Chapter III: Reona

            I had no idea where to start.  With no idea where Symmetry Village was, or even how close I was to there, I was pretty much stranded in the middle of a strange forest.  But that didn't diminish my determination any at all.  Surely there was a town somewhere around here...

            I heard a giggle from behind me, and a tiny figure darted into view, tripping a few times but instantly hopping right back up.

"Michi?" the tiny young girl questioned, bright brown eyes shining happily.

"No, I'm not Michi,"  I replied, realizing if a young child was around, there was probably an adult around too.  "Are you looking for Michi?"

"Michi!" the little girl giggled.  She had short, black hair that had been pulled up into pigtails on each side of her head, and wore an old, purple dress.  "Michi!"

"Where is Michi?" I tried again.

            The little girl suddenly grew pale, reaching up as if wanting me to pick her up.  A scared expression was in her eyes.  I reached down and picked her up, and she buried her face in my shirt.

"Michi," she cried, then pointed a tiny finger behind me.  I slowly turned around to see a tall, shadow-like man that somewhat resembled none other than Ganon himself standing behind me.  He smirked evilly.

"The Hero arrives," the shadow said, reaching for the young girl.  I instantly reached up to hit him away, and he shoved me down.  My head hit something sharp, and darkness filled my mind slowly but surely.  I could hear the little girl crying, and felt someone take my sword.

            A black and violet blur and a series of cries from the Ganon-shadow could be heard, but through blurred vision I couldn't make out what exactly was going on.  I felt gentle hands turn me over and sigh.

"Hold on," were the last things I heard before unconsciousness overtook me.

                                                                        ~//~

"Michi!"  I heard the little girl's voice again, and felt a small ball of energy viciously hugging me.

"Oh now, get off of him already,"  came another voice, somewhat exasperated and somewhat amused.  "I highly doubt he's up to playing with you."

"Michi," the girl sighed, getting off of me.  I opened my eyes and sat up slowly, taking in my surroundings.  A small, poor-looking, yet clean house.  The little girl I'd met now stood at the feet of an older, taller girl.

"Well, he saved you.  Tell him thank you!"  the girl ordered, but was smiling.  Her brown eyes, much like those of the little girl's, sparkled and she had short, shoulder-length blonde hair.

"Thank chu," the little girl giggled, giving me a little curtsey.

"Now introduce yourself," the older instructed.

"Ochiyo!" the girl beamed, pointing at herself.

"Nice to meet you, Ochiyo," I nodded, then looked to the older one.  "Were you the one who saved me?"

"Nope.  I haven't done anything to help you, really, 'cept try to keep Ochi off of ya," the girl smiled.  "I'm Michiko."

"Michi..." I mused.  "Then Ochiyo must have been looking for you yesterday."

"Ochi's always sneaking off.  I work a bit away from here, and she's always trying to find me."

"Then who was it who saved me?"

"I'll let her introduce herself," Michiko shrugged.

            I took the moment to look around the room.  My shield lay propped up against the wall, along with my small bag of stuff.  But my sword was no where in sight.

"Ah, stupid Ree," Michiko sighed.  "She's got your sword.  If you'll watch Ochi for a moment, I'll go find her."

"Okay," I said, hating the idea of being unarmed.  My Kokiri sword wasn't even there...

            Michiko re-entered, followed by another girl.  About Michiko's age, the girl stood maybe an inch or so taller than Michiko's height of about 5'3".  That was as far as the resemblance went.  The girl had black hair with violet streaks through it, and greyish eyes the color of the ocean on a stormy day.  A smile crossed her face as Ochiyo rushed over to her.

"Ree!"  Ochiyo cried happily, throwing her arms around the girl's knees.

"Ochi," the grey-eyed girl acknowledged the young child.  She was dressed unlike Michiko and Ochiyo, who were both wearing dresses.  This girl was dressed in a white shirt and a pair of blue pants, and I could see she had a sword and a shield of her own in addition to mine.  She turned to me.  "And you are?"

            I was a bit reluctant to tell the girl my name, realizing I had no reason to trust her.

"Look," she sighed impatiently.  "I didn't steal either of your swords.  After fighting the Shadow with them, I realized that they're dreadfully blunt.  Very well used.  I got them sharpened for you at a discount price."

            So she'd taken my money too.

"Twenty rupees!  I don't think that's bad at all," the girl smacked her forehead, and knelt by my bed, handing me my swords as if I were a king and she were some lowly peasant.  Part of me wondered if this was some sort of Labrynnian custom, but the other part told me simply the girl was being sarcastic.  I took my swords cautiously, and she stood up and bowed deeply towards me.  "I thank you for saving Ochi."

"I thank you for saving me," I said, then realized I'd probably have to trust this girl.  She had saved my life, after all.  Maybe she wasn't that bad.  I did need a guide to Symmetry Village, after all.  "I'm Link."

"A pleasure," the girl nodded.  "I am Reona."

"Ree was the one who saved you and Ochi from the Shadow," Michiko put in.

"What is this...shadow?"  I asked.

            Reona blinked a few times, taken aback.

"Everyone in Labrynna knows of the Shadow that torments us. The Shadow of a man named Ganondorf, King of a Faraway Land.  He seeks the Oracle of Secrets and her amazing powers, and yet only one can access her location," Reona explained vaguely, staring at me like I was some sort of alien.  "Where are you from?"

"A long story,"  I sighed, standing up and reaching for the back of my head where something had hit me.  I was well bandaged up, and felt just fine.

"That's Ree's healing magic for ya!"  Michiko said proudly.

"Ree!"  Ochiyo giggled, hugging Michiko and then hugging Reona.

"Thank you, Miss Reona."

"Please, it's just Reona," Reona smiled.  "I'm nothing special."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Yes, you may," Reona answered.

"I...have business in Symmetry Village.  Would you be able to give me directions to get there?" I asked.

"How well do you know the land?"  Reona frowned.

"Not...very well..." I admitted truthfully.

"Well, I have business in Symmetry Village as well," Reona smiled.  "If you're willing to wait a day, which I think would help your condition and recovery speed out a lot, I will travel with you.  The path there is long, though, I warn you."

"I have to get there," I shrugged.  "I'll take any path I have to take."

            Reona nodded.

"Then rest, Link, and we shall leave tomorrow morning."

            I laid back down, but sleep didn't come.  The Shadow from yesterday filled my mind.

"Nighty!" Ochiyo beamed, reaching up and hugging me before grabbing Michiko's hand and dragging her out of the room.

            Reona walked over to me and lay a soft, cool hand on my forehead.

"May sleep come easily for you, and recovery as well," she murmured, and I instantly felt at peace and fell asleep.

                                                                        ~//~