Chapter 7: New Friends
"So you see, it has come down to this. I am wondering if you have noticed Mikau acting different lately?" Cresent finished off her speech with a question, as she sipped at the hot herb tea that was imported from far away on dry land. The cup had only one small opening on the top, so that the fluid inside would not flow away easily or mixed with the salt water.
Lynisana bit her lower lip. She couldn't believe that Mikau, her only son, would say such a thing to a teacher. She squeezed her own cup in her hands. Her ears flicked a little in annoyance *(1).
"Are you all right?"
Lynisana looked up and smiled sadly. "Yes. I am just shocked to hear that Mikau have changed this much. I mean... yes. He did act a little strange after we moved into Termina. At first I thought it was just an anger directed toward me because I have separated him from his only friends for education purpose. But.. this..."
Cresent laid her hands on Lynisana's hands. "I know this news upsets you, but we need to figure out a way to help Mikau. Why, did you know that lately, Mikau had been sitting alone, eating alone, and walking home alone? If we don't solve this problem, soon, it will be too late."
"I know that. It's just... I have been trying to guide him. I have been trying to help him, to comfort him. But no matter what I have done, he barely reacts. Starting a week ago, Mikau have been desolated because no kids wanted to talk to him. He hardly talks to me anymore. He would always lock himself up in his room and hardly come out."
Both adults sat in the living room in silence.
"I think the best thing to do right now, is to arrange a time for the three of us to meet together. Then we can talk with Mikau and ask him to tell us what the problem is." Cresent sipped at her drink.
Lynisana nodded. "Yes. But there is another problem that I have just found out."
"What is it?"
"The school ends at three o'clock, is it correct? Well, it is now five o'clock. Where is Mikau?"
Cresent drew in a deep breath. "Do you think-"
"No," Lynisana shook her head. "I know Mikau. He could never leave me and be on his own for such a long time, even if he hates me. I think he is just swimming around in the city right now, getting things off his mind. Still... Termina is not exactly a safe city, especially for an unhealthy ten years old boy."
Cresent got up from her seat. "I think we should go search for him right now. I have a bad feeling about this."
Lynisana got up too. "Yes. I suggest we spilt up. I will head northeast sector of the city, and you will head northwest, sounds good?"
Cresent nodded. Together, both of them got out of the house and began the search for the young Zoran Hero. Inside the teacher's mind, she began to think of ways to help her student. Ways that were nice, and ways that may perhaps forced the boy into something that was against his will.
* * *
Mikau stayed near Japas' side while he swam in the dark and sullied streets. He felt as if his whole body was going to collapse. He didn't feel too good right now. He tried not to think of what his mother would say if she knew where he had been. After all, he WAS supposed to go home immediately after school. Then again, why should he when he had finally met a true friend? A friend that treated him nicely and normally. A friend that was not as annoying as that Petanton kid. A friend that-
"Yo! Day dreaming?" Japas nudged Mikau in the ribs.
"What? No. Of course not!" Mikau used his tail to bonk his friend's head playfully.
Japas brushed away his long fins that were dangling in front of his eyes a minute ago. "Well, we are here! My house."
In front of them loomed a building with three levels. Though it looked big, but it was old. Barnacles stuck onto the walls like leeches sucking on the blood. Untrimmed seaweeds spread like wild currents, filling in every cracks that they could live in. A few oysters laid unmoving, kind of tired of their boring life.
"That's your house?" Mikau asked.
"Yup! She's a beauty isn't she?"
Mikau didn't say anything to that comment. In fact, he shouldn't say anything at all. He didn't want to upset Japas. In fact, all he wanted to do now was to lie down and go to sleep.
"Come on in! My dad's not home right now." Japas pushed Mikau forward gently, leaving two black hand prints on the Zoran Hero's muscular back. He put his hands behind his back nervously. "Oh, and watch out for that door!"
"What door- Oof!" Mikau was going to ask while his hand reached for the doorknob, when suddenly, the door fell upon him and slammed onto his head.
Mikau laid flat on the doorsteps underneath the door.
"Sorry. Told you to watch out," Japas said with concern as he helped getting Mikau out from the bottom of the debris.
"I swear to goddesses that I am not that fat!" Mikau cried. He wobbled a little in the water.
"Whaaa?" Japas was confused. "You okay?" He slapped Mikau's head.
