Another chapter ready for reading! And this one shouldn't have ANY spelling or grammatical errors because I ran spell check and grammar check and I proofread. But the problem with reading over your own stuff is that there'll always be stuff that you miss. So no maiming if there are still errors.
I was FLAMED! Flamed! I couldn't believe it! See what you've all done? You've gone and made it seem to me as though all my stories are wonderful-good and so I was very sad when I was flamed. It was for "Our Class Will Steal the Mascot" from an anonymous reviewer called lolo. All it said was "it is a piece of crap". And I just stared at it for about five minutes trying to discern the meaning. Eventually I decided that there was no meaning and I was sad the rest of the day.
But then there were about fifteen other reviews that all said very positive things, so now I am not so sad. THANK YOU ALL, MY BELOVED REVIEWERS! Except lolo. Lolo, burn in the depths of the Purgatory, you bastard. Here's the next chapter!
Chapter 15: The First Gift
It had taken some persuading to get the girls to jump through the portal in the lake, but they finally agreed. Understandably, they weren't all that thrilled by Hyrule. After all, their lives were spawned from the three goddesses that created the land. It's like returning to your old house a few months after you move away.
"Do you remember which Fountains Impa said to visit?" Link asked with slight mortification. He was supposed to be the group leader, but he couldn't even remember which way to go. However, Lor had listened to Impa's words as well.
"The three Fairy Fountains where the Great Fairies gave you magic, Link," the black-haired boy reminded with a smile. Link nodded in remembrance and set off towards the nearest Fountain, which was the one in Zora Domain where he received Farore's Wind. After that, the Great Fairy by the castle would be their destination. Finally, they'd go to see the Fairy hidden in the meadows bordering Hyrule Castle.
Link waded in ankle-deep water, then stepped into the body of the lake. "Come on!" he beckoned as he dove down to the ruins that were passage into Zora Domain. Hieke drew a deep breath and followed, still not entirely accustomed to swimming or the feel of water surging around her. Lor gazed into the waters and was met by his reflection. He wasn't a very strong swimmer, but he could certainly make the trip. He about-faced and gave the three incarnates an earnest grin.
"This journey will be long and arduous," he warned, "but we haven't much other choice. With your help, Dameus will fall and Hyrule will be safe. Afterwards, you can put your adventuring days behind you. For now, though, we need to get to Zora Domain with Link and Hieke." He stepped backwards until his feet found no ground, then he plummeted into the chilled waters. A shiver betrayed his reassurance, but he continued regardless. In moments he had disappeared into the passageway.
Artemis looked to Diana and Isis. The three nodded and jumped into the lake at the same time. Then, Diana taking the lead, they swam through the hole and emerged in an enclosure. Lor was waiting at the water's edge to help them out.
Link looked around, trying to determine the fastest way to Zora Fountain. He soon settled on a spiraling path that encircled almost the entirety of the area. At the end of their hike, they were met with a very repulsive sight… Even Diana, the most courageous of the girls, was taken aback.
"Linky!" Ruto shrieked as she latched onto Link's arm. The green-clad boy growled in contempt and shook the fishy princess off. Hieke withheld her laughter and approached the bloated fish king.
"King Zora, ruler of the waters, my companions and I seek entrance to your Fountain on a quest to rid Hyrule of a perilous evil," the blonde Hylian explained regally. Link smirked. He had a hand on Ruto's forehead to hold her at a distance. It was working for now.
"Very well," the king said in a nasally voice. He began to painstakingly move to the left to create a passage for which Link and his friends to pass. Lor twitched as he watched Ruto. The girl eventually saw him and stopped with her raving obsession over Link long enough to flirt with him for a bit.
"Why, hello there," she said sweetly, batting her nonexistent eyelashes. Lor continued to twitch. "My name is Princess Ruto, heir to the royal family of Zora Domain," the fish thing introduced with a curtsy. "You look like a powerful warrior, but you're not all macho like the Zora fighters. I like my men strong yet slender, with a gentle touch. Tell me, sir. Do you have a gentle touch?"
