Hah!! Four pages in less than a week! I'm gettin' good here, people.
Wow. . . . didn't think that threatening to discontinue this would get such results. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU STOP REVIEWING!!!
For those of you who did or didn't review, here's the next chapter. I'm finally getting somewhere with this thing.
"Who's that?" Skye asks, pointing up the hill to where Zelda is standing with Navi, looking down on us.
Oh, dear.
This is not good.
"I can explain," I offer weakly, but I don't think Skye hears me. She's already striding up to Navi and Zelda. I follow, but at a much slower pace. "Skye, hang on! They're my friends! They helped me find you! Hey, are you listening to me?"
"Who are you, girl?" Skye asks, jabbing a finger at Zelda, who backs away. Her eyes rivet and land on Navi. "And what's with the little glowing bubble with wings?" Navi turns a bright red, which I guess is how she shows anger.
"My name is Zelda," Zelda says slowly, pushing Navi out of the way before the fairy can say anything. "I was with Link when everything happened to you." Skye's eyes land on me as she turns around.
Oh, why did Zelda pull me into this?
"Okay," I say, finally reaching them. "I can explain. Skye, there are a few things that I . . . neglected to tell you before."
"And those are?" Skye demands, glaring at me.
Sweet, sweet Nayru, I forgot how scary Skye is when she's angry.
I tell her in one long, run-on sentence. I finish with, "And that's what really happened. Honest." I look down, waiting for Skye's answer as if she's my mother or something. I feel her eyes move from me to Zelda and Navi.
"Now that's interesting," she says. I look up and see her smiling at Navi. "The little ferret was really a fairy, you're really the reincarnation of some hero, and some girl in the world is a reincarnation of this Zelda girl." I nod. She frowns. "I heard something about someone called 'The Hero of Time.'"
"That's Link," Zelda says, motioning to me.
Skye nods. "Then it was you that they were after," she says. "So . . . Zelda. Have you ever heard of 'Dark Link'?" Zelda nods, confused. "Well, this guy, whoever he is, is back. He's the one who kidnapped me."
"What intrigues me," Zelda says. "Is why exactly they were after you."
"Probably to have some sort of a weapon against me," I say. "If Dark Link really does know as much about me as he says he does, then he should know that I don't want to hurt my friends." The three females in front of me nod in agreement.
"Well," Skye says. "What does Link have to do to get rid of this Ganondorf guy?"
"He has to collect the Scared Nine Stones," Navi says. "Three representing the Triforce-the Triforce Stones, and the six representing the six sages-the Sage Stones." Navi looks over at Zelda to make sure she's correct, and the disembodied princess nods. Skye looks unsure for a moment, and then nods as well.
"I say we get going," I say. "Who knows how many of these stones Ganondorf's minions have collected."
"Ganondorf has at least one," Navi says. "Because he holds the Triforce of Power."
"And we have none," Skye says flatly.
"No," Zelda says. "Because he's the reincarnation of the Hero of Time, Link has one." Skye looks over at me and I hold up the green jewel. "See?" Skye nods, and she seems to be trying to keep from frowning.
"So," I say. "Why don't we get back to Kakariko, rest up and report that Skye is safe, then start looking for the current Zelda." Everyone stares at me. "What?" They shake their heads, and Zelda begins to lead us back to Kakariko.
**In Kakariko**
Our first stop is Skye's house, to tell Sensei and anyone else who cares that she's safe. As we approach the house, Sensei, who must have seen us from the window, comes running out and picks Skye up in a huge hug before demanding to know where she's been. As Skye tries to make up an excuse, I look over and smile at Zelda, who's disguised by magic, although I can see right through it. I hear Navi giggling from under my hat as Skye is marched over to us, held tightly in her father's arms.
"And who are your little friends here?" Sensei asks. I open my mouth to protest, but not before Sensei laughs again. "Oh, I know Link, but who's this pretty young lady?" He motions to Zelda, who looks at me, unsure how to respond. I simply nod, hoping that she goes with the flow.
"This is Zelda," Skye says, walking over and clapping the princess on the shoulder. "She moved here recently, and helped Link find me."