"I... yah, I am fine now. Man, I thought I was a Goron at first..." the intensity of his headache had increased dramatically. Mikau was now having trouble swimming in a straight line. "The whole place is twisted, have you noticed that, Japas?"
"Uh..."
Both children swam into the nearly collapsed building. Mikau was observing the rooms when another Zora came out of nowhere and stopped in front of him.
The kid was nearly the same age as the Zoran Hero. Like him, the Zora was totally different than the others. In fact, the only Zoran trait on the boy's body was the soft fins on his arms and his legs. The rest were like human body that was mostly adapted for life on dry land instead of water. He had pointy ears on the side of his head, which was unusual for male Zoras. Yet, the kid could still breathe in the ocean through the gills on the side of his neck. Strange indeed.
"Who are you?" both Mikau and the unnamed kid asked at the same time. "Who am I? You are-" both spoke again then stopped. They said exactly the same thing at the same time.
Japas laughed. "Mikau, meet Tobieas Flent. Tobieas, meet Mikau Loencraft."
"Tobieas? That doesn't sound like a Zoran name," Mikau stated.
"Actually, I am more of a human than a Zora. How about you come sit down in our living room? I will fix something for you to eat while we talk," the kid said as he gestured Japas to lead the guest.
"But of course," Japas said with glee as he grabbed Mikau's wrist again and lead him down the hallway and into a giant living room. Though giant, but it was old and unclean (figures). The room only had four chairs that were made from small, reshaped reef poles for the structure, and sewed seaweeds for the padding. A small round table was in the center of the chairs. It was a granite table with small fractures on the surface. Though flimsy with age, but it looked beautiful. The colors were mixing together on the surface to create a perfect harmony with each other. There were red, gold, green, blue, and purple. How did Japas and his family get that furniture, Mikau didn't know.
Mikau took a seat beside Japas. "So why is Tobieas in your house?"
"Oh. Well, my dad and I found him floating unconscious near the shore of Lake Hyrule two years ago. I guess he got mugged or something like that. And since he looked innocent and safe enough, we brought him back to our house and he began to live with us." Japas grabbed a carp that was slowly swimming across his face. He stuffed into his mouth and gulped it down, whole. Then he let out a loud burp.
The Zoran Hero made a face of disgust.
"I wonder why he is different. I thought I was the only who is special and is unique in this cursed city, at which I am not very fond of this very moment." Mikau slumped back into his chair.
Japas chuckled. "Well, why don't you ask him? Here he comes now with two plates of shark fins. Yum."
Shark fins? Mikau thought as he stared at the food that was placed in front of him on the table. He wanted to throw up. He loved to eat, a week ago, but he wanted to hurl when he saw two plates of cold food. The fins were probably not fresh. He could almost see bacteria crawling around the scaly flesh.
"Mikau, you a Zoran Hero?" Tobieas asked as he took a seat directly across from the guest.
The young child was surprised. He leaned forward. "You know that I am a Zoran Hero?"
"Yea. I've heard stories about them, but I have never got see one for myself."
"Here I am, take a good look at me," Mikau spread out his arms.
Tobieas guffawed.
"Yo Tobieas, Mikau just asked me a question that I have never got the chance to ask you, even after two years. Anyway, how come you are more of a human than a Zora?" Japas said as he sucked on the fins. The juice came flowing out of the bones and down his throat.
"Correction: I am not exactly a Zora. So, count me out," Mikau said as he leaned back into his seat once again. He felt a bead of sweat beginning to form on his forehead.
Japas shrugged as he chow down the food. Tobieas' gaze turned cold. He licked his lips as he began to talk:
"Well... as you probably all know that Zoras develop from eggs. Humans however, are quite different. Instead of maturing in eggs, unborn babies mature inside their mother's womb. My mother was raped, by one of the humans on land. *(2)"
Both Mikau and Japas stared at him.
"Yea, I am the bastard son of that cursed human. Some day I will find him and make him pay for what he has done to my mother. He tricked my mom up to the shore and then he..." Tobieas sighed.
"All right now. Let's change the subject," Japas said loudly after a moment of silence.
"Hey guys, I have to leave now. It is awfully late," Mikau got up. He had to hold on to the chair to balance himself in the water. He accidentally slammed into the table. His leg kicked the chair, snapping the weakest point on the reef pole in two.
