Howdy, I'm back again! I accidentally didn't put a 'Next Chapter' thing on my last chapter, but that's ok, I don't think anyone will be too angry about it. Except Kyle, who told me about 30 times in a row via AIM. Well, anyway, disclaimer time!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Legend Of Zelda, but I do own this plot line. And if you try to take it without asking, I will ram a soupspoon into your neck, and sever you carotid artery, and then laugh as you die slowly for 3 minutes. Ahem, anyway.
Alayna trudged through the swamp, the swamp water sinking into her boots. She grimaced. "Water, water everywhere… not even nice water… it's green." She said; as she looked for some form of land to stand on to avoid more slimy water. After about 15 minutes of walking, a Hylian with a dagger sheath on his belt, and a jug of what smelt like whisky, rowed by in a small rowboat. "Row, row, row, your boat… hic." He said to himself, as he rowed slowly towards Alayna, who was staring at this man, who was for some odd reason, rowing around the Deku scrub swampland.
He stopped rowing and took a deep swig from his jug of whiskey, and he hiccupped a couple more times. "Oh, hic, hello there little girl!" And then he paused, and hiccupped again. He had black hair, and olive eyes, and a face with a grin plastered on it. "Would you like a ride?" He said, and Alayna hesitated. Well, get a ride with this drunken stranger… or keep walking in this disgusting slime of water…
In the end, she decided to get a ride with this random Hylian. And anyway, she had a concealed dagger, so if he tries anything shady, he's losing an eye. " Hic, The name's Jeremy!" He said with excessive energy and volume that caused Alayna to twitch. "Hello… um… Jeremy. So, what exactly are you doing here?" She asked, and Jeremy hiccupped three more times. "Well, I'm on the, hic, lamb with the Hylian authorities, and I rode into here with me horsy Clementine, and, hic, after a while of trotting through the swamp, Clemmy got angry at me, and kicked me in the face, and I woke up at a swamp tour place, hic, and I … borrowed … this boat, and I'm looking for Clemmy. But I'll give you a ride!" He said, and Alayna twitched again. On the lamb? That's NOT good. And theft to add onto that… She said, and she felt her hand straying to where her knife was hidden. But he did nothing but drink and sing row, row, row your boat, and row the boat itself.
After a while, she saw a Deku, skipping over the water, wearing a black tunic with red shorts, and brown boots. This Deku was unusual by standards, because he was smaller than most, and his wooden face was twisted in happiness instead of sadness like most Dekus. "Um, thanks for the ride, and… and I hope you don't get caught." She said, hopping out into the water, and running towards the Deku scrub. "Are you Onaka?" She asked, and he stepped back a little, and his eyes showed suspicion toward the Kokiri in front of him. "Um, why would a Kokiri want to know?" He asked.
She began to explain the whole story to do with the Great Deku Tree, and Onaka seemed to consider. "So what does all this have to do with me? I just want to prove the Dekus are worth more than people seem to presume. Everyone thinks we're just tree stumps that can be pushed around, and I am going to make a name for them." He said, and Alayna was silent. "Than I've got an idea Onaka… I'm supposed to reunite these two races and you want to make a name for yourself…" She said with a pause. "Since you're a Deku, I'm sure you can help me get into the Royal Deku Family's palace, in which I can get a word in with the King of Dekus. And since we're working together, despite racial differences, you'll begin to make a name for yourself, and become known even more if you accept to help me reunite ALL the races." She said, and Onaka shrugged. "You know, I'm feeling crazy enough to actually help." He said, and the two began walking through the swamp again.
"Um, yeah, Onaka? Where are we going? I can't tell the difference between … anything." Alayna asked, and Onaka nodded. "Oh, don't worry, Dekus can tell where their going by the smell of swamp." He said, and Alayna resumed her usual silence as Onaka lead her through the swamp, and eventually, after a half hour of walking Onaka lead her to the front of the Royal Palace.
"Here we are." And Alayna nodded as she approached the gate guarded by two robed Dekus. When they spotted Alayna, their eyes and hands began to burn with magic, and Alayna, spotting this, quickly knocked two arrows angled to hit both of them. Onaka stood between the three. " WHOA! Wait a minute everyone, she's with me! The Deku Tree, to try and reinstate the old Peace Treaty, sent her." He said, and the robed Dekus looked at her suspiciously, and one spoke in rough sounding words. "We'll let her in, but we'll be watching her, and at any move of ANYTHING suspicious, we will attack the Kokiri." He said, and Alayna nodded. "Don't worry, I'm only here to re-instate a peace treaty and to stop the fighting." And they were lead into a throne room, where a large Deku with a short green goatee, and short messy green hair, and he looked rather young for a Deku King, and deep orange eyes, and held a staff of gnarled mahogany.
