Tale 5: The Sound and the Fury
Zelda squinted, trying to see through the red pickup truck with the drums in their cases strapped down in the back with bungee cables. Carefully, she set down her bass on the concrete floor of the garage and stood, stretching. Mikau was already halfway down the driveway and then behind the cabin of the truck, out of Zelda's range of vision. She heard his voice distinctively, though, and then a low, deep rumble, like thunder, or boulders sliding down a mountain.
A big, beefy young man came around the edge of the truck, his skin such a dark tan that Zelda wondered if he had any ancestors from Africa. There were several red tattoos on his upper arms, and he had a goatee, bleached silver like his hair and eyebrows. However, the white hair didn't give him a preppy surfer look – instead, it made him look fierce and threatening. He had a scowling face that would have been intimidating had it not been formed into a smile as he pulled his friend into a one-armed bear hug.
"Hey brotha'," Darmani boomed. "Glad to hear you finally found a decent bassist. Where's the girl?"
"Garage," came Mikau's slightly strangled voice. "I'll start getting the drums out."
"You do that, brotha'." Zelda watched as Darmani proceeded up the driveway, swinging his muscular arms. Around his neck glinted a ball-and-chain necklace, adding to the threatening and powerful presence he emitted. When he stopped in front of Zelda, his face split into a weathered grin and he held out a calloused hand.
"Darmani," he said.
"Zelda." Zelda grinned at him as he pumped her hand up and down, his grip firm but not painfully so.
"Nice to meet you, Zelda."
"Call me Zel."
"Got it, Zel."
"Want me to help with the drums?" she asked, peering around Darmani.
"It's all good," he said. "Mikau and I have it under control. Speaking of which, I'd better go help him."
"Alright," Zelda called as he turned and walked away. She sat down against her amp, smiling to herself. Despite his threatening appearance, Darmani seemed like a really nice guy. The band would probably be a blast.
"Hey, Mikau," Darmani called, "I hope you don't mind that I called my girl and invited her over."
"Malon? Nah, it's cool. Heavy!" Mikau whimpered, and Zelda couldn't help but snicker into her fist as the skinnier man sagged under a black-cased drum piece.
"Drop it and you die," Darmani growled. "So, speaking of girls. How's Lulu?"
"She's good, man." Zelda felt a small sinking within her – Mikau had a girlfriend? And then she realized that it was for the best because it would be disastrous to date a band member. What happens after breakup? The band goes down the drain? Or worse – what happens when someone gets dumped?
Yes, Zelda decided, despite the small pang in her breast. No dating band members.
Once the two young men had finished moving and assembling the drums, they sat down, Darmani on his stool and Mikau leaning against the other side of Zelda's amp. He pulled the small yellow pad of paper out from one of his many pockets and cleared his throat, looking at Darmani.
"So," he began, "here are the band names Zelda came up with."
"You didn't help?" Darmani raised an eyebrow.
Mikau grinned sheepishly. "You know me, Darm. I'm not creative like that."
"Fair enough," the larger man said. "So, continue."
"Actually," Mikau cleared his throat, "it would be a waste of my precious breath…" here, Darmani snorted and Zelda giggled lightly. Mikau glared and continued, "It would be a waste of breath to read it all off, so just look for yourself and say which ones you like." Mikau slid the pad across the floor to rest at Darmani's feet, and he stooped to pick it up, white brows furrowing as he read.
"They're all good, but they're all regular," Darmani said at last. "Though I do like the final few. Volvagia and Twinrova are my favorites."
"Yeah," replied Mikau with a nod. "I like them both. What about you, Zelda?"
"Twinrova makes it sound like it's a two-person-band," Zelda chimed. "Volvagia is better, in my opinion, especially for a band. You can hear the molten fury or whatever if we're going to be an angst-like band, and if not, Volvagia is still good because it will stick in people's heads, like Velvet Revolver or Red Hot Chili Peppers."
"Zelda," Mikau breathed, "you are my hero."
