Sheikah can take care of them. Our training and weapons and spells make the battling almost too easy. How else would it be that I am back here; back in the small stable at the far end of Lon-Lon Ranch, in the hayloft. Back in the very place I lived for so many years of my short life, the life that has so many aeons left to live. My aging has stopped; I will remain twenty- four forever more.
Here, I find my old weaponry; here Malon allows me to stay in good favour, for my help and reassurance in the time when Ingo ran the Ranch.
I suppose I've filled you in enough on my meagre and shadowy existence after the saving of Hyrule. Perhaps I should begin to convey to you all the adventures that were had in the darkness; my journal has jogged my memory sufficiently. All right, so on to it I suppose; the story of Sheik, the tale the scribes missed. Has a ring to it, has it not? I'm babbling - I suppose it is only to be expected in writing, as my verbal self is almost completely silent. I must get on, before I loose courage again and think to leave this tale untold. After all, the people seem happy with the re-counts by The Hero of Time, and Princess of Destiny.
No! I shall do it, I have been meaning to for so long. It is within my rights to tell my own tale - even though many may not view it, at least the few who see it shall know a little more.
~*~*~*~
When Link went into his seven-year slumber, I was already twelve years of age - old enough to leave my village and enter into the wider world. I was called by Rauru, the great and powerful Sage of Light, to the Chamber of Sages. There, I was charged with the re-discovery of the ancient temple melodies. "Why can the Sages themselves not teach them to him?" I asked, breaking my usual silence.
"They are not aware that they are Sages. The songs will awaken them young Sheik, when the Ocarina of Time plays them."
"Oh." I did not voice the fear that I might not possess the ability, or bravery, or resourcefulness to seek them out. He seemed to understand my thoughts, and smiled down at me. I have always been small in stature - indeed, I am barely a few inches taller than Malon even now.
"Follow me. You may as well gaze upon what you are fighting for."
"You mean?" I was full of awed wonder as he stirred the mist of the Chamber. On a pedestal in the very centre, surrounded by an aura of blue protective magic, was a small boy. He was younger than I, and as he moved in his sleep, I caught a glimpse of a Tri-Force piece glowing on the back of his right hand. "The Tri-Force of Courage," I breathed, amazed. Childish wonder is a beautiful thing, and I was still full of my childishness even with such a mission bearing down upon my shoulders. "But - he's only a child!" I said in shock, watching the fairy next to the boy pulsing with light as it snored.
"He's going to be here seven years, Sheik!" Rauru said scoldingly. "He will grow in that time. When he leaves, he will be a grown man, ready for his task." I nodded my understanding, and then my thoughts wavered to the Princess Zelda. Rauru startled me, "She will be quite safe." I remembered his psychic powers. "She has left Hyrule altogether. You know which Tri- Force piece she holds, of course?"
"The Tri-Force of Wisdom," I answered. "And, that Gerudo scum, Ganondorf, sullies the Tri-Force of Power with his dark intent!" There was a slight edge of bitterness in my voice, and I cursed silently. Rauru read my mind and mood yet again.
"Feelings are not useless, nor hindering. Allow yourself to feel, you may find it enlightening." I just shrugged, and knowing he wanted to say more, diverted him with a question.
"Can you watch over the Princess from here?"
"What?"
"Well, I was just wondering, if not, how else can you be sure she is safe?" in truth, I was interested. I was wondering if the Sages truly could conjure visions on a whim. Rauru merely waved his hands, and a picture of a young girl's pensive face appeared. She was very pretty, as people said, but that was not what made me stare so. No, I was enthralled by the way her smile did not reach her eyes; how could she look so happy, sorrowful and angry at the same time?
Before I could manage to work out what expression the young Princess was wearing, Rauru made the vision disappear. "She will be safe." I nodded, and he pulled me to the pedestal which bore his seal; the seal of the Sage of Light. "Travel well, and seek the lost melodies my friend," he muttered, before sending me back to the Temple of Time. It was still peaceful, but I knew that as soon as I stepped outside, Dark Creatures would pounce from all sides.
I wasn't feeling in the mood for battling my way out of the castle town, and pulled out my lyre instead. I played my own melody of transportation, which I had worked on for many months and woven many spells over my lyre to make it work. I called it the 'Winged-Harmonic', and it worked as well as deku-nuts did for those who could transport that way. I landed outside the Ranch, thinking to see how Malon was faring - she and I had become friends, and at last, I knew to whom she was referring to by the term 'fairy-boy'.
~*~*~*~
Oh, write of the devil; here's Malon herself to bring me some food, to try and make me eat. I know I worry her; but I have not been hungry these past few days. She's a wonderful young woman in truth. Oh, I think she wishes to read this!
'Oh, Sheik, you're so sweet for saying that. And, it's nice to see you at last telling your story.'
That last line was Malon - see what I mean? Well, I suppose after that, she deserves that I deem to go and eat but a little. When I come back, I shall re-immerse you in the tale. All right, Malon, I am coming to the paddock!
~*~*~*~
I was walking casually, hands loose and completely against the rules I had been taught, I even returned the knife at my waist to my pack. Malon didn't like seeing me run around with weaponry - she always insisted it spooked the cuccos. So, I ambled the few yards to the gate. It was about fifty yards away that a sudden scream rent the air. "Get out, you lazy bum!" I sank low, and shadowed closer, silent and stealthy.
Talon and Malon ran from the Ranch into the field, clutching bags of clothes and other such possessions. Ingo followed on a horse, charging the pair down. Again, against the rules, I sprang from hiding, and ran before the horse. Now, horses never trample people if they can help it, and this beast was no exception.
It reared, and Ingo was bucked off, falling heavily to the dirt road. The horse whinnied slightly, and galloped back into the Ranch. Talon and Malon stared at me. "Bandy!" Malon called, and I cringed. That nickname wasn't a favourite of mine. It had come from her observation of the bandages I wore, (and still do now.) She always made nicknames to involve looks and quirks.
"Go, you two. Kakariko has lots of room for you," I said brusquely, before throwing a deku-nut and disappearing. Actually, I never did master teleportation that way - I could only ever manage short distances. I ended up in the tree outside the Ranch gate, and shadowed again so they wouldn't see me. They both turned, and hurried off. I hoped they would get there soon - night was coming on, and even that early in the darkness, the field was not a safe place after nightfall. Poes weren't known to attack if you travelled in groups of two or more, but I knew there was still a faint chance of that happening.
When they had disappeared from sight, I went down and pulled the still unconscious Ingo back into the safety of the Ranch. I left him in the main stables, and left. No matter that he seemed to be under Ganondorf's influence; he still did not deserve to be killed by Poes on the field. Perhaps one day, he would be saved from himself.
After that was done, I thought about which melody I should seek first. I finally decided on that of the Forest Temple, as the forest was under the protection of the Great Deku Tree. Ganondorf's reach wouldn't have yet extended that far. It would take the better part of the night to travel there, but the children of the forest were said not to need much sleep, so I guessed there would at least be a few awake whatever time I arrived.
I was wrong in assuming the length of Ganondorf's reach. But, I did not know, and decided against using my lyre to get there - it was about time I practiced my battle skills again. Poes were easy adversaries for trained warriors. And, I reasoned to myself that the Forest Sage was bound to be one of the Kokiri - perhaps it was as simple as looking for the favourite songs of the Sages - maybe an old lullaby. It was worth going to ask anyway.
*
The village was awfully quiet, and there were no fairies in sight - which meant there were no Kokiri in sight either. I knew of them only from old texts, and wondered if perhaps they had given up the practice of fairy partners, and were in fact merely so still and quiet because of my presence. I walked further into the village, and still could not catch a glimpse of either fairy or Kokiri. There was a slight noise in a house to my left. The sign outside read 'Mido's House'. I had no clue as to who this 'Mido' was, but I had heard a noise, so I went into the house.
There was just one room, with a raised platform at the other end. There was a young redheaded boy slumbering in the bed to the left of the room. There was a small green hat hanging on the bedpost, and as I watched, he turned over to face me, showing a face of an eight or nine year old. I coughed loudly, and he jumped about a foot in the air, before falling heavily from the bed. I grinned slightly as he sprang up, hands balled into fists. "Who are you?" he asked suspiciously, using one hand to grope for his hat, and jamming it on his mussed hair.
"I'm a friend."
"I don't know you. You're no friend of mine, strange person. What are you, and what are you here for?"
"All right, I'll put it another way. I'm not an enemy of the Kokiri. I am a Sheikah, and I am here to search for the Forest Temple." He still stood poised to attack, and such cockiness annoyed me. If that had been one of my charges in training, he would have had his knuckles skinned for such impertinence. Instead, I darted forwards and behind him, grabbing his shoulders and whirling him around to look up at me with wide, terrified eyes. "This is how fast I can move," I told him. "I could have killed you by now, but I don't want, or need to. We all work against Ganondorf."
