Chapter One: Transfer of Courage
"This tournament is unlike the one from last year. Instead of fighting your way through a tournament bracket, you'll have to travel to different islands and face the island gym leaders and challenge them to a duel. If you win, you receive a pack of rare cards and a medal as proof of your victory," Patrick began.
"How many medals do we need?" Saria asked.
"You'll need six medals to advance to the finals. When you get six, you'll need to place them in your monster slots and field card slot. When you've placed them all, the secret location of the finals will be revealed," Patrick replied.
"Is there any specific deck requirements?" Teran asked.
"Yes, the tournament deck you use has to be exactly forty cards and not a card more. You're free to switch the cards in your deck between duels, but the deck must always be forty cards. Also, some cards are so rare and powerful, that those cards are limited, meaning you may have only one or two of each in your deck. Any other card you may have three of," Patrick answered.
"You'll also have to have a rare card in your deck in order to challenge a gym leader. You bet a rare card on each duel, both you and your opponent. Whoever wins the duel gets the other's card. But if you have no rare cards, you're out of the tournament," Patrick continued.
"Can we wager our won medals in duels?" Saria asked.
"No, that is forbidden and you'll be out taken out of the tournament if you're caught doing so. You may also not wager money, and if I heard you doing of such, I'll skin you alive," Patrick answered icily.
"One thing to remember is that there is more than six gyms. There's at least twenty located throughout the Great Sea and one of them is right her on Outset. Each gym has special rules that you'll have to endure, which make the tournament that much more exciting," Patrick said, his eyes twinkling. Becky could see the cards in her daughter's head.
"Now don't get over your head Saria, because we won't be able to help you much during the tournament. Is that understood?" Becky reprimanded. Saria nodded. Becky noticed Teran was feeling left out.
"As for you Teran, if your mom will let you, I would love it if you would accompany Saria on this little quest," Becky added. Teran nodded.
"I'll talk to my mom, but there shouldn't be too much trouble in me getting permission to go along," Teran replied.
"Speaking of quest, Saria and I have an engagement. We're going to have to leave now if we're to get there by nightfall," Patrick said. Saria then remembered what her father had meant.
"Can I come along?" Teran asked.
"I'm sorry Teran. This is family business, but we'll be back in three days," Patrick replied solemnly. Teran sighed and then picked up his deck cards and shoved them into his backpack. He walked with Saria to the door and pulled on his shoes.
"I'm sorry you can't come with me and my dad, but when we get back, we'll build a second place deck," Saria reassured him.
"Why a second place deck?" Teran asked.
"Because I'm building the first place, tournament winning deck dummy!" Saria smirked. Teran gave one of his own.
"Watch it Floyd! I may just come up with a strategy and stomp you flat in the tournament!" Teran snapped back.
"We'll see..." Saria said in a mysterious voice. Saria then opened the door and they burst out laughing. The rain had died down to a mere drizzle.
"See you later Saria," Teran said.
"Later," Saria replied. Saria shut the door and picked up her backpack and new presents and rushed to her upstairs bedroom. She liked her room: It had a bed, computer desk with a computer and a side table for her Duel Monster cards. Her room was littered with posters of dueling champions and heroes. She hung her pack on her coat hook and put her presents on her desk. She then pulled out a pack from underneath her bed. She shouldered it and rushed down to meet her father who was waiting at the front door.
"You ready Saria?" Patrick asked. Saria nodded. Saria slipped on some hiking shoes and father and daughter left the house. They marched up the mountain and across a bridge to the Forest of Fairies. The opening inside was blocked by a steel door, which Patrick opened. Saria and Patrick slipped inside and Saria watched as he shut it again. Saria looked in awe at the Forest of Fairies. She enjoyed nature and she rarely had the opportunity to witness it in its still ancient state.
"Come on Saria. We'll camp here for a few days, then head to the shrine," Patrick said. Saria nodded and they set up camp for the long wait.
THREE DAYS LATER...
"It's just up ahead," Patrick said. Saria followed her father as he climbed up a small rock face. As she reached the top of it, she saw a small shrine. It was composed of bricks made into a circle and there were six seals marked on the brick each for a different element: Light, Forest, Fire, Water, Shadow, and Spirit. In the center of the shrine was a small platform with the Triforce marked on it. The Floyds marched down the hill to the platform.
