Din: Ha, ha, ha! One of your reviewers said that Majora's mask is on the
back of crabs! Now I shall conquer you all! Ha, ha, ha!
Aria: *sweat drops* Uh, okay.Din is having a.weird moment. *turns to Farore
and Nayru* Can't you two do something?
Farore: She's just our sister. That doesn't mean we know how to stop her
from being strange.
Nayru: Ditto.
Aria: *sweat drops again* Okay.Sorry for not reviewing yesterday; my mom
was working at home and I couldn't get on the internet. I'm putting up two
chapters again, though.
Hired disclaimer announcer: Aria Zephyr does not own the Legend of Zelda
games or their characters!
Aria: I think you'll like this chapter; it's definitely lighthearted.

Chapter 5: Girl Talk with Medli and Tetra

"What happened to you two?" Medli asked when she saw Tetra and Link walk
into the village. "When the mountain shook, we were afraid that you might
have been climbing the mountain when it happened." "That's what happened,
but we were on solid ground so we didn't fall and get hurt," Link
explained.

"Why did the mountain shake anyway?" Tetra asked. "Valoo had been flying
around the mountain and he had a rather bad landing," Komali said. "So,
that's why the entire thing shook," Tetra muttered to herself.

"Why were you climbing up the mountain in the first place?" Komali asked.
"Tetra wanted to see the cavern," Link replied. "You should be careful the
next time you go adventuring in the cavern. If Valoo has another bad
landing or the volcano itself starts rumbling, you might get stranded next
time," Medli warned.

Link and Tetra nodded in unison and another Rito, this time a female, came
up to Komali and said something to him. "Hey, everyone! It's almost time
for dinner!" He said. "That's good; we've been eating salted fish for
weeks on the ship," Link said.

"You said that you liked them, though," Tetra said. "Not as a steady
diet," Link replied. Tetra shook her head and said, "I'll never fully
understand you." "And, I don't believe you should. That would take the
fun out of surprising you," Link said with a grin. "Oh, shut up, you,"
Tetra said with a half-growl. Link laughed and they followed the others to
the first floor where the cooks were bringing the food in from the kitchen.

"Fresh fish and fruit are alright with you, isn't it?" Komali asked as he
reached for an apple. They nodded and while everyone ate their dinner,
they all chatted and Link, Tetra, and Gonzo told stories about some of
their own adventures.

"So, after I chopped off the Mothula's wings and destroyed it, the little
door that had been blocked by bars opened and when I opened the chest
inside, I found the boomerang and got out of there as quickly as possible!"
Link said, making motions like those that had destroyed the monster inside
the Forbidden Woods.

"So, where exactly is the Forbidden Woods?" a Rito asked. "It's not far
from Forest Haven. It used to be the home of the Koroks, but when it
became invaded by monsters, they left and inhabited Forest Haven," Link
answered. "So, we'll probably see the Forbidden Woods when we're heading
to Forest Haven, right?" Gonzo asked. Link nodded and said, "We'll only
see the outside, though. However, I don't think that you'd actually want
to be inside the Woods in the first place. It's awful in there!"

"So, why did you go in? And, how did you get there?" Komali asked. "The
Deku Tree had asked me to rescue a Korok that had fallen into the Woods and
he had given me the Deku Leaf so that I could glide towards the entrance,"
Link replied. "That Korok was Makar, wasn't it? He told me that he fell
into the Forbidden Woods and that you rescued him," Medli said.

Link nodded in reply and Quill asked, "What precisely did you rescue him
from? The Woods itself or from a monster inside?" Link grimaced and said,
"There was a flower monster inside the Woods that Ganon had created. Its
name was Kalle Demos, I think, and it, well, ate Makar!"

Some of the Rito gasped and Medli said, "Makar didn't mention that! I
wonder why he didn't say anything." "Probably because the entire
experience shook him up too much. I mean, you wouldn't exactly want to
remember being eaten alive, would you?" Tetra said. Medli looked
thoughtful and said, "I suppose that you're right; I wouldn't!"