"I don't know who this 'Ganondorf' is, and I'm sure I don't know what a Sheikah is." He stood stoutly, and I actually began to admire his courage - even if it was a little thickheaded. "But, you're telling the truth about the killing thing aren't you?" I nodded, and he finally lowered his fists. "Oh," he took off his hat, dusted it off, and jammed it back over his fiery hair. "All right. I'll go tell everyone else they can come out."
"Why couldn't they before?"
"Because I'm the leader, and I told them to stay inside." I found the idea of 'Mido' as an authority figure hilarious, but did not voice my amusement. Instead, I just followed him out into the village. He left me in the area sign-posted as the 'Forest Training Centre', and went off to collect the other Kokiri.
A swarm of fairies appeared, Mido and his fairy leading the Kokiri to where I was sitting. The crowd of Kokiri were a mass of green and brown - all natural shades. The prominent hair colour seemed to be the red that Mido had, but there were also a few blonds, and even a couple with green hair! They all seemed a little subdued, which went against all the writings which described them as ever-smiling, laughing and curious creatures, who never seemed to be able to find something to be unhappy about.
But, all I could see were glum faces, some tear-stained, some shell- shocked. It was strange to feel my heart skip so quickly in sorrow for people I did not know. One girl had tears rolling down her young cheeks, and she was hugging her pink fairy close to her, sniffing. "The Great Deku Tree..." she mumbled, before another wave of tears came.
"Do any of you know where Saria might be?" Mido asked the dismal crowd. The girl who was snuffling raised her hand, her fairy wiping tears from her face.
"She said she was going to her special place."
"Ah, we'll never find her then. The only other person who knows the way is Link," his cheeks darkened at the name, and he scowled. "And, he's probably dead after leaving the forest," this seemed to make Mido calmer, so I did not tell him that 'Link' was in fact alive and well in the Chamber of Sages. The Kokiris' faces however, became even glummer, if that were possible. "Anyway," he continued loudly, and the crying girl looked up, her eyes wet, but no tears spilling over.
"This - Sheikah," he stumbled over the new word, "wants to find the Forest Temple. Of course, only Saria knows how to get to it." He looked a little anxiously at me.
"Oh. I suppose I could search for her, if you show me the path she began on."
"Show you to the Lost Woods?" A silvery-blond boy exclaimed. "But, you'll get turned into a skull-kid!" They obviously believed this, and it probably came from some truth, as all legends do. I looked around at the scared faces, and decided on drastic measures. I always looked a lot older with my facemask on, so I pulled it off and shoved it in my bag. Now, I knew, I looked my true age of twelve, and a little less intimidating.
"Then, perhaps I could wait for this 'Saria', and then ask her?" the Kokiri looked unsure; the crying girl stopped sniffing, and ran a hand through her short red hair.
"Well, he could protect us from the monsters whilst he's here; now that the Great Deku Tree is - is," she dissolved into more tears.
"Is what?" I asked.
"Dead," Mido answered shortly. "All right, you can stay, but only if you promise to protect us from any monsters." They all looked up at me, quite frightened and obviously sincere. I kept my face straight, and nodded.
So, I came to live with the Kokiri for a while, waiting for this 'Saria' girl to arrive back from her 'special place', and direct me to the Forest Temple.
I took to teaching them how to wield their slingshots to full use, and how to block with shields, swing with deku-sticks and stun with deku-nuts. Each time I threw one, I had to be careful not to teleport; apart from that, training them was good, as their young-thinking minds picked things up quickly. It was good that they at least knew how to defend themselves. It was very much like being back in my village, training the younger children in fighting. Here, however, I had to be much more gentle, as they were soft, and not used to fighting.
I was still known as 'Sheikah' instead of Sheik to them, and I didn't correct them. I slept outside in the 'Forest Training Centre' all the while I waited. After about two weeks, I was beginning to get restless, and contemplating searching for the Water Temple melody, when the girl 'Saria' finally arrived back at the village. There was much jubilation, and I gathered she was well liked among the Kokiri.
*
The Saria girl approached me the first night after she had returned. "I hear that you search for the Forest Temple," she said, walking nimbly along the bridge along to the platform that I sat on. "Why?"
"I need to find out something about it," I answered, telling her only the half of what she wanted to know. She seemed happy with my answer though, and sat down next to me, crossing her legs and looking out over the village.
"It seems too sad that all this is so beautiful, but now that the Deku Tree is gone, we have no protection," she mused aloud, and I turned to her. It was shocking to hear such mature language come from such a young face. Her cerulean eyes glittered, and she turned, boring into my own vermilion ones. "I sometimes worry about a friend of mine, but," she stopped, and shook her head. "No, you will not want to know about that." I shook my head,
"No, please, tell me of this friend of yours. You never know, I may have heard of him."
"Well, he left the forest a time ago. I always knew he was different from the rest of us - I knew someday he would leave and go on a great adventure!" her eyes were bright. "He did come back to see me once - at least then I knew that leaving the forest had not killed him. He is not one of the Kokiri after all. But, he will always be my friend." He fairy landed deftly on her head, sending yellowy flashes through her green hair.
"What was his name?" I asked, almost positive that it was the boy from the Chamber of Sages.
"Link. Oh, I do miss him," she mumbled, hugging her knees to her chest. My heart skipped, and I knew they were the same people.
"I know of him. I have not met him, but he is well," I said, laying a hand on her shoulder. "In fact, last I saw of him, he was asleep."
"Really?" She turned around to look at me, and I nodded, smiling. Suddenly, she threw her arms around my neck, and hugged me. "Thank you, thank you for telling me!" she said ecstatically, and I just sat there, feeling uncomfortable. I was not used to such outward displays of emotion, never having been part of a family, or close circle of friends. I just gently patted her on the back, until she pulled away again, seemingly unembarrassed by her sudden outburst.
"Uh - could we perhaps get back onto the subject of the Temple?" I asked, not looking her in the eye.
"Oh. I can take you there tomorrow if you want! It's in the Sacred Forest Meadow. I go there sometimes when I need to talk to the forest spirits. It's very pretty!" She hopped up, and trampled back over the bridges. I followed after her, and climbed down the ramp to ground level. "Shall I come and get you from the Forest Training Centre tomorrow?" she asked.
"That would be nice," I answered, suddenly very tired. It was most likely the fact I was finally getting somewhere; now, at last, I felt like I could sleep easily. I walked off, and Saria called after me,
"Goodnight!"
"Goodnight," I called back, hurrying off to go and lie underneath my makeshift tent. All it was, was a spare cloak of mine propped up on sticks - but it served its purpose very well.
*
Saria kept her promise and came to collect me the next morning. Apparently, it seemed, I was not very eager to wake up, and she threw a bucket of water over me before I did. When the cold shocked me, I sat bolt upright, and my cloak/tent went flying into the air, before coming down to land on top of me, and I lay down again. "Please, don't do that again," I mumbled through a mouthful of fabric, and heard a slight giggle come from next to me.
I pulled the cloak away from me, and sat up again, seeing Saria standing next to me, hand held over her mouth as she giggled delicately. I smiled up at her, pushing a mop of sopping wet straw-coloured hair out of my eyes. "Sorry about that," she grinned, reaching out a hand to help me up. I took it, and climbed from the floor, making a show of wringing out my shirt, and she laughed again. "Come along; it's going to take a while to get to the Temple, as I will need to go the long way around."
"Why is that?" I asked, standing and throwing my dry cloak over my shoulders, trying to retain some dignity even though I was wet through.
"The monsters," she said simply. "They moved in only a few days ago; I saw them on my way home, and had to double back to go around them."
"Oh. Well, if we do come across any on the long way, then I'll fight them off," I assured her, and she nodded.
"Let's go then," she smiled, and began to stride away. I walked after her, clipping my twin knives back into my belt, and falling into stride next to her. We walked in silence through the village, heads turning as I walked past. I never did get used to the way people stared at me; they still do, when I let myself be seen.
She made her way closer and closer to the exit into Hyrule Field, and stopped only a few yards away from it, before turning right to a ledge, which led upwards to a steep hill. "The entrance to the Lost Woods is up there," she told me, pointing up to a gate at the top of the hill. I acknowledged her direction, and climbed up the ledge. I bent down to help her up, and was surprised when she landed nimbly beside me and grinned. Then, we both walked up the hill, sometimes using our hands as well as our feet as it was so steep.
When we finally reached the top, both of us were breathing hard, but soon, the hyperventilating ended, and we were able to carry on. Saria led confidently, but I could feel her fear of the 'monsters' in the forest. She didn't speak, merely led me through the twisting, turning paths of the forest. We stopped for a little while, and I offered her some of my travelling food, which she accepted gratefully. As she ate, I looked around, and noticed a pool of deep, clear water.
Looking up, she noticed where I was walking. "That's a shortcut to the Zoras' Domain. None of us can dive far enough to reach the tunnel though. Not that we'd want to; we can't leave the forest, after all." I looked sharply back at her, but her attention was back on the package of sugared rose petals I had handed her. I walked closer to the pool, and sure enough, standing next to it was a sign that read 'Shortcut to Zoras' Domain'.