"This is where you'll change clothes," Patrick said. Saria nodded nervously. She had prepared for this moment since her birth: Her acknowledgement into her family line. She watched as her father walked up to the platform. Saria then pulled a new outfit out of her backpack and went behind a tree to change. She pulled off her clothes and pulled on a beautiful lavender dress with golden accenting and a bodice with a blue background. On it was the Triforce and the phoenix, the national bird of Hyrule. She then pulled on a pair of matching slippers. She then applied makeup to her face as her mother had instructed three days before.
"You ready?" Patrick called.
"Yes," Saria replied. Saria stepped from behind the tree and saw that the seals on the brick were beginning to glow the colors of the rainbow. Saria took this as her cue to begin the ceremony. She slowly walked up to the platform and stepped on it, where her father awaited, dressed up in blue jeans, blue shirt, boots, and gauntlets. He bore on his back the family's Magic Shield and the Gilded Sword, both polished to perfection. Saria bowed to her father and he did in return. The seals then glowed even more and Saria watched as people emerged from the seals.
"The Sages of Hyrule," She murmured. They gathered around behind her and Saria then knew what to do next. She held her arms up and felt the Sages tapping their energies. She got down on her knees and laid her hands flat along the ground in a prayer pose. She heard her father step forward towards her. He heard him drawing his sword and placing the blade on the back of her head. He heard him speaking to the gods in the ancient tongue and then felt him lift his blade away.
"Arise young one of the gods," Patrick said. Saria lifted her head, but remained on her knees.
"Who are you child?" Patrick asked. Saria gave him a look of determination as she stood up.
"I am Saria Lynn Floyd, daughter of Hero of Time, Patrick Gordon Floyd and Rebecca Floyd. And I'm next in line to receive the power of the goddess Farore, the goddess of courage," Saria answered. It was then she felt her right hand burn. She looked at it and smiled as a mark appeared on her hand. It was three triangles standing point to point with each forming a bigger triangle. The lower right-hand triangle was giving off a golden light.
"The Triforce of Courage's power has been transferred successfully. This is an honor not taken lightly Saria. You must remember to use the power wisely," Patrick reminded her. Saria nodded and father and daughter hugged.
"I'm proud to say you're my daughter, Saria. You're everything I could hope for and much more," Patrick said, still embracing her.
"And I'm proud to say you're my father. And I can't wait to make you proud," Saria replied. Saria stopped the embrace but Patrick still held her shoulders at arm's length.
"You already have," Patrick stated, "Now, lets get you ready for your first quest. Next stop, home."
"This tournament is unlike the one from last year. Instead of fighting your way through a tournament bracket, you'll have to travel to different islands and face the island gym leaders and challenge them to a duel. If you win, you receive a pack of rare cards and a medal as proof of your victory," Patrick began.
"How many medals do we need?" Saria asked.
"You'll need six medals to advance to the finals. When you get six, you'll need to place them in your monster slots and field card slot. When you've placed them all, the secret location of the finals will be revealed," Patrick replied.
"Is there any specific deck requirements?" Teran asked.
"Yes, the tournament deck you use has to be exactly forty cards and not a card more. You're free to switch the cards in your deck between duels, but the deck must always be forty cards. Also, some cards are so rare and powerful, that those cards are limited, meaning you may have only one or two of each in your deck. Any other card you may have three of," Patrick answered.
"You'll also have to have a rare card in your deck in order to challenge a gym leader. You bet a rare card on each duel, both you and your opponent. Whoever wins the duel gets the other's card. But if you have no rare cards, you're out of the tournament," Patrick continued.
"Can we wager our won medals in duels?" Saria asked.
"No, that is forbidden and you'll be out taken out of the tournament if you're caught doing so. You may also not wager money, and if I heard you doing of such, I'll skin you alive," Patrick answered icily.
"One thing to remember is that there is more than six gyms. There's at least twenty located throughout the Great Sea and one of them is right her on Outset. Each gym has special rules that you'll have to endure, which make the tournament that much more exciting," Patrick said, his eyes twinkling. Becky could see the cards in her daughter's head.
"Now don't get over your head Saria, because we won't be able to help you much during the tournament. Is that understood?" Becky reprimanded. Saria nodded. Becky noticed Teran was feeling left out.
"As for you Teran, if your mom will let you, I would love it if you would accompany Saria on this little quest," Becky added. Teran nodded.
"I'll talk to my mom, but there shouldn't be too much trouble in me getting permission to go along," Teran replied.
"Speaking of quest, Saria and I have an engagement. We're going to have to leave now if we're to get there by nightfall," Patrick said. Saria then remembered what her father had meant.
"Can I come along?" Teran asked.
"I'm sorry Teran. This is family business, but we'll be back in three days," Patrick replied solemnly. Teran sighed and then picked up his deck cards and shoved them into his backpack. He walked with Saria to the door and pulled on his shoes.
