Okay, I need to say a few things before we get started.
Not that anyone's really asked about it, but I felt that I needed to clear things up. Hyrule hasn't really changed that much. Here's a few things that have changed.
-The races have . . . vanished isn't the right word, because they're all still there, but you can't tell them apart anymore. (The zora looks like a regular human, for example.)
-They have electronics, phones, stuff like that. And they dress like we do today, not in tunics.
-The legends of the Triforce and the Hero of Time no longer exist in the people's minds.
And here's the things that haven't changed.
-They still worship Din, Nayru and Farore.
-They still have long, pointed ears.
Blizrun - Sure, I'm always looking for a new fanfic to read. (You might keep in mind that I'm a little bit picky when it comes to LoZ fics, though . . . .)
Ah, shit.
Halloween's tomorrow, and I still haven't got a costume.
And what's worse is Skye just informed me that all of the costume stores are out of any costumes whatsoever.
This is what I get for waiting until the last minute.
"I'm off to the costume store, Navi," I inform the ferret as I grab my jacket and bolt for the door, opening it to the quickly darkening night. Navi squeaks at me from atop the couch and curls up to go to sleep. I hear a brief shout of, "Not too long after dark!" from my mother before I shut the door.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dang, Skye was right.
All the costume stores I've been to are closed, with little signs saying, "Out of stock" Even at the retail stores, the shelves are picked clean, save a few plastic daggers and maces.
Either they didn't order much this year or this is going to be a very eventful Halloween.
I finally find an open shop at the other side of town. I enter. The place is very dimly lighted, with one bare bulb in the middle of the store and small rope lights strung about the corners. If I didn't know any better, I'd say this place has been deserted for a while. Kenya stands at the counter, smiling and waving as I come in. I smile back, noting that the shelves are empty, and most every little extra is gone.
Why does she still have this place open?
"Hey, Link," Kenya says as I approach the counter. "Looking for a Halloween costume?" I nod, and she winces. "We're fresh out. I wanted to close the store, but my mom-she owns the place-told me to keep it open until closing time." She breaks off and shrugs. "I don't know what good it'll do. Sorry, Link." She turns her back to me and begins walking away from the counter.
"Wait!" I say. "You've gotta have something," She turns and winks at me.
"I'll check for you," she says, and vanishes. While she's gone, I take the chance and shiver. I'm not cold, oh no, this place gives me the creeps. It's like there's something dark lurking in the shadows. I'm sure it wouldn't be so bad if the place were full of costumes, but . . . "This is all we have." I jump about three feet into the air and let out a yelp. Kenya, holding a brown package, laughs. "Jumpy, are we?"
"Sorry," I say. I eye the package. "For me?" I ask, pointing to it.
"Yeah," she says. "It's not exactly a costume, per say, but it's not something one would wear every day." She hands it to me, and I open it.
Oh, sweet Nayru, it's a Robin-Hood tunic complete with white leggings and undershirt. Din be damned, there's even a green hat to go with it. I lift the tunic out of the package and stare at it.
"These are tights," I inform Kenya. "I am not wearing tights." She shakes her head at me.
"They're not tights," she says. "They're leggings." Of course, she's right, but am I going to admit that?
Nope.
"Oh, come on," she says with a teasing tone. "They'll look good on you." I shake my head. I am not wearing these, no matter how good they'll look on me.
"Are you sure that you don't have anything else?" I ask, putting a look of complete disgust on my face as I shove the package with the tunic in it away from me.
"Nope," she says. "I checked every nook and cranny, and there's nothing there." I growl half-heartedly and pull some money out of my wallet.
"You're lucky everywhere else it out," I say, throwing my money down on the counter. "Otherwise I'd march right out of here." She smiles.
"I know, I know," she says. "Hey, did you hear about the robbery last night?"
"What robbery?" I ask.
"Some thieves broke into a jewelry store last night and stole a really valuable jewel," Kenya says as she counts my change. "An emerald, I think."