"Whoa! You okay? Are my shark fins too much for ya? Wait, you didn't eat any. Why not stay here overnight?" Tobieas asked as he stood up to help Mikau.
Mikau stared at the room and at the environment around the house. "Nah. I really have to get home now. I guess I will see you guys tomorrow after school? For me anyway. I will be fine."
Japas and Tobieas showed the way out. "Sure. Tomorrow at three afternoon?"
"It's a deal. Bye!"
Mikau waved. He swam into the streets slowly. He hoped that his mom wouldn't-
"Mikau!"
He nearly shot upward through the water. His mother was behind him, searching for him apparently. Talk about coincident.
Lynisana hurriedly grabbed him by the arm. "Where in the world have you been? Do you know how worried we are?"
"We?" Mikau faced his mom.
"Your teacher, Ms. Cresent, had told me all about your rude comments today after school. Come home with me now. I need to ask you something." She stared at him. "What happened to you? You look so dirty! Why, you are covered with mud stains!"
Mikau fixed his eyes on his body. It was indeed covered with mud. Probably made by Japas and Tobieas. Lynisana pulled Mikau toward her forcefully. The Zoran Hero tried to jerk away from the grip but he couldn't. He didn't have the energy.
Oh great... he thought as he moved along in the direction of his house. Now here comes the judgment day? I must get out of here soon...
~End Chapter 7~
-------------------------------------------------
:::[NOTE]:::
(1) One interesting concept that my friend had stated in her story: Zoras have ears. Yet, after doing some research in the game guide, I found out that only some Zoras have ears and some don't. Since in the book, only females have ears (that's what it shows in the pictures), therefore I have decided to make male Zoras in my story, earless, and female Zoras in my story, have ears. Ears, ears, ears, years... oops.
(2) Though Zoras normally breed with each other, but there are cases of Zoras mating with humans on land. With one half of the genes from both diverse species merging together, a new form of Zora could be born. That's why Tobieas was not a full Zora, nor was he a full human being.
-------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Finally! Mikau had made some friends! However, his relationship between the two Zoran kids may perhaps (and note the word, 'perhaps') change later on, as his mother grabbed him and brought him home for questioning. What will happen to Mikau and his life? Stay tuned.
"So you see, it has come down to this. I am wondering if you have noticed Mikau acting different lately?" Cresent finished off her speech with a question, as she sipped at the hot herb tea that was imported from far away on dry land. The cup had only one small opening on the top, so that the fluid inside would not flow away easily or mixed with the salt water.
Lynisana bit her lower lip. She couldn't believe that Mikau, her only son, would say such a thing to a teacher. She squeezed her own cup in her hands. Her ears flicked a little in annoyance *(1).
"Are you all right?"
Lynisana looked up and smiled sadly. "Yes. I am just shocked to hear that Mikau have changed this much. I mean... yes. He did act a little strange after we moved into Termina. At first I thought it was just an anger directed toward me because I have separated him from his only friends for education purpose. But.. this..."
Cresent laid her hands on Lynisana's hands. "I know this news upsets you, but we need to figure out a way to help Mikau. Why, did you know that lately, Mikau had been sitting alone, eating alone, and walking home alone? If we don't solve this problem, soon, it will be too late."
"I know that. It's just... I have been trying to guide him. I have been trying to help him, to comfort him. But no matter what I have done, he barely reacts. Starting a week ago, Mikau have been desolated because no kids wanted to talk to him. He hardly talks to me anymore. He would always lock himself up in his room and hardly come out."
Both adults sat in the living room in silence.
"I think the best thing to do right now, is to arrange a time for the three of us to meet together. Then we can talk with Mikau and ask him to tell us what the problem is." Cresent sipped at her drink.
Lynisana nodded. "Yes. But there is another problem that I have just found out."
"What is it?"
"The school ends at three o'clock, is it correct? Well, it is now five o'clock. Where is Mikau?"
Cresent drew in a deep breath. "Do you think-"
"No," Lynisana shook her head. "I know Mikau. He could never leave me and be on his own for such a long time, even if he hates me. I think he is just swimming around in the city right now, getting things off his mind. Still... Termina is not exactly a safe city, especially for an unhealthy ten years old boy."
Cresent got up from her seat. "I think we should go search for him right now. I have a bad feeling about this."
Lynisana got up too. "Yes. I suggest we spilt up. I will head northeast sector of the city, and you will head northwest, sounds good?"
