Chapter 8Outside
"I can't believe Link did that to me!" Zirain growled to no one in particular. Zirain had woken up to Derano and Horaku shouting at him. Ashamed that a child and a youth were going to help save their city, the warriors from both races gathered up their weapons and were nearby. Cera was nearby too and explained that Link went on alone to deal with the rattacks.
"He didn't want to see you hurt. Besides, you would have just got in his way. Link is a very adept fighter and is used to doing these types of things on his own." Cera said apologizing to Zirain. "He left me behind for the same reason. Link and Navi have done these types of things before remember?" Zirain turned toward the fairy so fast that Cera yelped and flew backwards.
"Link has always done things on his own and alone! He has to realize that I can handle myself and that there are sometimes that you have to rely on your friends! He-is-not-alone-anymore." Zirain hissed the last part out that it startled even Derano, his old mentor.
"Calm down! I thought you of all people wouldn't be upset by this. There are some times when people have to do things on their own." Derano said trying to get Zirain's temper down. "What do you mean anyway fairy? I know that lad is no ordinary magician but done these types of things before?" Zirain and Horaku glanced at the other. The Zora shook his head at the old dodger.
"I really can't believe that you haven't figured it out yet. You old windbag! That kid is no mere magician! He's the Hero of Time." As soon as the words were out of Horaku's mouth, a crowd had gathered.
"What!?!" asked a Zora soldier.
"Are you serious!?!" echoed a man in yellow garb.
"That kid!?!" barked another. Horaku suddenly decided that his headache would show back up and put his hand to the sides of his head.
"Yes, now would you all please calm down and-" A loud rumbling sound started interrupting Horaku. The rumbling accompanied a small earthquake that made all the occupants near the riverbed lose their balance. The whole group had just enough time to turn and gape in total astonishment as the mouth of the waterfall spewed out water like a canon. The entire jet stream of water landed in the sea, instantly cleansing the poisonous waters. Then, to everyone's shock, a loud yell was heard.
"LINK!"
"That's Navi!" Cera cried out. Then, a swirl of green accompanied the tremendous water flow into the Watercrest Sea. Navi flew out of the opening looking very panicked and fidgety.
"Link! Link!! Did anyone see where he went!?!" Navi screamed out Link's name a few more times. Horaku and Zirain were already diving in the sea when Dorano figured it out.
"He landed in the Sea! Everyone spread out and search for him!" Navi flew to the last place she had seen the water blast into and began to search. Armor was being thrown off while the Zoran warriors merely dived in. After a few minutes of searching underwater, a splash was heard, then a muffled choke and a cough.
"I don't want to do that again!" Link said in a Zora voice. All eyes watched as the odd Zora reached up to clasp his head and a flash of blue occurred. When they looked back, Link was there instead of the Zora!
"Link!" Navi and Cera flying quickly made their way to the young boy. Link let Navi perch on his hat that was above water as he made his way back to shore. Derano stared in the utmost surprise as Link made his way back.
"He's over there!" Derano shouted. All the Zora occupants in the water heard the shout with watery ears and rushed over to help Link. Link was halfway to the shoreline when he felt Horaku take a firm hold of Link and raced to the shore.
"I can swim on my own you know." Link said trying to get away from the Zora regent. Horaku didn't reply to Link and ignored the comment. Link was getting an earful from both Navi and Cera as they made their way back to the shore. Once there, Link was shivering from the shock of the cold water and everyone saw his lips turn blue. Zirain popped out of the water shortly after Link.
"If you ever-EVER do something that stupid again Link, I'll- I'll- I don't know what I'll do but be sure that you won't like it!" Yelled Zirain. A very soaked Link didn't respond and simply shivered in his presence. "What are you all staring at? Get him inside at once! Can't you see he's in shock!" Link felt warm hands grab him and carry him somewhere. Link didn't know where but didn't care. Link let himself lose consciousness and went into dreams.
Regent's room.
"That was risky what he did." Derano growled when he got the whole story. Zirain nodded with a furrowed brow. Link was passed out on the regent's own bed stripped of his cloths and warm. The regent himself sat beside the bed and stirred the fire. The had moved the bed from it's original position so Link could warm up faster.
"You have to admit, he did have a good reason. I for one am glad he did it." Horaku said causing the two on the stones before him to growl in anger.
"What do you mean!?! He could have been killed!" Zirain growled in anger. Link stirred and sneezed making the covers come off slightly. Horaku pulled the blankets closer to Link and gave Zirain a growl of his own.
