Chapter Three: A Rocky Moment
Usagi awoke and stretched she looked around her in confusion till she noticed Link asleep on the floor. A soft smile graced her lips and Usagi got up. Link awoke with a start and his eyes searched out Usagi. He smiled as he realized she was still safe. "Alright, Usagi. I have another friend to visit but this time I want you to go with me. I also know a short cut to get us there." Usagi nodded and her eyes drifted to the half-full bottle of milk. Link handed the bottle to her. "Drink the rest. It will be awhile before you can eat or drink again." Usagi grabbed the bottle and drank its contents.
Link pulled out his ocarina and placed the empty milk bottle under the peaceful cow. "Do you have a name for the song you play to the cow?" asked Usagi.
Link nodded. "It's called Epona's Song. With it I can summon Epona, or I could get milk from cows like this one." Link played the song and retrieved the milk. Usagi took out her ocarina and duplicated the notes. She was overjoyed to see the milk bottle overflow with milk. She giggled as Link sighed and emptied out some of the milk off his porch.
"Ready to go?" Link asked upon his return. Usagi nodded. "One last thing." Link said. Usagi blinked in surprise and gave him her full attention. "You must never leave my side when we enter a place called the 'Lost Woods."
Usagi studied him in puzzlement. "What would happen to me if I left your side?" she asked.
Link glanced at her and took a deep breath. "You would turn into a such a hideous monster I wouldn't be able to save you. Instead I would be forced to kill you."
Usagi gasped and took a step backwards her eyes wide with terror. "You would kill me?" she whispered in shock.
Link nodded. "If I didn't you would kill me, but we don't have to worry about that happening. Because you'll be by my side every step of the way." Usagi took a shaky breath and followed Link out of the tree house.
Usagi followed Link across the small village and to a small cliff. Usagi watched Link pull himself up the cliff then turn around and look at her. "You don't expect me to do that, do you?" Usagi asked. "That thing is almost taller than me."
Link knelt down and grabbed Usagi's wrist. He stretched a bit further until he had a solid clasp on her arm. He slowly began to pull her up. Usagi attempted to help but realized that the more she tried to help the harder Link had to work. She looked up startled out of her thoughts as Link quickly stood up and lunged backwards, carrying Usagi with him. Usagi felt herself fly through the air and crash into Link. She blushed brightly as she realized she had fallen on top of him. She got up and helped Link get back up. Memories of what could happen to her if she was separated from him plagued her and she wrapped her small hand around his arm. Link smiled and led her to a giant wall with vines growing on it.
Link turned towards Usagi. "Think you can handle this?" he queried.
Usagi nodded. "Yes, but I would prefer if you went first." He gave her an odd look, but complied. Usagi watched him climb to the top.
"Come on, Usagi." She coached to herself in a whisper. "Just climb a few feet." Timidly she reached out to one of the vines and tested its strength. Usagi took a deep breath and began to climb. Link waited at the top patiently. He allowed his thoughts to drift and he wondered why Usagi's cheeks sometimes turned bright red. Usagi slowly climbed up the vines. Each step she took increased her awe of Link. 'How does he do it?' she asked herself.
**
Sailor Venus walked ahead of Sailor Jupiter. "How are we supposed to get to the castle without a drawbridge?" Complained Sailor Venus.
"We jump." Stated Sailor Jupiter. Sailor Venus grimaced. The two sailors took a running leap.
**
Mercury scanned the stairs. "According to my scanner there's a village at the top of those stairs. Sailor Mars smiled and the two began to climb the stairs. Sailor Mercury kept her visor on as she scanned for any potential threats.
**
Usagi finally made it to the top of the vine-covered wall and grinned at Link. She saw a slight inclining hill to her right. Link took her arm and with a blushing Usagi in tow led her up the hill. Usagi frowned as they got to the crest of the hill and she saw a hollowed out tree. "Inside here is the 'Lost Woods'." Link explained to a scowling Usagi. Link entered the tree dragging Usagi with him.
Usagi was soon lost as Link took her through the maze of hollowed out trees. She saw Link smile as they came to the one path that wasn't a tree. Usagi followed him inside as he let go of her arm. "Wait here," he instructed. "I'll be right back." Usagi watched him race down the cavern hallway.
Usagi's fingers found the necklace and she held the small trinket level to her eyes. "I think I'm... falling in love." She whispered to herself.
Link came back a few minutes later. "It's alright to come in now." He told her.
Usagi followed him past some odd-looking flowers. She started to reach out and touch one of the mysterious plants. "Stop!" Link demanded as he grabbed her arms. "Those are bomb flowers," Usagi stiffened at the word bomb and waited for Link to continue. "You have to be properly equipped to handle them." Link explained. Usagi nodded and grabbed Link's arm in fear.
Link walked down the hall deep in thought. 'What is this feeling I get when I'm around her?' he asked himself. He glanced at Usagi who was studying everything with awe. A soft smile curved his lips. His eyes drifted to the necklace he had bought her. 'What made me buy that? It cost 500 rupees.'