"You make a good point," agreed Darmani. "In fact, several good points. So we have unanimously decided that the band's name is Volvagia?"
"Here here!" yelled Mikau, raising a hand in the air. Zelda grinned, exhaling.
"So then," said Darmani, twirling his drumsticks in his hands, "Let's get to work. Is there a song we all know how to play?"
"'By the Way', by Red Hot Chili Peppers?" Zelda offered.
Darmani nodded. "I can do that." He turned and faced the lead guitarist. "Mikau?"
"No problems here," he said. "So I'll play lead and sing lead, then?"
"Sounds good," Zelda said. "I can sing backup."
"Let's begin." Darmani grinned and tapped the drums a few times to set the tempo, and Volvagia began to play together for the first time ever.
----
About half an hour later as Zelda, Mikau, and Darmani were trying to sort out different riffs for Mikau's "happy, hyper song", a shiny black H1 pulled up in front of Mikau's house, and an attractive redhead stepped out, grinning as she deposited her sunglasses in the V of her shirt neck.
"Hey, guys," she greeted, walking into the shade of the garage. "How's it coming?"
"Hey, Malon. It's going good." Mikau nodded, and turned back to Zelda. "Maybe if you play fret seventeen and then fret fifteen on the D string…"
"Do you guys just want me to keep up with the pounding through the whole thing?" Darmani asked, beating out a quick riff on his set and smiling at his girlfriend as she sat down to watch.
"Yeah, Darm, what you've got is working great. Here, Zelda, you and me should try this part…"
"Right," said Zelda, sliding her hand up the neck of her bass and plucking out a few notes. "You go ahead and count off."
"And one, two, three…" Mikau began to play and Zelda hopped right in, following along and wincing.
"No," she said. "It's still dissonant. Maybe if I go down a string…."
----
Another hour and a half later, they had the song worked out and were polishing it to perfection, with Malon cheering them on.
"That was so great you guys," Malon squealed as the last pounded riff faded into nothing. She hopped up from the lawn chair she'd pulled out and had been sitting on, and ran over to Darmani, wrapping her arms around his neck and planting a solid kiss on his cheek. "You're going to be famous one day, I just know it."
"Calm down, Malon," laughed Mikau. "We've only learned one song so far. For all you know, if we even get far enough to fame, we could just be one hit wonders."
"Ugh." Zelda grimaced, wrinkling her nose in distaste. "I certainly hope not."
"You won't," Malon said with a smile, putting one hand on her hip. "You guys are the bomb."
"If you say so," Mikau sighed. He checked his watch and removed his guitar, setting it gently down atop his amp. "It's getting close to dinner, guys. Let's call it quits for today. Same time tomorrow?"
Zelda nodded in assent. "Sure." She unplugged and removed her bass and sat down, placing it in her lap and carefully removing the strap. Zelda stood, carefully stowing her guitar away in its gig bag and unplugging her amp.
"Zelda?" Malon asked, watching her. "If you'd like, I can drive you home."
"Really?" Zelda's eyes lit up and she laughed in relieved gratitude. "Thanks."
Malon grinned "No problem. Do you want me to get anything for you?"
"Could you get my guitar? I'll put the amp in the trunk, if you don't mind."
"Not at all." Malon came forward and carefully took the bass, treating it as though it were made of glass. Zelda heaved the amp up and carried it to the H1, where Malon unlocked the trunk and Zelda pushed it in.
"Thanks." Zelda blew a strand of hair out of her eyes and took the guitar from Malon, allowing the redhead to shut the trunk.
"No problem," Malon replied lightly as she made her way to the driver's seat.
"I'll meet you back at your place, Darm," she called to the big man as he and his friend disassembled and packed up the drums. "Bye, Mikau."
"By Darmani, bye Mikau," Zelda called as well as she slid into the passenger seat of the hummer. Malon pushed the keys into the ignition and turned, and suddenly the hummer was filled with rock music; however, it was not so loud that Zelda's eardrums exploded.
