Chapter 3
A few minutes later a field of green appeared in front of them. Avalon looked in awe as an island appeared seemingly out of nowhere. It was covered in palm trees and leafy bushes. A massive age-weathered temple sprouted before them. Vines clung to the exterior as if they were trying to find ways inside. Trees had grown inside of it and the middle looked as if the roof had been gone long ago. A small stream trickled out of the entrance to the temple and fed a waterfall into the cove. "This is paradise," Avalon murmured, "How is it that no one knows that this is here?"
Link climbed up a small ledge and looked back at her. "Because no one should know it's here," he told her, "And my students don't tell anyone it's here. The temple has to remain unspoiled so that we have as pure of an environment as possible. It helps us know when things are not right."
She nodded, and smiled. "So where do I sleep tonight?"
The shyguy nodded with happiness. "Our living quarters are not quite as fancy as your highness is used to, but they are still very beautiful indeed. Follow me. Link needs to prepare a few things, and you need to get in fighting clothes."
Link was on top of a rock next to the shore of a small pond. He looked as if he was thinking about something important, so she followed the shyguy so Link could have peace.
He lead her through the temple entrance, which had trhe gentle stream of water. The shyguy hopped over the stream and she copied him. He wove around the roots of the trees, which were quite large, as the trees were. All of the trees had exotic looking fruits on them, and she wondered if they were edible or just pretty.
There were a few doorways, and they all had sheer netting instead of doors. Most of the doorway coverings were white, but a few had colors. Anteguy walked through a door with red netting and she followed him and observed the spacious, yet plain room. A very soft looking bed, which actually was a humongous down filled silk pillow, was in the corner with smaller pillows on it. The bed was ivory with several throw blankets of all different colors, a rug made from white animal skins was on the floor in front of a table with a burning candle on it and a few books written in a text she couldn't read.
There was also a window, which had a bamboo shade covering it. There were potted plants all over, making the room feel more welcoming and exotic. By the look on her face, she wasn't pleased.
"Don't insult Master Link." He reminded her. "Link is a good guy but if you insult him, he will be very angry with you."
She dropped her bags and nodded. "I know. I think the room is lovely, but where do I change? I need privacy and there is no door."
Anteguy snickered. "Get used to it. You bathe in the open too!!! I will leave you to get in your training outfit. Senesei wants to see you in the courtyard when you are dressed. The courtyard is the archway across from you, with the pale green netting."
She felt very uneasy changing after he left. She finally decided to tie a blanket between two of the plants in her room and change behind there. She had a tougher time getting dressed, but she felt better about the privacy.
Donning a white tank top and red pants, she hurried to meet him in bare feet. She carried her red silk slippers in her hands to keep them dry. Her sword was at her side, and her hair up in a ponytail.
"You took quite a long time. How do you like your room?" link leaned against an olive tree, and cleaned his sword on a piece of cloth. The courtyard was sunbathed, fruit and olive trees were planted and growing in square holes in the ancient mud brick.
She put on her slippers, and smiled at him. "My room is very lovely. This place is so peaceful. I may not ever want to go back to Delfino!" She announced.
Link nodded with approval. "I am very happy to hear that. If you don't wish to return to Delfino, then I won't make you. That is, until you make me angry." The tone started out being somewhat friendly, and morphed into one of seriousness.
Ava turned and looked around at all of the trees. A small bird chirped and wove some straw around between two branches, creating himself a home. She enjoyed how uninhabited, untainted this land was. Too bad she had promised to be at her sister's wedding. She really didn't want to go. Maybe she wouldn't tell her sensei. Maybe she would be a no show!
"We don't have much time to train. The sun is almost down and after your lesson, you will want food and sleep, I guarantee."
She turned, and nodded. The sun shone on her hair making it appear like spun gold, and attracting her sensei's attention for just a moment, as he looked her over. She was indeed beautiful, just like Geno had said. But was she a good fighter? She was much cuter than any girl he had ever seen, even prettier than the princess in his world.
"What's wrong?" She asked, noticing his stare. "You're giving me a strange look. Did I do something wrong?"
Link unsheathed his sword, and stared at her, getting in a fighting stance. "In a second you will. I will best you, and you will get offended." He predicted with a grin. "So how about you take the first swing?"