"Keep your voice down cub. Link needs sleep. I imagine Link was at ground zero when the icy water took him along for the ride. I can understand that he left you outside; he was worried that you'd get hurt. I can understand that he defeated the rattacks with strange weapons but-" Zirain and Derano's gaze turned to Link when Horaku's did. "I don't understand what caused that cave in or how he was even able to remove the protection wall."
"I don't know either." Derano Gruffed. "Link is just a mere lad, why should our fates be left up to such a young pup? If I hadn't seen him change from a Zora to normal, I wouldn't have believed it myself. The Hero of Time is just a young kid that shouldn't even know how to hold a sword properly." Navi and Cera fluttered back into the room.
"From what Link told me, he's a very independent person. From what I can gather about the Kokiri, they are all children like him and they interact together like a village. " Zirain looked to the fairies that came back into the room. "Maybe we should get a second opinion on Link. Navi? Cera? Would you join us in our conversation?" Navi landed on Link's pillow and Cera took to Zirain's shoulder.
"Sure! What are we talking about?" Cera asked cheerful. Navi didn't answer the question but sat listening.
"We're talking about Link. Tell me, what is Kokiri Village like? Link never really goes into his life there and we find it interesting." Zirain asked carefully. Cera giggled.
"I can tell you about the Kokiri but not Link. That's something Navi could do though. The Kokiri are the immortal children of the forest given life by the forest itself. They never grow up, but they can never leave the forest either. We fairies are chosen by the Great Deku Tree-"
"Sprout." Navi interrupted Cera. "The Great Deku tree died remember? The Deku sprout has that honor now." Cera looked to Navi and nodded.
"Your right, I forgot! Anyway, each Kokiri is assigned a partner fairy so they can work together." Cera flutter to the stone before the hearth. "Link is a Kokiri hunter. Link scavenges the Lost Woods to look for certain herbs and plants and brings them back to the village. Kokiri aren't allowed to eat any sort of meat. Other than that, the only thing that comes to mind is that Link isn't a real Kokiri by blood." This surprised Horaku and Derano.
"You mean that Link is not a Kokiri? Then he is a Hylain? Of the fields perhaps?" Navi decided to join in on the conversation.
"No, Link is not a Hylain of the fields. If I remember correctly, Link told me that this was the place of his birth. His mother I suppose died trying to protect him from this war you started. The Deku sprout told us that a woman came bearing Link and begged the Deku Tree to protect him. The first time I heard that, the Deku sprout confused me." Navi said puzzled.
"What did he say?" Cera asked. Navi's glow brightened a bit.
"That he took Link in because he sensed that Link was a child of destiny. I just don't understand why he didn't just give Link to someone that lived on the edge of the forest. Link was just a baby after all." Navi sighed loudly and her fairy glow dimmed a bit.
"What else can you tell us about Link? Who were the Kokiri he interacted with? Was he happy in the village?" Derano asked. Navi's glow dimmed a bit more.
"I knew that from the first moment Mido opened his mouth that Link didn't like it there. Called him Mr. No-Fairy. Mido is the current leader of the Kokiri and from the short time I spent there with Link, I could tell he tried to make life miserable for Link."
"So he didn't have any friends?" Zirain asked quietly. Navi's fairy light brightened.
"Oh no, I didn't say that. Mido was sorry about it seven years in the future. Truth is, all the Kokiri liked Link. He was best friends with a Kokiri called Saria." Navi giggled a bit. "Link makes the strangest of friends. Saria turned out to be the sage of the forest, Darunia was the great sage of fire and Ruto was the sage of the water." At the name Ruto, Link cringed in his sleep.
"Poor Link." Zirain said softly. "Even in his sleep, he's afraid of the Zora princess." Zirain chuckled.
"Link really grew up when he went on the adventure to find the triforce. I barely recognized him when our journey was over. I still can't get over that adventure he had in Termina though. He's changed even more than I expected." Navi said sighing. Navi leaned over and brushed some hair away from Link's sleeping face.
"Changed? How?" Derano asked looking intently at the fairy. Navi shivered in remembrance of earlier that day.
"Today, I saw Link's real feelings show. Link was a terribly shy boy in the beginning and unsure of himself. Link was too afraid to let anything show on his face when he fought and battled. Today, Link showed a lot of emotion in battle and confidence more so than usual. Also, he wasn't sorry that he killed those rattacks. Link usually feels sorry that he destroyed a life but he didn't show that this time. I'm a little upset about it." Navi stared at Link's innocent face as he slept.