"So," began Malon, immediately breaking the silence in the hummer as she prepared to back up. "Which way do you live?"
"I live... down the street to the left. Do you know where Link lives?"
"Link?" Malon asked. "Yeah, I know him. Cool guy."
"I'm staying with his family," Zelda replied. "It's a long story, really," she continued. "My dad decided he was sick of having me around so he shipped me off to live with Haft and Impa."
"Sucks your dad's such a dick," Malon commented as she backed out of the driveway and put the hummer in drive.
"I'm used to it," Zelda said with a shrug, turning to look out the window. "How did you meet Darmani?"
"Mikau was in my accelerated chem class last year," Malon replied breezily. "He and I were instant friends, but even then, he was still going out with Lulu, so I couldn't make a move on him. I hung out with him a lot, though, and he introduced me to Darmani."
"That's really cool."
"Yeah." There was silence in the car, which Malon broke after a minute. "So, you met Mikau this morning…?"
"Yep," laughed Zelda. "Taking a walk. I heard him practicing and was instantly drawn towards the sound."
Malon grinned. "Nice."
"Thanks." Zelda swept a lock of blond hair out of her eyes as Malon pulled into the long gravel driveway leading up the incline to Link's old Victorian home. She put the Hummer in park and grinned over at Zelda.
"Want me to get the amp this time? Make us even?" There was a challenge in her eyes, challenge laced with humor.
"I don't know that you can handle it," sighed Zelda, stretching and shaking her head melodramatically. "But if you're sure…"
"I think I can handle it." Malon grinned, and it struck Zelda that, despite how cliché it was, this would be the start of a beautiful friendship.
----
"Where were you all day?" Link burst into Zelda's room, causing the young woman to screech and topple off her bed, disturbing Valoo who looked angrily affronted.
"Band practice," replied Zelda from the floor, grumpily pulling herself to her feet. "You know, there's such a thing as knocking. What if I had been indecent?"
"Band practice with who?" Link asked, disregarding Zelda's latter comments.
"Nobody special." Zelda stretched out on her bed luxuriously, patting Valoo's furry head and being rewarded with a purr in response.
"Zelda…" Link whined, and there was a pleading in his eyes, along with a look she'd never seen before in their blue depths.
"Link…" Zelda whined in return, trying to ignore his eyes. "Nobody special. Now isn't Sheep waiting for you in the basement?"
"Sheep left," replied Link. "About two hours after you did. Then I noticed you were gone. I was worried."
"So you only noticed I was gone after he left?" Zelda fumed. "Wrong thing to say, Hero."
"Well it's true," Link began to look angry. "Forgive me for wanting to spend some time with my friends. You've had me to yourself all summer, Princess," he spat. "Who were you with?"
Zelda exploded.
"It's none of your damn business, you ass! Nobody ever asked you to be my keeper, and besides, you could have asked Impa or even bothered to say goodbye or something, but you were too busy with your damn friends and you get mad at me for going out and living a little myself?! Link, I have not had friends since I was twelve, so you shut your damn trap about me going over to a friend's house without you approving of it before hand…!" Zelda paused for a breath, and Link opened his mouth as though to argue. Zelda, however, cut him off. "And you can take that 'worry' bull and shove it because Impa knew where I was and I can sure as hell take care of myself anyway. You've been a jerk before, Link, but this just beats all. Get out of my room."
"Zelda…"
"Get out!" Zelda spat, louder this time.
"But Zel…"
"OUT!" Zelda shrieked, and unceremoniously shoved Link in the back out the door and slammed it shut harshly, locking it with a furious click. Zelda leaned back against the door, angrily panting, and then slowly slid down it to bury her head in her hands to cry.
"Damn him," she whispered in between choked sobs. "Damn him…"
----
"I'm leaving," Zelda snapped the next day. "Just so you don't flip out again, Hero."