She readied her sword, and glared at him. "I despise it when people underestimate me!" She exclaimed, as she swung her sword. It knocked the little green hat off of his head and into the dust. "is this a kill fight, or just a small spar?" She smirked and leaned on her sword.
"If you move fast enough, it will be a spar! Otherwise..." He swung his sword at her, and she leapt over it, sticking her tongue out
"I'm too fast for you!" She exclaimed. "What do I get if I win?"
"You get to know the fact that you beat me when I was going easy on you." He stabbed toward her, and she raised her leg, and kicked it from his hands, sending it flying, and piercing a tree, coming out the other side.
Link crossed his arms. "Dirty trick! You wouldn't stab an unarmed person would you? That wouldn't be fair."
She dropped her sword, and bowed slightly. "You're right. I wouldn't stab an unarmed man." She came at him, kicking her leg far over her head, and kicking his chest just enough to show him that she knew what she was doing. "But I can still beat you up!"
He grabbed her foot, and flipped her. She didn't hit the ground. He picked her up by the waist and placed her on her feet.
She shook her head. "Unfair! I was going easy on you!"
Link snapped at her. "In your kingdom, are sensei treated with disrespect? Because, you are disrespecting me! Not only because of how you talk to me, but also by holding back your attacks. I am able to take what you dish out, and that is why I am a sensei, and you are student."
She frowned. "I don't want to hurt you, because I know you will hurt me back. You're a fairy." She replied. "And you will zap me!"
"I am not a fairy! Why do all of my students think I am a fairy? I always have to explain myself... Why do you think I'm a fairy?" He demanded, as he looked at the sun. It was almost set.
"Well, you have pointy ears! And you have muscles, and you're blonde with blue eyes. Blondes with blue eyes are enchanted. Everyone knows that! You also dress like a fairy! So are you a fairy?"
"I am not a fairy! I'm hylian!"
Her eyes sparkled. "Do you grant wishes?"
"No, I don't grant wishes! I'm just like you, but I'm stronger and I have pointy ears."
"Your ears are very strange. They are so big and pointy." She remarked, as she stared at him in wonder.
"Your ears are strange too. They are so small and rounded." When he said this, he could tell that she was offended. "Well, it's because you're not hylian. Everyone from my world has ears like this. I mean, your ears are perfect, I'm sure, to your people."
Her eyes lost their sparkle. "I was hoping you were a star spirit." She started to trudge off. "I need to take a bath. Which way to the bathing room?"
He pointed to a waterfall, with a crisp clear stream. The water was completely crystal clear and beautiful. "I wouldn't recommend you bathing at night. There are poisonous snakes, and it's a hot spring. The reptiles go there for heat at night."
She shivered. "Uhhh.... snakes... I don't like... snakes, or any other type of reptile. I think I will wait... until the morning." She replied, as she smiled at him nervously. She adjusted her tiara, and looked around some more at the orchard. "These are strange fruits. Are any of them edible?"
Link had picked a basketful, and was behind her. He poked her, and she turned. "Every tree here has edible fruit, except the Scarlet. It's he tree with the black branches, silver leaves and red berries. Don't go near it. The Scarlet Nectar berries are extremely poisonous. If you eat one, it tastes like the most delicious thing ever, but then you'd better get a physician. They do serve one good use, though. They make wonderful, nonpoisonous liquor."
She nodded. "Strange fruits." She poked one of the things in the basket gently. "What is this?" It was a bright orange fruit that was odd shaped.
"Star fruit. Geno loved that! He had two things he really fancied on the island. He even took seeds from the two plants that he liked."
She poked another one, which was bright red, and spiky. The tips of the spikes were tinted black. "It looks very poisonous!"
Link beamed. "It is not poisonous, it is perfect. That is a Koopafruit. It is the best one we have on the island. It is a hybrid between starfruit, dragonfruit mango, and scarlet nectar. It is Geno's other favorite. I created this fruit myself. It looks like this thing I battled, called, "King Koopa."
She shivered. "Yes, I know him." She rubbed a scar on her arm. It was three slash-marks that looked like they had been left by a claw. Her eyes glazed over and she wandered away, sitting on a small stone bench and watching the sunset. She no longer could hold in the tears. She sat there with her face in her hands, sobbing. She wished that Geno were there. She was in trouble. Deep trouble, and she needed someone to talk to.