I turned away, making a mental note about the shortcut, and went to sit back down next to Saria. She handed the sugared rose petals back, and I took out a couple to chew on before putting them back in my bag. Saria stood up, and once more led the way through the forest. Night was beginning to fall when we came to the maze, which led up to the Sacred Forest Meadow. She walked boldly forward, and I looked around me. A startled scream rent the air and I snapped my head to look forwards once more.
A Wolfos had emerged from the trees, snarling angrily, and was bearing down on the green-haired Kokiri girl who was my guide. I dropped my bag on the ground, and slipped my knives from their scabbards. The Wolfos was padding slowly closer, and Saria backed slowly away, her palms facing outwards. I darted forwards and grabbed her roughly, throwing her behind me. "Stay there!" I told her, and she cowered behind me, whimpering slightly.
The Wolfos lunged at me, and I dodged away, leading it from Saria, teasing it and darting in to threaten with my knives. Eventually, I lunged forwards, and my aim was perfect; the knife in my left hand plunged into the creature's heart, and it fell heavily to the floor. But, not before it had injured me back; even as it breathed it's last breath, I fell next to it, clutching my arm. Black curtains crawled across my vision, but I could still see when Saria bent over me, and feel her fairy hop across my skin.
Within a few minutes, I was standing once again, a slight tingling in my arm, but nothing more. "Thank you," I said to the fairy, and it pulsed dark red, the small female body giggling slightly. I just shrugged, and then Saria resumed leading me through the maze.
It wasn't until we got to the very last corridor that led to the Sacred Forest Meadow that we ran into more trouble. An enormous moblin stood there, wielding a large mallet. Saria saw the creature, and promptly fainted in fright. I remember feeling a little strange as I picked her up - it was so clichéd, almost as though I were really a hero rescuing a maiden - what a thought!
Well, I picked her up, and her fairy flew after me as I shadowed my way down the corridor, trying to dodge the moblin. But, it spotted the fairy, and consequently me, and began to wave its mallet around. I dodged from side to side so as not to be thrown by the shock waves, lugging Saria on my back making it hard to reach my knives. Eventually, I slipped one from the sheath, still with a little red crust from the battle with the Wolfos not so long ago. As I edged closer, the moblin hefted the mallet more and more desperately, trying to keep me away.
When I was close enough, I slashed at the creature's knees, causing it to fall forwards in pain. I leaped over the crouched figure, and sprinted up off the corridor to the Meadow.
The vines over the entrance closed behind me, shutting out all sound, and I noticed a slight shimmer over them; protective magic. Setting Saria down, I looked around amazed. The place was alive with small lights; not fairies, but similar. Saria's fairy gave up trying to wake her up, and came to hover next to me. "What - what are they?" I asked, gesturing to the small lights.
"The forest spirits," the fairy answered in a high, clear, feminine voice. "They always like to see Saria around here - sometimes they sing to us." I nodded, and then remembered Saria. I turned around to kneel down next to her, and gently shook her shoulders. She opened her eyes groggily, and stared up at me.
"Where am I?" she asked, brow knitted in confusion.
"The Sacred Forest Meadow silly!" her fairy said to her, buzzing around her head. She smiled in relief, and I helped her up from her place on the floor. Then, I bent down to wipe my knives clean of blood on the floor, and she looked upwards.
"Well, here you are, the Forest Temple," she said, gesturing to a door high above us. There had obviously been steps there once, but they were not there now. No problem; I pulled out my hook shot, and aimed it at a wooden beam that hung over the platform outside the door. At the last moment, Saria grabbed onto my arm. "What are you...?" she never finished her question, as the hook shot reeled us up to the platform. She stumbled when we landed, and looked a little surprised to find herself so high up.
I looked around the platform; at the door, the walls, the floor, and even the overhang above. Perhaps the melody was inscribed somewhere? No such luck. "What are you looking for?" Saria asked inquisitively, and I jumped. I had almost forgotten she was there at all.
"An inscription," I answered, pulling vines away from the walls in case one had been covered by them.
"Why are you really here?" she said, in a voice that demanded truth. I sighed, and signified for her to sit down next to me.
"In truth, I have been sent here by Rauru, the great Sage of Light. You do know who he is?" she nodded, and I carried on. "Well, your friend Link, is at this very moment in the Sacred Realm, to be kept safe until he is old enough to battle against Ganondorf."
"But, why must he battle?" she demanded, eyes wide with fear for her friend.
"Because it is his destiny. He was always different, as you said. Well, that difference served a purpose, because he is the fabled 'Hero of Time', who will save Hyrule from darkness and introduce it to a golden age. Do you understand so far?" She nodded again, and I filled with admiration at her grasp of such strange happenings.
"Now, I have been entreated to prepare for when he wakes up again. I must search for the melodies that shall open the temples; but they have been lost for years and years. Without them, Link will not be able to awaken the Sages so that they may lend their power to him in battle." She looked awed. "I know it is a little much to take in, but, please believe me. I speak the truth."
"I believe you," her fairy piped up.
"And, if Murl believes you, then I do too. She's an excellent judge of character," Saria said earnestly, and I managed a small smile of thanks. "Well, let's carry on and search around here for that melody then," she said determinedly, and we carried on our search, using Murl to aid us in the waning light.
Eventually, we both collapsed, exhausted by our long travel and fruitless searching. I pulled out my hook shot, and fired it into the wooden beam. Then, Saria climbed onto my back, hanging onto my shoulders for dear life as I lowered us down. Then, with a swift yank, I withdrew the hook from the beam, and put my hook shot back into my bag. I only had one cloak left, so I searched out some twigs and made a tent for Saria. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather sleep under your cloak?" she asked concernedly, and I merely shrugged.
"I don't mind; I might carry on searching actually."
"Oh; Murl, do you think you could go with him?"
"No, that's..." but, the fairy was already sitting on top of my head, and I just shrugged, setting off to investigate the far away walls of the meadow. Perhaps the inscription would be there instead - somewhere where not just anyone would stumble across it. Saria fell asleep behind me, and I could hear her soft breathing as a kind of reminder that there was still some life out in this wide, dark forest. Murl flew round my head, lighting the areas that I searched.
When it began to get light, Murl was spending more time travelling on my shoulder, in a kind of stupor. "Go and sleep Murl. And, thank you for helping me," I told her, and she flew lazily off to where Saria lay. I carried on in the dawn light, but still, had not found a thing by the time Saria yawned and stretched, and walked over to me.
"Have you been up all night?"
"Yes."
"You should get some sleep."
"I know. But I have to find a clue - something to find the melody."
"Why not just ask us?" about a hundred tinkling voices asked, combining as one. The pulsating lights of the forest spirits gathered around. "We've been watching you, and have been wondering what you're been doing. Murl tells us you are searching for the lost melody of the Forest Temple."
"Do you know it?" I was excited by the prospect that I had found the first melody so very quickly.
"And, if we did. What would you use it for? How are we to know that you will not use it for dark reasons."
"Because I have this," I reached into my pack, which seems to be a never- ending space, and pulled out the token of Rauru that he usually wore about his neck, but had entrusted to me to call him.
"The mark of Rauru!" the voices breathed in awe, and I nodded. "You must be a great person indeed to have met him." I flushed slightly as Saria looked at me with respect, and shrugged. "We know of this melody that you speak. But, we cannot tell you yet. Saria?" She seemed to know what they wished her to do, and pulled out a deftly whittled wooden ocarina.
She played it beautifully, churning out a joyful tune that made the sunlight seem brighter, the grass greener, and the day worth more to those who lived it. The bright lights of the spirits swirled together, and formed one large ball of light. It glowed brighter and brighter before suddenly disappearing. A grown woman stood there in Kokiri style clothes, her green hair contrasting with her pale face. My mouth dropped open - she looked almost as though Saria had grown up - which the Kokiri of course never did.
"I am the congregation of the forest spirits," she said, and her voice echoed, still sounding as though many voices were speaking at once. There were no more bright lights in the air, but she herself was surrounded by a green aura. "Now, Saria, may I?" she took the ocarina from Saria. "Are you ready to learn the Minuet of Forest?" she asked, and I hurriedly pulled out my lyre.
She placed the small ocarina to her lips, and blew through it, her fingers fluttering quickly over the small holes. I followed after her, plucking a few wrong notes, and she played it through again. I followed; she played it once more, and I had perfected it, and ingrained it to my memory. She pulled the ocarina away from her lips, and smiled demurely. "That, young Sheik is a sacred melody. Hold it dear to your heart, and give it only to the great Hero of Time. Good luck with your searching!" she disappeared with a joyous laugh, and I looked blankly at the empty space. How had she known so much - or, how had they known so much. I was not quite sure - I'm still not quite sure.
Saria herself looked a little amazed as well. "That - that's never ever happened to me before!" She turned to me, and looked amazed.
"Me neither," I sighed, sitting down on the floor, and plucking the melody on my lyre, committing it to paper as well as memory. I looked up to find her peering curiously down at a sketch on the opposite page. I tried to cover it, but she had already seen it. She pulled it from my hands, and flicked through the books. She stopped on one particular page, and asked,
"Who's that?" I looked at the page, and smiled.