"I think he's become desensitized to battle Navi." Derano said quietly. Navi turned her attention to the old general in the yellow armor. "It happens sometimes. When a soldier fights too often, or has seen too much of something, they simply get used to it." Zirain cast a look of pity to Link.
"Why did it have to happen to someone so young?" Zirain asked quietly. "Couldn't someone else have done it? Why did it have to be Link?" To this, there were no answers.
"Children adapt quickly. Let's hope that this can be reversed once this is all over." Horaku said quietly. Derano and Zirain looked up to Horaku's gaze and sighed.
"That is if he makes it through this quest of his." Zirain said bitterly. Link sighed in his sleep and was in peaceful dreams.
Next day.
"Here Link. As I promised." Horaku handed a pendant of blue to Link. Link was lucky to have recovered so quickly from his ordeal and smiled as he took the pendant.
"Thank you." Link put it around his neck next to the Deku pendant. Link had woken up refreshed and energetic. Zirain was surprised to see Link with so much energy. "Thanks for helping me back out on the beach." Link was given three looks of annoyance.
"Just don't do that again." Zirain growled. Link backed up a bit and winked at the teen. Link then walked out of the cavern with both hands behind his head and his elbow by his eyes.
"Guess you'll have to stick with me to make sure I don't do anything like that again. It was my fault really. I should have remembered to put on the bunny hood before I moved to get out of the way." Zirain shook his head as he caught up with Link.
"You're some piece of work kid. You know that?" Link grinned and stretched his arms out.
"So, where are we going next? To Taro or Derek?" Link asked stopping to wait for Navi and Cera. The two fairies wanted to talk to Derano about something. Zirain ruffled Link's hair.
"Sorry sport. But you're going to go on your own to meet Derek. I have to go and try and talk some sense into Hunter. Derano's is coming with me to tell him about recent events." Link looked hurt for a moment.
"Why can't I go with you? Isn't Misty Mountains on the other side of Neutral?" Link asked in a hurt tone. Link was surprised when Zirain slapped his forehead.
"Juta! In all the excitement, I forgot to tell you about the line! Link, there's a magical pathway that Taro, Derek and I used to meet when we were younger. We all discovered it by accident and bumped into eachother. What a mess that was. You're going to be in Misty Mountains before you can say 'Zip'. There's a catch though, it picks the location where you land within 100 meters. Usually you land up in an old fountain outside Giro. If all goes well, you should meet Derek there." Link blinked twice taking all the information in.
"And how exactly am I supposed to use this line?" Link asked perplexed. Zirain smiled at Link and walked up to him.
"You won't have to worry about that." Zirain said ruffling Link's hat. Link straightened it out and saw Navi and Cera heading their way.
"Link!" Navi squealed as she latched onto Link's cheek. Link grinned and sighed. Navi had been really worried about Link since yesterday. Link didn't really mind, it just showed that she cared.
"Hi Navi, Cera. Ready to go?" Link giggled when Cera swooped up into his hat. Navi followed suit and tickled Link as she went between the folds of his hat and hair.
"Link!" Link heard the voice calling him and turned to meet Derano's gaze and Horaku's smile. "Before you left, we thought it best to give you this." Link was handed a small bottle containing a silver liquid.
"What's this?" Link asked shaking the contents. Link was about to open the bottle when Horaku stopped his hand. Link put the bottle away in his subspace.
"It's only to be used in extreme circumstances. It's called liquid silver and it's a special potion that restores you fully. If you use it, your body will be covered in the silver metallic liquid and you'll be healed instantly." Horaku said smiling at Link. Link nodded. "Well, I think I've neglected my duties as your regent for long enough. I have paperwork to do. I hope you can come and visit us soon Link." Horaku turned from Link and company. Link watched Horaku walk away with a confused look on his face.
"What was that all about?" Link asked Zirain and Derano as they were walking towards the entrance to the city. Link walked in front of Zirain to get his attention. "Well?"
"Well what?" Zirain asked a little annoyed.
"What was Horaku going on about him being 'my' regent. I thought that if I got the pendants, they would drop the alliance." Link said still walking backwards. "You did say that didn't you?" Zirain laughed at Link's naivety. "What's so funny?" Link asked cocking his head to the side. Link was annoyed when Derano chuckled as well.
