(I saw this intro in other stories, so I'm going to try it)
Disclaimer: I don't own any Zelda games (if I did, I'd be rich and wouldn't need to bother with this site).
Malon: Welcome to the third chapter!
zeldaiskool: Yeah, thanks for being here. I hope you enjoy.
Zelda: Hey, when are you going back to my story?
zeldaiskool: Zelda, you were in the last chappy! You're in the next one. Malon's not complaining about not being in the story, are you Mal?
Malon: Well, actually...
zeldaiskool: Oh, Mal! I thought you were the patient one! Let's just start the story...
Link had only ridden a small distance from the castle walls when he stopped. 'Where do I go now?' His mindset had been that he would go romance Zelda, eventually ask her to marry him and she would joyously accept. Never had he thought what would happen if Zelda could not be his wife and he her husband. His only love could not be with him and he had no where to go. What a predicament for the Hero of Time.
Quickly as the 'where to?' had arisen, an answer came: return to Kokiri Forest. 'Home?' He hadn't been home in years. Plus, the Kokiri had shunned him the last time that he had tried to go home as the not-quite Hero of Time. Although, one person had not shunned him: Saria. His childhood friend might even be hoping for his return, especially since she had come back from her place in the Forest Temple. Link finally made up his mind-he was going home, at least for a while. A full moon shone in the sky above him.
As he was ridding Epona across Hyrule Field, he spotted a figure making its way toward him. The figure was cloaked and it was difficult to tell whether the figure was male or female. Link slowed Epona down to a trot and approached the figure. He could now clearly tell that the person was a woman, a young one at that.
"Hello, there young lady. May I be of service to you?" Link had spoken with many young women along his journeys and treated them all with respect.
The girl was amazed at Link's good looks and immediately lost her strong will. "Uhh…sort of. I hail from another land and have been wandering through this one for a day or so. Perhaps you come from around here?" She had dropped her eyes, but then raised them at her question.
"Yes, actually I do. What do you want to know about Hyrule?" Link was now curious about the girl.
"I was wondering if there was a place to spend the night around here. My legs are tired and my soul is weary."
Link almost laughed. "Of course I know where you can stay. But first would you give me your name?"
"Oh, yes," she was a bit embarrassed for having forgotten that part of her introduction. Had she been away from home for so long? "My name is Kerakio Vessa Anni di Lusour. I hail from a land far to the east, named Latisi. Pleased to meet you." She curtsied, then removed her hood, revealing teal hair that hung past her shoulders, and eyes that shone like sapphires.
'Wow,' Link thought to himself. 'This girl has the name and looks to belong to royalty. What is she doing out here all by herself?' He then dismounted Epona and bowed to Kerakio. "My lady," he said rising.
Kerakio was now really embarrassed. "Sir, I don't deserve to have your honor of bowing to me. Yet, I don't know your name," she stated clearly.
"Gosh, I was a bit wrong to ask your name and not give my own. I'm Link. Just Link, and I'm a knight of Hyrule." Link bowed again. "Now, perhaps I can take you to where you can stay for the night?" He held out his hand for Kerakio to take, then expected to help her onto Epona. Instead, Kerakio stepped into his hand and mounted Epona all on her own.
"Oh dear, father would punish me for that one. But…where did you get this horse? It's amazing!" Link recovered from his shock, then also mounted Epona in front of Kerakio. "Her name is Epona and she came from that ranch right up there." He pointed to Lon Lon and Kerakio followed his finger.
"Hmm. Interesting. Such a large ranch."
"The largest in Hyrule," Link said as he 'hiya'-ed Epona. She reared and took off toward the entrance of Kokiri Forest. Kerakio instantly grabbed Link's waist.
Once they reached the entrance, Link halted Epona and climbed down, offering his hand. This time, Kerakio took Link's hand and gracefully climbed down.
"Now, the Kokiri aren't very accepting of strangers, so don't be surprised. Although, my friend Saria probably will accept you, which is who I'm taking you to." Link automatically grabbed Kerakio's hand and lead the way to Saria's house.
When they reached her house, Link let go of Kerakio's hand and knocked on the door. "Saria!" he called. "Saria! Are you awake?" Slowly, the door opened and a disheveled looking Saria appeared.
"Now I am," she said, rubbing her eyes. "What do you--" Saria stopped when she realized who it was. "Link! Link! Where have you been? Oh, I missed you!" She immediately latched onto his waist.
Link was a bit surprised himself when Saria had taken hold of his waist. He recovered though, and said, "Saria, here is someone I'd like you to meet." He pulled her off and turned her around. "Saria, this is Kerakio; Kerakio, this is Saria." Kerakio stepped into the house, automatically curtsied and introduced herself.