"That's a friend of mine. She's called Malon, and she lives in Lon-Lon Ranch, where they have the finest milk in all Hyrule."
"Malon," she repeated, staring at the picture before handing the book back. "They're very lifelike," she said, and I blushed.
"Thank you. I just do them when I meet new friends. I've started one of you somewhere around." I found the preliminary sketch on an otherwise clear double-page, and turned it to show her. She touched a finger to the page, her mouth slightly open.
"It's beautiful," she smiled, eyes shining, and I blushed again, before pulling the book back defensively, and placing it back into my bag.
"Well, I will have to leave soon - there are still four more melodies to gather before I can rest. And, it could take years to find the rest of them," I gabbled, and she placed a small finger on my lips.
"Shush. You're speaking ever so quickly you know!"
"Sorry. But, I really do have to leave I'm afraid." A sheen of tears appeared in her eyes; it looked as though she was not happy that I had to leave. "Look, perhaps there is a way for me to speak to you?" Her face brightened, and she pulled out her ocarina.
"You could use this to speak to me - the forest spirits will hear it and come to me to allow me to talk to you wherever you are."
"That would be wonderful!" I smiled, pulling out my lyre once more, and committing another song to memory and paper. Then, I told her to put a hand on my shoulder, and played the 'Winged-Harmonic' to take us back to the village. It was better than risking her safety by making her trek through the forest again. I did not use the 'Winged-Harmonic' often if I could help it, as it took a lot out of me. But, it was worth it that time.
She cajoled me to spend one last night in the village, and called all her friends together to say goodbye to me. Some seemed very eager that I should stay, and protect them from the monsters, but I remained firm that I should leave. When their faces fell, I consoled them with the fact that they now knew how to defend themselves, and engaged a few of them in a few play- fights, pretending to lose to boost their confidence.
*
When I left the next day, it was with a heavy heart. They had made me feel unduly welcome, and I felt indebted to them - especially the dear girl Saria, whose wisdom was beyond what her fair façade would denote. They stood on the bridge that led to the exit to the great field, and called their goodbyes after me. They echoed through the tunnel, and after me as I stumbled into the bright daylight in Hyrule Field.
Now, where to go? The remaining four temples were spread far. The closest was the Water Temple, which I could enter through the passage from Zoras' Domain. I turned north towards the river, then east when I reached it, following the channel down. I got to the gate, and climbed up the large boulders that were blocking the path. As I reached the top, I heard panicked screams, and a low, humoured cackle.
Peering over the boulders, I saw the man himself, Ganondorf, terrorising the Zora guards, who were running in every direction, trying to escape his dark blasts of magic. He hovered close to me, and I launched myself onto his back, screaming furiously. He whipped his head around, and thrashed, trying to get me off. The Zoras stared terrified at him, and I yelled as loud as my small voice would allow, "Run!"
Ganondorf carried on thrashing, and then began to fly recklessly, out of the way to the Zoras' Domain, and into the field. Eventually, after a few hundred yards, I lost my grip, and fell hard to the ground. Ganondorf crashed down himself, his boots thudding heavily as he landed. I bought a hand to the back of my head, and pulled it away, shocked at the sight of blood on my fingers. A shadow came over me, and I looked up.
I gulped as a dark hand snaked its way towards mine, and pulled me roughly to my feet. "Who are you boy?" he demanded, his putrid breath hot on my face. I didn't answer, and he bought a hand across my face, snapping it sideways. "Who are you?" he asked again, and again remained silent. "Ah, no matter. You're just a child. Hurry off; the sights here are not suitable for the likes of you. Flee to Kakariko, where you lesser peoples belong!" He smiled darkly, and then zoomed off, back to Zoras' Domain.
I swayed a little, before falling to my knees. Ganondorf - he was in the Zoras' Domain. The princess and king! I tried to get up, tried to make my legs go towards Zoras' Domain. But, something held me back - some silent voice warned me not to go there. At least, not until Ganondorf had wreaked his havoc and left. I listened to it - such voices had saved me many a time.
Instead, I obeyed what the evil man had told me to do, and strode away northwest, to the village of Kakariko, with Death Mountain in the backdrop. There were two temples close together. The Temple of Shadows, and the Fire Temple. I would work on the Fire Temple first; that one would be more difficult than the Shadow Temple. After all, a few Sheikahs in Kakariko cared for the Shadow Temple.
My head was beginning to throb slightly, and I bought my hand to the back of it again. The blood was beginning to dry, and I thought to use my bandages to wrap around the wound. They were always a useful accessory whilst I travelled.
It did not take much over six hours to travel to Kakariko, travelling at a steady jog, with short bursts of speed when I felt up to it. I practically crawled up the steps to the gate, and collapsed at the very top. The guard hurried out to bring me in, and swung the gate shut behind me. I remember being taken into a warm house, and tucked into a soft bed. Someone unwrapped my bandages and bathed my wound; everything was blurry, and I could not make out much around me. So, I closed my eyes, and listened instead.
Most of what I could hear consisted of the throbbing of my head - but, there were voices also. I thought I recognised one, but I could not be sure through the haze of all that was going on. "What happened to him?" they asked, and I could sense them coming closer. I blinked my eyes open, and tried to bring the person in front of me into focus. There was a cloud of deep auburn, and the smudges of lilac/blue eyes in a pale face. "Bandy?" they asked, and I realised where I knew it from. Malon! She and Talon had reached Kakariko in safety. I lifted a hand, and sought out hers, unable to speak through the haze of pain that riddled my head.
When my hand found hers, I grabbed it, and squeezed it reassuringly. She threw her arms around my neck, and I felt pain shoot once again through my head. I also though 'this is the second time this has happened in but a few days. How strange'. I started to feel light, as though I were floating high above the bed. My eyes drooped, and I heard Malon whisper, "Goodnight Bandy," before I drifted into unconsciousness.
~*~*~*~
I shall leave my tale there for the moment, as my candle is starting to stutter and flicker. I shall carry this on tomorrow, when I can get some more light to write by. For now, I shall sleep, and memories of past times will most likely flutter to me through my dreams. Now you know the first of my adventure; how I fell to be an unwilling adventurer. But, it was worth it in the long run, for now Hyrule has reached its golden age; and I remain in blissful obscurity.
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
Well, that's it so far. What do you think? I'm trying to make it sound as though he is writing it from afterwards, so there will be a few inconsistencies. But, it's pretty much a bare canvas, since the game doesn't tell you what happens in the seven years that Link sleeps; it merely returns you to a world that has fallen into darkness and disrepair after seven long years of Ganondorf's evil reign. So, I thought it would be interesting to have a different insight to those years, instead of through the eyes of say Zelda, or Malon 'trapped on the ranch'.
I've read a lot of those types, but so far, I haven't seen one like this. If anyone knows of any more like my one out there, please tell me, and believe me, I didn't mean to copy! This just came to me as I watched the cut scene at the end of the game (I've been playing it during the holidays amongst all my other activities!) I love the game - I love all computer games to do with the Zelda universe to be honest! *Plots and plans to get the game boy ones, since I just bought a game boy colour, yay!*
Well, anyway, again, if you've written/read anything like this to do with Sheik, I didn't do the same intentionally. Please don't hurt me! It's my first proper Zelda fic, and I'm hoping to make it quite long by the time I'm done! The other one is just a short little one from years ago. Well, I've babbled on quite long enough, so I'll just leave you to review; please!
Thanks, Soda
PS: I'm trying to be as accurate as possible - I've got the Zelda website up on my computer as well to try and get the temple order and locations right. If I have got any wrong, I'm sorry, but I must be getting myself confused with Black & White *not mine either* which is a cool game too. Uh, I think I should shut up before you get bored with my rambling. Bye now!
R+R
Disclaimer: Seeing as I do not work for Nintendo, nor am I in the possession of a graduated shading programme, I think it's safe to say that none of the characters featured here in are mine. *Grins to self* That's the most adult disclaimer I've ever done, yay me! And, I was still in school when this game came out - how sad that I still play it at my age, lol. Oh well, I've always been an avid Zelda follower, and this is based around Sheik, who I am still adamant is not Zelda in disguise, but a person in his own right. Enjoy, and it's in first person for most of the way.
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
So, you were expecting the usual following of Link were you? Or, maybe Zelda, and how she took on her 'disguise' for that time when she revealed herself in the Temple of Time? The time where she almost ruined everything we had set up over the seven years whilst the Hero of Time slept? Well, you're going to be sorely disappointed, because it isn't either of those two.
This is Sheik; the real Sheik who helped the Hero of Time, and Princess Zelda pretended it had been her. It doesn't matter in the long run; I lent her my appearance to tie over the loose ends, and make sure Link was content to end his adventures and not search for me afterwards. Nothing matters, for I am merely a Sheikah, born to serve the whims of the greater forces - or so we are led to believe as we grow and learn by Sheikan teachings.