"I'm sure that Makar was very grateful to be rescued, Link," Komali's
father said. "He was, but he got upset when he remembered that he was now
very late for the Koroks' annual ceremony!" Link said. "What is the
ceremony for in the first place?" Tetra asked. "The ceremony's purpose is
to help the Deku Tree produce a good harvest of tree seeds so that the
Koroks can still go about and plant new forests," Link replied. "Well,
that makes sense; the Koroks' job is to plant trees," Quill said. Link
nodded briefly and then yawned widely.

"It's getting late. Because of your great achievements, we often forget
that you are still very young and need your rest. All of you should get to
bed now," Komali's father said, standing up. "But, we still need to plan
for tomorrow," Tetra protested as a Rito woman pushed her towards the ramp
leading to the upper floor.

"There's no need for that now. Link knows a way that's quicker that you
can use to reach Forest Haven. Right now, what you need is to rest," Medli
said, starting to walk upstairs. "Father, is it alright if Link shares my
room?" Komali asked. "Yes, son, it is. But, get to bed soon and no
staying up late," his father replied.

Komali nodded and he and Link ran off towards the hall that led to his
room. Medli led Tetra to her room, high above the others, with a large
open window. "I hope that you don't mind," she said. "My room is like
this so that it is easier for me to visit Valoo." "It's okay; I don't mind
at all," Tetra said, looking around the room.

It was rather plain, but there were a few shelves that were actually
outcroppings of rock that had been smoothed and they were filled with many
books, baskets, and pottery. A lamp was attached to one wall and a bright
flame burned inside.

Medli took the golden harp she carried off her back and laid it carefully
on the only bare shelf. "That's a pretty instrument," Tetra said. "Link
said that it had some importance to your being the Sage of the Earth
Temple." "That's right. When he reached the Earth Temple and learned the
'Earth God's Lyric', my ancestor instructed him to find someone who had a
harp like hers. When he came back here, he conducted the lyric for me and
when I played it, I was awakened to the fact that I was a Sage," Medli
said.

"How interesting," Tetra said, sitting down on the small chair near one
wall. Medli looked at her and asked, "Is there something wrong?" "Um, no,
of course not!" Tetra said. Medli looked puzzled, but she pulled a cot out
from under her bed, along with a hand-woven blanket, sheets, and a fluffy
pillow.

"This is the best I can do," she said with a touch of humbleness. "We
don't often receive visitors, so it's rather hard to accommodate them when
they do come." Tetra smiled and said, "It's fine. You should try to sleep
on my ship during a thunderstorm. That's uncomfortable." "I imagine so!
But, I have no aspirations of living on the seas. I'm very content with my
current jobs," Medli said. "I didn't think you would. If I had been born
a Rito, I'd probably feel the same way. Why sail when you can fly?" Tetra
joked.

Medli giggled and said, "There is a downside to being a Rito, though. If
you get your feathers wet, you can't fly at all! That's why none of us are
sailors and we prefer to catch our fish on the wing with nets dragged
through the shallow water." "Then, how is it that your postmen are able to
fly in the rain?" Tetra asked. "I don't know. Not even I'm sure of that.
You should ask Quill," Medli advised. "Oh, sure. That would be the smart
thing to do," Tetra laughed.

"Judging by the fact that you're a pirate and there are no other female
pirates on your ship, I don't think that you're able to talk to many girls
much," Medli said. "No, but there's always someone else to talk to," Tetra
replied. "Like Link, for example?" Medli said slyly. Tetra blushed
slightly and said, "What do you mean by that?"

"Gonzo told me that you spend a lot of time talking to him and I was
watching while you and he were having a mock argument," Medli said. "So,
you were spying, in other words?" Tetra asked. "No, I just happened to be
flying past and I watched as you two were flirting with each other," Medli
said. "You like him, don't you?" Tetra blushed again and asked, "Like him
in what context?" "Like him as in you like him more than a friend," Medli
said. "Um, well, not exactly.Sort of." Tetra stammered.