"Saria, I am Kerakio Vessa Anni di Lusour. Pleased to meet you." Now it was Saria's turn to be shocked.
"Uhh…yes. Nice to meet you, too." She quickly turned back to Link. "Who is this?" she hissed. "A new girlfriend? Whatever happened to Zelda?"
"Saria, I've barely met the girl! She has been wandering in Hyrule for a few days and needs a place to stay. Surely she can stay with you?" Link gave her his best puppy-dog look and hoped it would work. Saria couldn't resist the face.
"Okay," she smiled. "Miss Kerakio can stay."
"Great! Now, I need some shut-eye, so I'll see you two girls in the morning!" With that, he turned and left.
Looking at Kerakio, Saria uttered, "Men." She quickly went to her cabinet and grabbed a few blankets to begin making a bed on the floor for herself. "So…your name sounds like you are important somewhere. Where are you from, and who are you there? Oh, you can sit on the bed if you want."
Kerakio was a bit surprised that a child was able to gather so much information about her while meeting her not three minutes ago. Yet, she obeyed her and sat.
Catching the stare Kerakio gave her, she said, "No, I'm not a child. I am much older than I look. Only a Kokiri's body remains childish, but our minds continue to grow. But don't worry, I get those kind of looks all the time."
"I'm sorry, Saria. I knew nothing about the Kokiri until you told me. Now, to answer your questions; I am from Kazran, a land far to the east. And you were correct in guessing that I come from an affluent family, because I am actually the crown princess there. The only reason I have come to Hyrule, is that I must search for a husband. Do you know if Hyrule has a prince?" Kerakio felt that she could trust Saria because of Saria's trust she displayed in Link.
Having made the bed on the floor, Saria went in search of her largest nightgown. While she was doing that she answered Kerakio, "Oh no, Hyrule has no prince. Only a spoiled princess whom we all love dearly, especially Link. But he's been away for a while." Saria chuckled. "Link is as good as a prince to Hyrule. Maybe you can marry him."
Kerakio blushed at the thought. "If he loves your princess, then there is no chance for me."
Finding a nightgown that she thought would fit Kerakio, she turned and looked at her. "I don't know, Princess. Link has been away for a while. He might have changed his mind about Zelda." She tossed the gown to Kerakio, who narrowly caught it.
"Zelda? That must be your princesses name. Oh, and don't bother calling me Princess. I'm used to being around my brothers and sisters too much. They all call me Kera."
"You have siblings? We Kokiri treat each other as such. How many do you have?"
Kera was looking at the gown and quickly looked at Saria. "I have five in all. Two sisters; one my twin; and three brothers. In chronological order their names are Zedaya, Xenadia, Dacein, Perin, and Timesa."
Seeing that Kera might want to change, she turned and said, "You can change if you want." She looked through her drawers to find her favorite nightie and changed herself.
When Saria was done, she saw that Kera was struggling to get her gown over her head and ran over to help. "I guess you're used to having servants help you, huh?"
"Not really. We children are really," she paused to gulp a breath as her head came out. "self-sufficient. Servants only help us once we reach the age of 15. I've only had help since then because I'm 16 now. It's kind of an unwritten rule in our kingdom. Probably because we aren't recognized as nobility until that age. I was having a little trouble now because your gown is a bit small." Kera was right; the gown clung to her body.
"I'm sorry! That's my largest one, though, so it will have to do."
"Oh, it will work. Thank you."
"It's the Kokiri way. We are to be hospitable to all people." Saria thought she was talking about allowing Kera to spent the night.
"No, not that. Thank you for treating me as an equal. As a child, only my siblings respected me. Now I get too much. You just took me in as a friend and treated me as such. Thank you."
Saria was a bit surprised to hear that from a princess. "Of course. You're welcome." She started to get down into the bed she had made on the floor. "Now, are you ready for bed?"
"Yes, thank you." She crawled into Saria's bed and pulled the covers over herself. "Good night, Saria. Thank you again for tonight."
"I'm glad to have talked to you, as well. Sweet dreams, Princess."
Each girl didn't fall immediately asleep, but was lost in her own thoughts. Each was tired though and soon they both fell soundly asleep.
Malon: So, did ya like it?
zeldaiskool: I hope they did. I also hope they review...I like reviews!
Zelda: I'm next! I'm next!
zeldaiskool: Yes, Zelda. You're next, and you get to plan for your ball. Exciting, no?
Zelda: Yay! Take that farm girl!
zeldaiskool: Maybe I'll put her in the next chappy just to spite you! Oh, well. Review, people, review!