"You are! I thought that Derano was clueless. Link, how do you think they become free of the alliance?" Zirain said between laughs. When Zirain asked the question, Link folded his arms behind his back.
"I get their pendant and they govern themselves as before. What?" Link asked when Derano chuckled again. Zirain sighed and wiped away a tear.
"I think you should ponder the rights of alliances Link. You should figure this out on your own." Zirain whistled walking past Link. Link frowned and turned around to follow Zirain out of the gates and into yellow field. Zirain suddenly turned right on the road and Link followed.
"Where are we going?" Link asked Zirain. Zirain gave Link a winning smile and continued walking on. "Zirain?" Link stopped suddenly feeling something up ahead. "What?" Link was on instant alert mode. There was some very powerful magic nearby. Link nearly walked into Zirain as he stopped before a hole in the ground.
"Go on through to the one on your right. That should lead you to Derek." Link peered into the hole. Like every normal storage hole, you couldn't see directly into it. "What are you waiting for? Go on in." Link nodded and jumped into the hole. When Link vanished, Zirain turned to Derano. "This is between us right?" Zirain said quickly.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Derano said with a grin. Zirain and Derano made their way back to the road and Zirain sighed loudly. "Something the matter?" Derano asked taking note of Zirain now gloomy exterior.
"I feel like I just sent a little brother off to training school." Zirain gave Derano a side-glance and saw that he was feeling it too. "Link is someone you would like to have as a little brother; cute, caring, curious and bright." Derano nodded.
"In all my years of training you young pups in the caverns, I haven't got attached to someone that quickly since lord Hunter." Derano said after they had walked for a while. "I hope that I can get the chance to truly test his abilities, maybe I could even help him polish it off a little." Zirain let out a snort.
"You'll have to contend with the three heroes of Neutral first old man. Derek, Taro and I found him first." Zirain said making a fist. Derano let out a chuckle.
"Yes I suppose you did. I still don't understand how you became friends but I suppose it has to do with this line you described. Well, we might have to have a master's duel in order to see whose apprentice he'll be." It was Zirain's turn to laugh.
Disclaimer: I don't own Link.
"I can't believe Link did that to me!" Zirain growled to no one in particular. Zirain had woken up to Derano and Horaku shouting at him. Ashamed that a child and a youth were going to help save their city, the warriors from both races gathered up their weapons and were nearby. Cera was nearby too and explained that Link went on alone to deal with the rattacks.
"He didn't want to see you hurt. Besides, you would have just got in his way. Link is a very adept fighter and is used to doing these types of things on his own." Cera said apologizing to Zirain. "He left me behind for the same reason. Link and Navi have done these types of things before remember?" Zirain turned toward the fairy so fast that Cera yelped and flew backwards.
"Link has always done things on his own and alone! He has to realize that I can handle myself and that there are sometimes that you have to rely on your friends! He-is-not-alone-anymore." Zirain hissed the last part out that it startled even Derano, his old mentor.
"Calm down! I thought you of all people wouldn't be upset by this. There are some times when people have to do things on their own." Derano said trying to get Zirain's temper down. "What do you mean anyway fairy? I know that lad is no ordinary magician but done these types of things before?" Zirain and Horaku glanced at the other. The Zora shook his head at the old dodger.
"I really can't believe that you haven't figured it out yet. You old windbag! That kid is no mere magician! He's the Hero of Time." As soon as the words were out of Horaku's mouth, a crowd had gathered.
"What!?!" asked a Zora soldier.
"Are you serious!?!" echoed a man in yellow garb.
"That kid!?!" barked another. Horaku suddenly decided that his headache would show back up and put his hand to the sides of his head.
"Yes, now would you all please calm down and-" A loud rumbling sound started interrupting Horaku. The rumbling accompanied a small earthquake that made all the occupants near the riverbed lose their balance. The whole group had just enough time to turn and gape in total astonishment as the mouth of the waterfall spewed out water like a canon. The entire jet stream of water landed in the sea, instantly cleansing the poisonous waters. Then, to everyone's shock, a loud yell was heard.
"LINK!"
"That's Navi!" Cera cried out. Then, a swirl of green accompanied the tremendous water flow into the Watercrest Sea. Navi flew out of the opening looking very panicked and fidgety.