Shall we just get down to it? It's just, I found my old knives along with my journal, and thought it was time the world heard my tale. Perhaps I'm not in the limelight for the latter part, but without all the research in the seven years of sleep, Link would never have known all those ocarina melodies. Being the one and only immortal - yes, immortal - Sheikah, the task was obviously placed on my shoulders.
Now, apparently, my immortality spans from a long ago time before the Kokiri were immortal themselves. A Sheikan woman and Kokiri man bore children, and they became the first Kokiri children - but, there was one who looked Sheikan. They stopped their aging at twenty-four, and I'm the last of their line. I can die, through battle or my own hand. No sickness can consume me, and I'm well trained enough for battle not to kill me. The people who know of my existence believe me brave - but, I would not be brave enough to remove my own life from this plane of existence.
Now, I wish that I had taken on my journey from free will. At least, that would make me sound more heroic, but I am here to tell my story, and that means the truth. No matter how cowardly it may seem, I was eager to remain in my village and help in the teachings of the other younglings. However, I took on my mission, albeit begrudgingly, and left my home to enter the wide world of Hyrule.
It's been five long years since Ganondorf's fall; the castle and towns are back to normal - even the great field is beginning to heal. There are still smatterings of dark creatures that appear every now and then - we Sheikah can take care of them. Our training and weapons and spells make the battling almost too easy. How else would it be that I am back here; back in the small stable at the far end of Lon-Lon Ranch, in the hayloft. Back in the very place I lived for so many years of my short life, the life that has so many aeons left to live. My aging has stopped; I will remain twenty- four forever more.
Here, I find my old weaponry; here Malon allows me to stay in good favour, for my help and reassurance in the time when Ingo ran the Ranch.
I suppose I've filled you in enough on my meagre and shadowy existence after the saving of Hyrule. Perhaps I should begin to convey to you all the adventures that were had in the darkness; my journal has jogged my memory sufficiently. All right, so on to it I suppose; the story of Sheik, the tale the scribes missed. Has a ring to it, has it not? I'm babbling - I suppose it is only to be expected in writing, as my verbal self is almost completely silent. I must get on, before I loose courage again and think to leave this tale untold. After all, the people seem happy with the re-counts by The Hero of Time, and Princess of Destiny.
No! I shall do it, I have been meaning to for so long. It is within my rights to tell my own tale - even though many may not view it, at least the few who see it shall know a little more.
~*~*~*~
When Link went into his seven-year slumber, I was already twelve years of age - old enough to leave my village and enter into the wider world. I was called by Rauru, the great and powerful Sage of Light, to the Chamber of Sages. There, I was charged with the re-discovery of the ancient temple melodies. "Why can the Sages themselves not teach them to him?" I asked, breaking my usual silence.
"They are not aware that they are Sages. The songs will awaken them young Sheik, when the Ocarina of Time plays them."
"Oh." I did not voice the fear that I might not possess the ability, or bravery, or resourcefulness to seek them out. He seemed to understand my thoughts, and smiled down at me. I have always been small in stature - indeed, I am barely a few inches taller than Malon even now.
"Follow me. You may as well gaze upon what you are fighting for."
"You mean?" I was full of awed wonder as he stirred the mist of the Chamber. On a pedestal in the very centre, surrounded by an aura of blue protective magic, was a small boy. He was younger than I, and as he moved in his sleep, I caught a glimpse of a Tri-Force piece glowing on the back of his right hand. "The Tri-Force of Courage," I breathed, amazed. Childish wonder is a beautiful thing, and I was still full of my childishness even with such a mission bearing down upon my shoulders. "But - he's only a child!" I said in shock, watching the fairy next to the boy pulsing with light as it snored.
"He's going to be here seven years, Sheik!" Rauru said scoldingly. "He will grow in that time. When he leaves, he will be a grown man, ready for his task." I nodded my understanding, and then my thoughts wavered to the Princess Zelda. Rauru startled me, "She will be quite safe." I remembered his psychic powers. "She has left Hyrule altogether. You know which Tri- Force piece she holds, of course?"
"The Tri-Force of Wisdom," I answered. "And, that Gerudo scum, Ganondorf, sullies the Tri-Force of Power with his dark intent!" There was a slight edge of bitterness in my voice, and I cursed silently. Rauru read my mind and mood yet again.
"Feelings are not useless, nor hindering. Allow yourself to feel, you may find it enlightening." I just shrugged, and knowing he wanted to say more, diverted him with a question.
"Can you watch over the Princess from here?"
"What?"
"Well, I was just wondering, if not, how else can you be sure she is safe?" in truth, I was interested. I was wondering if the Sages truly could conjure visions on a whim. Rauru merely waved his hands, and a picture of a young girl's pensive face appeared. She was very pretty, as people said, but that was not what made me stare so. No, I was enthralled by the way her smile did not reach her eyes; how could she look so happy, sorrowful and angry at the same time?
Before I could manage to work out what expression the young Princess was wearing, Rauru made the vision disappear. "She will be safe." I nodded, and he pulled me to the pedestal which bore his seal; the seal of the Sage of Light. "Travel well, and seek the lost melodies my friend," he muttered, before sending me back to the Temple of Time. It was still peaceful, but I knew that as soon as I stepped outside, Dark Creatures would pounce from all sides.
I wasn't feeling in the mood for battling my way out of the castle town, and pulled out my lyre instead. I played my own melody of transportation, which I had worked on for many months and woven many spells over my lyre to make it work. I called it the 'Winged-Harmonic', and it worked as well as deku-nuts did for those who could transport that way. I landed outside the Ranch, thinking to see how Malon was faring - she and I had become friends, and at last, I knew to whom she was referring to by the term 'fairy-boy'.
~*~*~*~
Oh, write of the devil; here's Malon herself to bring me some food, to try and make me eat. I know I worry her; but I have not been hungry these past few days. She's a wonderful young woman in truth. Oh, I think she wishes to read this!
'Oh, Sheik, you're so sweet for saying that. And, it's nice to see you at last telling your story.'
That last line was Malon - see what I mean? Well, I suppose after that, she deserves that I deem to go and eat but a little. When I come back, I shall re-immerse you in the tale. All right, Malon, I am coming to the paddock!
~*~*~*~
I was walking casually, hands loose and completely against the rules I had been taught, I even returned the knife at my waist to my pack. Malon didn't like seeing me run around with weaponry - she always insisted it spooked the cuccos. So, I ambled the few yards to the gate. It was about fifty yards away that a sudden scream rent the air. "Get out, you lazy bum!" I sank low, and shadowed closer, silent and stealthy.
Talon and Malon ran from the Ranch into the field, clutching bags of clothes and other such possessions. Ingo followed on a horse, charging the pair down. Again, against the rules, I sprang from hiding, and ran before the horse. Now, horses never trample people if they can help it, and this beast was no exception.
It reared, and Ingo was bucked off, falling heavily to the dirt road. The horse whinnied slightly, and galloped back into the Ranch. Talon and Malon stared at me. "Bandy!" Malon called, and I cringed. That nickname wasn't a favourite of mine. It had come from her observation of the bandages I wore, (and still do now.) She always made nicknames to involve looks and quirks.
"Go, you two. Kakariko has lots of room for you," I said brusquely, before throwing a deku-nut and disappearing. Actually, I never did master teleportation that way - I could only ever manage short distances. I ended up in the tree outside the Ranch gate, and shadowed again so they wouldn't see me. They both turned, and hurried off. I hoped they would get there soon - night was coming on, and even that early in the darkness, the field was not a safe place after nightfall. Poes weren't known to attack if you travelled in groups of two or more, but I knew there was still a faint chance of that happening.
When they had disappeared from sight, I went down and pulled the still unconscious Ingo back into the safety of the Ranch. I left him in the main stables, and left. No matter that he seemed to be under Ganondorf's influence; he still did not deserve to be killed by Poes on the field. Perhaps one day, he would be saved from himself.
After that was done, I thought about which melody I should seek first. I finally decided on that of the Forest Temple, as the forest was under the protection of the Great Deku Tree. Ganondorf's reach wouldn't have yet extended that far. It would take the better part of the night to travel there, but the children of the forest were said not to need much sleep, so I guessed there would at least be a few awake whatever time I arrived.
I was wrong in assuming the length of Ganondorf's reach. But, I did not know, and decided against using my lyre to get there - it was about time I practiced my battle skills again. Poes were easy adversaries for trained warriors. And, I reasoned to myself that the Forest Sage was bound to be one of the Kokiri - perhaps it was as simple as looking for the favourite songs of the Sages - maybe an old lullaby. It was worth going to ask anyway.
*
The village was awfully quiet, and there were no fairies in sight - which meant there were no Kokiri in sight either. I knew of them only from old texts, and wondered if perhaps they had given up the practice of fairy partners, and were in fact merely so still and quiet because of my presence. I walked further into the village, and still could not catch a glimpse of either fairy or Kokiri. There was a slight noise in a house to my left. The sign outside read 'Mido's House'. I had no clue as to who this 'Mido' was, but I had heard a noise, so I went into the house.
