Day IV

The witches.

The young Ganondorf soon learned how fragile Kaysho's little body was. Under watchful eyes, he, with the utmost care, bandaged Kaysho's bloody limbs and cooled his burning forehead. He kept his gaze away from those who were watching him. They were considered his step-aunts, and were raising him to someday rule their land…or perhaps more? They, the sister Great Sorceresses Koume and Kotake. Kotake didn't seem to mind the keaton around one bit; it was, after all, good fortune to be near one. And Koume hastily agreed, much to Ganondorf's content. But soon after Kaysho started to head, both left. Left to the top of their mysterious temple, a where not even Ganondorf wanted to roam, for the stench of rotting animal flesh. They all found how much Kaysho loved to talk to people, surprising, for an 'animal.'

Kaysho healed slowly, but soon enough, walking and talking again. Ganondorf and he kept each other good company, for a life alone in a abandoned temple was sometimes a sad life. Kaysho would tell Ganondorf tales of warriors who saved lands, and more often, ancient legends of Hyrule. Ganondorf seemed more interested in the legends, even though many had no definite ending. Ganondorf's curiosity and fascination brought about a smile to Kaysho's face. There was one tale, especially, that Ganondorf liked the most. He would not mind hearing it night after night…the legend of the Triforce.

"It is an ancient legend," Kaysho would start, "that tells of the creation of the land that we stand upon. The legend of the Triforce is this…

"Long long ago, before life and time began, Hyrule was nothing but chaos in itself. This was of the time before time, or at least before beings existed that could reckon time, or care about its passage. The land of Hyrule was born when three goddesses, Din, Nayru and Farore, descended from the heavens and brought order to this chaotic realm. They populated their new creation with five different humanoid races. First came the fish-like Zora in the watery regions of the world. In the dense mountains, the rock-eating Gorons rose up from the earth. In the depths of the forest, the elfin Kokiri sprung up, along with their guardian, the Deku Tree, who sheltered them from outside forces. The swarthy Gerudo inhabited Hyrule's deserts, and in the verdant plains, the noble and zealous Hylians grew powerful.

Before leaving their new world, the three goddesses imparted on the newborn races a sacred code of law and order. When they departed Hyrule for the heavens, they left behind a symbol of their power, the legendary essence, Triforce! Representing the three aspects of the goddesses, Power, Courage and Wisdom, the Triforce became a sacred and lusted after item, but to this day no mortal has so much as touched it…"

"The boy's mind…he fills it with outside thoughts." Koume said to Kotake one morning, from the dark depths of their tower. Though surrounded by darkness, they were ever watchful.

"Kaysho. He doesn't know." Kotake observed.

"Yes," Koume agreed, and slowly nodded, "It's better he doesn't."

"Shouldn't he? He would be a powerful ally…"

Koume shook her head. "No." held up her hand, and from the very air above it, grew a small growing orb. At first, small and as shiny as a wet pearl, but it grew and sprouted colors. Green, brown, blue, white, it's colors swirled until they lay still, in the pattern so illogical and yet so perfect.

"Earth…" Kotake said slowly, half in question and half in wonder.

Koume nodded. She spun around the glowing earth in her grasp, and saw the reflection of Ganondorf in it. "He can't know," she looked back to the earth for a moment, and then suddenly it shattered. She looked back up to Kotake…

"Would you do it?"

So it came time that Kaysho had healed, and he was able to go on his way again. But neither he nor Ganondorf wanted to part, they had made a bond…a friendship. So the one morning, Kaysho followed a scent, with his keen nose, up the temple steps and floor, up endless stairwells and through uncountable corridors till he reached the top of the temple. He wanted to wrinkle his nose at the smell, but could not, in fear of offending the witches. Inside a large chamber that smelt of wolfos hide and Dodongo fang, was the workspace of Koume and Kotake. Kaysho tiptoed in, and watched curiously as the odd witches worked. They barked things at each other, while flipping madly through spell books and tossing all sorts of things into their cauldron of bubbling liquid.

"Tissels and tassels, create our stew!" Koume shouted with an evil gleefulness in her old voice, as she tossed a bottle of glowing mist into the cauldron, not bothering to keep the bottle.

"Oh please don't explode this time, our glooping goo!" Kotake added on, giggling drunkly, as she carelessly chucked a sack of dragon's scales the stew as well.

Kaysho watched for another moment, and then suddenly realized his rudeness in doing so, and meekly stepped out into view. After a short moment, Kotake looked down and took notice of the little keaton, sitting on the floor and smiling shyly. "Good morning." Kaysho said, looking up at the two as they flew down to him, each on an enchanted broom.

"What is it, Keaton?" Kotake asked, for Koume and she had not yet learned his name.

"…First, I'd like to thank you for letting me stay here." Kaysho said quickly, and bowed his head for a moment, "You were very kind to me-"

Koume cut him off, "It was not us. Ganondorf was kind to you." She said matter-of-factually, and looked down at the keaton.

"Are you saying…?" Kotake began, with a bit kinder tone, "That you want to stay here?"

Kaysho looked up at her, paused for a moment, and then nodded, "Yes! I am. I've no other friends like that boy…I want to stay with him."

Koume crossed her arms and paused for a moment, while Kotake thought. "I think it will be alright, sister." Kotake said, "What harm can this mere little keaton bring us?"

"I'm not sure…" Koume said, then they both continued to argue for a few minutes, as if Kaysho weren't even there. Finally, Koume gave in and with a flick of her wrist, shooed Kaysho out of the room. He gratefully left, and started back down to the more familiar parts of the Spirit Temple, only to collide with Ganondorf halfway down. They tumbled down a staircase and landed on top of each other.

"Kaysho!" He exclaimed, "What are you doing here? …I thought you'd already left…did you come to say goodbye?" He asked, while frowning.

Kaysho rested his paws on Ganondorf's torso. "I don't wish to say goodbye." He smiled, and Ganondorf caught on while Kaysho continued, "So I won't."

"…Hide it." Koume said to Kotake.