Cresent nodded. Together, both of them got out of the house and began the search for the young Zoran Hero. Inside the teacher's mind, she began to think of ways to help her student. Ways that were nice, and ways that may perhaps forced the boy into something that was against his will.
* * *
Mikau stayed near Japas' side while he swam in the dark and sullied streets. He felt as if his whole body was going to collapse. He didn't feel too good right now. He tried not to think of what his mother would say if she knew where he had been. After all, he WAS supposed to go home immediately after school. Then again, why should he when he had finally met a true friend? A friend that treated him nicely and normally. A friend that was not as annoying as that Petanton kid. A friend that-
"Yo! Day dreaming?" Japas nudged Mikau in the ribs.
"What? No. Of course not!" Mikau used his tail to bonk his friend's head playfully.
Japas brushed away his long fins that were dangling in front of his eyes a minute ago. "Well, we are here! My house."
In front of them loomed a building with three levels. Though it looked big, but it was old. Barnacles stuck onto the walls like leeches sucking on the blood. Untrimmed seaweeds spread like wild currents, filling in every cracks that they could live in. A few oysters laid unmoving, kind of tired of their boring life.
"That's your house?" Mikau asked.
"Yup! She's a beauty isn't she?"
Mikau didn't say anything to that comment. In fact, he shouldn't say anything at all. He didn't want to upset Japas. In fact, all he wanted to do now was to lie down and go to sleep.
"Come on in! My dad's not home right now." Japas pushed Mikau forward gently, leaving two black hand prints on the Zoran Hero's muscular back. He put his hands behind his back nervously. "Oh, and watch out for that door!"
"What door- Oof!" Mikau was going to ask while his hand reached for the doorknob, when suddenly, the door fell upon him and slammed onto his head.
Mikau laid flat on the doorsteps underneath the door.
"Sorry. Told you to watch out," Japas said with concern as he helped getting Mikau out from the bottom of the debris.
"I swear to goddesses that I am not that fat!" Mikau cried. He wobbled a little in the water.
"Whaaa?" Japas was confused. "You okay?" He slapped Mikau's head.
"I... yah, I am fine now. Man, I thought I was a Goron at first..." the intensity of his headache had increased dramatically. Mikau was now having trouble swimming in a straight line. "The whole place is twisted, have you noticed that, Japas?"
"Uh..."
Both children swam into the nearly collapsed building. Mikau was observing the rooms when another Zora came out of nowhere and stopped in front of him.
The kid was nearly the same age as the Zoran Hero. Like him, the Zora was totally different than the others. In fact, the only Zoran trait on the boy's body was the soft fins on his arms and his legs. The rest were like human body that was mostly adapted for life on dry land instead of water. He had pointy ears on the side of his head, which was unusual for male Zoras. Yet, the kid could still breathe in the ocean through the gills on the side of his neck. Strange indeed.
"Who are you?" both Mikau and the unnamed kid asked at the same time. "Who am I? You are-" both spoke again then stopped. They said exactly the same thing at the same time.
Japas laughed. "Mikau, meet Tobieas Flent. Tobieas, meet Mikau Loencraft."
"Tobieas? That doesn't sound like a Zoran name," Mikau stated.
"Actually, I am more of a human than a Zora. How about you come sit down in our living room? I will fix something for you to eat while we talk," the kid said as he gestured Japas to lead the guest.
"But of course," Japas said with glee as he grabbed Mikau's wrist again and lead him down the hallway and into a giant living room. Though giant, but it was old and unclean (figures). The room only had four chairs that were made from small, reshaped reef poles for the structure, and sewed seaweeds for the padding. A small round table was in the center of the chairs. It was a granite table with small fractures on the surface. Though flimsy with age, but it looked beautiful. The colors were mixing together on the surface to create a perfect harmony with each other. There were red, gold, green, blue, and purple. How did Japas and his family get that furniture, Mikau didn't know.
Mikau took a seat beside Japas. "So why is Tobieas in your house?"
"Oh. Well, my dad and I found him floating unconscious near the shore of Lake Hyrule two years ago. I guess he got mugged or something like that. And since he looked innocent and safe enough, we brought him back to our house and he began to live with us." Japas grabbed a carp that was slowly swimming across his face. He stuffed into his mouth and gulped it down, whole. Then he let out a loud burp.
