Chapter 3
Birthday of Death
"Hey Kevin, can you believe we both got knighted at the same time?" Reinhardt and Kevin were being escorted home. The sounds of their pony's hooves on the cobblestones were almost drowned out by the noise of over 100 people coming from down the path.
"Yeah I know," Kevin replied. "Though I can't believe we both got knighted so young."
"What do you mean? We were supposed to right?"
"Of course we were," Kevin reassured him. "It's just that most people don't get knighted until their older."
"Does that mean we're special?" Reinhardt asked.
"I guess. What's all that noise?" Kevin wondered.
"It's probably a welcome home party or something," Reinhardt said.
"Yeah, either that or it's for your birthday," Kevin added. "Maybe it's both."
"I wonder if Ganondorf's girlfriend is going to b their." Reinhardt said.
"You mean Ryoko? She's cool and all, but there's something about her that I don't like." Kevin said. "I just hope Mom, Dad, and Rachel aren't going to do anything embarrassing." (Rachel being Kevin's little sister. She was born a few days before Dana.)
"They won't," Reinhardt said. "I wonder what Ganondorf will think."
"He's probably going to be jealous that a couple of kids broke his record," Kevin said.
"You know you two, the royal family is even going to be there, and I've heard Zelda is about your age Kevin," Kirin said. Kevin's face was as red as the morning sun for about five minutes.
"Hey Kirin?" Reinhardt asked. "Why does Ganondorf always call you an old man? You don't look that old to me."
Kirin turned around and said a little shocked, "he calls me what?" Kirin is a well-known knight, and was very skilled in combat. Not many people disrespect him like that.
"In the letters he sent he always wrote, 'so what did old man Kirin have you do today?'" Reinhardt informed him.
Kirin chuckled and said, "well we'll see what happens at this party. By the way, lets keep this between the three of us okay?" He gave them a little wink and turned back forward.
"Four sir," Naja said all of a sudden.
"Four? Four what?" Kirin asked.
"I'll keep that between the four of us sir," she explained.
"Five," Tai said. Kevin and Reinhardt couldn't help but laugh. About ten minutes later, they arrived in town. Indeed there was a giant celebration going on. Every member of the Schneider family was there. And, as was promised, the royal family was there greeting and congratulating everyone. Once they were seen coming in, everyone started to yell and cheer. Reinhardt let go of his pony's reins to wave with both hands, but wound up falling off. Everyone let out a gasp but quickly calmed down when they heard him laughing.
Kevin dismounted and helped Reinhardt up. "Nice entrance klutz," he said.
"Congratulations little man." Reinhardt spun around and saw Ganondorf and Ryoko standing there in front of him. Realizing it was Ryoko that said it, he thanked her. Ganondorf picked him up and put him on his shoulders.
"Happy birthday runt," he said to him. "And congratulations to you too couz," he said to Kevin. Sherry and Carrie, both unknowingly pregnant again, (too early in pregnancy to be able to tell) ran up to them and gave them both hugs and kissed them on the cheeks.
"You said they weren't going to do anything embarrassing," Kevin accused Reinhardt.
"Your not the only one all right," Reinhardt said, equally red as Kevin.
"Settle down everyone, settle down," the king said loudly so that all could hear. Everyone's attention was switched to the royal family, specifically the king. Kevin's and Zelda's gaze met and Zelda smiled. Kevin could feel his face grow even hotter than before. "We're here today to celebrate the knighting of Hyrule's two youngest knights," King Ryrau continued. "Five- year-old Kevin, and three-year-old Reinhardt. Whom, you may have noticed, is also celebrating his third birthday today." Everyone started to cheer but was quickly quieted down so that the king could continue his speech. "These two youngsters are both part of the Schneider family, a family whose members were, and are, known as some of the most skillful and youngest knights in Hyrule's history. These two are continuing this tradition. Now everyone, eat, drink, and above all else, have a good time." Everyone started to cheer again. "Kevin, come here please." King Ryrau said aside. Kevin walked away with his parents, his sister, the king, and princess Zelda.
"Happy birthday son," Shiga said as he handed a present to Reinhardt. He opened it quickly to find a leather wallet. Inside was one green jewel that was used for currency on Hyrule.
"Thanks dad," he said.
