"The Destiny Stone"
Disclaimer: (I'm gonna leave this one up for a bit) I don't own Zelda or any characters, places, or events thereof, so there! Of the original characters, I came up with Timbre, Kat, Aka, Benz, Vulcan and some various bit characters here and there. Sond owns most of the rest. Thanks Sond! Rej is © FogFrontier, now go read The Kindred, King of Pawns, and Grifter and Snatch!
*****
Author's Note: So much to do, so little time. Early classes, every single day of the week. I swear, I've given up sleeping, practically. I mean, if I want to actually get work done, and have some semblance of a social lifeeh. Problematic. And you're not reading this because you're interested in my life, you wanna read the story. So I'll be quiet now and do that. Here's that action I promised! ^_^
*****
"The Destiny Stone" — Chapter 14: Power Trip
Benz sighed, and slouched against the slowly warming stone wall that was Impa's house in Kakariko village. It had been a long day, at it wasn't even technically noon yet. The news of Chiron's declared siege had rippled through the town like, as the Deku thought of it, a Wolfos pack through his home city.
There hadn't been total panic, mostly due to Impa's influence. Benz was secretly impressed by the woman's charisma, which could calm down even the most hot-headed individuals, and convince even the most impracticable heart to rethink itself. That was something that he, as a lowly Deku Scrub, could never accomplish. At least not among the Hylians.
The Deku sighed and stared upwards. After the mists had cleared up, it had become quite a nice clear, sunny day. The kind of day his kind liked.
Kat exited Impa's house then, rubbing the darkness out of her eyes with the back of her hand. She'd somehow gone back to sleep after the siege began, though emotions had been running rampant. As she left the house, shutting the door, her head turned in Benz's direction.
"Oh hello," she said, trying to sound cheerful.
"Hey. What's *squeak* new?"
"Nothing muchVulcan wanted to leave Kakariko this morning when he heard the news, but Impa just told him that he couldn't leave."
"Well, that's *squeak* a good idea, isn't it?" Benz's squeaky voice piped up.
"To a degreeI think Vulcan's got this idea that if he leaves, they'll leave well enough alone with Kakariko. Impa doesn't think so. She says that Chiron's next target will most certainly be her."
"Why?"
"The things she said about Ganondorf. In Hyrule, you just don't get away with saying things like that. You could get charged with insurrection."
"Oh. That's horrible" Benz, despite living in the Lost Woods most of his life, could see the injustice in that. He'd always said what he'd liked. "Does Vulcan really *squeak* think those thieves are coming back?"
Kat shrugged. "It's been about a week, and he said they planned to cross the ocean. Of course, we have no idea if they've even made it to Termina yet. I kind of wish they'd stopped here first-"
"Why?" Benz looked dubious, then surprised as he managed to read Kat's expression. "You *squeak* didn't want to go with them?!"
"WellI dunnoI've always felt there are bigger things out there that I just haven't noticed yet. Does that make sense?"
Benz shrugged, watching a ragtag group of kids run by. Even the tag-games they now played already looked gloomier and more lethargic. It was almost as if the curtain of protection was feeding on the happy energies of the village.
"But, y'know, if I hadn't been here th' first time Chiron showed uphe might not have been stopped," Kat remarked idly. "So maybe it's a good thing they didn't show up."
"If they *squeak* had, I'd have a *squeak* word or two to say to them!" Benz said, remembering his grudge. "Thieves"
"Yeah," Kat murmured. "Impa told me you two were merchants."
Merchants? "Yeahkind of archaeologist-merchants," Benz said, playing up on that.
"So, you sell stuff? I heard a lot of Dekus do."
"Er"
"And archaeologists look for buried treasure, so you must be a kind of treasure-hunter."
Benz just nodded. Come to think of it, the cave that he and Aka called home was rather cluttered with stuff they'd liberated.' Though Benz had always had plans involving selling a lot of it, he'd run up against one problem: the Lost Woods had virtually zero market. There was nobody to sell any of their spoils to. Certainly not to the Stalfos! Aka had suggested his fellow Skull Kids, but most of them didn't have any money. For a while, Benz had considered the Kokiri. And though the forest children were curious and somewhat wealthy, they often didn't have any interest in buying or selling things, unless from their own tribe.
"Say," Benz said, his glowing eyes flashing with dubiousness, "you don't suppose *squeak* you guys might have a use for some of our stuff?"
"Well, it depends. What've you got?"
Benz thought back. "Lots've stuff. Weapons, trinkets, *squeak* pretty rocks"
"Hmmyou could probably could've done quite a bit of business down at Hyrule Castle Town, at least some years ago" She shrugged. "But who knows, maybe if Ganondorf's rule is overthrown-"
"I thought *squeak* you weren't supposed to say things like that," Benz observed.
"Just because the land is free doesn't mean the people aren't," Kat said resolutely. "The way Vulcan's been talking, and the way Impa's been acting makes me feel like all of this is going to come to some sort of head very soon."
"You mean, they're gonna *squeak* try and overthrow Ganondorf?"
"Dunno," Kat said, shrugging. "But if you ask my opinion, all of this is going to end soon, one way or another."
*****
It was about the same temperature inside the Observatory proper as it had been in Termina Field, however it was so much stuffier inside that it seemed much warmer. As he entered the doorway, the smell of the old man hovered about his nose. Hmm, so that guy is still around. He must be ancient by now. Tael floated alongside the wolf in relative silence, clinging solemnly to Timbre's right ear.