The Zoran Hero made a face of disgust.
"I wonder why he is different. I thought I was the only who is special and is unique in this cursed city, at which I am not very fond of this very moment." Mikau slumped back into his chair.
Japas chuckled. "Well, why don't you ask him? Here he comes now with two plates of shark fins. Yum."
Shark fins? Mikau thought as he stared at the food that was placed in front of him on the table. He wanted to throw up. He loved to eat, a week ago, but he wanted to hurl when he saw two plates of cold food. The fins were probably not fresh. He could almost see bacteria crawling around the scaly flesh.
"Mikau, you a Zoran Hero?" Tobieas asked as he took a seat directly across from the guest.
The young child was surprised. He leaned forward. "You know that I am a Zoran Hero?"
"Yea. I've heard stories about them, but I have never got see one for myself."
"Here I am, take a good look at me," Mikau spread out his arms.
Tobieas guffawed.
"Yo Tobieas, Mikau just asked me a question that I have never got the chance to ask you, even after two years. Anyway, how come you are more of a human than a Zora?" Japas said as he sucked on the fins. The juice came flowing out of the bones and down his throat.
"Correction: I am not exactly a Zora. So, count me out," Mikau said as he leaned back into his seat once again. He felt a bead of sweat beginning to form on his forehead.
Japas shrugged as he chow down the food. Tobieas' gaze turned cold. He licked his lips as he began to talk:
"Well... as you probably all know that Zoras develop from eggs. Humans however, are quite different. Instead of maturing in eggs, unborn babies mature inside their mother's womb. My mother was raped, by one of the humans on land. *(2)"
Both Mikau and Japas stared at him.
"Yea, I am the bastard son of that cursed human. Some day I will find him and make him pay for what he has done to my mother. He tricked my mom up to the shore and then he..." Tobieas sighed.
"All right now. Let's change the subject," Japas said loudly after a moment of silence.
"Hey guys, I have to leave now. It is awfully late," Mikau got up. He had to hold on to the chair to balance himself in the water. He accidentally slammed into the table. His leg kicked the chair, snapping the weakest point on the reef pole in two.
"Whoa! You okay? Are my shark fins too much for ya? Wait, you didn't eat any. Why not stay here overnight?" Tobieas asked as he stood up to help Mikau.
Mikau stared at the room and at the environment around the house. "Nah. I really have to get home now. I guess I will see you guys tomorrow after school? For me anyway. I will be fine."
Japas and Tobieas showed the way out. "Sure. Tomorrow at three afternoon?"
"It's a deal. Bye!"
Mikau waved. He swam into the streets slowly. He hoped that his mom wouldn't-
"Mikau!"
He nearly shot upward through the water. His mother was behind him, searching for him apparently. Talk about coincident.
Lynisana hurriedly grabbed him by the arm. "Where in the world have you been? Do you know how worried we are?"
"We?" Mikau faced his mom.
"Your teacher, Ms. Cresent, had told me all about your rude comments today after school. Come home with me now. I need to ask you something." She stared at him. "What happened to you? You look so dirty! Why, you are covered with mud stains!"
Mikau fixed his eyes on his body. It was indeed covered with mud. Probably made by Japas and Tobieas. Lynisana pulled Mikau toward her forcefully. The Zoran Hero tried to jerk away from the grip but he couldn't. He didn't have the energy.
Oh great... he thought as he moved along in the direction of his house. Now here comes the judgment day? I must get out of here soon...
~End Chapter 7~
-------------------------------------------------
:::[NOTE]:::
(1) One interesting concept that my friend had stated in her story: Zoras have ears. Yet, after doing some research in the game guide, I found out that only some Zoras have ears and some don't. Since in the book, only females have ears (that's what it shows in the pictures), therefore I have decided to make male Zoras in my story, earless, and female Zoras in my story, have ears. Ears, ears, ears, years... oops.
(2) Though Zoras normally breed with each other, but there are cases of Zoras mating with humans on land. With one half of the genes from both diverse species merging together, a new form of Zora could be born. That's why Tobieas was not a full Zora, nor was he a full human being.
-------------------------------------------------
Author's Note: Finally! Mikau had made some friends! However, his relationship between the two Zoran kids may perhaps (and note the word, 'perhaps') change later on, as his mother grabbed him and brought him home for questioning. What will happen to Mikau and his life? Stay tuned.