"It's from me and your mother," Shiga said
"And that's from me," Dana said pointing to the crystal. "I saved that up for you." Reinhardt thanked her and gave her a hug.
"I'll give this to you but only if you don't do anything stupid with it like you did your boomerang," Ryoko said.
"Okay," Reinhardt promised. Ryoko gave him the package. Reinhardt ripped it open and received a slingshot. His eyes lit up with joy. "Thank you Ryoko," he said. She bent down and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
"I'm confident you won't do anything with it as of yet. Without having any bullets and all," Sherry said strictly.
"Well." Ganondorf started.
"Well what?" Dana asked. Ganondorf pulled a leather pouch out from behind his back and gave it to Reinhardt.
"What's this?" Reinhardt asked.
"It has seeds in it that you can use as bullets," Ganondorf whispered.
"Thanks," he whispered back. Just then Kevin came over with Kirin. Kevin kind of looked embarrassed and depressed at the same time. "What's the matter Kevin?" Reinhardt asked curiously.
"My life is over," he replied. Reinhardt looked puzzled at him for a few minutes but his attention was directed to Ganondorf and Kirin.
"You didn't think you would get away without saying hello to me did you?" Kirin asked Ganondorf.
"No sir," Ganondorf said.
"Sir? What happened to 'old man Kirin?'" Kirin asked. Ganondorf looked a little puzzled for a second, then he figured it out.
He looked down at Reinhardt and said, "I don't know what you said exactly, but I know you said something." Reinhardt tried to look as innocent as possible, but it didn't fool Ganondorf. Ryoko started to giggle under her breath, and Kevin's spirit started to rise.
"Sorry," was all Reinhardt could think of saying. He tried to change the subject by showing Kevin his slingshot.
"So what? You don't have any bullets, so what's the big deal?" Kevin said.
"Actually Ganondorf gave me some seeds to use," Reinhardt said while holding up the pouch. He immediately realized his mistake and cupped his hands over his mouth. Sherry looked at Ganondorf with a mix of anger and astonishment.
"How many times do you plan on getting me in trouble today?" Ganondorf asked in an exasperated tone.
"Sorry again," Reinhardt apologized.
"Come on," Kevin's dad said. "I'll set up some targets for you to practice with."
He started to lead Reinhardt and Kevin to the back of his house when Zelda walked over. "May I join you Kevin?" she asked.
Kevin held his breath for a few seconds and, reluctantly, said, "Okay, sure."
Kevin went to get some cans and bottles for targets when he heard Ryoko and Ganondorf talking. They were away from everyone and Kevin had to hide so that they wouldn't find him eavesdropping. "Why do we have to do it?" he heard Ryoko ask.
"Because they could get to strong. They might already be."
"But why everyone?"
"I don't want any witnesses. We'll do it tonight. I know where my father has the Psyroid battle cruiser. That spacecraft has enough power for the job. Now are you with me or against?"
".With."
"Good," Ganondorf said. Then he added in a threatening tone, "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Kevin where are you?" Reinhardt yelled. Kevin forgot about what he heard and ran off to join Reinhardt.
Later that night, Reinhardt and Dana slept over Kevin and Rachel's house. Reinhardt and Kevin got up to use the slingshot again. Kevin never mentioned what Ganondorf said.
Reinhardt let out a huge yawn. "What do you say we pack it up for tonight?"
"Okay sure," Kevin said. They tied up the pouch of seeds and went back to bed.
"Hmm, what?" Reinhardt awoke and tried to open his eyes but the sleep was holding them shut. He realized he was being carried and heard the tune of a lullaby being hummed by whomever it was that was carrying him.
He was nearly asleep again when he heard the vacuum of a hylian space pod as it opened. His carrier sat him down in it and typed in the coordinates for the Psyroid planet. He tried to wipe his eyes clean of sleep but by the time he did he was taking off into space and his carrier was gone. Once he got out of his trance he was already in space watching his home of Hyrule getting smaller and smaller.
Reinhardt started to panic. He tried the radio hoping to get someone else on the other end. For he had no idea how to use the pod. Surprisingly the one he spoke to was Kevin.
"Reinhardt is that you?" Kevin asked scared.
"Yeah, what's going on Kevin?"
"I don't know," he replied. "But I saw four other pods going into space besides ours."