There was just one room, with a raised platform at the other end. There was a young redheaded boy slumbering in the bed to the left of the room. There was a small green hat hanging on the bedpost, and as I watched, he turned over to face me, showing a face of an eight or nine year old. I coughed loudly, and he jumped about a foot in the air, before falling heavily from the bed. I grinned slightly as he sprang up, hands balled into fists. "Who are you?" he asked suspiciously, using one hand to grope for his hat, and jamming it on his mussed hair.
"I'm a friend."
"I don't know you. You're no friend of mine, strange person. What are you, and what are you here for?"
"All right, I'll put it another way. I'm not an enemy of the Kokiri. I am a Sheikah, and I am here to search for the Forest Temple." He still stood poised to attack, and such cockiness annoyed me. If that had been one of my charges in training, he would have had his knuckles skinned for such impertinence. Instead, I darted forwards and behind him, grabbing his shoulders and whirling him around to look up at me with wide, terrified eyes. "This is how fast I can move," I told him. "I could have killed you by now, but I don't want, or need to. We all work against Ganondorf."
"I don't know who this 'Ganondorf' is, and I'm sure I don't know what a Sheikah is." He stood stoutly, and I actually began to admire his courage - even if it was a little thickheaded. "But, you're telling the truth about the killing thing aren't you?" I nodded, and he finally lowered his fists. "Oh," he took off his hat, dusted it off, and jammed it back over his fiery hair. "All right. I'll go tell everyone else they can come out."
"Why couldn't they before?"
"Because I'm the leader, and I told them to stay inside." I found the idea of 'Mido' as an authority figure hilarious, but did not voice my amusement. Instead, I just followed him out into the village. He left me in the area sign-posted as the 'Forest Training Centre', and went off to collect the other Kokiri.
A swarm of fairies appeared, Mido and his fairy leading the Kokiri to where I was sitting. The crowd of Kokiri were a mass of green and brown - all natural shades. The prominent hair colour seemed to be the red that Mido had, but there were also a few blonds, and even a couple with green hair! They all seemed a little subdued, which went against all the writings which described them as ever-smiling, laughing and curious creatures, who never seemed to be able to find something to be unhappy about.
But, all I could see were glum faces, some tear-stained, some shell- shocked. It was strange to feel my heart skip so quickly in sorrow for people I did not know. One girl had tears rolling down her young cheeks, and she was hugging her pink fairy close to her, sniffing. "The Great Deku Tree..." she mumbled, before another wave of tears came.
"Do any of you know where Saria might be?" Mido asked the dismal crowd. The girl who was snuffling raised her hand, her fairy wiping tears from her face.
"She said she was going to her special place."
"Ah, we'll never find her then. The only other person who knows the way is Link," his cheeks darkened at the name, and he scowled. "And, he's probably dead after leaving the forest," this seemed to make Mido calmer, so I did not tell him that 'Link' was in fact alive and well in the Chamber of Sages. The Kokiris' faces however, became even glummer, if that were possible. "Anyway," he continued loudly, and the crying girl looked up, her eyes wet, but no tears spilling over.
"This - Sheikah," he stumbled over the new word, "wants to find the Forest Temple. Of course, only Saria knows how to get to it." He looked a little anxiously at me.
"Oh. I suppose I could search for her, if you show me the path she began on."
"Show you to the Lost Woods?" A silvery-blond boy exclaimed. "But, you'll get turned into a skull-kid!" They obviously believed this, and it probably came from some truth, as all legends do. I looked around at the scared faces, and decided on drastic measures. I always looked a lot older with my facemask on, so I pulled it off and shoved it in my bag. Now, I knew, I looked my true age of twelve, and a little less intimidating.
"Then, perhaps I could wait for this 'Saria', and then ask her?" the Kokiri looked unsure; the crying girl stopped sniffing, and ran a hand through her short red hair.
"Well, he could protect us from the monsters whilst he's here; now that the Great Deku Tree is - is," she dissolved into more tears.
"Is what?" I asked.
"Dead," Mido answered shortly. "All right, you can stay, but only if you promise to protect us from any monsters." They all looked up at me, quite frightened and obviously sincere. I kept my face straight, and nodded.
So, I came to live with the Kokiri for a while, waiting for this 'Saria' girl to arrive back from her 'special place', and direct me to the Forest Temple.
I took to teaching them how to wield their slingshots to full use, and how to block with shields, swing with deku-sticks and stun with deku-nuts. Each time I threw one, I had to be careful not to teleport; apart from that, training them was good, as their young-thinking minds picked things up quickly. It was good that they at least knew how to defend themselves. It was very much like being back in my village, training the younger children in fighting. Here, however, I had to be much more gentle, as they were soft, and not used to fighting.
I was still known as 'Sheikah' instead of Sheik to them, and I didn't correct them. I slept outside in the 'Forest Training Centre' all the while I waited. After about two weeks, I was beginning to get restless, and contemplating searching for the Water Temple melody, when the girl 'Saria' finally arrived back at the village. There was much jubilation, and I gathered she was well liked among the Kokiri.
*
The Saria girl approached me the first night after she had returned. "I hear that you search for the Forest Temple," she said, walking nimbly along the bridge along to the platform that I sat on. "Why?"
"I need to find out something about it," I answered, telling her only the half of what she wanted to know. She seemed happy with my answer though, and sat down next to me, crossing her legs and looking out over the village.
"It seems too sad that all this is so beautiful, but now that the Deku Tree is gone, we have no protection," she mused aloud, and I turned to her. It was shocking to hear such mature language come from such a young face. Her cerulean eyes glittered, and she turned, boring into my own vermilion ones. "I sometimes worry about a friend of mine, but," she stopped, and shook her head. "No, you will not want to know about that." I shook my head,
"No, please, tell me of this friend of yours. You never know, I may have heard of him."
"Well, he left the forest a time ago. I always knew he was different from the rest of us - I knew someday he would leave and go on a great adventure!" her eyes were bright. "He did come back to see me once - at least then I knew that leaving the forest had not killed him. He is not one of the Kokiri after all. But, he will always be my friend." He fairy landed deftly on her head, sending yellowy flashes through her green hair.
"What was his name?" I asked, almost positive that it was the boy from the Chamber of Sages.
"Link. Oh, I do miss him," she mumbled, hugging her knees to her chest. My heart skipped, and I knew they were the same people.
"I know of him. I have not met him, but he is well," I said, laying a hand on her shoulder. "In fact, last I saw of him, he was asleep."
"Really?" She turned around to look at me, and I nodded, smiling. Suddenly, she threw her arms around my neck, and hugged me. "Thank you, thank you for telling me!" she said ecstatically, and I just sat there, feeling uncomfortable. I was not used to such outward displays of emotion, never having been part of a family, or close circle of friends. I just gently patted her on the back, until she pulled away again, seemingly unembarrassed by her sudden outburst.
"Uh - could we perhaps get back onto the subject of the Temple?" I asked, not looking her in the eye.
"Oh. I can take you there tomorrow if you want! It's in the Sacred Forest Meadow. I go there sometimes when I need to talk to the forest spirits. It's very pretty!" She hopped up, and trampled back over the bridges. I followed after her, and climbed down the ramp to ground level. "Shall I come and get you from the Forest Training Centre tomorrow?" she asked.
"That would be nice," I answered, suddenly very tired. It was most likely the fact I was finally getting somewhere; now, at last, I felt like I could sleep easily. I walked off, and Saria called after me,
"Goodnight!"
"Goodnight," I called back, hurrying off to go and lie underneath my makeshift tent. All it was, was a spare cloak of mine propped up on sticks - but it served its purpose very well.
*
Saria kept her promise and came to collect me the next morning. Apparently, it seemed, I was not very eager to wake up, and she threw a bucket of water over me before I did. When the cold shocked me, I sat bolt upright, and my cloak/tent went flying into the air, before coming down to land on top of me, and I lay down again. "Please, don't do that again," I mumbled through a mouthful of fabric, and heard a slight giggle come from next to me.
I pulled the cloak away from me, and sat up again, seeing Saria standing next to me, hand held over her mouth as she giggled delicately. I smiled up at her, pushing a mop of sopping wet straw-coloured hair out of my eyes. "Sorry about that," she grinned, reaching out a hand to help me up. I took it, and climbed from the floor, making a show of wringing out my shirt, and she laughed again. "Come along; it's going to take a while to get to the Temple, as I will need to go the long way around."
"Why is that?" I asked, standing and throwing my dry cloak over my shoulders, trying to retain some dignity even though I was wet through.
"The monsters," she said simply. "They moved in only a few days ago; I saw them on my way home, and had to double back to go around them."
"Oh. Well, if we do come across any on the long way, then I'll fight them off," I assured her, and she nodded.
"Let's go then," she smiled, and began to stride away. I walked after her, clipping my twin knives back into my belt, and falling into stride next to her. We walked in silence through the village, heads turning as I walked past. I never did get used to the way people stared at me; they still do, when I let myself be seen.