"Link! Link!! Did anyone see where he went!?!" Navi screamed out Link's name a few more times. Horaku and Zirain were already diving in the sea when Dorano figured it out.
"He landed in the Sea! Everyone spread out and search for him!" Navi flew to the last place she had seen the water blast into and began to search. Armor was being thrown off while the Zoran warriors merely dived in. After a few minutes of searching underwater, a splash was heard, then a muffled choke and a cough.
"I don't want to do that again!" Link said in a Zora voice. All eyes watched as the odd Zora reached up to clasp his head and a flash of blue occurred. When they looked back, Link was there instead of the Zora!
"Link!" Navi and Cera flying quickly made their way to the young boy. Link let Navi perch on his hat that was above water as he made his way back to shore. Derano stared in the utmost surprise as Link made his way back.
"He's over there!" Derano shouted. All the Zora occupants in the water heard the shout with watery ears and rushed over to help Link. Link was halfway to the shoreline when he felt Horaku take a firm hold of Link and raced to the shore.
"I can swim on my own you know." Link said trying to get away from the Zora regent. Horaku didn't reply to Link and ignored the comment. Link was getting an earful from both Navi and Cera as they made their way back to the shore. Once there, Link was shivering from the shock of the cold water and everyone saw his lips turn blue. Zirain popped out of the water shortly after Link.
"If you ever-EVER do something that stupid again Link, I'll- I'll- I don't know what I'll do but be sure that you won't like it!" Yelled Zirain. A very soaked Link didn't respond and simply shivered in his presence. "What are you all staring at? Get him inside at once! Can't you see he's in shock!" Link felt warm hands grab him and carry him somewhere. Link didn't know where but didn't care. Link let himself lose consciousness and went into dreams.
Regent's room.
"That was risky what he did." Derano growled when he got the whole story. Zirain nodded with a furrowed brow. Link was passed out on the regent's own bed stripped of his cloths and warm. The regent himself sat beside the bed and stirred the fire. The had moved the bed from it's original position so Link could warm up faster.
"You have to admit, he did have a good reason. I for one am glad he did it." Horaku said causing the two on the stones before him to growl in anger.
"What do you mean!?! He could have been killed!" Zirain growled in anger. Link stirred and sneezed making the covers come off slightly. Horaku pulled the blankets closer to Link and gave Zirain a growl of his own.
"Keep your voice down cub. Link needs sleep. I imagine Link was at ground zero when the icy water took him along for the ride. I can understand that he left you outside; he was worried that you'd get hurt. I can understand that he defeated the rattacks with strange weapons but-" Zirain and Derano's gaze turned to Link when Horaku's did. "I don't understand what caused that cave in or how he was even able to remove the protection wall."
"I don't know either." Derano Gruffed. "Link is just a mere lad, why should our fates be left up to such a young pup? If I hadn't seen him change from a Zora to normal, I wouldn't have believed it myself. The Hero of Time is just a young kid that shouldn't even know how to hold a sword properly." Navi and Cera fluttered back into the room.
"From what Link told me, he's a very independent person. From what I can gather about the Kokiri, they are all children like him and they interact together like a village. " Zirain looked to the fairies that came back into the room. "Maybe we should get a second opinion on Link. Navi? Cera? Would you join us in our conversation?" Navi landed on Link's pillow and Cera took to Zirain's shoulder.
"Sure! What are we talking about?" Cera asked cheerful. Navi didn't answer the question but sat listening.
"We're talking about Link. Tell me, what is Kokiri Village like? Link never really goes into his life there and we find it interesting." Zirain asked carefully. Cera giggled.
"I can tell you about the Kokiri but not Link. That's something Navi could do though. The Kokiri are the immortal children of the forest given life by the forest itself. They never grow up, but they can never leave the forest either. We fairies are chosen by the Great Deku Tree-"
"Sprout." Navi interrupted Cera. "The Great Deku tree died remember? The Deku sprout has that honor now." Cera looked to Navi and nodded.
"Your right, I forgot! Anyway, each Kokiri is assigned a partner fairy so they can work together." Cera flutter to the stone before the hearth. "Link is a Kokiri hunter. Link scavenges the Lost Woods to look for certain herbs and plants and brings them back to the village. Kokiri aren't allowed to eat any sort of meat. Other than that, the only thing that comes to mind is that Link isn't a real Kokiri by blood." This surprised Horaku and Derano.
"You mean that Link is not a Kokiri? Then he is a Hylain? Of the fields perhaps?" Navi decided to join in on the conversation.