I nod. "Yeah," I lie. "Zelda was a big help. She'd want to go places that I never would have gone-turns out Skye was in one of those places." I grin, playing the innocent little helper boy-when I know it couldn't be further from the truth.
"Thank you, miss Zelda," Sensei says, grabbing the girl in a bear hug. When he pulls away from her, Zelda looks so shocked that I cover my mouth to keep from bursting out laughing, and Navi's shaking under my hat, which I have to take as stifled laughter. Skye waves goodbye as her dad pulls her into the house, and I turn to Zelda.
"Come on," I say. "You can spend the night at my place, and then we'll set out again tomorrow morning."
"Sounds good," Zelda says, and Navi sends her muffled approval from under my hat.
As soon as I walk in the door, mother and dad demand to know where I've been all day. Don't I know that they worry about me? Don't I know that it's nearly eight-o-clock? Don't I know that they were about to call the police.
Usually, I'd be more worried about this sort of stuff.
But how can I be when I know someone's trying to destroy my home?
"Sorry," I say. "But Zelda and I were trying to find Skye." I motion to the girl behind me. By the looks on their faces, what Zelda told me is true-they believe her to be nothing more than a normal girl.
"Did you find her?" Dad asks roughly.
"Yeah, we did," I say. "Thanks to Zelda." I turn and smile at her-it's the truth after all. If Zelda hadn't taken me down that strange tunnel thing, then we never would have gone to the market, or ran into Skye. Zelda smiles back briefly, and I turn to my parents. "I was wondering if Zelda could spend the night-her parents are still getting their house around."
"Did she just move in?" Mother asks. "The poor dear didn't tell us that."
"She didn't?" I ask, turning to face Zelda. Her face is calm, but she's panicking. "Maybe she felt awkward admitting that." I wink, and she lets out a barely audible sigh of relief.
"Of course she can stay!" Mother says, sweeping up Zelda in a hug. For the second time in perhaps ten minutes, Zelda looks completely shocked at what I always thought was a normal display of affection. I fight down a laugh. "Now you just make yourself comfortable, love."
"A-all right," Zelda says. I motion to her and she follows me up the stairs to my room. Once there, I take off my tunic hat to let Navi out and burst out laughing and fall onto my bed. "What?" She places her hands on her hips in an irritated motion.
"It-it's just so funny!" I gasp. "It's like you've never been hugged before!"
"It's not common to publicize one's affections in the time I remember," Zelda says. "Yes, a hug here and there, but never to someone you didn't even know!" She looks frustrated as she sits down, arms crossing and obviously fuming.
I sit up and place a hand on her shoulder, which she promptly shrugs off. "Listen, we have memories from different times, different cultures," I say. She looks at me, her blue eyes boring into my own. "What might seem natural for one of us might not be for the other. I'm sure there are things that you don't understand that I've never given a second thought to."
"That's the most intelligent thing I've heard you say all day," Navi comments from above us.
"Shut up," I say, sticking my tongue out at her. "Come on, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." She bites her lip, and I wrap an arm around her, pulling her into a quick but fierce hug.
"Thanks," Zelda says. "I know you didn't mean it, because you're just like your past self . . . or selves. I wonder how many times you've been reincarnated."
"I don't want to think about it," I say.
How many times did I save Hyrule?
How many times was Zelda there by my side, helping me?
It's all too much to think about, and I fall backwards onto my back, falling asleep before I even realize I'm tired.
Clunk.
Clunk.
Clunk.
"What's that?" Zelda's voice asks groggily from where she must have fallen asleep next to me. I groan and roll over, burying my face in the sheets. "Link?" I mumble something, but she doesn't catch it. "What?"
"Whatever it is, tell it to leave me alone," I mumble. I reach out blindly with my arms and grope until I find my pillow, drawing it closer to me and clamping it over my ears.
Clunk.
"Link, it's Skye," Navi's voice chirps from the window. I take the pillow off my head and lift my face from the sheets, blinking madly, trying to get used to the light in the room. "She looks rather pissed." I dash to the window, throw it open, and have enough sense to duck the incoming rock this time. It clacks against the wall and falls to the floor. "Hah! He ducked!" Navi shouts out the window.