"You don't need to be shy about it," Medli said. "I won't tell anyone; I
promise." "Okay, so I like him.a little; but I don't love him yet," Tetra
said, blushing furiously. "That's okay. I understand. Though, you do
have to admit, falling in love with Link wouldn't be that hard when you
consider all of his good qualities," Medli said dreamily.

"So, do you like him?" Tetra pressed. Medli shrugged and shook her head.
"I certainly care about him, but I think that I'm falling for another
person," She said. "And, who would that be?" Tetra asked. "Um.Well, I'm
not absolutely sure about this, but I kind of like Komali," Medli said.
"Komali? As in Prince Komali?" Tetra asked in disbelief.

Medli reddened and said, "Well, after you and Link came back from Hyrule
and Makar and I were on your ship, Link told me that Komali said that he
missed me, subtly, and I wanted to see him so much! He is still rather
immature at times, but I can't shake off this feeling that there's
something more there." Tetra raised an eyebrow, but she nodded and said,
"I guess that that can be possible." "You won't tell if I won't?" Medli
asked. "Okay," Tetra said, with a conspiratorial wink.

Suddenly, someone knocked on Medli's door and Akoot poked his head in.
"Come on, girls. Lights out," he said. "Okay, Akoot. We were just
talking," Medli said. "Speaking of which, I still have to get those boys
to go to sleep. Every time I walk into Komali's room, they pretend to be
asleep. But, as soon as I walk out, I can hear them talking again," Akoot
said, shaking his head.

"They're mischievous boys. Of course they're pretending to be asleep to
make you go away. Someone should have slipped some sleeping potion into
their drinks during dinner," Tetra said. "What should I do about it then?"
Akoot asked. "Try sneaking up on them; if that doesn't work, then threaten
to make him eat brussel sprouts," Tetra said.

"How come?" Akoot asked. "Aryll told me that her big brother hates bedtime
and stays up as late as he can. She said that if you threaten to make him
eat brussel sprouts if he doesn't go to sleep, he knocks out in a hurry; he
hates brussel sprouts," Tetra said. "What about Komali?" Akoot asked.
"He's been looking forward to you and Skett showing him some flying tricks
hasn't he? Tell him that if he doesn't go to sleep, you two won't show
him," Medli said.

"Isn't that rather harsh, though?" Akoot asked. "I don't want them to get
mad at me." "They'll get over it. Anyway, you've tried everything else.
After all, you know that they'll never get to sleep otherwise; unless, you
read something incredibly boring to them and bore them to sleep. But,
then, they'll hate you," Medli said. "The only boring stuff that I could
read them is the love letters that Skett writes to his girlfriend and if I
did that, those two would die laughing!" Akoot said. "So, take our advice
and get going!" Tetra said, springing to her feet and pushing him out of
the room.

"Thank goodness that he's gone finally!" Tetra said, flopping down on her
cot. "Akoot means well, he just overanalyzes things," Medli said. "You
can say that again!" Tetra said. There was another knock on the door and
Tetra groaned.

Medli opened the door to see who it was and Skett was standing there.
"Thanks for the help, girls. They're sound asleep," he said. "You're
welcome, Skett. But, we can't go to sleep with you and Akoot asking us how
to get Link and Komali to go to sleep," Medli said. Skett nodded and bowed
respectfully. "I just wanted to thank you. Good night!" He said before
leaving.

Medli walked over to her bed and sat down. "Now, I agree with you; that
was rather annoying!" she said. "Let's forget about it and just go to
sleep!" Tetra said, spreading the sheets and blanket over the cot and lying
down. "Point well taken!" Medli agreed. She pulled back the blanket and
covers of her bed and blew out the lantern. As they both fell into a
contented slumber, the sound of the waves crashing against the beach
outside provided a gentle music that accompanied the chirping of the
crickets in a soft lullaby.

Aria: Okay, I know that there aren't any female Rito in the Rito aerie on
Dragon Roost Island in the game, but does anyone know where else they could
be? It was rather wicked of me to embarrass poor Tetra like that, but it
does make the story more interesting. And, about Medli's room; I had to
make up something! Please read and review!