"No, Link is not a Hylain of the fields. If I remember correctly, Link told me that this was the place of his birth. His mother I suppose died trying to protect him from this war you started. The Deku sprout told us that a woman came bearing Link and begged the Deku Tree to protect him. The first time I heard that, the Deku sprout confused me." Navi said puzzled.
"What did he say?" Cera asked. Navi's glow brightened a bit.
"That he took Link in because he sensed that Link was a child of destiny. I just don't understand why he didn't just give Link to someone that lived on the edge of the forest. Link was just a baby after all." Navi sighed loudly and her fairy glow dimmed a bit.
"What else can you tell us about Link? Who were the Kokiri he interacted with? Was he happy in the village?" Derano asked. Navi's glow dimmed a bit more.
"I knew that from the first moment Mido opened his mouth that Link didn't like it there. Called him Mr. No-Fairy. Mido is the current leader of the Kokiri and from the short time I spent there with Link, I could tell he tried to make life miserable for Link."
"So he didn't have any friends?" Zirain asked quietly. Navi's fairy light brightened.
"Oh no, I didn't say that. Mido was sorry about it seven years in the future. Truth is, all the Kokiri liked Link. He was best friends with a Kokiri called Saria." Navi giggled a bit. "Link makes the strangest of friends. Saria turned out to be the sage of the forest, Darunia was the great sage of fire and Ruto was the sage of the water." At the name Ruto, Link cringed in his sleep.
"Poor Link." Zirain said softly. "Even in his sleep, he's afraid of the Zora princess." Zirain chuckled.
"Link really grew up when he went on the adventure to find the triforce. I barely recognized him when our journey was over. I still can't get over that adventure he had in Termina though. He's changed even more than I expected." Navi said sighing. Navi leaned over and brushed some hair away from Link's sleeping face.
"Changed? How?" Derano asked looking intently at the fairy. Navi shivered in remembrance of earlier that day.
"Today, I saw Link's real feelings show. Link was a terribly shy boy in the beginning and unsure of himself. Link was too afraid to let anything show on his face when he fought and battled. Today, Link showed a lot of emotion in battle and confidence more so than usual. Also, he wasn't sorry that he killed those rattacks. Link usually feels sorry that he destroyed a life but he didn't show that this time. I'm a little upset about it." Navi stared at Link's innocent face as he slept.
"I think he's become desensitized to battle Navi." Derano said quietly. Navi turned her attention to the old general in the yellow armor. "It happens sometimes. When a soldier fights too often, or has seen too much of something, they simply get used to it." Zirain cast a look of pity to Link.
"Why did it have to happen to someone so young?" Zirain asked quietly. "Couldn't someone else have done it? Why did it have to be Link?" To this, there were no answers.
"Children adapt quickly. Let's hope that this can be reversed once this is all over." Horaku said quietly. Derano and Zirain looked up to Horaku's gaze and sighed.
"That is if he makes it through this quest of his." Zirain said bitterly. Link sighed in his sleep and was in peaceful dreams.
Next day.
"Here Link. As I promised." Horaku handed a pendant of blue to Link. Link was lucky to have recovered so quickly from his ordeal and smiled as he took the pendant.
"Thank you." Link put it around his neck next to the Deku pendant. Link had woken up refreshed and energetic. Zirain was surprised to see Link with so much energy. "Thanks for helping me back out on the beach." Link was given three looks of annoyance.
"Just don't do that again." Zirain growled. Link backed up a bit and winked at the teen. Link then walked out of the cavern with both hands behind his head and his elbow by his eyes.
"Guess you'll have to stick with me to make sure I don't do anything like that again. It was my fault really. I should have remembered to put on the bunny hood before I moved to get out of the way." Zirain shook his head as he caught up with Link.
"You're some piece of work kid. You know that?" Link grinned and stretched his arms out.
"So, where are we going next? To Taro or Derek?" Link asked stopping to wait for Navi and Cera. The two fairies wanted to talk to Derano about something. Zirain ruffled Link's hair.
"Sorry sport. But you're going to go on your own to meet Derek. I have to go and try and talk some sense into Hunter. Derano's is coming with me to tell him about recent events." Link looked hurt for a moment.
"Why can't I go with you? Isn't Misty Mountains on the other side of Neutral?" Link asked in a hurt tone. Link was surprised when Zirain slapped his forehead.