Usagi looked up startled out of her thoughts as she sensed light at the end of the hallway. She blinked in surprise as she found herself in a giant room with many levels composed of rocks. Link glanced at her. "I have to do something very important. I want you to stay here. My friend will take care of you." He explained before vaulting the balcony and landing three floors below. Usagi silently wondered who's Link's friend was. Usagi saw something out of the corner of her eye and saw what appeared to a rock rolling towards her. She gasped and began to run the other way. She glanced behind her shoulder and saw the rock steadily gaining speed and Usagi struggled not to break down and bawl.
**
"All right, Jupiter your turn." Encouraged Sailor Venus from the other side of the drawbridge.
Sailor Jupiter took a deep breath and leapt across. When she landed she teetered on the edge and if it hadn't been for Sailor Venus pulling her back she would have fallen into the icy-cold and disgusting water of the moat. The two Sailors smiled at each other and entered the castle marketplace.
**
Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury entered the small village. They made their way by two men by a tree. They saw a house to their left and entered it. There was a group of people talking and Sailor Mars interrupted them.
"Excuse me," she told a woman by the stove. "I was hoping that you might have seen my friend. She has blonde hair and two odango-shaped buns on her head."
The woman thought for a moment before shaking her head. "No, I'm sorry never saw anyone like that before. You may want to ask the Bazaar owner though." The sailors thanked the woman and left the house. They saw a small flight of stairs and climbed them.
Sailor Mercury noticed the Bazaar sign first. Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars vanished in a burst of blue and red and Ami, and Rei took their places. They entered the Bazaar together and didn't notice Luna climbing the stairs leading to the Bazaar.
**
The rock rolled around the running Usagi nearly squishing her in the process. It stopped in front of her and Usagi unable to stop in time ran into it. "Don't be afraid." Said the rock. Usagi gasped and fainted. The goron unrolled itself and stared at the creature its namesake had told it to protect.
Usagi awoke nearly two hours later. "Are you alright?" asked the goron.
Usagi stared at it for a moment. "Who or should I say what are you?" she asked.
The goron grinned. "I'm a goron. I was named after a great hero to my people. He saved our race seven years ago," The goron paused for effect, "My name is Link." Usagi blinked. Her stomach growled loudly and Usagi flushed. Link the goron handed her a rock. Usagi stared blankly at the rock.
"Eat," commanded the rock-like Link.
Usagi giggled. "I can't eat rocks." She protested.
"Why not?"
Usagi suppressed her giggles to answer. "Because humans can't eat rocks." Usagi explained.
The goron stared at her in confusion. "What's a human?" Usagi sighed and began to explain.
**
"Venus!" Screamed Sailor Jupiter in horror as she saw her friend go by one of the ugly looking creatures and freeze in place. "Supreme Thunder Dragon !" she yelled unleashing a giant dragon composed of electricity. The creature attacked the zombie and Sailor Venus was freed. She ran past her friend.
"No way is Usagi around here. Let's go!" she called over her shoulder. Sailor Jupiter sighed and chased after her friend.
**
Rei grinned as she questioned the Bazaar owner. "So you say she came here with a frequent patron?" she asked.
The owner nodded "Yes, his name is Link. He bought her clothes, a shield, some boots, and a gorgeous necklace."
Rei frowned. "Necklace?" she asked in disbelief.
The man nodded. "A beautiful piece crafted from the finest gold to resemble the legendary triforce. Yes, only Link could afford a necklace such as that."
Ami glanced at Rei before speaking. "Do you have any other necklaces like that in stock?" she asked.
The man shrugged his shoulders. "One moment. I'll go check."
The man walked off and Rei turned towards Ami. "You heard the man. Usagi is in this world somewhere near here. We have to find her."
The man returned a broad smile on his face. "You're in luck. This is the last one we have in stock." He handed it to Rei.
Rei's eyes widened as she realized that the three triangles were indeed made of pure gold. "How much does it cost?" she asked.
The man smiled. "It's an absolute bargain at 500 rupees. Of course I could reduce the price for such pretty ladies as yourselves."
Rei frowned. 'Why did Usagi let a perfect stranger give her a present like that?' she asked herself. "The price is too steep for me." Rei explained pretending to be sad over the fact. Rei and Ami left the shop while the man glared at them.
As the two left the building they noticed Luna waiting for them. "Luna, how did you get here?" asked Ami. Ami picked up Luna and walked down the stairs. The group left the small village and made their way down the stairs.
"Alright, Luna tell us who Link is and why Usagi left with him." Rei demanded.
Luna sighed. "Link is a boy not much older than Usagi. I would guess a year or two. We met him soon after we arrived in this strange world. Usagi has been following him in hopes of getting home." Luna paused, "Last I saw the two of them were heading off that way." Luna pointed towards the west with her paw. The three began their walk toward the west.
**
Usagi sighed in frustration. "Where's Link?" she asked the small goron.
"He's rescuing my father and the rest of my people from the fire temple."
Usagi frowned and felt fear grip her heart like an icy claw. "Fire temple?" she asked.
The goron studied her for a moment. "Yes, he went to defeat the evil dragon Volvagia."
Usagi began to whimper. "Dragon?" she whispered.
"Yes, Link will defeat the dragon and save my father and my people from becoming the dragons meal."
Usagi began to shiver. "How do I get to this fire temple?" she demanded. Before the goron could answer she saw a happy Link surrounded by tons of gorons.
Link walked over to her. "Ready to go?" he asked. Usagi nodded. Usagi waved goodbye to Link the goron.