"What's that?" Reinhardt asked almost wetting himself. He was looking at a giant spaceship that was bigger than Hyrule Castle Town with a clear dome in the center.
All Kevin could say was, "I don't know." Then a giant flash of energy appeared at the front of the spaceship. The energy turned into a green beam of energy that fired at Hyrule.
The next thing Reinhardt saw burned a wound into his soul for the rest of his life. The beam hit the planet for a few seconds. Then what happened could only be explained as a gigantic explosion that vibrated throughout the entire galaxy. Once the flash was gone the only thing that remained were bits and pieces of what was the most peaceful planet Reinhardt ever saw.
"NOOOOOO!" Kevin yelled from his space pod.
Reinhardt could only cry at the sight of this tragedy. He brought up a visual screen of the bridge of the gigantic spacecraft that destroyed his home. There he saw his enemy. The enemy that he knew he would have to destroy. The enemy that struck fear into his heart, mind, and soul. There he saw.Ganondorf.
He wasn't alone either. Ryoko was with him, and two others that he didn't recognize. At that moment the innocent little boy that was Reinhardt vanished. His eyes turned black with rage. A black energy surrounded him inside his cramped space pod.
"YAHHHHH!" Reinhardt yelled.
"Ganondorf!" one of the other people on the Psyroid spaceship cried. "Six space pods escaped from Hyrule before the blast."
"What!" he yelled in rage.
"They're heading for different planets."
"Which ones?!" he asked still severely angry.
"I don't know."
"Bring up a visual of the closest one," he ordered. Once the screen came up he gasped in surprise, for he saw Reinhardt with glowing black eyes and a strange energy radiating from his body.
"Ganondorf!" Reinhardt yelled. His entire body started to glow sackcloth black. A small explosion lit up in his cockpit from the energy he was emitting. The visual screen went blank.
The last thing Reinhardt heard before loosing consciousness was Kevin screaming his name, "Reinhardt! Reinhardt!"
The explosion caused Reinhardt's space pod to loose its navigational abilities. Slowly he started to drift toward another planet. Not the Psyroid planet as was intended, but a more dangerous one. One that would turn Reinhardt's life into a nightmare.
Birthday of Death
"Hey Kevin, can you believe we both got knighted at the same time?" Reinhardt and Kevin were being escorted home. The sounds of their pony's hooves on the cobblestones were almost drowned out by the noise of over 100 people coming from down the path.
"Yeah I know," Kevin replied. "Though I can't believe we both got knighted so young."
"What do you mean? We were supposed to right?"
"Of course we were," Kevin reassured him. "It's just that most people don't get knighted until their older."
"Does that mean we're special?" Reinhardt asked.
"I guess. What's all that noise?" Kevin wondered.
"It's probably a welcome home party or something," Reinhardt said.
"Yeah, either that or it's for your birthday," Kevin added. "Maybe it's both."
"I wonder if Ganondorf's girlfriend is going to b their." Reinhardt said.
"You mean Ryoko? She's cool and all, but there's something about her that I don't like." Kevin said. "I just hope Mom, Dad, and Rachel aren't going to do anything embarrassing." (Rachel being Kevin's little sister. She was born a few days before Dana.)
"They won't," Reinhardt said. "I wonder what Ganondorf will think."
"He's probably going to be jealous that a couple of kids broke his record," Kevin said.
"You know you two, the royal family is even going to be there, and I've heard Zelda is about your age Kevin," Kirin said. Kevin's face was as red as the morning sun for about five minutes.
"Hey Kirin?" Reinhardt asked. "Why does Ganondorf always call you an old man? You don't look that old to me."
Kirin turned around and said a little shocked, "he calls me what?" Kirin is a well-known knight, and was very skilled in combat. Not many people disrespect him like that.
"In the letters he sent he always wrote, 'so what did old man Kirin have you do today?'" Reinhardt informed him.
Kirin chuckled and said, "well we'll see what happens at this party. By the way, lets keep this between the three of us okay?" He gave them a little wink and turned back forward.
"Four sir," Naja said all of a sudden.
"Four? Four what?" Kirin asked.
"I'll keep that between the four of us sir," she explained.