"What brings one of the Kokiri here?" And Alayna smiled with a quick bow. "Well, I wanted to try to clear up the whole Treaty hassle, orders of the Deku Tree, whom still holds respect with you, despite his children disobeying him." She said, and The King seemed to eye her, intrigued by her attitude and composure. "So if you're one of his disobeying children, what are you doing here?" He asked, and Alayna smiled. "Because I've never disobeyed his orders, and I've been told there is an evil being created by the negative emotions of the seven races have been creating." And the Deku King definitely interested. "So are you saying that we'll end up being the downfall of ourselves, even though we create this evil by self-preservation?" And Alayna nodded, feeling her voice go coarse, she has barely ever spoken this much.
"Yes, and I've been ordered to help stop, if not slow this." She said, and he nodded. "Last time the Deku Tree sent out a Kokiri, it was Link, the Hero of Time, correct?" And Alayna nodded, silently, as she looked around the dark rafters and in the dark corners of the room. "By the way Deku King, you should try hiding your mages a bit better, I can see every one of them, one there, one there…" She said, as she began to point out all the hidden mages. The Deku King burst into laughter. "You've got potential, Child, The Great Deku Tree choose wisely with sending you. So, what are the terms of the Peace treaty?" He asked, and Alayna shrugged. "Same as last, I'll make sure Mido, the Kokiri Elder makes the militia back off, and you protect the town again, and I'll throw in the land that the Land Stealers currently have under siege." And The Deku King stoked his wooden chin, an interested gleam in his bright orange eyes.
"Alright. I'll sign the treaty, with the terms of bondage, and with three witnesses…" And then, Onaka interrupted. "Um, sir… may I sign the witness list?" And The Deku king's eye's lit up with renewed curiosity. "And who are you, my Child?" And Onaka bowed. "Onaka, sir." And The King did a double take. "Excuse me? Onaka? That's my father's name? Is your father's name Saquiris?" He asked, and Onaka nodded. "Do you know my father?" And The Deku King broke into hearty laughter. "He was my older brother, he was Heir to the throne! You're royalty my boy! You're my nephew!" He said, and Onaka nearly jumped. "But…maybe that's why Father never told me anything about his family…" He said, and the King jumped out of his throne and walked over to him.
He began circling around him, as if appraising the small Deku with long green hair, held back in a ponytail. "You've definitely got potential! And you've already begun to start gaining fame! If you continue on this path, you'll be known everywhere! Trey and give us a good name, Little Onaka!" He said, and then he paused. "I can hear it already. The Kokiri Chosen and Royal Deku Family member go on a quest to quench the evil within Hyrule!" He said to himself. He motioned to a Deku. "Spread the word! Tell all the Dekus! Make sure Onaka's Family gets wind of this! They'll be proud of you!" He said heartily, And Onaka beamed. :it's what I intend, King." And he smiled at the petite Onaka. "No need to be formal, I'm family! Just call me Tararua!" HE said, and Onaka smiled. Alayna nudged him gently. "We have to be going… we need to move on to." She said, and he nodded.
"But where to start?" And the Tararua smiled. "I've gathered news that the Zora's have assaulted Goron City, the mountain around that neutral settlement of Shady Vale. Might as well rest up there, before you try and resolve their conflict, they've been fighting since the beginning of time." And the two nodded. "Good luck, and may the goddesses bless you two!" He said, and the guards, The King and most of the high-class society that lived within the palace, went to he gate to see them off. Onaka waved back, and even the usual silent expressionless Alayna sported a grin and waved to them all as they walked away.
As they walked back through the swamp to where the Deku Tree laid, Onaka, the more energetic of the two, was strangely silent. "I saw you eyeing that Deku girl at the gates." She said, with a sly grin. Onaka's amethyst eye's lit up in surprise. "Wha-? I was not!" He exclaimed, and Alayna grinned. "Oh, really? I saw her, she winked at you. And since you're royalty, you're probably one of the most eligible bachelors around the Deku Swamps." She said, nudging him teasingly. His wooden cheeks turned a rose. "Really? Think I have a chance?" He asked, and Alayna laughed. "We'll have to wait to find out about that. Well, off the Deku tree to give him this, then talk to Mido, and we're off to settle another conflict." She said, and Onaka seemed to have a new spring in his step at his companion's words.
Coming Next Chapter: And The Tales Entwine.
Darreth, Tyrus and their captive Gerudo, Milane have head to Shady Vale to hide until he heat begins to wear off, the bounty posted on him dead or alive, for 100,000 rupees. Dirth and his 'pet' Kaiaru are on a "business trip" to take off the high bounty that the Zora posted on him. 100,000 rupees, and the un-named reward of something promised by the head of the Zoran armies, along with the undying fame within the Zora's Domain. And now, Alayna and Onaka are heading to the same place as the others, to help settle the dispute between the Goron's and Zora. What will happen when the groups collide?