A creaky voice suddenly spoke up. "Eh? Door blew open againthere's a draft-"
Timbre quickly hid himself. It wasn't too difficult, as the main telescope was set upon a risen platform, making the lower level very shadowed, and full of hiding places. Timbre watched impassively as the old Hylian slowly hobbled down the stairs, his faded blue rope sweeping up small dust motes as it dragged along the ground.
The old man peered outside, and grasping the door firmly in both old hands, tugged it shut. He then proceeded to deadbolt the door. Timbre sighed in consternation. That was going to slow him up if he ever had to run for it. Well, at least he didn't lock the door, like last time
Timbre sat and watched the old man return to the platform, reminiscing about the last time he'd found the door locked.
Timbre rattled the doorknob leading to the outside of the observatory. But it was no use, the door was locked. Tejina chewed her lip, agitated.
"It's locked?!" She hissed urgently.
Tim's eyes narrowed, and he couldn't look at her. "It's locked," he sighed. He stopped himself from kicking the door, as that wouldn't help things any and only create noise.
The colorful observatory was closed, the old man who ran it out of town for the Festival. Apparently he was worried about visitors' curious hands possibly damaging the intricate instruments. Normally the Bombers' hideout would block any curious onlookers from entering. But the astronomer's careful planning has spelled unfortunately, trouble for two small children.
Tee was starting to nervously pace back and forth, from the door, to the small exhibit that held the astronomer's Moon Tear. It glowed a little, providing some illumination to the scene. "What do we do now?" She said, looking back at Timbre.
Tim blinked. He hadn't realized it until now, but the look on her face was quite frightened. He'd managed to alert her to the fact that they were literally stuck in Clock Town, and now that their only means of leaving the town had been locked, her eyes were wide with fear. He suddenly felt terrible about everything.
"I'm sorry, I made a mess of everything, if I hadn't gone to see how the magic act worked, none of this would've happened!"
Tee blinked. "What?"
"I said, if I hadn't been so eager to see how you did that disappearing act, none of this would've happened! That crate would still be intact, Viscen wouldn't have a clue we were here, and that Veneer wouldn't have come. It's all my fault!"
Timbre was abruptly jolted out of the old memory when Tael tugged on his ear. Gripping the wolf's ear like a microphone, he whispered as quietly as he could into it.
"Hey, someone's cominghow're we gonna slip by two people? One geezer's one thing, but"
He heard the clomping footsteps as someone mounted the steps from the other end of the Observatory. The wolf sniffed. Whoever the new visitor was, they smelled bad. Not bad' in the sense that Link smelled overly ripe, or even the bad' in the sense of something that had spoiled.
This person smelled of evil.
It kind of hung in the air like a sordid perfume, permeating into the smallest cracks, and there, within the dark corners of things, it multiplied and stained. Timbre shuddered, feeling his guard hairs prickle they often did right before an electrical storm.
The old man's voice wheezed. "Lord Ganondorf," he intoned, "such an honor, gracing me with your magnificent presence" Timbre shuddered again. He was in the same room with the ultimate enemy in the world, and he felt suddenly helpless. Despite there being only four living things in the Observatory, there seemed to be another presence altogether.
The Triforce of Power
"Spare me your simpering, old one," came a male voice whose bass seemed to make the very air vibrate with dark melodies. "I am not here because I wish to be."
"Forgive me," the old man said, his voice a tremolo of fear. "How may I be of service?"
"I have been methodically searching Clock Town, and have so far been unsuccessful."
"If I might so ask, my Lord"
"I have been searching for two travelers that my soldiers tell me arrived in town not even two days ago. One is a Hylian wearing green, the other a foreigner wearing a long coat. Both are male, and were traveling my domain armed. Have you seen either of them?"
"I?" The old man coughed dryly. "My Lord, nobody ever comes here. My days and nights are spent here in solitude, as I must complete my studies of the night sky-"
There came an almighty sigh. "Pity," Ganondorf intoned. "They could have escaped through here with nothing more than a senile old fool to sneak by." There was the sound of a body turning, and a cape rippling. "Tell me, old man. Does your telescope often focus on things besides the night sky?"
"No sir, though sometimes the Clock Tower does block-"
"You wouldn't by any chance happen to notice things closer than the heavens? Would you happen to know the location of those who would oppose me?"
"N-n-no s-sir!" The old man's voice raised to an alarmed squeak, as if Ganondorf had suddenly and forcefully lifted him by the collar into the air. "If the Master pleases, I am old, I am only a simple astrono-"
There came another sigh, and the sound of someone being dropped to the floor with a yelp. "Watch yourself, old one," Ganondorf said smoothly. "One can only have so much use to me, and once someone has outlived their usefulness, they tend to have accidents. I shall allow you some time to reflect on that, and return at a later time."
More agonizingly slow footsteps, and the presence of evil slowly melted down the tunnel that led through the sewer and back to Clock Town. The thickness of the air went from the viscosity of gelatin to that of water. Relief.
Neither wolf nor fairy could move for several minutes. Tael was quivering slightly, and Timbre winced, he could feel his ear being sharply pinched as the fairy clenched his tiny fists. Not daring to move, both of them could only sit and listen. The old man was apparently brushing himself off, and muttering quietly.