"Five," Tai said. Kevin and Reinhardt couldn't help but laugh. About ten minutes later, they arrived in town. Indeed there was a giant celebration going on. Every member of the Schneider family was there. And, as was promised, the royal family was there greeting and congratulating everyone. Once they were seen coming in, everyone started to yell and cheer. Reinhardt let go of his pony's reins to wave with both hands, but wound up falling off. Everyone let out a gasp but quickly calmed down when they heard him laughing.
Kevin dismounted and helped Reinhardt up. "Nice entrance klutz," he said.
"Congratulations little man." Reinhardt spun around and saw Ganondorf and Ryoko standing there in front of him. Realizing it was Ryoko that said it, he thanked her. Ganondorf picked him up and put him on his shoulders.
"Happy birthday runt," he said to him. "And congratulations to you too couz," he said to Kevin. Sherry and Carrie, both unknowingly pregnant again, (too early in pregnancy to be able to tell) ran up to them and gave them both hugs and kissed them on the cheeks.
"You said they weren't going to do anything embarrassing," Kevin accused Reinhardt.
"Your not the only one all right," Reinhardt said, equally red as Kevin.
"Settle down everyone, settle down," the king said loudly so that all could hear. Everyone's attention was switched to the royal family, specifically the king. Kevin's and Zelda's gaze met and Zelda smiled. Kevin could feel his face grow even hotter than before. "We're here today to celebrate the knighting of Hyrule's two youngest knights," King Ryrau continued. "Five- year-old Kevin, and three-year-old Reinhardt. Whom, you may have noticed, is also celebrating his third birthday today." Everyone started to cheer but was quickly quieted down so that the king could continue his speech. "These two youngsters are both part of the Schneider family, a family whose members were, and are, known as some of the most skillful and youngest knights in Hyrule's history. These two are continuing this tradition. Now everyone, eat, drink, and above all else, have a good time." Everyone started to cheer again. "Kevin, come here please." King Ryrau said aside. Kevin walked away with his parents, his sister, the king, and princess Zelda.
"Happy birthday son," Shiga said as he handed a present to Reinhardt. He opened it quickly to find a leather wallet. Inside was one green jewel that was used for currency on Hyrule.
"Thanks dad," he said.
"It's from me and your mother," Shiga said
"And that's from me," Dana said pointing to the crystal. "I saved that up for you." Reinhardt thanked her and gave her a hug.
"I'll give this to you but only if you don't do anything stupid with it like you did your boomerang," Ryoko said.
"Okay," Reinhardt promised. Ryoko gave him the package. Reinhardt ripped it open and received a slingshot. His eyes lit up with joy. "Thank you Ryoko," he said. She bent down and gave him a kiss on the forehead.
"I'm confident you won't do anything with it as of yet. Without having any bullets and all," Sherry said strictly.
"Well." Ganondorf started.
"Well what?" Dana asked. Ganondorf pulled a leather pouch out from behind his back and gave it to Reinhardt.
"What's this?" Reinhardt asked.
"It has seeds in it that you can use as bullets," Ganondorf whispered.
"Thanks," he whispered back. Just then Kevin came over with Kirin. Kevin kind of looked embarrassed and depressed at the same time. "What's the matter Kevin?" Reinhardt asked curiously.
"My life is over," he replied. Reinhardt looked puzzled at him for a few minutes but his attention was directed to Ganondorf and Kirin.
"You didn't think you would get away without saying hello to me did you?" Kirin asked Ganondorf.
"No sir," Ganondorf said.
"Sir? What happened to 'old man Kirin?'" Kirin asked. Ganondorf looked a little puzzled for a second, then he figured it out.
He looked down at Reinhardt and said, "I don't know what you said exactly, but I know you said something." Reinhardt tried to look as innocent as possible, but it didn't fool Ganondorf. Ryoko started to giggle under her breath, and Kevin's spirit started to rise.
"Sorry," was all Reinhardt could think of saying. He tried to change the subject by showing Kevin his slingshot.
"So what? You don't have any bullets, so what's the big deal?" Kevin said.
"Actually Ganondorf gave me some seeds to use," Reinhardt said while holding up the pouch. He immediately realized his mistake and cupped his hands over his mouth. Sherry looked at Ganondorf with a mix of anger and astonishment.
"How many times do you plan on getting me in trouble today?" Ganondorf asked in an exasperated tone.
"Sorry again," Reinhardt apologized.