"Not like I care," Link replied tersely, not bothering to look up from the TV (though his anger was evident in the way his knuckles turned white on the remote and he began hammering through the channels). "Like you said, it's none of my damn business. Go on, Princess. Go live your own little life. Not like I'm important."
"You're not," Zelda replied fiercely, heaving her bass higher on her back and stomping furiously out the door, amp in hand. Malon was waiting in her hummer halfway down the gravel driveway, and stepped out of her car to help Zelda load up her things.
"You look mad," Malon commented as Zelda tossed the amp into the back seat.
"I'm furious," Zelda replied, slamming the trunk shut a little harder than necessary and stowing her bass in the back seat.
"What happened?"
"Link, the dick," Zelda replied, a vein ticking in her jaw as she pulled herself up into the passenger side. "Yesterday he was all pissed when I came home and gave me some cock and bull story about being concerned. Hell, he didn't even realize I was gone until his idiot friend left and he had nobody home to distract him from his meaningless existence. Asshole."
"Men," sighed Malon, shaking her head. "The three legged gender. I'm sorry Link's giving you a rough time. You ever need me, call me. You can escape to my casa if need be."
"Really?" Zelda asked, relieved. Thank the Goddesses for angels like Malon.
"Really," Malon said with a serious nod. "How about I take you out for ice cream after practice? My treat."
"You don't have to," Zelda replied wearily. "I wouldn't want to impose…"
Malon laughed. "Nah. I just got paid anyway, so I have an excess in funding."
"Really? Where do you work?"
"At the perfume counter at my dad's department store. Hey, if you like, I can set you up with a job too…"
"I'm fine on the job front," Zelda replied humorlessly. "My dad set up a bank account for me so I could buy clothes and things without imposing on L – on Impa and Haft." Zelda's face turned a little red from anger at the young man whose name she had nearly mentioned, but she shook it off. "Only, I couldn't possibly drain the account unless I were to buy everything designer, which I don't. So I'm fine, I think."
"Really? That's cool," Malon commented, pulling into Mikau's driveway. "You feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," Zelda said, albeit with a lightly nervous laugh. "I mean, I'm with people who don't want to control my life, so…"
"That's always a good thing," stated Malon solemnly then cracked up. "Like I said. Three legged gender."
The two young women got Zelda's things out of the car and into the open, empty garage then sat down to wait. Sure enough, several moments later Mikau appeared, all smiles and sunshine, carrying his guitar.
"Good afternoon, ladies." He flashed a smile as he unpacked his guitar then turned to plug it into the amp, and plug the amp into the wall. "How are two exceedingly beautiful beings such as yourselves doing on this lovely summer day?"
"Shove it, Mikau," snapped Malon good-naturedly. "I'm already taken, and so are you."
"Doesn't mean I can't dote upon the best bassist in the world and the most perfect fan girl, now can I?" Mikau walked forward and looped his arms around Malon and Zelda's shoulder, earning a giggle from both women. Just then, Darmani's red truck chugged to a halt down on the street, and Malon leapt up, dashing down the hot pavement to greet her boyfriend with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"You don't seem too peachy today, Zel," Mikau commented, patting her ponytail. "Care to give me the scoop?"
"Had a fight with Link," Zelda said, and turned around, smiling at Mikau. "Nothing serious. Now come on, let's go help Darmani with his things."
"Right-o," chirped Mikau. "So, anyway, I did some composing last night…"
----
Later that afternoon after a cone of triple-scooped mint chocolate chip ice cream and lots of female bonding time with Malon, Zelda was lounging around on her bed once more, flipping through a "chick magazine" when a soft knock came at her door.
Ugh, it'd better not be Link, Zelda mentally groaned, wrinkling her nose. "Who is it?"
"It's Saria," came the little girl's answering call. "Can I come in?"
"Yeah," called Zelda, though she couldn't quite uncoil her muscles. If it had been Jayda, she would have had no doubts as the little blonde idolized Zelda, but Saria was a little closer to Link, which could cause even more troubles…
The little green-haired girl twisted the knob and entered, shutting the door behind her and climbing up to sit across from Zelda on the high sleigh bed.