"Hush!" I say, using one hand to shoo her away from the window, the other currently acting as a shield to ward off any more oncoming rocks. "What's up?" I stick my head out of the window and smile down at Skye.
"We've got work to do!" she calls, not smiling back. "Lemme in!" I notice she has a messenger bag slung across her shoulders. I frown, but don't say anything.
"Is this how you communicate with her?" Zelda asks as I pull my head back in and close the window.
"Yep," I say, rushing down to let Skye in.
"Be quiet, my parents are still asleep," I say, watching Skye dump her shoes at the front door and tiptoe the rest of the way into my room. By the time we get there, Navi's settled on Zelda's shoulder, who's running a hand through her tangled blonde hair disdainfully.
"Here," Skye says, digging through her bag to produce a brush. "I doubted Link would have the sense to find you some decent clean-up time and items."
"Hey!" I protest, but find myself quieted as Zelda's face beams.
"Thank you!" she whispers, already running the brush through her hair. I smile, and sit across from the two girls, forming a triangle between the three of us.
I frown, remembering the jewels, and the fact that Zelda can't find her Triforce piece.
Dang it.
"I suggest we get looking for Zelda's current form," Skye says. "Not that I don't enjoy her company, but. . . . " She smiles over at Zelda, who returns it. "I think it would be best for her."
I feel my face burning as I hear the suggestion.
How does Skye know what's best for Zelda?
"Yeah," I say. "How's the best way to start?"
"Collect the jewels," Zelda says. "If the current Zelda has our Triforce piece, then Ganondorf is sure to be after her." She frowns, tugging the brush through a nasty-looking knot. After she's done, she continues. "If this happens, which I have no doubt it will, Ganondorf will have enough power to return from the Realm of Evil. The only way we can fight him then is if we have the jewels."
"I agree," Skye says. "If this Ganondorf guy is as mad as you guys make him out to be, then I'd rather have some kind of advantage."
"But he'll only be here if he finds the current Zelda," I say.
"It'll be easier for us to find her if we have the stones," Navi says. "They enhance the magic, strength, and endurance of those who wear them, just as the Medallions did long ago. A Sheikah locating spell would be simple work once we have those."
"Sheikah locating spell?" Skye and I ask together. I'd say it's pretty self-explanatory because of the name, but the words sound odd to us. I continue, "What's a Sheikah? And why would a Sheikah spell be difficult?"
"The Sheikah, also known as Shadow Folk, was a race in old Hyrule," Navi says. "They died out a long time ago, but their spells required tremendous amounts of magical energy, just ask Zelda." Skye and I look over to the princess, who nods.
"Okay then," I say. "We'll find the jewels, locate the current Zelda, defeat Ganondorf, and forget this whole thing ever happened."
"Sounds good," Skye offers, but Zelda frowns. "What's the matter?"
"I don't want you to forget me," Zelda says."I know I probably won't be the same once I find my current form, but. . . . "
"We won't forget you," I say, resting a hand on her shoulder. "I know we won't. Right Skye?"
"You got it!" Skye says, smiling widely.
"Now where can we get those jewels?" I ask.
Zelda looks thoughtful. "I believe that most of the sage stones are in the temples that the sages used to protect," she says. "But after all these years. . . . "
"It's something to go on, at least," Skye says. "I say we search for these temples, and if the stones aren't there, we can assume they've been discovered. If that's the case, then we can go to the Lake Hylia museum and research center, right?"
"But that's a day's trip!" I yelp.
"If it comes to that point . . . then we'll have to do it anyway," Skye says.
"What about the warp songs?" Navi asks suddenly. "If I remember, there was one that leads to Lake Hylia."
"I can't warp until I merge with the current Zelda," Zelda says, looking downcast. "I'm sorry."
Warp songs?
At the look on Zelda's face I decide not to ask.
"So, then, which temple should we search first?" I ask.
"Shadow," Zelda says. "As it's the closest."
"Where is it?" Skye asks.
"Kakariko Graveyard," Zelda says. "Shall we?"
"Let's go," I say.