"Juta! In all the excitement, I forgot to tell you about the line! Link, there's a magical pathway that Taro, Derek and I used to meet when we were younger. We all discovered it by accident and bumped into eachother. What a mess that was. You're going to be in Misty Mountains before you can say 'Zip'. There's a catch though, it picks the location where you land within 100 meters. Usually you land up in an old fountain outside Giro. If all goes well, you should meet Derek there." Link blinked twice taking all the information in.
"And how exactly am I supposed to use this line?" Link asked perplexed. Zirain smiled at Link and walked up to him.
"You won't have to worry about that." Zirain said ruffling Link's hat. Link straightened it out and saw Navi and Cera heading their way.
"Link!" Navi squealed as she latched onto Link's cheek. Link grinned and sighed. Navi had been really worried about Link since yesterday. Link didn't really mind, it just showed that she cared.
"Hi Navi, Cera. Ready to go?" Link giggled when Cera swooped up into his hat. Navi followed suit and tickled Link as she went between the folds of his hat and hair.
"Link!" Link heard the voice calling him and turned to meet Derano's gaze and Horaku's smile. "Before you left, we thought it best to give you this." Link was handed a small bottle containing a silver liquid.
"What's this?" Link asked shaking the contents. Link was about to open the bottle when Horaku stopped his hand. Link put the bottle away in his subspace.
"It's only to be used in extreme circumstances. It's called liquid silver and it's a special potion that restores you fully. If you use it, your body will be covered in the silver metallic liquid and you'll be healed instantly." Horaku said smiling at Link. Link nodded. "Well, I think I've neglected my duties as your regent for long enough. I have paperwork to do. I hope you can come and visit us soon Link." Horaku turned from Link and company. Link watched Horaku walk away with a confused look on his face.
"What was that all about?" Link asked Zirain and Derano as they were walking towards the entrance to the city. Link walked in front of Zirain to get his attention. "Well?"
"Well what?" Zirain asked a little annoyed.
"What was Horaku going on about him being 'my' regent. I thought that if I got the pendants, they would drop the alliance." Link said still walking backwards. "You did say that didn't you?" Zirain laughed at Link's naivety. "What's so funny?" Link asked cocking his head to the side. Link was annoyed when Derano chuckled as well.
"You are! I thought that Derano was clueless. Link, how do you think they become free of the alliance?" Zirain said between laughs. When Zirain asked the question, Link folded his arms behind his back.
"I get their pendant and they govern themselves as before. What?" Link asked when Derano chuckled again. Zirain sighed and wiped away a tear.
"I think you should ponder the rights of alliances Link. You should figure this out on your own." Zirain whistled walking past Link. Link frowned and turned around to follow Zirain out of the gates and into yellow field. Zirain suddenly turned right on the road and Link followed.
"Where are we going?" Link asked Zirain. Zirain gave Link a winning smile and continued walking on. "Zirain?" Link stopped suddenly feeling something up ahead. "What?" Link was on instant alert mode. There was some very powerful magic nearby. Link nearly walked into Zirain as he stopped before a hole in the ground.
"Go on through to the one on your right. That should lead you to Derek." Link peered into the hole. Like every normal storage hole, you couldn't see directly into it. "What are you waiting for? Go on in." Link nodded and jumped into the hole. When Link vanished, Zirain turned to Derano. "This is between us right?" Zirain said quickly.
"Wouldn't have it any other way." Derano said with a grin. Zirain and Derano made their way back to the road and Zirain sighed loudly. "Something the matter?" Derano asked taking note of Zirain now gloomy exterior.
"I feel like I just sent a little brother off to training school." Zirain gave Derano a side-glance and saw that he was feeling it too. "Link is someone you would like to have as a little brother; cute, caring, curious and bright." Derano nodded.
"In all my years of training you young pups in the caverns, I haven't got attached to someone that quickly since lord Hunter." Derano said after they had walked for a while. "I hope that I can get the chance to truly test his abilities, maybe I could even help him polish it off a little." Zirain let out a snort.
"You'll have to contend with the three heroes of Neutral first old man. Derek, Taro and I found him first." Zirain said making a fist. Derano let out a chuckle.
"Yes I suppose you did. I still don't understand how you became friends but I suppose it has to do with this line you described. Well, we might have to have a master's duel in order to see whose apprentice he'll be." It was Zirain's turn to laugh.
Disclaimer: I don't own Link.