"So, what can I do for you?" Zelda asked, leaning back and flipping her magazine shut, tossing it down onto the carpet.
"Well," said Saria, munching her little lip, "I heard you and Link fighting earlier."
"Yeah," said Zelda, trying not to frown.
"Why are you angry at him, Zelda?" Saria asked, turning her big green eyes on the older girl. They were full of naïve confusion, and Zelda couldn't help but melt.
"Link and I just aren't getting along right now," Zelda explained softly. "His friends and my friends are different, and I left for a friend's house yesterday without telling him, so he's kind of mad."
"Link doesn't want to see you get hurt," Saria said innocently. "I heard him. Please, try not to fight with Link. It makes me sad."
"I'll try, Saria," said Zelda, leaning forward and patting the small girl on the head. "I'll try not to fight with him, but that doesn't mean I'm still not angry. We both said a lot of hurtful things to one another, so it may be a while before we get along again."
"Link can be kind of stupid sometimes," said Saria, "but he's my brother, so I love him anyway. Are you my sister now, Zelda?"
"No, I'm not your sister, but that doesn't mean you can't love me anyway."
"That means Link can love you, too?" Saria asked innocently.
"Yes, but not like he loves you," Zelda replied, feeling a pang in her heart.
"Please try not to fight any more," Saria stated as she slipped off the bed and made her way to the door. "He's worried, and he's angry at you because he loves you, I think."
"Thanks, Saria." Zelda sank into the pillows, eyes glazing over as she stared at the ceiling, murmuring quietly at the click of the door closing once more, "I'll keep that in mind."
----
Little did Zelda know, Link was having a similar conversation right across the hall, courtesy of AOL instant messenger.
ThemissingLink: she's intolerable! i can't stand her.
AnJuToo: don't let her know that.
ThemissingLink: exactly. r mean, it's like, she just left and r had no idea where she'd gone, and she comes back and screams at me!
AnJuToo: that sucks lol :P
ThemissingLink: no kidding
AnJuToo: but why were you so mad in the first place?
ThemissingLink: i don't know, and that just makes me madder. i guess… ugh, this sounds stupid .
AnJuToo: ?
ThemissingLink: once sheep left, i realized that Zelda was gone, too, & i hadn't heard anything about her leaving, either. my mom wasn't home, and neither were my sisters, so i thought that maybe she'd run an errand with them. but then mom came back & so did the girls & there was still no sign of zelda & i started to get worried. sigh
AnJuToo: ah….. i c
AnJuToo: afraid something had happened to her?
ThemissingLink: yeah, i guess. & then i told her that once she'd mysteriously turned up, and i asked her where she'd gone and she just flipped.
AnJuToo: well, what exactly did you say to her?
ThemissingLink: i don't really remember now. just something about sheep leaving & me noticing that she wasn't around and not knowing where she'd gone and being worried.
AnJuToo: that was a mistake.
ThemissingLink: how so?
AnJuToo: think of things from her angle. she goes to a friend's and comes back, and you say all that stuff and she feels like you're on her case for going out and having fun. it also seems to her like you're smothering her and trying to control her life, and since her life has been controlled from the start by her nazi father, it only serves to make her even more angry. to top things off, you bring sheep into it and it makes her feel like you're comparing her to your friends and that she comes second.
ThemissingLink: i never thought of things like that.
AnJuToo: lol of course not. you were gifted with a y chromosome.
ThemissingLink: lol…. Not. :(
AnJuToo: fine then, don't thank me for interpreting.
ThemissingLink: thanks but how'd you get to know so much about that kind of thing anyway?
AnJuToo: i AM female.
ThemissingLink: o yea. thanks again, anju. but i'm still mad at her n e way.
AnJuToo: anger is fine. just be sure of one thing, hmm?
ThemissingLink: what?
AnJuToo: just don't say anything stupid.