"I'm sorry you can't come with me and my dad, but when we get back, we'll build a second place deck," Saria reassured him.
"Why a second place deck?" Teran asked.
"Because I'm building the first place, tournament winning deck dummy!" Saria smirked. Teran gave one of his own.
"Watch it Floyd! I may just come up with a strategy and stomp you flat in the tournament!" Teran snapped back.
"We'll see..." Saria said in a mysterious voice. Saria then opened the door and they burst out laughing. The rain had died down to a mere drizzle.
"See you later Saria," Teran said.
"Later," Saria replied. Saria shut the door and picked up her backpack and new presents and rushed to her upstairs bedroom. She liked her room: It had a bed, computer desk with a computer and a side table for her Duel Monster cards. Her room was littered with posters of dueling champions and heroes. She hung her pack on her coat hook and put her presents on her desk. She then pulled out a pack from underneath her bed. She shouldered it and rushed down to meet her father who was waiting at the front door.
"You ready Saria?" Patrick asked. Saria nodded. Saria slipped on some hiking shoes and father and daughter left the house. They marched up the mountain and across a bridge to the Forest of Fairies. The opening inside was blocked by a steel door, which Patrick opened. Saria and Patrick slipped inside and Saria watched as he shut it again. Saria looked in awe at the Forest of Fairies. She enjoyed nature and she rarely had the opportunity to witness it in its still ancient state.
"Come on Saria. We'll camp here for a few days, then head to the shrine," Patrick said. Saria nodded and they set up camp for the long wait.
THREE DAYS LATER...
"It's just up ahead," Patrick said. Saria followed her father as he climbed up a small rock face. As she reached the top of it, she saw a small shrine. It was composed of bricks made into a circle and there were six seals marked on the brick each for a different element: Light, Forest, Fire, Water, Shadow, and Spirit. In the center of the shrine was a small platform with the Triforce marked on it. The Floyds marched down the hill to the platform.
"This is where you'll change clothes," Patrick said. Saria nodded nervously. She had prepared for this moment since her birth: Her acknowledgement into her family line. She watched as her father walked up to the platform. Saria then pulled a new outfit out of her backpack and went behind a tree to change. She pulled off her clothes and pulled on a beautiful lavender dress with golden accenting and a bodice with a blue background. On it was the Triforce and the phoenix, the national bird of Hyrule. She then pulled on a pair of matching slippers. She then applied makeup to her face as her mother had instructed three days before.
"You ready?" Patrick called.
"Yes," Saria replied. Saria stepped from behind the tree and saw that the seals on the brick were beginning to glow the colors of the rainbow. Saria took this as her cue to begin the ceremony. She slowly walked up to the platform and stepped on it, where her father awaited, dressed up in blue jeans, blue shirt, boots, and gauntlets. He bore on his back the family's Magic Shield and the Gilded Sword, both polished to perfection. Saria bowed to her father and he did in return. The seals then glowed even more and Saria watched as people emerged from the seals.
"The Sages of Hyrule," She murmured. They gathered around behind her and Saria then knew what to do next. She held her arms up and felt the Sages tapping their energies. She got down on her knees and laid her hands flat along the ground in a prayer pose. She heard her father step forward towards her. He heard him drawing his sword and placing the blade on the back of her head. He heard him speaking to the gods in the ancient tongue and then felt him lift his blade away.
"Arise young one of the gods," Patrick said. Saria lifted her head, but remained on her knees.
"Who are you child?" Patrick asked. Saria gave him a look of determination as she stood up.
"I am Saria Lynn Floyd, daughter of Hero of Time, Patrick Gordon Floyd and Rebecca Floyd. And I'm next in line to receive the power of the goddess Farore, the goddess of courage," Saria answered. It was then she felt her right hand burn. She looked at it and smiled as a mark appeared on her hand. It was three triangles standing point to point with each forming a bigger triangle. The lower right-hand triangle was giving off a golden light.
"The Triforce of Courage's power has been transferred successfully. This is an honor not taken lightly Saria. You must remember to use the power wisely," Patrick reminded her. Saria nodded and father and daughter hugged.
"I'm proud to say you're my daughter, Saria. You're everything I could hope for and much more," Patrick said, still embracing her.
"And I'm proud to say you're my father. And I can't wait to make you proud," Saria replied. Saria stopped the embrace but Patrick still held her shoulders at arm's length.
"You already have," Patrick stated, "Now, lets get you ready for your first quest. Next stop, home."