Illusions of Power – Chapter Two – An Enjoyable Afternoon

by Allexandra Radcliffe and Prince Suzaku

Hey, everyone, we're back with chapter two, written exclusively by me! I wanted to name it 'Bombchu go BOOM!' but that would be a little…too crazy. Although I really like crazy fics. If anyone can figure out where I got that alternate chapter title from, I'll give you a cookie.

As for notes, hm…can't think of anything at the moment, but I'm sure something will come up. On with the story, then.


: Hyrule Castle Town :

The people of the Market paused as an angry Sheikah-esque young woman shoved through them, wrappings trailing from her arms, as if she had stopped taking them off and run away from somewhere. The inhabitants of Castle Town that knew her outfit bowed as she passed, but she ignored them, making her way to a stall next to the Bombchu Bowling Alley.

"Raine!" Ignoring the stares of the people looking at the stall's wares, Siafire ducked into the space behind the counter and plopped down on a stool in the corner. Dressed as a Sheikah, with her distinctive hair pulled up and hidden in her headwrap, she received a few stares from the customers that she didn't notice.

The Hylian running the shop, a green-eyed redhead named Raine, turned slightly while still keeping an eye on his wares. "Hi, Sia. What's got your feathers ruffled?"

"They're making me get married, Raine!" she wailed, kicking the air like she had as a child. "I came in and Mother just told me that I have to marry the prince of the Gerudo 'for the good of the kingdom'!" A few Gerudo visiting the market paused, then moved on, talking excitedly among themselves. Siafire didn't even notice, and tears were quivering at the edges of her eyes. "And Father agreed with her, and I don't know what to do, and…and…"

Raine turned away from the counter and handed Siafire a towel lying on the side of the stall. "Here, Sia, don't cry. I'm sure everything'll turn out fine in the end." The princess hugged the towel, sniffled, and nodded. "I can't talk now, but after the market closes, I'll stay here, okay? Go play Bombchu Bowling; that always cheers you up." With a watery smile, Siafire set the towel down and left the same way she had entered.

The girl behind the counter of the bowling alley jumped at first when an apparently Sheikah girl entered, but curtsied when she realized who Siafire was. The princess paused, searching through her belt pouches for some Rupees, and froze as she realized she had left it back at the palace. "Oops…I'll be back," she told the girl, backing towards the door.

From outside, she heard someone calling, "Don't worry so much, Kaniru, we've got plenty of time before we have to meet them," and suddenly ran into someone, bouncing off and falling to the floor.

A young man who looked about a year or two older than her was standing over her, looking concerned. "I'm sorry," he apologized, extending a hand to her. She took it, for once oddly conscious of her disheveled state.

The newcomer had strangely pale skin, an oddity with Hyrule's strong summer sun, and his black hair and tunic contrasted with his skin to make it look even fairer. Pale blue eyes smiled at her, followed by the rest of his face as she looked up at him. Like most people she met, he was taller than her, and although the folds of his clothes hid his body well, his grip spoke of concealed strength. As she let go of his hand, she felt a strangely familiar power surge from him, and puzzled over it for a second before realizing she hadn't yet spoken.

"No, it was my fault," she said quickly, turning slightly red. "I wasn't looking where I was going…"

"I wasn't either, and besides, you were the one who fell." Before Siafire could protest again, he said, "As an apology, allow me to pay for your game."

She blinked in surprise, but her training as a princess kicked in and she exclaimed, "I couldn't! I mean, I ran into you…"

He paused to consider it, and then his face brightened. As he walked to the girl at the counter, he called, "Consider it payment for bowling lessons, then. I've never played this before." Siafire paused for a second longer, then smiled and went to collect her Bombchus.

They spent over an hour trying to win, with several rogue Bombchus getting away from the stranger, narrowly missing Siafire and the shopkeeper. He seemed a little surprised by the Cuccos, and even more so when they continued clucking after a Bombchu hit them.

"The Cucco Lady in Kakariko Village breeds them," she explained, laughing. "They're resistant to explosions. It's a spell her mother invented when my father was a child."

"So they had this game when he was young?" her companion asked, readying another Bombchu.

Siafire launched hers, wincing as it hit a sliding trap. "Yes. He always said that Bombchus were pointless and overpriced, but I think he just doesn't like them because he could never win at this. I've always been able to beat him…" As she finished speaking, the door opened and two knights enter. They bowed when they saw her, and she sighed.

"Princess, your presence is needed at the castle. The queen ordered us to tell you to hurry." Raven straightened from his bow, smiling sympathetically. With another sigh, Siafire pulled her headwrap off, shaking her waist-length hair free and adjusting two earrings connected by a chain on her right ear.

Beside her, the stranger made a strange, obviously surprised sound in his throat, and she turned to him with a sheepish, apologetic grin. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she said, looking down at their feet for a quick second. "But people tend to start bowing and calling me 'Your Highness' when they find out, and I wanted to be normal for a few hours…"

"I can understand that," he said quietly. "Don't worry about it. Whether you're a commoner or a princess, it was still fun."

Siafire nodded, the small smile on her face fading as she turned for the door. Just as Raven opened it, she turned suddenly and, over the clucking of the Cuccos, called, "If I may ask…what's your name?"

He smiled. "Minoru." With a small bow, he added, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Siafire."


Now I've remembered those notes I was going to make. First, before anyone asks, Siafire has a horrible memory and also wasn't listening too well when she heard that she was to marry Minoru. And second, I've been going around all day saying (in no particular order), "Bombchu go BOOM! Cucco go BOOM! Exploding chickens…hehe…" So if you feel inspired to do the same, ignore all the strange looks you'll be receiving…it's all in good fun. As always, please review!

- Allexandra