"Well, I suppose that's it for me thenI've not that much time left anyway, but I might as well finish my workNow where was I?"
Then there was the sound of a scraping chair, and as Timbre turned his ears forwards like built-in transceivers, the scratching of what could only be quill on paper. The old man was still speaking.
"Hmmsome stars have been unusually bright-no, let me fix that," there was a swiping sound as the old man scratched out his error. "Someconstellations have been unusually brightwhere are my notesfirst, the Warriorand Canisstarted a week agoboth have been increasingly brighter, though the change is so subtle only one with my kind of advanced equipment would be able to easily discern it." A cough. "Next was the constellations of the Maiden, and then the Alicorn joined the group not much later"
Exhaling in surprise, Timbre's left ear stood up straight as he heard the man's words. Although it was so difficult to remember the so-long ago conversation by campfire, Timbre was certain he'd heard some of those constellations mentioned before.
With a sudden jolt, Timbre found he was finally able to move again. Creeping quietly, the wolf hunkered down and attempted to move towards the secret passage without a sound, with only a small speck of violet light trailing behind him. Sneaking by the old man when he was so engrossed in his work was an easy thing. But even so, neither of the trespassers really wanted to interrupt the ancient astronomer as he finished his final work. He looked very happy at what he was doing.
The wolf's nose wrinkled as the damp, moldy air of the secret passageway clogged his senses. The sewer, which had once been lit in use, was now dark and abandoned. Echoes of lost spirits and bygone memories filled the void. It was completely desolate, even the grumpy Skulltulla had cleared out. Droplets of water trickled from the ceiling, coagulating in dank slimy pools upon the cold stone. Tael's violet cast seemed to make the scene even more eerie.
"Sure is a creepy place. You sure you volunteered for this job?" Tael's voice echoed slightly, even though his tones were at a hush.
Timbre just nodded, wishing the fairy would be quiet. Ganondorf could easily still be within the passage, if he had decided to double back. Small squeaky voices were only bound to make any overhearing ear more suspicious.
He leapt easily across several deeper pools of stagnant water, and breathed a sigh of relief as the tunnel's concave slowly turned upwards.
"I can see light up ahead," Tael murmured. "That means we're gonna be out in daylight in a few seconds, and there'll be people around. I'm gonna have to be quiet, so I don't attract attention. You'd best keep yourself hidden."
Timbre agreed wholeheartedly. If the encounter at the Observatory had done anything useful, it had stressed to him the importance of remaining unseen. Of course, Ganondorf was actively searching for two humans, not a wolf, but still, one could never be too careful. He peered around the corner of the passage's opening, staring with wide green eyes at inner Clock Town.
Last time he'd seen it, South Clock Town had been desolate and practically deserted, save for the odd pair of Goriya now and then, lounging about in a lazy stupor. However, now the place was crawling with Goriya. Literally. Hordes of the little monsters scurried about, on every available walking surface, swarming into open doorways. They appeared to be searching.
And destroying everything.
Some were even climbing the walls, apparently in order to get access to windows high above the ground. As he watched, he saw one Goriya appear out of a second story window. The little red monster grunted, and shoved a large footlocker out of the window, giggling gleefully as it fell to the street below with a loud splintering crash, spilling its contents onto the street. A group of five Goriya instantly got into a fight as they tore into the ruined box, grabbing everything and anything they could.
Others scampered by in pairs, some carrying things obviously taken from residences, such as clothing, valuables, even squads towing large furniture. Timbre had yet to see any Hylians, though he had a good idea that he wouldn't, either. There was a particularly noxious crash as a foursome of Goriya tore a door off of its hinges, dropped it, and scampered into the now opened doorway.
Timbre turned his head away, but couldn't close his ears to the crashes and desperate cries from within, nor the high-pitched, squeaky cackles of the assailants.
For a moment, he considered throwing himself into the thick of the Goriya until he'd killed every last one of them. Tael drew back slightly as Timbre growled.
Timbre shook his head. No, here is definitely not a good place to lose your temper
He felt Tael nudge him from his perch behind his left ear, and he slowly nodded in compliance. Standing and watching was going to accomplish nothing, nor was a suicide dive. He had made a promise, and so help him, he'd make good on that.
Keeping to the relative shadow the overhang of the perimeter structures caused, Timbre slipped off towards the Laundry Pool, keeping as low and as close to the wall as possible. The Goriyas, too engrossed in their cruel fun, did not notice.
Timbre had decided on taking his old' route to get across Clock Town. Since getting to the Mayor's residence would be nigh impossible given the monsters, Timbre's only other option was situated slightly above them.
The roof.
*****
The Music Box's house endless melody was slowly burning itself into his mind. Link stared out of a window and sighed, his eyes flickering down towards the Triforce mark still burning a tattoo into his left hand. The Triforce consisted of three parts; Power, Wisdom, and Courage. He knew Ganondorf still held the Triforce of Power. How could he not, and still manage to take over two countries? Courage, too, was obviously present, upon his very hand.
But what about Wisdom? In his very first adventure, the one where he'd become a receptacle for the Triforce, Link had seen Zelda reveal herself as the carrier of the Triforce of Wisdom. But he had never seen of it since. And it was rather awkward, trying to get an audience with the Princess. First of all, there had been the Guards, but that was nothing compared to the social boundaries.