A few minutes later a field of green appeared in front of them. Avalon looked in awe as an island appeared seemingly out of nowhere. It was covered in palm trees and leafy bushes. A massive age-weathered temple sprouted before them. Vines clung to the exterior as if they were trying to find ways inside. Trees had grown inside of it and the middle looked as if the roof had been gone long ago. A small stream trickled out of the entrance to the temple and fed a waterfall into the cove. "This is paradise," Avalon murmured, "How is it that no one knows that this is here?"
Link climbed up a small ledge and looked back at her. "Because no one should know it's here," he told her, "And my students don't tell anyone it's here. The temple has to remain unspoiled so that we have as pure of an environment as possible. It helps us know when things are not right."
She nodded, and smiled. "So where do I sleep tonight?"
The shyguy nodded with happiness. "Our living quarters are not quite as fancy as your highness is used to, but they are still very beautiful indeed. Follow me. Link needs to prepare a few things, and you need to get in fighting clothes."
Link was on top of a rock next to the shore of a small pond. He looked as if he was thinking about something important, so she followed the shyguy so Link could have peace.
He lead her through the temple entrance, which had trhe gentle stream of water. The shyguy hopped over the stream and she copied him. He wove around the roots of the trees, which were quite large, as the trees were. All of the trees had exotic looking fruits on them, and she wondered if they were edible or just pretty.
There were a few doorways, and they all had sheer netting instead of doors. Most of the doorway coverings were white, but a few had colors. Anteguy walked through a door with red netting and she followed him and observed the spacious, yet plain room. A very soft looking bed, which actually was a humongous down filled silk pillow, was in the corner with smaller pillows on it. The bed was ivory with several throw blankets of all different colors, a rug made from white animal skins was on the floor in front of a table with a burning candle on it and a few books written in a text she couldn't read.
There was also a window, which had a bamboo shade covering it. There were potted plants all over, making the room feel more welcoming and exotic. By the look on her face, she wasn't pleased.
"Don't insult Master Link." He reminded her. "Link is a good guy but if you insult him, he will be very angry with you."
She dropped her bags and nodded. "I know. I think the room is lovely, but where do I change? I need privacy and there is no door."
Anteguy snickered. "Get used to it. You bathe in the open too!!! I will leave you to get in your training outfit. Senesei wants to see you in the courtyard when you are dressed. The courtyard is the archway across from you, with the pale green netting."
She felt very uneasy changing after he left. She finally decided to tie a blanket between two of the plants in her room and change behind there. She had a tougher time getting dressed, but she felt better about the privacy.
Donning a white tank top and red pants, she hurried to meet him in bare feet. She carried her red silk slippers in her hands to keep them dry. Her sword was at her side, and her hair up in a ponytail.
"You took quite a long time. How do you like your room?" link leaned against an olive tree, and cleaned his sword on a piece of cloth. The courtyard was sunbathed, fruit and olive trees were planted and growing in square holes in the ancient mud brick.
She put on her slippers, and smiled at him. "My room is very lovely. This place is so peaceful. I may not ever want to go back to Delfino!" She announced.
Link nodded with approval. "I am very happy to hear that. If you don't wish to return to Delfino, then I won't make you. That is, until you make me angry." The tone started out being somewhat friendly, and morphed into one of seriousness.
Ava turned and looked around at all of the trees. A small bird chirped and wove some straw around between two branches, creating himself a home. She enjoyed how uninhabited, untainted this land was. Too bad she had promised to be at her sister's wedding. She really didn't want to go. Maybe she wouldn't tell her sensei. Maybe she would be a no show!
"We don't have much time to train. The sun is almost down and after your lesson, you will want food and sleep, I guarantee."
She turned, and nodded. The sun shone on her hair making it appear like spun gold, and attracting her sensei's attention for just a moment, as he looked her over. She was indeed beautiful, just like Geno had said. But was she a good fighter? She was much cuter than any girl he had ever seen, even prettier than the princess in his world.
"What's wrong?" She asked, noticing his stare. "You're giving me a strange look. Did I do something wrong?"
Link unsheathed his sword, and stared at her, getting in a fighting stance. "In a second you will. I will best you, and you will get offended." He predicted with a grin. "So how about you take the first swing?"