She made her way closer and closer to the exit into Hyrule Field, and stopped only a few yards away from it, before turning right to a ledge, which led upwards to a steep hill. "The entrance to the Lost Woods is up there," she told me, pointing up to a gate at the top of the hill. I acknowledged her direction, and climbed up the ledge. I bent down to help her up, and was surprised when she landed nimbly beside me and grinned. Then, we both walked up the hill, sometimes using our hands as well as our feet as it was so steep.
When we finally reached the top, both of us were breathing hard, but soon, the hyperventilating ended, and we were able to carry on. Saria led confidently, but I could feel her fear of the 'monsters' in the forest. She didn't speak, merely led me through the twisting, turning paths of the forest. We stopped for a little while, and I offered her some of my travelling food, which she accepted gratefully. As she ate, I looked around, and noticed a pool of deep, clear water.
Looking up, she noticed where I was walking. "That's a shortcut to the Zoras' Domain. None of us can dive far enough to reach the tunnel though. Not that we'd want to; we can't leave the forest, after all." I looked sharply back at her, but her attention was back on the package of sugared rose petals I had handed her. I walked closer to the pool, and sure enough, standing next to it was a sign that read 'Shortcut to Zoras' Domain'.
I turned away, making a mental note about the shortcut, and went to sit back down next to Saria. She handed the sugared rose petals back, and I took out a couple to chew on before putting them back in my bag. Saria stood up, and once more led the way through the forest. Night was beginning to fall when we came to the maze, which led up to the Sacred Forest Meadow. She walked boldly forward, and I looked around me. A startled scream rent the air and I snapped my head to look forwards once more.
A Wolfos had emerged from the trees, snarling angrily, and was bearing down on the green-haired Kokiri girl who was my guide. I dropped my bag on the ground, and slipped my knives from their scabbards. The Wolfos was padding slowly closer, and Saria backed slowly away, her palms facing outwards. I darted forwards and grabbed her roughly, throwing her behind me. "Stay there!" I told her, and she cowered behind me, whimpering slightly.
The Wolfos lunged at me, and I dodged away, leading it from Saria, teasing it and darting in to threaten with my knives. Eventually, I lunged forwards, and my aim was perfect; the knife in my left hand plunged into the creature's heart, and it fell heavily to the floor. But, not before it had injured me back; even as it breathed it's last breath, I fell next to it, clutching my arm. Black curtains crawled across my vision, but I could still see when Saria bent over me, and feel her fairy hop across my skin.
Within a few minutes, I was standing once again, a slight tingling in my arm, but nothing more. "Thank you," I said to the fairy, and it pulsed dark red, the small female body giggling slightly. I just shrugged, and then Saria resumed leading me through the maze.
It wasn't until we got to the very last corridor that led to the Sacred Forest Meadow that we ran into more trouble. An enormous moblin stood there, wielding a large mallet. Saria saw the creature, and promptly fainted in fright. I remember feeling a little strange as I picked her up - it was so clichéd, almost as though I were really a hero rescuing a maiden - what a thought!
Well, I picked her up, and her fairy flew after me as I shadowed my way down the corridor, trying to dodge the moblin. But, it spotted the fairy, and consequently me, and began to wave its mallet around. I dodged from side to side so as not to be thrown by the shock waves, lugging Saria on my back making it hard to reach my knives. Eventually, I slipped one from the sheath, still with a little red crust from the battle with the Wolfos not so long ago. As I edged closer, the moblin hefted the mallet more and more desperately, trying to keep me away.
When I was close enough, I slashed at the creature's knees, causing it to fall forwards in pain. I leaped over the crouched figure, and sprinted up off the corridor to the Meadow.
The vines over the entrance closed behind me, shutting out all sound, and I noticed a slight shimmer over them; protective magic. Setting Saria down, I looked around amazed. The place was alive with small lights; not fairies, but similar. Saria's fairy gave up trying to wake her up, and came to hover next to me. "What - what are they?" I asked, gesturing to the small lights.
"The forest spirits," the fairy answered in a high, clear, feminine voice. "They always like to see Saria around here - sometimes they sing to us." I nodded, and then remembered Saria. I turned around to kneel down next to her, and gently shook her shoulders. She opened her eyes groggily, and stared up at me.
"Where am I?" she asked, brow knitted in confusion.
"The Sacred Forest Meadow silly!" her fairy said to her, buzzing around her head. She smiled in relief, and I helped her up from her place on the floor. Then, I bent down to wipe my knives clean of blood on the floor, and she looked upwards.
"Well, here you are, the Forest Temple," she said, gesturing to a door high above us. There had obviously been steps there once, but they were not there now. No problem; I pulled out my hook shot, and aimed it at a wooden beam that hung over the platform outside the door. At the last moment, Saria grabbed onto my arm. "What are you...?" she never finished her question, as the hook shot reeled us up to the platform. She stumbled when we landed, and looked a little surprised to find herself so high up.
I looked around the platform; at the door, the walls, the floor, and even the overhang above. Perhaps the melody was inscribed somewhere? No such luck. "What are you looking for?" Saria asked inquisitively, and I jumped. I had almost forgotten she was there at all.
"An inscription," I answered, pulling vines away from the walls in case one had been covered by them.
"Why are you really here?" she said, in a voice that demanded truth. I sighed, and signified for her to sit down next to me.
"In truth, I have been sent here by Rauru, the great Sage of Light. You do know who he is?" she nodded, and I carried on. "Well, your friend Link, is at this very moment in the Sacred Realm, to be kept safe until he is old enough to battle against Ganondorf."
"But, why must he battle?" she demanded, eyes wide with fear for her friend.
"Because it is his destiny. He was always different, as you said. Well, that difference served a purpose, because he is the fabled 'Hero of Time', who will save Hyrule from darkness and introduce it to a golden age. Do you understand so far?" She nodded again, and I filled with admiration at her grasp of such strange happenings.
"Now, I have been entreated to prepare for when he wakes up again. I must search for the melodies that shall open the temples; but they have been lost for years and years. Without them, Link will not be able to awaken the Sages so that they may lend their power to him in battle." She looked awed. "I know it is a little much to take in, but, please believe me. I speak the truth."
"I believe you," her fairy piped up.
"And, if Murl believes you, then I do too. She's an excellent judge of character," Saria said earnestly, and I managed a small smile of thanks. "Well, let's carry on and search around here for that melody then," she said determinedly, and we carried on our search, using Murl to aid us in the waning light.
Eventually, we both collapsed, exhausted by our long travel and fruitless searching. I pulled out my hook shot, and fired it into the wooden beam. Then, Saria climbed onto my back, hanging onto my shoulders for dear life as I lowered us down. Then, with a swift yank, I withdrew the hook from the beam, and put my hook shot back into my bag. I only had one cloak left, so I searched out some twigs and made a tent for Saria. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather sleep under your cloak?" she asked concernedly, and I merely shrugged.
"I don't mind; I might carry on searching actually."
"Oh; Murl, do you think you could go with him?"
"No, that's..." but, the fairy was already sitting on top of my head, and I just shrugged, setting off to investigate the far away walls of the meadow. Perhaps the inscription would be there instead - somewhere where not just anyone would stumble across it. Saria fell asleep behind me, and I could hear her soft breathing as a kind of reminder that there was still some life out in this wide, dark forest. Murl flew round my head, lighting the areas that I searched.
When it began to get light, Murl was spending more time travelling on my shoulder, in a kind of stupor. "Go and sleep Murl. And, thank you for helping me," I told her, and she flew lazily off to where Saria lay. I carried on in the dawn light, but still, had not found a thing by the time Saria yawned and stretched, and walked over to me.
"Have you been up all night?"
"Yes."
"You should get some sleep."
"I know. But I have to find a clue - something to find the melody."
"Why not just ask us?" about a hundred tinkling voices asked, combining as one. The pulsating lights of the forest spirits gathered around. "We've been watching you, and have been wondering what you're been doing. Murl tells us you are searching for the lost melody of the Forest Temple."
"Do you know it?" I was excited by the prospect that I had found the first melody so very quickly.
"And, if we did. What would you use it for? How are we to know that you will not use it for dark reasons."
"Because I have this," I reached into my pack, which seems to be a never- ending space, and pulled out the token of Rauru that he usually wore about his neck, but had entrusted to me to call him.
"The mark of Rauru!" the voices breathed in awe, and I nodded. "You must be a great person indeed to have met him." I flushed slightly as Saria looked at me with respect, and shrugged. "We know of this melody that you speak. But, we cannot tell you yet. Saria?" She seemed to know what they wished her to do, and pulled out a deftly whittled wooden ocarina.
She played it beautifully, churning out a joyful tune that made the sunlight seem brighter, the grass greener, and the day worth more to those who lived it. The bright lights of the spirits swirled together, and formed one large ball of light. It glowed brighter and brighter before suddenly disappearing. A grown woman stood there in Kokiri style clothes, her green hair contrasting with her pale face. My mouth dropped open - she looked almost as though Saria had grown up - which the Kokiri of course never did.