Zelda had always been rather lofty and disconnected with Link. It was true, they'd shared some sort of bond of duty when the Triforce had become involved, but Link had realized that he'd never been seen more as an elevated delivery boy. As soon as Ganondorf had been neutralized, she'd gone back to being a princess, and he'd gone back to adventuring. And he was perfectly okay with that.
But that still didn't answer his current problem: Where was the Triforce of Wisdom now?
He sat pondering in the mostly empty room, drumming his fingers against the huge wooden table. The others, meaning the Bombers, Pamela, and her father, had all left after breakfast, apparently to work on some secret thing that they weren't too keen on revealing to him. Tatl and the other fairy, Keeto, had gone with them. Daray was playing with the Keaton across the room, in a corner. The blind child was scratching the ghost fox behind the ears with his dexterous hands, and Link was surprised to see a blissful pleasure spread across the Keaton's normally dignified visage.
The Hylian snickered. Just like Timbre.
Footsteps sounded, and Link turned to see the secret door open, and solemn Kafei walk out. The Hylian squinted slightly as the purple-haired youth strode over to the table and sat. It was strange to see him in half-light, it was as if Kafei himself were slightly out of focus. The Music Box House was currently only receiving illumination from the windows that framed it's front, and Link noticed Kafei took the seat furthest from the light. Even so, his outline was hazy, and nearly transparent.
"Sothat's what you meant about staying in the dark," Link murmured quietly. Daray looked up and paused in mid-scratch.
"Mmm-mmm" replied Kafei sadly, staring at one slightly transparent hand. "It's not so bad here, and I can still hold on to things." He proved this by rapping his knuckles lightly on the table. "But full sunlight" here he shrugged. "I've tried going outside before, and it's terrifying. You know how unsettling it is to not only be unable to see your hands, but also be unable to touch your face?"
Link looked surprised.
Daray suddenly spoke. "So you're kind of like me, stuck in the dark, huh?"
Kafei smirked a little. "Yeah," he said to his nephew. Then he looked back over at the Hylian. "So, what about your friend? Did he leave?"
"First thing after breakfast," Link said, pointing to the trenchcoat still hung by its peg. "Both him and Tael. Everyone else went off somewhere, but they wouldn't tell me where."
"Ah," Kafei waved a hand dismissively. "They went further into the canyon. You see, there was a huge fault that we found about halfway down, and it's not just a little crackingthe whole place leads to a giant network of tunnels. Pamela's father has been really excited, he thinks it might have served some use to the Ancient Ikanans."
"Like what?" Link looked confused.
"He thinks they were siege tunnels," Kafei smirked. "But it could be an emergency bolt hole for us if Ganondorf should ever catch on to this place."
Link looked slightly guilty. "I'm hoping our arrival didn't cause any trouble."
"Naah. If the Keaton trusts you, then so do I."
Here the Ghost Fox looked up sharply. "Regarding your quest," he murmured, addressing Link, "Where is the current location of the missing shard?"
Link chewed his lip. "You see, it keeps moving" He quickly explained what had occurred, everything from their arrival in Termina to the discovery of the shard set into the boomerang of Boss Blind.
Kafei listened intently, but idly rubbed one finger along the scar on the back of his head while the Hylian spoke. The Keaton's gaze turned from one to the other, seeming almost confused.
"So you can sense the Master Sword, whether in its entirety or in pieces."
Link showed them his left hand. "I know it sounds outrageous, but that's the-"
"Triforce," the Keaton sometimes finished people's sentences for them, making Link wonder just how much the little yellow creature knew. In fact, the Ghost Fox was regarding him with such intensity at the moment that Link shuffled awkwardly. No wonder animals didn't like to be stared at.
"I also notice one other thing that is odd about you," the Keaton said suddenly.
"What's that?"
Kafei looked on, interested as the Keaton spoke again, a slight purr in its voice as Daray resumed scratching it behind the ears. "Usually I'm rather sensitive to the aura of destiny that surrounds people. sometimes I can achieve a sense of clairvoyance and see where people are headed by looking at their destiny. Everyone, you see, has a destiny, whatever ends it may go to achieve. You, however, have none."
"Idon't have a destiny?" Link coughed in confusion, his blue eyes widening a fraction.
"Butthat isn't possible!" Kafei looked concerned. "Without that"
The Keaton nodded. "It is certainly strange, and alarming. Both you and the wolf have no aura of destiny at all. It is as if someone ripped it forcefully from you, leaving you with no path to travel. It is strange to have no destiny, for it is like the world has somehow forgotten you."
Tell me about it, Link thought, resting his chin on one hand.
The Keaton continued. "Though I did notice the Stone you gave to your friend. Yes, I know what a Destiny Stone is. You realize it takes a great matter of consequence to awaken a Destiny Stone, yes?"
"N-no, I didn't knowI just picked it up a decade ago-"
"I had thought all the Stones gone, either destroyed or leeched of their power. I do believe your particular Stone has some workings in your lack of an aura." The Keaton sat up, two tails curling around its legs as it did so.
Link swallowed. "What's that supposed to mean? If that thing does harm to us-"
"No, quite the contrary. Has it not been guiding you? Has it not led you here?"
"Yeah, so?"
The Keaton bowed its head. "Because you lack a destiny, the Stone is temporarily filling in for you both. It is giving you both a sense of direction, as it were, guiding you as your real destinies would, were they present. Though I must say I am curious as to how you two arrived in such a situation."