Link burst with laughter when he remembered just how 'gentle' Lor's touch was in the battle against Ganondorf. It was too bad he didn't currently have his devastating power on hand; perhaps then they could do away with the frightening fish girl once and for all. But alas, Lor had long since returned his dark power to the sanctity of the Guardian Tree.
At this time, Lor had almost been brought to tears by the princess. Still he said nothing as he stared ahead blankly, ignoring his tormentor at all costs. Isis and Diana intervened, dragging the rambling fish girl away from poor Lor, and Artemis took the boy's arm and led him past King Zora to the resting place of Jabu Jabu.
The group stood before the cavern that was entrance to the Fairy Fountain. Link sighed and entered the cave. There was melodious music playing from an unknown source, performed upon a harp. Link approached the Triforce emblem before the dazzling waters and retrieved his ocarina from his pocket. He placed the instrument against his lips and played Zelda's Lullaby, the composition that awakened the Great Fairies to his presence.
A merry laughter resonated through the chamber as lights danced above the pool. With a final burst of light, the Great Fairy appeared, garbed in a gown of leaves. Her ruby hair swam around her slender face, and her emerald eyes twinkled in amusement. "Why, hello, Link," she greeted in a harmonious voice. "What brings you to visit the Fountain of Farore?"
Diana glanced at her fellow incarnates, then stepped forward. "I am Diana, incarnation of the goddess Farore," she announced, "and I understand that my place is within this Fountain."
The Great Fairy clasped her hands together, relief evident in her eyes. "You have returned at long last, Lady Diana!" she smiled. She made a flourish at the back wall, and the cascades of glimmering water parted to reveal a hidden corridor. "If you proceed down this hall, you will come upon the Chamber of the Gift. With your presence, the Gift will take form and become the Fairy Charm of Courage. You may proceed," the woman explained. She then vanished in the same brilliant display, leaving the corridor accessible to Link and his friends.
Diana drew a deep breath and expelled it slowly, then marched confidently down the passageway. Link gestured that the others follow. As the Great Fairy had told them, there was a small room at the end that was basked in a green light. In the very center was a floating orb composed of naught but verdant radiance. This was the first of the Three Gifts.
Diana nodded once to the others and approached the Gift calmly. She extended a hand towards it, and as her finger caressed the gentle glow, there was a burst of light that temporarily blinded the audience. Diana stood in the middle of the room, her figure completely enveloped in a white gleam and wings of light upon her back. Her eyes shone a soft green, and cupped in her hands was the Gift.
The incarnation parted her hands and the green orb drifted towards Link. His sword glowed intensely for a fraction of a second. When the radiance faded, there was an emerald affixed to the steel near the base of the blade.
"Link, Hero of Time, I leave with you the Fairy Charm of Courage. May you go with the light of Goddess Farore," Diana said in an ethereal voice. An unbearable brightness filled the chamber, and when it cleared the remainder of the group found themselves standing outside of the cavern. Their injuries had all faded, from the lightest bruise to the deepest gash. Link unsheathed his sword and admired the Fairy Charm Diana had attached to it.
"I'm next, right?" Isis said with a grin. She had apparently enjoyed the show put on by Diana and couldn't wait to be the star of her own display. Link nodded with a brief smile. He then averted his gaze, looking somewhat crestfallen. Hieke noticed this and promised herself to bring it up later. Her attention was then caught by the scarlet light of the sun as it slipped below the horizon. "Shall we turn in for the night?" she suggested. They all knew it was all but foolish to travel halfway across Hyrule in the dark.
Next chapter comes... the fluff. -shudder- I wanted to kill myself after writing that. The next chapter and half of the one after are completed, but I'm not posting until I get reviews! X3
The contest deadline is drawing near and I've only two entries! Two! That's less than last time! The award graphics are all ready to be mailed; I'm waiting on you! Deadline is December 1st and the details are in my profile.
There will be updates to my website soon. Have patience...