"An emerald," I say.
Why does that bother me?
"Well, I guess I'll be seeing you later."
"I guess you will," Kenya says as she hands me my change and I leave.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Crack!!
Dang it, Skye!! That's the third window she's broken this month!!
I fall out of bed and run to the cracked window, throwing it open and looking down at Skye, who's smiling that oh-so-annoying "get-your-butt-out-of-bed-and-I-won't-do-it-again" smile.
"That's the third window this month!" I shout down at her.
"Sorry!" she shouts. I growl half-heartedly before I see her pick up another rock.
"Put that down and get your butt up here!!" I yell at the top of my lungs. I hear an annoyed squeal from Navi in the corner. "What?" I turn and glare at her. She glares at me and squeaks again. A moment later I hear Skye open my bedroom door and peek in.
"Is it safe?" she asks. I nod, and she steps in. Taking a deep breath, she shouts, "Happy Halloween!!" I hear Navi squeak in what sounds like hopelessness and vanish into one of my pillowcases.
"Do you have to shout so loud?" I demand of Skye. She grins sheepishly and shrugs. I'm about to send her out of my room when she spots the bag from the costume store.
"Hey, mister last minute, what'd you get?" she asks, pointing to the bag. When I don't answer, she reaches for it.
"Don't!" I yelp, diving and grabbing the bag before she does. She giggles. "It's none of your business." I notice that she has black pants on, presumably part of her costume. "What are you supposed to be anyway?"
"I'll show you if you show me!" I sigh.
"You first," I say. She takes off her coat, revealing a tight black shirt, more like a tunic because there's a sash tied around her waist with the end of the shirt hanging down for about a foot, with long sleeves. She pulls out another black sash and ties it around the back of her head, covering her mouth and nose. There's a hood on the shirt too, I realize as Skye pulls it up over her head and tucks her hair into it. She turns and smiles (at least, I think she's smiling. It's hard to tell with the mask on) at me.
"How do you like it?" she asks, her voice slightly muffled by the cloth. "I'm a ninja," she informs me when I don't answer right away.
"Looks good," I offer. "Now get out so I can change." I push her out the door. "You too." I grab Navi off my bed and shove her into Skye's arms.
"What's with him?" Skye asks Navi as I shut the door in their faces. I pull the green tunic out of the bag and glare at it. Ah, well. I suppose that there's nothing that can be done about this. I told Skye I had a costume, and that means that I have to wear this.
I swear, I must look like some sort of Robin Hood in this thing.
"Come on in, Skye," I say as I pull the hat down over my pointed ears. Skye enters with Navi, who she sets on the bed. Skye takes one good look at me and bursts into laughter.
"Lookin' good, Link!" she says, giggling like there's no tomorrow. Which there won't be for her if she doesn't shut up. "You look good in green!!" I turn my back on her and kneel down in front of Navi so the ferret can see the costume.
"What do you think?" I ask. Navi uncurls herself and peers at my costume through beady eyes. I wait a moment, and then look at Navi for approval. What I see is not what I expected.
If a ferret's jaw could drop, Navi's would be on the floor by this point in time.
"Is it just me, or does the ferret look really shocked about your costume?" Skye asks, kneeling down next to me. Navi looks at us both, and goes into a flurry of squeaks that don't end even when I pick her up. "What is wrong with the animal?" Skye asks, covering her ears.
"I have no freakin' idea!!" I shout, petting Navi in an effort to calm her down. When the squeaking fit subsides, I put her on my bed. "Now stay put. Skye and I are going to be gone most of the day."
"We're only going to one party," Skye says from behind me.
"I'll see you tonight before we go to the haunted house," I tell Navi, patting her on the head. She eyes my tunic one more time, shakes her head, and lies down.
"We're not going to be gone all day," Skye says. "Like I said, it's only one party."
"Knowing you, that could be a day and a night," I say.
Ouch.
She hit me.
Again.