Kafei nodded in agreement.
"Well, you two wouldn't believe me-"
"I know the truth from lies spoken, Hylian." The Keaton's gaze became penetrating. "Please tell your story."
What have I got myself into? Link thought desperately, as he took a deep breath and began.
*****
Timbre's tail thumped the thatched roof as he stared downwards. If he wasn't too mistaken, he was currently sitting on the roof of the Mayor's Residence. The entire trip across the roofs, the wolf had observed Goriya scampering this way and that like fuzzy ants, continuing what was apparently a search' of Clock Town.
Pillaging spree, more like it. Timbre bared his teeth in a frustrated reaction, and tried to think of some way to get into the Mayor's Office unseen. Tael seemed to understand, and jingled slightly as he thought.
Timbre's thoughts were brought to a sudden, screeching halt, as a massive caped figure suddenly swept in from behind the Milk Bar's southern wall. With him came a very familiar and unpleasant smell.
Is thatGanondorf? Timbre found himself suddenly staring down at the ultimate antagonist. The Gerudo King was even more massive than he'd remembered as a child. The desert-patterned dark cape, the jeweled circlet on his forehead, even the spike-kneed leg guards — the Gerudo looked every inch the pinnacle of tyrannical rule. And that presence that had followed the evil man was back.
Timbre felt himself involuntarily puff up, and it took a lot of calm breathing to stop himself from simply launching himself off the roof and at the evil man's throat. Where's that going to get you? He admonished himself. A broken spine, if you're lucky enough. The fall alone could break your neck. As the Gerudo strode across the cobblestone street, Goriya scattered in his wake. They barely made it up to Ganondorf's knees, and Timbre noticed with grim satisfaction the utterly terrified expressions they wore as he passed.
By line of sight, it was obvious where Ganondorf was headed - the Mayor's Residence.
Tael blinked. "How're we going to get inside?"
However, Timbre wasn't able to reply, as suddenly there was the sound of a door bursting open, and Kafei's older brother practically flew into view. The man's fists were clenched as he strode deliberately to intercept the Gerudo, ignoring everything else.
Ganondorf smirked unpleasantly as the man approached. "Where's your father, boy?"
Big Kafei's shoulders were hunched in complete rage. "Where is he?!"
"Manners." Ganondorf's voice was deceptively even. "You should bow before a King."
Big Kafei made no move to do so, and the Gerudo's heavy brow knitted. "Impudence," he murmured, and made a slight gesture with his right hand. Almost immediately, a faint reddish glow surrounded the violet-haired youth, and he gasped quietly as his body was forced into a kneel.
Timbre clenched his teeth for the second time, only good sense keeping him still this time.
"There now," chided the Gerudo King, "was that so much to require?"
Big Kafei's voice was harried, as if it took a massive effort to speak. "Where is he?"
"I am the one requiring answers here, boy."
The man's head forced itself up, despite the powerful magic holding him down. "Where is my son?!" The absolute apprehension of a father fearing for his son's life was clear in those four words.
"Oh," Ganondorf shrugged. "How am I supposed to know? Perhaps heran away. Pity for, being sightless, isn't it? So many horrible things can happen to one who cannot see-"
The red aura increased, and Big Kafei painfully bent double, forced to hold an obeisant position, despite every effort to rise.
"Now," said Ganondorf, as if this had all been a pleasant conversation. "I do believe I have a few questions for you. As you can tell, the searches have been so far fruitless."
"Searches?" Big Kafei shook. "Yourare destroyingClock Town!"
"I know, I know," Ganondorf said with mock pity. "A shame, really. I'd tell them to stop in an instant, if you would just tell me where those two trespassers went."
"I told you before, I don't know!"
"Perhaps your father the Mayor knows, then."
"He knows nothing of this!"
"Then I suppose he is of no use to me, then?" Ganondorf crossed his arms. "If that is the case-"
"Leave him out of this!" Kafei said angrily. "Why must you do this?"
The Gerudo just smiled again. He did so in an unpleasant way. "Because you'll learn in this world, boy, that there are two types of people: Those that want their way, and those that get their way. I just so happen to be one of those who get my way, without question. It would be wise to learn this before anybody close to you is hurt. Your pretty wife, perhaps."
The red aura flashed angrily again, and Big Kafei was slowly pressed into the ground, as if a giant invisible boulder was laid upon his back. Although he fought, he couldn't fight the overwhelming might of the Triforce of Power. The father crumpled to the ground in a painful heap, and Ganondorf stood over him, shaking his head and clucking his tongue disapprovingly.
"This will continue until either things turn in my favor, or Clock Town is reduced to rubble. Remember that when you make your choices."
With a dramatic swirl of dun-colored drapings, Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo spun on one ponderous heel and walked slowly back the way he had come. The Goriya all stood aside, silent as their Master took his leave.
Timbre, however, stared at Big Kafei's motionless form. Was the man still alive? It was hard to tell, but the Goriyas, goaded back into action now that their Master was gone, were starting to creep forward towards the unmoving man like starving jackals. The snickers on their faces told only too well that they were glad to have a completely helpless victim.
AARGH! Unable to stop himself from acting, Timbre jumped from the roof, and slid awkwardly down the bushels of thatch, hitting the ground at a stumbling run. With a thunderous snarl he charged the Goriya.