"Come on," Kevin's dad said. "I'll set up some targets for you to practice with."
He started to lead Reinhardt and Kevin to the back of his house when Zelda walked over. "May I join you Kevin?" she asked.
Kevin held his breath for a few seconds and, reluctantly, said, "Okay, sure."
Kevin went to get some cans and bottles for targets when he heard Ryoko and Ganondorf talking. They were away from everyone and Kevin had to hide so that they wouldn't find him eavesdropping. "Why do we have to do it?" he heard Ryoko ask.
"Because they could get to strong. They might already be."
"But why everyone?"
"I don't want any witnesses. We'll do it tonight. I know where my father has the Psyroid battle cruiser. That spacecraft has enough power for the job. Now are you with me or against?"
".With."
"Good," Ganondorf said. Then he added in a threatening tone, "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"Kevin where are you?" Reinhardt yelled. Kevin forgot about what he heard and ran off to join Reinhardt.
Later that night, Reinhardt and Dana slept over Kevin and Rachel's house. Reinhardt and Kevin got up to use the slingshot again. Kevin never mentioned what Ganondorf said.
Reinhardt let out a huge yawn. "What do you say we pack it up for tonight?"
"Okay sure," Kevin said. They tied up the pouch of seeds and went back to bed.
"Hmm, what?" Reinhardt awoke and tried to open his eyes but the sleep was holding them shut. He realized he was being carried and heard the tune of a lullaby being hummed by whomever it was that was carrying him.
He was nearly asleep again when he heard the vacuum of a hylian space pod as it opened. His carrier sat him down in it and typed in the coordinates for the Psyroid planet. He tried to wipe his eyes clean of sleep but by the time he did he was taking off into space and his carrier was gone. Once he got out of his trance he was already in space watching his home of Hyrule getting smaller and smaller.
Reinhardt started to panic. He tried the radio hoping to get someone else on the other end. For he had no idea how to use the pod. Surprisingly the one he spoke to was Kevin.
"Reinhardt is that you?" Kevin asked scared.
"Yeah, what's going on Kevin?"
"I don't know," he replied. "But I saw four other pods going into space besides ours."
"What's that?" Reinhardt asked almost wetting himself. He was looking at a giant spaceship that was bigger than Hyrule Castle Town with a clear dome in the center.
All Kevin could say was, "I don't know." Then a giant flash of energy appeared at the front of the spaceship. The energy turned into a green beam of energy that fired at Hyrule.
The next thing Reinhardt saw burned a wound into his soul for the rest of his life. The beam hit the planet for a few seconds. Then what happened could only be explained as a gigantic explosion that vibrated throughout the entire galaxy. Once the flash was gone the only thing that remained were bits and pieces of what was the most peaceful planet Reinhardt ever saw.
"NOOOOOO!" Kevin yelled from his space pod.
Reinhardt could only cry at the sight of this tragedy. He brought up a visual screen of the bridge of the gigantic spacecraft that destroyed his home. There he saw his enemy. The enemy that he knew he would have to destroy. The enemy that struck fear into his heart, mind, and soul. There he saw.Ganondorf.
He wasn't alone either. Ryoko was with him, and two others that he didn't recognize. At that moment the innocent little boy that was Reinhardt vanished. His eyes turned black with rage. A black energy surrounded him inside his cramped space pod.
"YAHHHHH!" Reinhardt yelled.
"Ganondorf!" one of the other people on the Psyroid spaceship cried. "Six space pods escaped from Hyrule before the blast."
"What!" he yelled in rage.
"They're heading for different planets."
"Which ones?!" he asked still severely angry.
"I don't know."
"Bring up a visual of the closest one," he ordered. Once the screen came up he gasped in surprise, for he saw Reinhardt with glowing black eyes and a strange energy radiating from his body.
"Ganondorf!" Reinhardt yelled. His entire body started to glow sackcloth black. A small explosion lit up in his cockpit from the energy he was emitting. The visual screen went blank.
The last thing Reinhardt heard before loosing consciousness was Kevin screaming his name, "Reinhardt! Reinhardt!"
The explosion caused Reinhardt's space pod to loose its navigational abilities. Slowly he started to drift toward another planet. Not the Psyroid planet as was intended, but a more dangerous one. One that would turn Reinhardt's life into a nightmare.