"I am the congregation of the forest spirits," she said, and her voice echoed, still sounding as though many voices were speaking at once. There were no more bright lights in the air, but she herself was surrounded by a green aura. "Now, Saria, may I?" she took the ocarina from Saria. "Are you ready to learn the Minuet of Forest?" she asked, and I hurriedly pulled out my lyre.
She placed the small ocarina to her lips, and blew through it, her fingers fluttering quickly over the small holes. I followed after her, plucking a few wrong notes, and she played it through again. I followed; she played it once more, and I had perfected it, and ingrained it to my memory. She pulled the ocarina away from her lips, and smiled demurely. "That, young Sheik is a sacred melody. Hold it dear to your heart, and give it only to the great Hero of Time. Good luck with your searching!" she disappeared with a joyous laugh, and I looked blankly at the empty space. How had she known so much - or, how had they known so much. I was not quite sure - I'm still not quite sure.
Saria herself looked a little amazed as well. "That - that's never ever happened to me before!" She turned to me, and looked amazed.
"Me neither," I sighed, sitting down on the floor, and plucking the melody on my lyre, committing it to paper as well as memory. I looked up to find her peering curiously down at a sketch on the opposite page. I tried to cover it, but she had already seen it. She pulled it from my hands, and flicked through the books. She stopped on one particular page, and asked,
"Who's that?" I looked at the page, and smiled.
"That's a friend of mine. She's called Malon, and she lives in Lon-Lon Ranch, where they have the finest milk in all Hyrule."
"Malon," she repeated, staring at the picture before handing the book back. "They're very lifelike," she said, and I blushed.
"Thank you. I just do them when I meet new friends. I've started one of you somewhere around." I found the preliminary sketch on an otherwise clear double-page, and turned it to show her. She touched a finger to the page, her mouth slightly open.
"It's beautiful," she smiled, eyes shining, and I blushed again, before pulling the book back defensively, and placing it back into my bag.
"Well, I will have to leave soon - there are still four more melodies to gather before I can rest. And, it could take years to find the rest of them," I gabbled, and she placed a small finger on my lips.
"Shush. You're speaking ever so quickly you know!"
"Sorry. But, I really do have to leave I'm afraid." A sheen of tears appeared in her eyes; it looked as though she was not happy that I had to leave. "Look, perhaps there is a way for me to speak to you?" Her face brightened, and she pulled out her ocarina.
"You could use this to speak to me - the forest spirits will hear it and come to me to allow me to talk to you wherever you are."
"That would be wonderful!" I smiled, pulling out my lyre once more, and committing another song to memory and paper. Then, I told her to put a hand on my shoulder, and played the 'Winged-Harmonic' to take us back to the village. It was better than risking her safety by making her trek through the forest again. I did not use the 'Winged-Harmonic' often if I could help it, as it took a lot out of me. But, it was worth it that time.
She cajoled me to spend one last night in the village, and called all her friends together to say goodbye to me. Some seemed very eager that I should stay, and protect them from the monsters, but I remained firm that I should leave. When their faces fell, I consoled them with the fact that they now knew how to defend themselves, and engaged a few of them in a few play- fights, pretending to lose to boost their confidence.
*
When I left the next day, it was with a heavy heart. They had made me feel unduly welcome, and I felt indebted to them - especially the dear girl Saria, whose wisdom was beyond what her fair façade would denote. They stood on the bridge that led to the exit to the great field, and called their goodbyes after me. They echoed through the tunnel, and after me as I stumbled into the bright daylight in Hyrule Field.
Now, where to go? The remaining four temples were spread far. The closest was the Water Temple, which I could enter through the passage from Zoras' Domain. I turned north towards the river, then east when I reached it, following the channel down. I got to the gate, and climbed up the large boulders that were blocking the path. As I reached the top, I heard panicked screams, and a low, humoured cackle.
Peering over the boulders, I saw the man himself, Ganondorf, terrorising the Zora guards, who were running in every direction, trying to escape his dark blasts of magic. He hovered close to me, and I launched myself onto his back, screaming furiously. He whipped his head around, and thrashed, trying to get me off. The Zoras stared terrified at him, and I yelled as loud as my small voice would allow, "Run!"
Ganondorf carried on thrashing, and then began to fly recklessly, out of the way to the Zoras' Domain, and into the field. Eventually, after a few hundred yards, I lost my grip, and fell hard to the ground. Ganondorf crashed down himself, his boots thudding heavily as he landed. I bought a hand to the back of my head, and pulled it away, shocked at the sight of blood on my fingers. A shadow came over me, and I looked up.
I gulped as a dark hand snaked its way towards mine, and pulled me roughly to my feet. "Who are you boy?" he demanded, his putrid breath hot on my face. I didn't answer, and he bought a hand across my face, snapping it sideways. "Who are you?" he asked again, and again remained silent. "Ah, no matter. You're just a child. Hurry off; the sights here are not suitable for the likes of you. Flee to Kakariko, where you lesser peoples belong!" He smiled darkly, and then zoomed off, back to Zoras' Domain.
I swayed a little, before falling to my knees. Ganondorf - he was in the Zoras' Domain. The princess and king! I tried to get up, tried to make my legs go towards Zoras' Domain. But, something held me back - some silent voice warned me not to go there. At least, not until Ganondorf had wreaked his havoc and left. I listened to it - such voices had saved me many a time.
Instead, I obeyed what the evil man had told me to do, and strode away northwest, to the village of Kakariko, with Death Mountain in the backdrop. There were two temples close together. The Temple of Shadows, and the Fire Temple. I would work on the Fire Temple first; that one would be more difficult than the Shadow Temple. After all, a few Sheikahs in Kakariko cared for the Shadow Temple.
My head was beginning to throb slightly, and I bought my hand to the back of it again. The blood was beginning to dry, and I thought to use my bandages to wrap around the wound. They were always a useful accessory whilst I travelled.
It did not take much over six hours to travel to Kakariko, travelling at a steady jog, with short bursts of speed when I felt up to it. I practically crawled up the steps to the gate, and collapsed at the very top. The guard hurried out to bring me in, and swung the gate shut behind me. I remember being taken into a warm house, and tucked into a soft bed. Someone unwrapped my bandages and bathed my wound; everything was blurry, and I could not make out much around me. So, I closed my eyes, and listened instead.
Most of what I could hear consisted of the throbbing of my head - but, there were voices also. I thought I recognised one, but I could not be sure through the haze of all that was going on. "What happened to him?" they asked, and I could sense them coming closer. I blinked my eyes open, and tried to bring the person in front of me into focus. There was a cloud of deep auburn, and the smudges of lilac/blue eyes in a pale face. "Bandy?" they asked, and I realised where I knew it from. Malon! She and Talon had reached Kakariko in safety. I lifted a hand, and sought out hers, unable to speak through the haze of pain that riddled my head.
When my hand found hers, I grabbed it, and squeezed it reassuringly. She threw her arms around my neck, and I felt pain shoot once again through my head. I also though 'this is the second time this has happened in but a few days. How strange'. I started to feel light, as though I were floating high above the bed. My eyes drooped, and I heard Malon whisper, "Goodnight Bandy," before I drifted into unconsciousness.
~*~*~*~
I shall leave my tale there for the moment, as my candle is starting to stutter and flicker. I shall carry this on tomorrow, when I can get some more light to write by. For now, I shall sleep, and memories of past times will most likely flutter to me through my dreams. Now you know the first of my adventure; how I fell to be an unwilling adventurer. But, it was worth it in the long run, for now Hyrule has reached its golden age; and I remain in blissful obscurity.
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
Well, that's it so far. What do you think? I'm trying to make it sound as though he is writing it from afterwards, so there will be a few inconsistencies. But, it's pretty much a bare canvas, since the game doesn't tell you what happens in the seven years that Link sleeps; it merely returns you to a world that has fallen into darkness and disrepair after seven long years of Ganondorf's evil reign. So, I thought it would be interesting to have a different insight to those years, instead of through the eyes of say Zelda, or Malon 'trapped on the ranch'.
I've read a lot of those types, but so far, I haven't seen one like this. If anyone knows of any more like my one out there, please tell me, and believe me, I didn't mean to copy! This just came to me as I watched the cut scene at the end of the game (I've been playing it during the holidays amongst all my other activities!) I love the game - I love all computer games to do with the Zelda universe to be honest! *Plots and plans to get the game boy ones, since I just bought a game boy colour, yay!*
Well, anyway, again, if you've written/read anything like this to do with Sheik, I didn't do the same intentionally. Please don't hurt me! It's my first proper Zelda fic, and I'm hoping to make it quite long by the time I'm done! The other one is just a short little one from years ago. Well, I've babbled on quite long enough, so I'll just leave you to review; please!
Thanks, Soda
PS: I'm trying to be as accurate as possible - I've got the Zelda website up on my computer as well to try and get the temple order and locations right. If I have got any wrong, I'm sorry, but I must be getting myself confused with Black & White *not mine either* which is a cool game too. Uh, I think I should shut up before you get bored with my rambling. Bye now!
R+R