"What?" Tael flew down after the wolf as Timbre swiftly covered the distance between the building and Big Kafei's motionless form. The startled little monsters scattered like raindrops at the wolf's rush, stopping a good dozen yards away and staring with wide eyes. Tael hovered closer to Big Kafei, and finally the fairy sighed.
"He's dead, then?"
Timbre looked at Tael, and slowly shook his head. Then his ears twitched as he glanced behind him. Many of the Goriya, having recovered from their initial shock, were starting to inch closer, chattering to each other in their high-squeaks. One took out its wooden boomerang, snickered, and threw it expertly.
Timbre just growled, and as the crude weapon flew at his head, he stepped neatly to one side, jaws clamping down easily on the boomerang. Then, temper still flaring a bit, the wolf bit down disdainfully on the wooden weapon.
SNAP.
Timbre contemptuously spat out the two splintered ends of the ruined boomerang, and glared meaningfully at the Goriya. The entire company took a respectful step back, none of them able to meet eyes with the furious creature.
"Sheesh." Tael's voice had a respectful ring to it. "If this guy's alive, it's a miracle."
At that moment, Big Kafei groaned, and twitched slightly.
"It is a miracle," the fairy said, awed.
"Ouch," Big Kafei mumbled, then slammed an angry fist onto the cobblestone ground as he came more to his senses. "Thatmy son" The son of the Mayor clenched his teeth as he slowly raised his head.
Timbre immediately took several steps back and sat down, still keeping a watchful and stern eye on the crowd of Goriya.
"W-what?" Big Kafei stammered, and slowly sat upright and stared at the two creatures in front of him. "What are-"
"Don't worry, we're friends," Tael assured the confused Hylian.
"We?" Big Kafei squinted. "Isn't that a Wolfos?"
Timbre rolled his eyes.
"Er, not exactly," Tael said delicately. "But that's not the matter to worry about right now-"
"Kafei!" A female voice rang out as a door slammed open for the second time. With a flurry of skirts, Anju hurried out to her husband, drawing back fearfully at the wolf, who was still holding off the Goriyas with a penetrating stare. She was even more shocked when the creature respectfully stood aside, like a patient watchdog. "Kafei, what happened?!"
Big Kafei struggled onto his knees. "Ganondorf. HeI think he took our son, Anju"
The teary-eyed wife instantly fell into an embrace with her husband. "Not Daray!"
The Goriya were beginning to snicker again, and the noise brought the mourning couple to their senses. "We'd best get inside, Anju," Big Kafei said thickly, unable to hide the trail of tears running from each cheek.
Anju nodded, and looked to Timbre. "What about-"
"He's a friend. So am I," Tael declared again.
Big Kafei sighed. "This day in age, I'm not sure who to trust anymore. How do I know you are not lying to us?"
"We are messengersif you hold this town dear, then you'll have to trust us."
The Hylian shrugged hopelessly. "Well, it's not like we have anything left to lose. Very well" Big Kafei struggled upright, though he was clearly depending on his wife for support. Whatever force Ganondorf had used on Big Kafei, it had clearly been crushing.
The pair of Hylians walked back slowly to the Mayor's residence, and behind them walked Timbre, who was still glaring at the horde of Goriyas. Now that their enemies were retreating, their craven hearts seemed to swell boldly.
"Yah!"
"Cowar'!"
"Mutt, broke boom'rang!"
Timbre had to force himself to not turn back. Those monsters were just asking for it. Tael trailed behind them all, still glancing nervously from the wolf to the Goriya horde. He was slightly worried that his companion would suddenly plunge headfirst into the thick of them.
As it was, this was not meant to be. The door closed with a bang as all four entered, followed by the unmistakable scraping of a deadbolt. The Goriya were locked out.
For the moment, anyway.
Anju helped her husband to the living room wordlessly, and gently laid the exhausted man out on the couch. Letting his head fall back, Big Kafei brushed a few strands of violet hair from his eyes. Timbre and Tael had hung back in the foyer, feeling slightly awkward.
"You might as well come in and explain yourselves," he said wearily. The Hylian apparently was nursing a large headache, as he rubbed his temples. Anju, meanwhile, had run off into another room, murmuring about Big Kafei feeling feverish to the touch.
Timbre walked in slowly, not sure of the reaction he was about to receive. It wasn't often he was invited indoors in his current state, so becoming a sudden guest made him feel unusually shy. The big wolf padded over past one couch, and discovered he was not the only one in the room with Big Kafei.
An older couple, whom he recognized as Mayor Dotour and his wife Madam Aroma sat on the smaller couch. Both were clearly showing signs of age. Dotour's hair, once as violet as both his sons', was now almost completely gray. The bags under his eyes were much larger, and wrinkles that had not been there a decade ago crawled across the Mayor's face.
His wife, too, had a tired look in her eyes that hadn't been there before. Her hair, once a slight crimsoned brunette, was now like spun silver, tied back in a simple bun, instead of the elaborate style he'd last seen her wearing. Though still big-boned, she had the look of one who had become sickly and lost weight. Both of them stared at their very odd visitor, and the flickering purple light hovering shyly by the wolf's left ear.
"Whatis that" Madame Aroma said, some of her old fire still in her voice.
"It's alright, Mother," Big Kafei said, managing a half-smile. "He's a friend, or so I've been told."
Mayor Dotour's throat bobbed, and he swallowed several times. "You do realize you've just let a full-grown Wolfos in through the door, son"
Tael piped up suddenly. "He's not a Wolfos!" This statement gained the fairy several raised eyebrows.