She readied her sword, and glared at him. "I despise it when people underestimate me!" She exclaimed, as she swung her sword. It knocked the little green hat off of his head and into the dust. "is this a kill fight, or just a small spar?" She smirked and leaned on her sword.
"If you move fast enough, it will be a spar! Otherwise..." He swung his sword at her, and she leapt over it, sticking her tongue out
"I'm too fast for you!" She exclaimed. "What do I get if I win?"
"You get to know the fact that you beat me when I was going easy on you." He stabbed toward her, and she raised her leg, and kicked it from his hands, sending it flying, and piercing a tree, coming out the other side.
Link crossed his arms. "Dirty trick! You wouldn't stab an unarmed person would you? That wouldn't be fair."
She dropped her sword, and bowed slightly. "You're right. I wouldn't stab an unarmed man." She came at him, kicking her leg far over her head, and kicking his chest just enough to show him that she knew what she was doing. "But I can still beat you up!"
He grabbed her foot, and flipped her. She didn't hit the ground. He picked her up by the waist and placed her on her feet.
She shook her head. "Unfair! I was going easy on you!"
Link snapped at her. "In your kingdom, are sensei treated with disrespect? Because, you are disrespecting me! Not only because of how you talk to me, but also by holding back your attacks. I am able to take what you dish out, and that is why I am a sensei, and you are student."
She frowned. "I don't want to hurt you, because I know you will hurt me back. You're a fairy." She replied. "And you will zap me!"
"I am not a fairy! Why do all of my students think I am a fairy? I always have to explain myself... Why do you think I'm a fairy?" He demanded, as he looked at the sun. It was almost set.
"Well, you have pointy ears! And you have muscles, and you're blonde with blue eyes. Blondes with blue eyes are enchanted. Everyone knows that! You also dress like a fairy! So are you a fairy?"
"I am not a fairy! I'm hylian!"
Her eyes sparkled. "Do you grant wishes?"
"No, I don't grant wishes! I'm just like you, but I'm stronger and I have pointy ears."
"Your ears are very strange. They are so big and pointy." She remarked, as she stared at him in wonder.
"Your ears are strange too. They are so small and rounded." When he said this, he could tell that she was offended. "Well, it's because you're not hylian. Everyone from my world has ears like this. I mean, your ears are perfect, I'm sure, to your people."
Her eyes lost their sparkle. "I was hoping you were a star spirit." She started to trudge off. "I need to take a bath. Which way to the bathing room?"
He pointed to a waterfall, with a crisp clear stream. The water was completely crystal clear and beautiful. "I wouldn't recommend you bathing at night. There are poisonous snakes, and it's a hot spring. The reptiles go there for heat at night."
She shivered. "Uhhh.... snakes... I don't like... snakes, or any other type of reptile. I think I will wait... until the morning." She replied, as she smiled at him nervously. She adjusted her tiara, and looked around some more at the orchard. "These are strange fruits. Are any of them edible?"
Link had picked a basketful, and was behind her. He poked her, and she turned. "Every tree here has edible fruit, except the Scarlet. It's he tree with the black branches, silver leaves and red berries. Don't go near it. The Scarlet Nectar berries are extremely poisonous. If you eat one, it tastes like the most delicious thing ever, but then you'd better get a physician. They do serve one good use, though. They make wonderful, nonpoisonous liquor."
She nodded. "Strange fruits." She poked one of the things in the basket gently. "What is this?" It was a bright orange fruit that was odd shaped.
"Star fruit. Geno loved that! He had two things he really fancied on the island. He even took seeds from the two plants that he liked."
She poked another one, which was bright red, and spiky. The tips of the spikes were tinted black. "It looks very poisonous!"
Link beamed. "It is not poisonous, it is perfect. That is a Koopafruit. It is the best one we have on the island. It is a hybrid between starfruit, dragonfruit mango, and scarlet nectar. It is Geno's other favorite. I created this fruit myself. It looks like this thing I battled, called, "King Koopa."
She shivered. "Yes, I know him." She rubbed a scar on her arm. It was three slash-marks that looked like they had been left by a claw. Her eyes glazed over and she wandered away, sitting on a small stone bench and watching the sunset. She no longer could hold in the tears. She sat there with her face in her hands, sobbing. She wished that Geno were there. She was in trouble. Deep trouble, and she needed someone to talk to.