Timbre sighed. Guess I'd better let them in on this whole fiasco, he thought. Moments later, he'd reverted to his human self. "He's right."
If the Dotours had been preparing themselves for anything, it wasn't this. Madame Aroma let out an alarmed half-shriek, and both the Mayor and his son's jaws dropped silently. Timbre bowed awkwardly, hoping that he wasn't about to find himself in big trouble.
"I guess I should ask your pardon, I don't mean to alarm," he said with practiced politeness. Formal situations were rather awkward for him, and he had to swallow several times to keep his throat from drying up. He'd never thought he'd dare to reveal his nature in such a blunt manner.
Mayor Dotour stared, but calmed himself enough to speak. "II suppose we're going to be offered an explanation."
"Please," Big Kafei said thickly. "You're one of those two guys Ganondorf is searching for, aren't you?"
Timbre nodded, chewing his lip. "Trust me, we're on your side."
"Where's the other one?" Big Kafei prompted. "Don't worry, I'm not about to turn you in. Nobody deserves that. Like I'm in any condition to, anyway"
Timbre breathed a sigh of relief. "I can't say exactly where, but he's safe, and so is your son."
Big Kafei jerked upright, and winced. "Daray's alright?!"
Timbre nodded. "Link and I, we found him stranded out in Termina Field. That Goriya leader had taken his goggles you see, and snapped his walking stick-"
Big Kafei nearly let loose a string of curses, but desisted in the hearing of his parents. "But is he well?"
Timbre nodded. "He's fine, he wasn't injured, just shaken up a bit. They wanted to return him to you, I think, but it was too risky to return to Clock Town."
"They?" Big Kafei squinted. "You're one of the rebels, aren't you?"
Timbre snorted, finding this slightly funny. "I guess you could say thatI'm certainly against what that tyrant's done to the world, if that's what you mean"
Madame Aroma swallowed. "Is it safeI mean, if we're caught with-"
"Oh, I don't plan to stay here, Madam," Timbre said. "I only came here to make good on a promise to a friend of mineto tell you that your son is alright."
"A friend?"
As Big Kafei spoke, Anju arrived, carrying a bowl filled with water, and a damp cloth. Upon sighting Timbre, she nearly dropped the entire thing in shock. "What are youwait, you stayed at the Inn the other night...what happened to the Wolfos?"
Timbre nodded and waved. "Er, don't worry about it, Anju."
For some reason, hearing her own name seemed to calm her down. "Where's the other one?" Anju asked curiously, kneeling down beside her husband, pushing him back into a reclined position. She wrung out the wet cloth and put it on Big Kafei's forehead.
"Everyone's fine. We'reout of town, somewhere. I can't tell you where, though."
"What about my son?" Big Kafei demanded.
Anju jerked upright. "Daray? You know where he is?" Timbre suddenly found the red-haired mother staring at him with desperate brown eyes, and all he could do was shrug helplessly.
"He's safe, that's all I can say. I can't risk anyone overhearing-"
Tael nodded from his perch, which was currently Timbre's shoulder.
"Yeah, it was risky enough of him just to come to tell you guys in the first place!"
"You're not making this any easier," Timbre reprimanded the fairy.
The older Mayor and his wife, who had remained silent for some time, shuffled.
"You'renot planning on staying here?" Madam Aroma said finally.
Timbre shook his head. "No, I'll be out of town before noonwhat time is it now?"
"You've got about an hour," Mayor Dotour said after checking his pocketwatch.
"What about Daray?" Big Kafei reiterated. "Will you be bringing him back?"
Timbre sighed. "I don't know"
Mayor Dotour spoke up again. "If he's returned, it'll be hard to sneak him under Ganondorf's nose. And he'll be bound to notice that the boy who supposedly was lost has returned" Here he looked at his son with a penetrating stare that was quite unlike his formerly twitchy manner. "It would be risky for Daray to return. Do you really wish to endanger your son like this?"
Anju looked sharply at her husband. "If we were found outGanondorf would demand more questions, and we still wouldn't have any answers. And Ganondorf has proved in the past he feels no remorse over murdering the innocent-" Anju quickly turned her head away and rewetted the cloth, wiping her eyes casually as she did so.
Big Kafei nodded, though his eyes looked pained. Timbre felt miserable. He'd known that just telling them their son was okay wouldn't be enough. They wanted their child back, to see him and have him under their care where he aught to be. But under the circumstances, reuniting the separated family would be nearly impossible. He wasn't sure why, but the thought of that made it difficult for him to swallow.
Suddenly, Timbre had an idea. "What if you came with-"
"I couldn'tClock Town needs me, more than ever now" Big Kafei groaned miserably, and Anju re-wetted the cloth, wiping her eyes a second time. "I can't leave."
Tael just nodded.
"And I cannot leave my husband," Anju swallowed. "Daray will therefore have to remain where he isfor his safetyis he well? Is he happy?"
"He's happy and well, yes, though he misses you terribly." This was true. The previous night had been difficult for the little boy, who'd tossed, turned, and fretted for hours, before finally falling asleep in Kafei's arms. Timbre was sure that it would've been even more difficult to calm the boy without Kafei's presence.
Madam Aroma cleared her throat. "It is nearly noon."
"Then I believe I must go," Timbre said.
"How will you leave town without them knowing?" Mayor Dotour asked.
"The same way I got in," Timbre said. Then he sobered. "I'm sorry I've brought you so much grief," he said awkwardly.
"No, you did a very noble thing, and at great personal risk, I might add," Mayor Dotour said. "There's no need to apologize."
"At least I know my son is alive," Big Kafei said. "And I am grateful for that."
Anju stared at the floor desperately, bit her lip, then looked over at the raven-haired youth with an expression that nearly brought him to tears. "Tell him we send our love, and that we will see him again."
Timbre's eyes radiated assurance, though even he wasn't able to hide the slight tremolo in his voice as he answered. "I'll do that, ma'am."
*****
Kafei and the Keaton were regarding the green-clad Hylian as he finally finished his story. For a moment, a kind of silence hung over the air, until Daray, who was happily seated in his uncle's lap, spoke up.
"So, you knew Kafei when he was my age?"
"Yeah," Link said with a slight smile. "Though he won't remember it, I think."
"I don't," Kafei said, eyebrows raised in wonderment. "It's hard to believe-"
"But he spoke the truth," wheezed the Keaton. "What remains to be seen is if you will remember at some later point."
"I think you will," Link said. "Maybe when we met up with others. There's Sond and Nick. Those names ring a bell?"
Kafei shook his head. "Sorry."
"Hmm. Do you remember Ty? Or Chiron? Or Kat? Come on, don't you remember Kat? The times she blasted everyone with her overzealous Din's Fire?" Link quirked an eyebrow.
"Nope," The shadowed Hylian shrugged unhappily. "Then again, I really don't remember a lot. I've got a horrible memory. Didn't remember my own name for almost a week when Pamela found me. Blows to the head can do that to you."
"You got hit on the head too?" Daray's head turned towards Kafei's chin. "Like I said, we got a lot in common, eh?"
"Yeah. I wonder when that friend of yours is coming back."
Link smirked. "Just start cooking lunch. He'll smell it from miles away and come running," Link smirked. "And it doesn't even have to be good food, he'll eat anything when he feels like it."
"Well, it makes sense," the Keaton said. "Metabolically-"
"Meta-what?" Link raised an eyebrow.
"Well" the Keaton cleared its throat importantly. "Your friend, due to his nature, requires much more energy than a normal human to function, therefore his internal systems are going to require more food to operate. Thus as he gets hungrier, he's going to feel more ill at ease."
"Tell me about it," Link grumbled. "All he does when he's hungry is complain."
"You would too," the Keaton said primly. "Now, to the business of the shard-"
The shard! "Yeah, we should definitely do something about that." Already his left hand was twitching again. "I know where it is, in the possession of Boss Blind. But how do I get it back?"
"I suppose you'll have to steal it, somehow. As soon as your friend returns, you must move in great haste to retrieve it from the Goriya, by whatever means necessary. From what you've said, it is of the utmost importance that your quest succeed." Watching Link nod in agreement, the fox continued. "Where is the general location of the shard at this moment?"
Link shut his eyes and concentrated. The tug lurched, but instead of an incessant pull, like it often would do, yanking him off his feet, it felt strangely disjointed. If he used a simple analogy- say that of one end of a line was tied to his wrist and the other to the missing piece - it would be like the line were growing slack, as if the goal on the other end wasn't pulling away. Almost as if-
"It'smoving. It's movingtowards us" Link said, eyes still closed.
"Towards us?" Kafei blinked. "Odd."
"Yeah, it's odd, alright" Link's left hand slowly rotated, pointing towards the front door of the Music Box House, where a the window allowed light to enter. As the morning had progressed, the intensity of the light (and the transparency of Kafei) had increased. "It's approaching fromthis way." His eyes snapped open. "If it's approaching us-" He looked over at Kafei with a worried expression. "The shard is attached to the Goriya leader's boomerang."
Wordlessly Kafei rose, and gently deposited Daray in his seat. Striding across the floor, Link watched, amazed as the violet-haired Hylian randomly faded in and out as the light from the windows cast over him in his passing.
He paused a while, staring impassively out the window. Then he turned his head away and looked at the others. He sighed.
Taking the cue, Link stood and crossed the room, staring out the window. He swallowed with difficulty as he stared out, clear-eyed, into the coarse and angular rock landscape.
Boss Blind and a squadron of Goriya were standing outside.
*****
Bah! Cliffhanger! My apologies. I've been working on this chapter for a while, cause I had a lot of trouble with some of the Clock Town scenes. I still think the Dotours are slightly more trusting then they would be. Then again, if all they had to hang on is hopebesides, the fact that the person who came to them is currently a criminal' in Ganondorf's eye is probably enough proof for them. Other odd things to note: I found it funny that the Keaton mentions matters of consequence' because it suddenly brought me back to reading The Little Prince,' which has a fox in it. I think in odd ways. Pictures:
http://www.side7.com/cgi-bin/S7SDB/DisplayImg.pl?INO=243626 -- It's Link, eating oatmeal. Rejoice as I sort of figure out how to draw his hair. O_o
http://www.side7.com/cgi-bin/S7SDB/DisplayImg.pl?INO=244998 -- That's just a random Goriya. At least that's the way I imagine them. Had to look up the manual picture, and kind of base it off of those.
That's it for now. If updates are a bit slow, blame it on the bleepload of college work I have to do. See ya later!